Reviews: Coupe New Car Reviews
2006 Lotus Exige
Link with Pictures (http://automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0506_lotus_exige/)
Hethel, England- The essence of the new Lotus Exige is that of a racing car. Even compared with the Elise, this bewinged coupe is a hard-core driving experience-and we mean that in a good way. What's curious is that from the same set of basic components-190-hp, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder Toyota engine; click-clack-shifting six-speed manual gearbox; extruded aluminum chassis; plastic body-Lotus has created a pair of cars sufficiently different in character that the coupe version can be regarded as a genuinely separate model. A quicker, more extreme, yet separate model.
In many ways, Lotus's recently announced decision to bring the Exige to the States is a brave one. As a convertible, the Elise can count on the residual glow of the golden years of British roadsters, with the added edge of being fantastic to drive. The Exige has only the latter. So, while Lotus moves 2000-plus Elises per year in America, it expects to sell only 200 to 300 Exiges.
Those 200 to 300 enthusiasts will be getting an out-and-out driver's car. Where the Elise evokes delicacy, intimacy, and fluid motion, the Exige is a much more physical machine. It's not brutish or raw or clumsy but more alert and instantly responsive, more aggressive in its steering and ride.
The way the Exige turns into corners seems shockingly brisk for the first few miles, but then you learn to appreciate how its precision can almost laser-guide you to an apex, how its immediacy can teach you to be a more conscientious helmsman. On crumbly-edged roads, you start off thinking that the little Lotus coupe is being guided by road irregularities, and then you realize that you're not actually fighting with the plump-rimmed wheel; its wriggling and writhing is merely letting you know what's going on.
You can test your nerves on a few challenging corners. The Exige's custom bodywork-lengthened nose, front splitter, covered roof, new rear wing (only the door panels are shared with the Elise)-was engineered to increase downforce for better cornering. Additionally, the Exige runs on Yokohama A048 rubber-pretty much racing slicks with a few grooves-and their grip even on public roads is immense. On dry roads, at least. The Exige's chassis tuning mirrors that of the Elise with the Sport package. Despite the suspension's firmness, it refuses to let the Lotus get knocked off-line by mid-bend bumps. Once adhesion limits are eventually reached, mild understeer takes over-unless you're on the track, where lifting off and booting the throttle will encourage the tail out, although you'll need a bit of practice to keep it sliding without a spin.
Because the coupe's back end traps the sound inside the car more than in the Elise, the Exige makes you further aware of the Toyota engine. There remains a degree of frustration that you have to wait until 6200 rpm before it unleashes its full complement of horses, but, as with old-school turbos, there's also a sense of involvement in having to keep the revs in the zone; either you can cope with that, or you can't. And once the engine is spinning to its giddy upper reaches, you'll have no complaints about the performance.
The brakes are somewhat abrupt at low speeds thanks to their servo assistance, but once you're on a charge, they're easier to modulate, and the ABS cuts in satisfyingly late for aggressive drivers.
On a track or an extended stretch of winding road, even a Porsche 911 would have to work hard to keep pace with the Exige; there are few more enthralling or dynamically capable cars for any price. But before you buy, make sure you can live with such a small, specialized car with only four cylinders. If you can, you'll have a wild time.
SPECS
Price: $54,000 (est.)
Engine: 1.8L DOHC I-4, 190 hp, 138 lb-ft
Drive: Rear-wheel
you can get an elise with a hardtop, right?
Quoteyou can get an elise with a hardtop, right?
The Exige
is the Elise with the fixed hardtop.
For another $10,000? Forget it.
QuoteFor another $10,000? Forget it.
You can almost buy a Z06, or for sure a Corvette, with that money.
I really like the Exige...there really isn't a point to paying a bunch more money for an Elise with a hardtop, but it's still a sweet car...I like it better with the hardtop.
QuoteI really like the Exige...there really isn't a point to paying a bunch more money for an Elise with a hardtop, but it's still a sweet car...I like it better with the hardtop.
Cosmetic wise?
Isn't the Elise available with a removable hard-top anyway?
QuoteIsn't the Elise available with a removable hard-top anyway?
Yeah, I believe it is.
QuoteQuoteyou can get an elise with a hardtop, right?
The Exige is the Elise with the fixed hardtop.
i mean you can get an elise with a removealbe hardtop.
QuoteQuoteQuoteyou can get an elise with a hardtop, right?
The Exige is the Elise with the fixed hardtop.
i mean you can get an elise with a removealbe hardtop.
you can.
Sure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
QuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
QuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
QuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
Or even any large bicycle :lol:
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
Or even any large bicycle :lol:
:lol:
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
Or even any large bicycle :lol:
:lol:
:rolleyes:
QuoteQuoteFor another $10,000? Forget it.
You can almost buy a Z06, or for sure a Corvette, with that money.
Fuck a Corvette...for that money you can do engine and suspension work to a regular Elise and probably make it faster than a Exige.
QuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Escalades... :rolleyes:
SUVs... :rolleyes:
Fear of the above... :rolleyes:
QuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Escalades... :rolleyes:
SUVs... :rolleyes:
Fear of the above... :rolleyes:
You wouldn't be worried driving amist a population of ignoramisses behind the wheels of 6k ilb vehicles?
QuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Escalades... :rolleyes:
SUVs... :rolleyes:
Fear of the above... :rolleyes:
You wouldn't be worried driving amist a population of ignoramisses behind the wheels of 6k ilb vehicles?
Not any more than I am now.
I was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
QuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
QuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
QuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
I think the difference is state of mind. I know my A4 is a much safer car to be in than my Z3...but frankly I wouldn't care. I am not going to live my life in a bubble to use the phrase from Raza.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
I think the difference is state of mind. I know my A4 is a much safer car to be in than my Z3...but frankly I wouldn't care. I am not going to live my life in a bubble to use the phrase from Raza.
