Looking forward to seeing how the trip turns out! I'm hoping to start doing the same thing every year or so here in the US with my 2005 Elise, however I also am needing to remove the front clam to fix the AC and will also look into replacing the radiator while at it... Going to be a +$3k USD bill. Hope you enjoy your Exige for a very long time, and look forward to more content!
Great video and holiday. So good to see a Lotus being used. Doing these trips in a real sports car and not a fat modern barge is wonderful to see. Thanks.
Nice little restaurant in Dijon for a quick meal, right in the historical center! Those seats are very comfortable! Way more so than many "comfort" seats on other cars. Shock absorbers on the other end… Love the anecdote about the engagement ring and going back to this place! And congratulations! Funny about the fuel bars, the first one on my car goes very quickly, like after 30km it's already gone, and after that it runs down like normal, go figure. Lovely vineyards in the South! Maybe for your next trip, as you're into wine tasting, we can plan something around Dijon / Nuits Saint-Georges / Beaune / Burgundy wines if you'd like. For the key, I always lock it by hand instead of with the fob. Don't wanna take a chance with batteries. Yeah Switzerland isn't cheap. Maybe you could have gone into the actual Great Saint Bernard road instead of the tunnel, depending on the weather. Other option is through Simplon, North of Orta San Giulio. Waze and Maps aren't always the most precise and clear regarding the actual costs unfortunately. For the soft top, you can try putting it behind the seats, usually works it you move the driver's seat a bit forward. Glad you enjoyed your road trip, and thanks for sharing all this!
Thanks for your tips, we did buzz past the viewpoint you suggested near Mont d'Or, amazing views around there. We were so tight on time that day that we had to take a relatively direct route, but fortunately it was pretty much on plan.
@@BritishRacingGreens Great if you enjoyed the views near Mont' d'Or! It's not always easy to balance sightseeing and timings. Haha yeah, electrics and Lotus don't pair too well...
Cool video mate, really excited to do similar again at the end of August! Just wanted to reassure you, you dont need to worry about either the Crit Air or the speed cameras coming to get you in the UK. The speeding data isnt passed to the UK since Brexit (I'm not proud to say that I speak from experience). The Crit Air is if you get pulled over, its an easy win for the French Police and they love it as non of us Brits have ever heard of it haha.
That would make a lot more sense, but it’s definitely the headlight switch that’s doing it, because it does it even if we’re just driving down the road in the middle of the day and I switch them on. Can only imagine it’s related to the back-lighting for the dashboard dials?
Amazing to hear you’re tuning in from Mexico, thanks for watching! Good to know the engine can handle lower octane without issue, my previous car was a little more fussy so I didn’t take the risk.
Nice road trip commentary 👍 I have no idea how you fit 15 bottles of wine in yours. A little video of your packing next time would be great. Boot Tetris as I call it 😂
😂 I must admit, I was impressed myself! There were 4 bottles behind the seats which helped, still space in the passenger footwell which we didn’t need, could probably reach the import limit if we tried harder.
You can always wear a cap! The hood in its bag can go behind the seats, then other stuff can go on top of the hood bag using the cargo nets etc. That’s what I do anyway. Love lake Orta & Maggiore. Borromeo islands are a must….
That’s very true! 🧢 the main blocker is not having the soft top roof to be fair, I do check the second hand market every now and then but they hold their value so well. Embarrassingly we didn’t make it to the islands (only around them), we’d tried to book a dinner there but it was fully booked. Next time…
A benefit (mostly true) of the exige is that it’s cheaper to run than cars like the R8, simple things like tyres will be a lot larger and more expensive with the R8. I imagine the same is true if things start going wrong with the R8 too. The exige definitely delivers a sense of occasion, the cost of that is less comfort and practicality.
If you had to choose again and had 30 -35k. Would you choose the S2 or S3? Personally I think the S2 is the coolest looking and a better weight. But the S3 is more refined and powerful... Does a K20 converted solve this? Best of both worlds?
