Debate: Is The Lotus Exige

[jonwat]

A Sports Car Or Supercar? 

[jep]

Compared to the $400k Radford, it is a super car. And a bargain. Perhaps if Lotus had limited it to 500 per annum at a premium price, it may have spiked the interest of influencers.......

Exige V6 is simple a hidden wonder. Probably the best road car ever made by Lotus, equal with S1 Elise.

Justin

 

[Matt W]

Who gives a s**t about influencers, apart from the muppets at Lotus? In itself the Exige is a fabulous car, but as a package - with 3rd rate dealer support, useless Lotus support, below 1980s skoda build quality, I'm afraid it's not so good. Much as I've enjoyed mine, it's probably going to be sold in the spring. Too many issues. 

[pete]

if it has to be debated then no

[Paul_D]

Obviously there is no clear definition of a supercar so such conversations will always be subjective.

To me personally though, the Exige is very clearly in the sportscar camp. Its main focus is driving pleasure, with very little relative thought given to the interior or comfort.

A modern supercar tends to be big, wide, powerful but also has quite a luxurious interior. This means most supercars are 1500kg+

Because of this, sports cars are sometimes quicker around a track than supercars. Hence the term 'supercar slayer'. That's where the Exige sits for me. A true sports car that can chase supercars on track.

[David Standing]

On 07/01/2022 at 22:29, Matt W said:

Who gives a s**t about influencers, apart from the muppets at Lotus? In itself the Exige is a fabulous car, but as a package - with 3rd rate dealer support, useless Lotus support, below 1980s skoda build quality, I'm afraid it's not so good. Much as I've enjoyed mine, it's probably going to be sold in the spring. Too many issues. 

 

 

Really?  That's a shame.  In balance, my 420 FE has had zero issues, and I love it 👍 

[mayak]

For me the Exige is clearly a sportscar too. I wouldn't want it any different at all.

[Markymark]

On 07/01/2022 at 22:29, Matt W said:

Who gives a s**t about influencers, apart from the muppets at Lotus? In itself the Exige is a fabulous car, but as a package - with 3rd rate dealer support, useless Lotus support, below 1980s skoda build quality, I'm afraid it's not so good. Much as I've enjoyed mine, it's probably going to be sold in the spring. Too many issues. 

That is a shame. My 2014 Roadster has performed admirally, including track days. Friday car maybe?

[C8RKH]

On 08/01/2022 at 12:44, pete said:

if it has to be debated then no

This.

[stephenwhyte]

It’s a sportscar and a a damn impressive one at that, whatever variant! Every drive is a memorable exciting event…..!😎

[Troyboy]

As a V6 Exige owner I would place it in the sports car column. Matt W. I would be interested in what issues you have had. Had mine 2 and half years from new. No problems at the moment 🤞

[Sam Downey]

In my opinion, its a sports car.

Seeing as there is no official definition of a supercar, or a hypercar (AFAIK?) or a superduperhypermegaturboplusmaxextra car, I would tend to think of a supercar as something more impractical, most likely with a large dollop of unusable performance and top speed, a big and/or very powerful engine making (these days) probably over 700bhp and loud noises and wild looks.

The Exige arguably makes the loud noises, but so does a Honda with a straight through exhaust.

I wouldn't really think of a Ferrari F8 as a supercar either though. It's too common-or-garden.

What about some other examples?

supercars:

V12 Lambos

F40, F50, Enzo, La Ferrari

McLaren 720s etc (but an F8 isn't?! wtf?!)

Koenigseggs

Pagani's

etc

 

Not supercars:

911s (except a GT1)

Baby Ferraris including F8

Baby McLarens 540,570

Baby Lambos

Front engined Ferrari's (oooh!)

Aston Martins (Vulcan could be, but does it count if it's not road legal? I guess it does, so that's a supercar).

Lotus Exige 😂👍

etc

 

The 720s gets away with it because of it's outrageous performance, quicker even than a 488 Pista or F8, and it's looks. To the non car enthusiast masses, they would be able to pick the F8 as "Oh, that's a Ferrari!" But the 720s could easily be mistaken for a UFO from outer space.

[DarrylV8]

On 07/01/2022 at 22:29, Matt W said:

Who gives a s**t about influencers, apart from the muppets at Lotus? In itself the Exige is a fabulous car, but as a package - with 3rd rate dealer support, useless Lotus support, below 1980s skoda build quality, I'm afraid it's not so good. Much as I've enjoyed mine, it's probably going to be sold in the spring. Too many issues. 

Had our roadster 4 years from new NO issues even with a very picky MOTer 

but for us it was a very good sports car

[JamieF]

Supercar? No, but then again it maybe in some people's eyes. Supercar to me is the F40 etc. Hypercars are the latest ultimate performance machines. To me, the Exige is an incredible sportscar.

[pete]

Is a supercar from the eighties still a supercar today.

[C8RKH]

In my opinion yes. It needs to be judged in the context of its era.

Edited January 13 by Bravo73

[Mark030358]

My 2p worth...

If you asked the ordinary joe in the street what defines a sports car, I guarantee (as well as I can guarantee anything) that one of the things he will mention is, it must be a drophead.

If its not a drophead, its not a sports car......IMHO

If its not a drophead, its a GT car....

I now await the flaming fires of hell.......  👹

cheers

Mark

 

 

[Matt W]

On 10/01/2022 at 20:31, Troyboy said:

As a V6 Exige owner I would place it in the sports car column. Matt W. I would be interested in what issues you have had. Had mine 2 and half years from new. No problems at the moment 🤞

Mine was delivered with faulty brakes, and an on going issue with leaks whenever it rains, meaning I can't leave it outside without a cover or the doors soak up water. It's been to a main dealer who has reported 'well it might be bad door seals but we don't really know, but no new parts are available and we don't know when they will be so it's going to get damp over winter'.

It appears people have had cars and no issues, but dealing with issues is an absolute pain, dealers are miles away and don't actually seem to know what they're doing, then parts arn't available, and Lotus generally don't seem to care unless you're an 'influencer'. I honestly can't wait to get rid of mine - not because it's a fundamentally bad car, just the thought that it's not quite working and if anything more goes wrong it will be a lot of ball ache to fix. 

[Seriouslylotus]

Could be faulty seals but far more likely its adjustments that are needed....

[Mark030358]

On 14/01/2022 at 22:20, Matt W said:

Mine was delivered with faulty brakes, and an on going issue with leaks whenever it rains, meaning I can't leave it outside without a cover or the doors soak up water. It's been to a main dealer who has reported 'well it might be bad door seals but we don't really know, but no new parts are available and we don't know when they will be so it's going to get damp over winter'.

It appears people have had cars and no issues, but dealing with issues is an absolute pain, dealers are miles away and don't actually seem to know what they're doing, then parts arn't available, and Lotus generally don't seem to care unless you're an 'influencer'. I honestly can't wait to get rid of mine - not because it's a fundamentally bad car, just the thought that it's not quite working and if anything more goes wrong it will be a lot of ball ache to fix. 

sorry to hear you pain… Dave is correct about adjustment.
Your dealer has probably done this, but there are two adjusting screws that you can see with the door open (pretty certain you can see it) that alters the angle of the window. Screw it one way and it applies more pressure to the seal.

this clip shows you how, you have nothing to lose I guess.

cheers

ps you should try Oakmere always been fantastic with me.