Once again, I am not saying I
wouldnt drive an Elise, but there is no doubt that its safer to be in say, an Escalade, than an Elise, if you get hit by a car.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
I think the difference is state of mind. I know my A4 is a much safer car to be in than my Z3...but frankly I wouldn't care. I am not going to live my life in a bubble to use the phrase from Raza.
Once again, I am not saying I wouldnt drive an Elise, but there is no doubt that its safer to be in say, an Escalade, than an Elise, if you get hit by a car.
No one is arguing with that, they are arguing that they don't think it is a smart idea to give-up fun for safety (and, no vehicle is safer or more destructive than a large suv, so in theory you could apply your argument to any vehicle that isn't a Ford Excursion).
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ.? <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
I think the difference is state of mind. I know my A4 is a much safer car to be in than my Z3...but frankly I wouldn't care. I am not going to live my life in a bubble to use the phrase from Raza.
Once again, I am not saying I wouldnt drive an Elise, but there is no doubt that its safer to be in say, an Escalade, than an Elise, if you get hit by a car.
No one is arguing with that, they are arguing that they don't think it is a smart idea to give-up fun for safety (and, no vehicle is safer or more destructive than a large suv, so in theory you could apply your argument to any vehicle that isn't a Ford Excursion).
I dont think were arguing here TBR...I certainly dont advocate driving an Excursion all the time at all, and I would always want fun over safety. But I'm just stating a fact....its safer to be in a Excursion in a crash than in a Elise.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI was never afraid driving my Z3 around big rigs and SUV's, and there are plenty of those in SJ. <_<
A z3 is bigger than an Elise of course, but I don't think I would feel any different in an elise.
:rockon:
Ok, but most drivers will get into an accident atleast once or twice in their lives, even if it's not their fault. Odds are you'll lose in an Elise.
Not if I can avoid them through nimble movements.
SUVs... rokon.gif rokon.gif
Except that you cant always avoid them.
No matter what you drive...
That's my point.
If the time comes when you are in an accident, god forbid, I think most people would rather be in pretty much any other car than an Elise.
Okay man, your call. But sooner or later, you'll have to come out of your bubble.
Look, what I'm saying is that once you are in an accident (whether you can avoid it or not is a different argument) you are safer in pretty much any car than the Lotus.
I think the difference is state of mind. I know my A4 is a much safer car to be in than my Z3...but frankly I wouldn't care. I am not going to live my life in a bubble to use the phrase from Raza.
Once again, I am not saying I wouldnt drive an Elise, but there is no doubt that its safer to be in say, an Escalade, than an Elise, if you get hit by a car.
No one is arguing with that, they are arguing that they don't think it is a smart idea to give-up fun for safety (and, no vehicle is safer or more destructive than a large suv, so in theory you could apply your argument to any vehicle that isn't a Ford Excursion).
I dont think were arguing here TBR...I certainly dont advocate driving an Excursion all the time at all, and I would always want fun over safety. But I'm just stating a fact....its safer to be in a Excursion in a crash than in a Elise.
I understand that, no one was disagreeing with you.
QuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
Dave I am not sure what your point is. This is what i believe Raza is responding to, and its definitely what I responded to. Seems to me the implication is that you wouldn't drive an Elise on the road. I am saying I would, even givens its safety limitations. That doesn't imply I think its safer than "Car X" just that the lack of safety isn't going to stop me from driving it.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Or any stock SUV...
or any car for that matter.
Dave I am not sure what your point is. This is what i believe Raza is responding to, and its definitely what I responded to. Seems to me the implication is that you wouldn't drive an Elise on the road. I am saying I would, even givens its safety limitations. That doesn't imply I think its safer than "Car X" just that the lack of safety isn't going to stop me from driving it.
The Conversation went:
"Sure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?"
"Or any stock SUV... "
--> This was my statement "or any car for that matter."
I was just stating that you risk getting run over by a car in any car...I never stated that I wouldnt drive an Elise.
No argument here...though I believe Tim hit the nail on the head.
Everyone thinks Lotus Elise's are fun and everyone agrees that in a crash they are dangerous. However, group A says they would not feel comfortable on a public road driving one due to safety concerns while group B understands but is not worried about these safety issues.
It needs a turbo.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteSure, on a private couse a Lotus would be a blast, but would you really want to drive one on public road and risk getting run over by some guy in his lifted Escalade?
Escalades... :rolleyes:
SUVs... :rolleyes:
Fear of the above... :rolleyes:
You wouldn't be worried driving amist a population of ignoramisses behind the wheels of 6k ilb vehicles?
Not any more than I am now.
I don't even think about it either. There are lots of SUVs here in Michigan (it seems aparently you NEED 4x4 for the snow :rolleyes: ) but I still drive the Z.
It conforms to all 1976 Federal safety standards, but the steel is thin and the side impact beam is a joke.
Although, I know a guy who had a 280Z with fiberglass fenders, bumper, and hood walk away from an accident when an old lady hit him in the left turn lane. He just had some glass in his hand. So, yes, I may get in an accident, but will I be seriously hurt, probably not.
The best safety feature is a safe driver like me.
The only vehicle I am intimidated by are Semis, full size trucks (like internationals and such) and busses.
Semis are just freaky to be driving beside, I'll speed up well over the limit to get past one if I'm beside one. They're especially bad in corners. Busses are not as bad in this respect, but they like to come flying up behind you when at a light and I always wonder if they're actually going to stop.
QuoteIt needs a turbo.
Why? It already runs with a C5 Vette in a straight line, and handles better than one too. A turbo seems pointless. Maybe a supercharger, though, to give it more power through the middle of the rev range.