Nice review Kai! Coming from E90m3 and 987 boxster s...test drove exige 350 and 380 and fell in love...going to try and find a lightly used 380 next year ;)
So, we have had similar experiences (me with E46 M3 and 997 Carrera S)! Sounds like a good plan mate! If you are planning a trackday in Germany, let me know ;)
Great review. Makes me wish that we got the current Exige in the US even more. I'm another Kai who also owns a Lotus. An Elise my case. Keep up the good work! MfG - Kai
Thanks man! Appreciate your support! I think overall the Elise is the more balanced car of the two. Not as quick but sooo enjoyable to throw around! Cant quite do this with the Exige S any more.
@@kaipeter8477 Lotus is very rare were I live, only 3 for sale in the whole country at the moment. I am thinking of going to UK to buy one because its 40% cheaper than a Swedish one
I did watch your trackday at Bilster Berg..is your car stock? As I can see the car is capable of doing a sub 2 Minute laptime....when modified I think it will come in GT3 RS territory. Which tires did you use on the trackday (Pirelli Corsa?)? Which camber? I heard that maximum of 1 ° is possible at the front axle with the stock suspension. Öhlins Suspension will allow a more racy setup.
Hi - interesting ideas you have! Certainly some fun exploring those options and their effects! My car is completely stock, depends on which vids you have seen from Bilster Berg! I have uploaded some of 2016 using Pirelli Corsa tyres and also some of 2017 using Pirelli Trofeos! A huge difference - I stronlgy recommend Trofeos - both from a performance and handling/balance perspective! From my sessions I can say, I was very, very close to GT4s. GT3 and RS, especially 991s, are really in another league. Of course not knowing how much car and how much driver effect are playing into the full laptime gap.
Thanks for your super quick response...I am in contact with my local Lotus dealer and plan to exchange my Jaguar F Type for Exige350 as I do many Trackdays at Bilster Berg (recently with my Clio Cup with KW Clubsport Suspension, 3° camber and maximum stiffness). Talked to the Lotus mechanics and they told me that a 2000€ suspension upgrade will turn the car to the next level of performance as negative camber on the rear axle will eliminate understeer and give you more agility and oversteer. Stock suspension can only give you 1° at the front axle and the rear will remain 0°. With Suspension upgrade you can go as far as 3°. For daily driving performance I would use 2° as it might be a bit scary in the wet but for track use it will turn your car into a weapon.
Ah, interesting! Good you have the opportunity to go to Bilster Berg so often - its from my perspective the perfect track for roadcars! A little far from Munich though ... :( In case you are interested in buying mine (the 350 is not much of a real difference anyway) here is the ad: suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=249370005 Best regards!
Can you make a vid explaining how the car handles like is it stiff, bumpy, does it crash on humps and bumps, scrape? Is it uncomfortable, how's the gear shift and the seats etc...
Hi Iceman! Alright - will try to! Right now snow everywhere in Munich - so might take some weeks until I can get out for a ride again ... Thanks for you comment anyway!
Hi sir, what about removing the hardtop on the coupe version? I heard it affects the handling and the intake above certain speed. What is your info? Thanks
8:50 du sprachst von 1000euro pro jahr an inspektionskosten: wie setzen sich die kosten zusammen? Und auf was für ein fahrerprofil beziehen die sich, 1mal track im jahr? Gehe mal davon aus, dass du 10000km im jahr fährst bei deinen angesprochenen 12k in über einen jahr.
Hi Philip, bin im ersten Jahr 8.000 km gefahren, im zweiten 4.000 km. Die Kosten beziehen sich auf die Standardwartung, d.h. Öl, Bremsflüssigkeit, , Inspektion -> das sind dann ca. 500-600. Wenn mal Bremsbeläge und Reifen dazu kommen, wird es natürlich mehr, die kommen aber nicht jedes Jahr. Also im Mittel ist man mit 1.000 EUR gut bedient. Ich war 1-2 mal pro Jahr auf der Rennstrecke. Verschleiß an Reifen/Bremsen kann natürlich auch VIEL mehr sein bei härterem Track-Einsatz. Aber im Vergleich zu 911 oder sonstigem trotzdem ein Riesen-Schnäppchen aus meiner Sicht.
Nice review Kai! Coming from E90m3 and 987 boxster s...test drove exige 350 and 380 and fell in love...going to try and find a lightly used 380 next year ;)
So, we have had similar experiences (me with E46 M3 and 997 Carrera S)!
Sounds like a good plan mate! If you are planning a trackday in Germany, let me know ;)
One of the best reviews I have ever seen! Great choice! Great Car!
Great review. Makes me wish that we got the current Exige in the US even more. I'm another Kai who also owns a Lotus. An Elise my case. Keep up the good work! MfG - Kai
Thanks man! Appreciate your support! I think overall the Elise is the more balanced car of the two. Not as quick but sooo enjoyable to throw around! Cant quite do this with the Exige S any more.