The S2 wasn’t a logical purchase for me (guess it isn’t for most!) it was my dream car for a long time, so I’d do the same again. The S3 is very cool though, if I got the S3 I’d want the V6 Exige which might just scrape into that budget.
@@BritishRacingGreensI know what you mean, logic sense says the S3. But I just think the S2 is cooler in a couple of ways. I'm probably about 2 years away from affording one. I've watched most of your videos, but going to watch again so I cover any hidden things to think about. I've had 40+ old cars, but never a Lotus. I'm hoping (Imagining) they are like go karts for the road. That's what I'm after as my current car is fast (Tesla) which is just missing that engagement and handling. Hoping the S2 brings the fun. Do you find the power enough for fast overtakes?
Congratulations for this road trip and for the video. It was great to see. Il France, for the speed camera the tolerance is 5% above 100 km/h and 5 km/h below 100 km/h. Fines arrive within 3 to 6 months. Sorry
@@BritishRacingGreens Since Brexit DVLA no longer pass driver details back so if a camera flashes you will no longer get fined. If the police catch you with a radar gun.....thats a different matter!
Great video, top tips as usual. Aside from the Exige, the star has to be Victoria. How did you convince her to go after last year?! I think we need some honest, long-suffering partner content to balance your (wholly justified imho!) enthusiasm. Look forward to the next video...
Great video - really insightful to see what it’s like to road trip an Exige. Have long considered buying an S2 Exige
Looking forward to seeing how the trip turns out! I'm hoping to start doing the same thing every year or so here in the US with my 2005 Elise, however I also am needing to remove the front clam to fix the AC and will also look into replacing the radiator while at it... Going to be a +$3k USD bill.
Hope you enjoy your Exige for a very long time, and look forward to more content!
Great video and holiday. So good to see a Lotus being used. Doing these trips in a real sports car and not a fat modern barge is wonderful to see.
Thanks.
Appreciate it! Certainly adds another dimension to the holiday, every day is an adventure.
Nice little restaurant in Dijon for a quick meal, right in the historical center!
Those seats are very comfortable! Way more so than many "comfort" seats on other cars. Shock absorbers on the other end…
Love the anecdote about the engagement ring and going back to this place!
And congratulations!
Funny about the fuel bars, the first one on my car goes very quickly, like after 30km it's already gone, and after that it runs down like normal, go figure.
Lovely vineyards in the South!
Maybe for your next trip, as you're into wine tasting, we can plan something around Dijon / Nuits Saint-Georges / Beaune / Burgundy wines if you'd like.
For the key, I always lock it by hand instead of with the fob. Don't wanna take a chance with batteries.
Yeah Switzerland isn't cheap. Maybe you could have gone into the actual Great Saint Bernard road instead of the tunnel, depending on the weather. Other option is through Simplon, North of Orta San Giulio.
Waze and Maps aren't always the most precise and clear regarding the actual costs unfortunately.
For the soft top, you can try putting it behind the seats, usually works it you move the driver's seat a bit forward.
Glad you enjoyed your road trip, and thanks for sharing all this!
Thanks for your tips, we did buzz past the viewpoint you suggested near Mont d'Or, amazing views around there. We were so tight on time that day that we had to take a relatively direct route, but fortunately it was pretty much on plan.
...also reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one that's had that issue with the key!
@@BritishRacingGreens Great if you enjoyed the views near Mont' d'Or! It's not always easy to balance sightseeing and timings.
Haha yeah, electrics and Lotus don't pair too well...
Cool video mate, really excited to do similar again at the end of August! Just wanted to reassure you, you dont need to worry about either the Crit Air or the speed cameras coming to get you in the UK. The speeding data isnt passed to the UK since Brexit (I'm not proud to say that I speak from experience). The Crit Air is if you get pulled over, its an easy win for the French Police and they love it as non of us Brits have ever heard of it haha.
Jealous you have your next trip planned - enjoy! Thanks for the peace of mind for both speeding and Crit Air, sounds like I’m getting away lightly 😬
I think you're perfectly justified to clean the car often on a road trip. A clean car runs better 😅
Too right it does! 😂
32:57 Waze and Google maps often know you are in a tunnel and apply dark mode, I don't think it has anything to do with Lotus headlights.
That would make a lot more sense, but it’s definitely the headlight switch that’s doing it, because it does it even if we’re just driving down the road in the middle of the day and I switch them on. Can only imagine it’s related to the back-lighting for the dashboard dials?
I live in Mexico and the fuel here is 91, the 2zz ge can stand with 91
Amazing to hear you’re tuning in from Mexico, thanks for watching! Good to know the engine can handle lower octane without issue, my previous car was a little more fussy so I didn’t take the risk.
Loved the video and seeing the amazing places you visited. Looking forward to seeing the next one. 😀
Appreciate the support! Travelling in the Exige was defo worth the compromises.
Nice road trip commentary 👍 I have no idea how you fit 15 bottles of wine in yours. A little video of your packing next time would be great. Boot Tetris as I call it 😂
😂 I must admit, I was impressed myself! There were 4 bottles behind the seats which helped, still space in the passenger footwell which we didn’t need, could probably reach the import limit if we tried harder.
You can always wear a cap! The hood in its bag can go behind the seats, then other stuff can go on top of the hood bag using the cargo nets etc. That’s what I do anyway. Love lake Orta & Maggiore. Borromeo islands are a must….
That’s very true! 🧢 the main blocker is not having the soft top roof to be fair, I do check the second hand market every now and then but they hold their value so well. Embarrassingly we didn’t make it to the islands (only around them), we’d tried to book a dinner there but it was fully booked. Next time…
Awesome video, awesome car👍
Question for all... What would you choose with £30k budget?
Lotus exige s2
Lotus evora
Audi R8
Thanks
A benefit (mostly true) of the exige is that it’s cheaper to run than cars like the R8, simple things like tyres will be a lot larger and more expensive with the R8. I imagine the same is true if things start going wrong with the R8 too. The exige definitely delivers a sense of occasion, the cost of that is less comfort and practicality.
If you had to choose again and had 30 -35k. Would you choose the S2 or S3?
Personally I think the S2 is the coolest looking and a better weight. But the S3 is more refined and powerful...
Does a K20 converted solve this? Best of both worlds?
The S2 wasn’t a logical purchase for me (guess it isn’t for most!) it was my dream car for a long time, so I’d do the same again. The S3 is very cool though, if I got the S3 I’d want the V6 Exige which might just scrape into that budget.
@@BritishRacingGreensI know what you mean, logic sense says the S3. But I just think the S2 is cooler in a couple of ways. I'm probably about 2 years away from affording one. I've watched most of your videos, but going to watch again so I cover any hidden things to think about.
I've had 40+ old cars, but never a Lotus. I'm hoping (Imagining) they are like go karts for the road. That's what I'm after as my current car is fast (Tesla) which is just missing that engagement and handling. Hoping the S2 brings the fun.
Do you find the power enough for fast overtakes?
Congratulations for this road trip and for the video. It was great to see.
Il France, for the speed camera the tolerance is 5% above 100 km/h and 5 km/h below 100 km/h.
Fines arrive within 3 to 6 months. Sorry
Urgh, thanks for the info, I’ll wait patiently!
@@BritishRacingGreens Since Brexit DVLA no longer pass driver details back so if a camera flashes you will no longer get fined. If the police catch you with a radar gun.....thats a different matter!
@user-bt6ke4er1c I very much hope you’re right, that would be 1 less cost.
Great video, top tips as usual. Aside from the Exige, the star has to be Victoria. How did you convince her to go after last year?! I think we need some honest, long-suffering partner content to balance your (wholly justified imho!) enthusiasm. Look forward to the next video...
Thanks! 😂 Victoria says “I like him”, maybe that’s the encouragement she needs to publicly lambast me and my decisions…