I think the 1.8L SC exige was replaced by the 3.5L V6, another option is the slower Elise 1.8 SC.
is it good leg space? im 193 and I want this car
I am 1.80 and it worked, yet comfort is different ;) try it out!
@@kaipeter8477 Lotus is very rare were I live, only 3 for sale in the whole country at the moment. I am thinking of going to UK to buy one because its 40% cheaper than a Swedish one
I did watch your trackday at Bilster Berg..is your car stock? As I can see the car is capable of doing a sub 2 Minute laptime....when modified I think it will come in GT3 RS territory. Which tires did you use on the trackday (Pirelli Corsa?)? Which camber? I heard that maximum of 1 ° is possible at the front axle with the stock suspension. Öhlins Suspension will allow a more racy setup.
Hi - interesting ideas you have! Certainly some fun exploring those options and their effects!
My car is completely stock, depends on which vids you have seen from Bilster Berg! I have uploaded some of 2016 using Pirelli Corsa tyres and also some of 2017 using Pirelli Trofeos! A huge difference - I stronlgy recommend Trofeos - both from a performance and handling/balance perspective!
From my sessions I can say, I was very, very close to GT4s. GT3 and RS, especially 991s, are really in another league. Of course not knowing how much car and how much driver effect are playing into the full laptime gap.
Thanks for your super quick response...I am in contact with my local Lotus dealer and plan to exchange my Jaguar F Type for Exige350 as I do many Trackdays at Bilster Berg (recently with my Clio Cup with KW Clubsport Suspension, 3° camber and maximum stiffness). Talked to the Lotus mechanics and they told me that a 2000€ suspension upgrade will turn the car to the next level of performance as negative camber on the rear axle will eliminate understeer and give you more agility and oversteer. Stock suspension can only give you 1° at the front axle and the rear will remain 0°. With Suspension upgrade you can go as far as 3°. For daily driving performance I would use 2° as it might be a bit scary in the wet but for track use it will turn your car into a weapon.
Ah, interesting! Good you have the opportunity to go to Bilster Berg so often - its from my perspective the perfect track for roadcars! A little far from Munich though ... :(
In case you are interested in buying mine (the 350 is not much of a real difference anyway) here is the ad:
suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=249370005
Best regards!
Can you make a vid explaining how the car handles like is it stiff, bumpy, does it crash on humps and bumps, scrape? Is it uncomfortable, how's the gear shift and the seats etc...
Hi Iceman! Alright - will try to! Right now snow everywhere in Munich - so might take some weeks until I can get out for a ride again ...
Thanks for you comment anyway!
Like AC/DC too!! ;)
Yeah great....they've become my favourite band! :)
Thanks will be looking forward.
How tall are you?
1,80 m
Hi sir, what about removing the hardtop on the coupe version? I heard it affects the handling and the intake above certain speed. What is your info? Thanks
Hi Elie, I can see the screws to take the hardtop off - but I have never tried it. Therefore no experience on this one from my side. Best regards!
8:50 du sprachst von 1000euro pro jahr an inspektionskosten: wie setzen sich die kosten zusammen? Und auf was für ein fahrerprofil beziehen die sich, 1mal track im jahr?
Gehe mal davon aus, dass du 10000km im jahr fährst bei deinen angesprochenen 12k in über einen jahr.
Schonmal danke für deine antwort ✌
Ps.: echt sehr gutes review mit informationen die man sonst nicht bekommt :)
Hi Philip, bin im ersten Jahr 8.000 km gefahren, im zweiten 4.000 km.
Die Kosten beziehen sich auf die Standardwartung, d.h. Öl, Bremsflüssigkeit, , Inspektion -> das sind dann ca. 500-600. Wenn mal Bremsbeläge und Reifen dazu kommen, wird es natürlich mehr, die kommen aber nicht jedes Jahr. Also im Mittel ist man mit 1.000 EUR gut bedient. Ich war 1-2 mal pro Jahr auf der Rennstrecke. Verschleiß an Reifen/Bremsen kann natürlich auch VIEL mehr sein bei härterem Track-Einsatz. Aber im Vergleich zu 911 oder sonstigem trotzdem ein Riesen-Schnäppchen aus meiner Sicht.
@@kaipeter8477 wow, vielen dank für die schnelle Antwort trotz 2 jahre altem Video :)
Ja, da hast du recht, das ist echt günstig!
Nice video. Too bad Belgium completely ruined this car by putting a €10.000,- registration fee on it because of its pollution...
stupid green politicians really
@@kaipeter8477 Stupid environment!
"too perfect maybe" yes thats a good way to describe Porsches, they are extremely good, but a bit too good, too soft....
In principle it's not a bad review, but the "uhhmm"s every few seconds drove me insane. I couldn't watch it 'til the end.