My experiences with it are similar to most people here, I drove one, and the rest I have seen on track or heard from owners. I expected it to have a bulletproof Toyota drivetrain that we are so used to but as it turn out putting a drivetrain inteneded for a comfortable sedan into a shopping cart screws everything up.
So far I have seen two transmissions replaced, 1 before 1k miles 1 before 3k miles. These are people I saw at the track and obviously they didn't properly break in their cars. I saw one case of as soon as it's started the car shuts off. Never knew what the problem was as I never followed up with the guy.

Other general problems which were a big issue to me on a car that I drove with less then 5k miles on it. Noises coming from everywhere, rattling/squeeking, doors won't lock/unlock (perhaps disconnected wires from shaking), windows won't roll up fully, cracks in floor, sides, suspention noises, the paint chips you normally see on bumpers of 370z are covering entire hood on exige. Even after all these things, I would still seriously consider it for myself though. It turns heads better then Z but once you bag a chick, don't expect to tag her if she's getting a ride somewhere in that thing. Make sure you tag before, that's all I am saying :) In good hands though it dances with the supercars on the track.

^ LOL!!!!!!!!!! That made me laugh. Hmmm, good first hand insight to your track experiences. The only chick I would bag and tag would be the Mrs and I can FORCE her to ride in the car!!!! Werd up... But still good thoughts...

All good thoughts guys. I am still leaning heavily toward the Exige. I checked with my insurance person and it would increase my insurance rate about 60 per month.. Not that bad IMO.

SO, let's switch this up a little. Convince me NOT to get the Exige and go with the Z. SOme of you have already hit up on this with your post. I can think of many good reasons to go either way, and although I am heavily leaning toward the Exige S, my mind is still open .... soooo... CHANGE MY MIND!!

1 operating cost over long term much lower
2 acquisition cost much lower
3 more mod'able w/ better aftermarket
4 once setup, will be a faster car
5 people expect lotus to be fast... doesn't live up to its rep... z will outperform its rep
6 the370z.com

i like reason #6

SOLID case Trav....

I like you!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8.../illo/purr.jpg





;)

I had the same choice before i got the Z. I wish i woulda gone with a Lotus. Both car are great, but that Lotus just looks like "MONEYYYY"!!! gotta love it.

I say get a 370Z with Amuse goodies :driving:.

-Hunter

I am not opposed to that!!!!!

I don't really know how you came to this conclusion but Exige S actually wipes the floor with Z. If you are talking about elise or just regular exige, they are comparable but Exige S is a different story.

um...absolutely nothing? LOL...come on. I disagree.

2009 Lotus Exige S 260
Base price $76,120
Price as tested $79,420
Vehicle layout Mid-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
Engine 1.8L/257-hp/174-lb-ft supercharged DOHC 16-valve I-4
Transmission 6-speed manual
Curb weight (f/r dist) 2032 lb (38/62%)
Wheelbase 90.5 in
Length x width x height 149.5 x 68.0 x 45.6 in
0-60 mph 4.3 sec
Quarter mile 13.0 sec @ 107.9 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 105 ft
Lateral acceleration 1.02 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 24.7 sec @ 0.76 g (avg)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ 20/26 mpg
CO2 emissions 0.87 lb/mile


not mopping the floor by any means..
stops 3ft shorter then the Z
.1 sec faster in the 1/4
.22 lat G's better handleing
the only thing it really has is the .6 sec faster 0-60
doesnt justifly the price for me

I chose the Z over getting a Z06...based on travis's reasons above...they are true. For me #3 is not there, but ive had so many Zs that it made #5 very strong. I feel i shoulda got the Z06 instead after owning the Z for a while. However that doesn't mean im unhappy...i love the Z...if you decide to get one...it is real good at what it does.

mini batmobile. Makes me wish i was a midget with a cape

go get em tiger !

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/o...nchkin_man.jpg

I havent read the whole thread and I don't want to be influenced by anyone else's opinion. I think this is a pretty silly question. Completely different cars. If you want a completely focused and uncompromising driving experience that will not be your daily driver, then get the Exige. Sorry folks, I love my Z, but its a heavy ax compared to the medically precise Lotus. On the other hand, if you don't have at least a porsche cayanne as your daily, then chances are the lotus is out of the question. (figuratively speaking for those of you that "dont get it") It is a track toy. If you don't need a track toy then this isn't a choice. If you can't run -3 camber at least all around on R-comps constantly on the car or if you need AC (regardless of whether it has it or not) at any point when driving the car, then get the z.

As far as performance...Stock for stock I'd put my money on the exige. Which car would I rather drive around the track modded? The exige. Which car would I have if I had a second car? The exige. Which car is better for me? The Z. Its more practical and much more of a daily driver than the Lotus. The Z is also a lot more fun to drive around the city. You can't use the finesse of the exige on normal roads and the straight line acceleration isnt exactly mind blowing.

If you are interested in the driving excitement, but you need the practicality and day-to-day of the Z, then get the Z and get a Kart for the weekends. Then mod the Z and enjoy it. I think that's what I'm gonna be doing sooner than later instead of pretending my Z is a race car.

well said .. but that should not limit you from taking your Z to its limit at the track - which can also be very fun - just not as fun as a lotus

These are the Exige S stats I am familiar with.

Price: $76,120 (including destination)
Engine: mid mounted 1.8 liter supercharged inline-4
Max Power: 257 hp @ 8,000 RPM
Max Torque: 174 ft-lbs @ 6000 rpm
Transmission: · 6-Speed Close Ratio with Uprated Clutch Plate and Cover
Drive Type: RWD
Top Speed: 150 mph
0-60 MPH: 4 seconds (0-100 MPH: 10 seconds)
Curb weight: 2,020 pounds
EPA Fuel Economy Estimates: 20 mpg / 26 mpg / 22 mpg (city/highway/combined)
Final Assembly Point: Hethel in Norfolk U.K.

I wonder what the Lotus can do from 80mph and above. I have learned that the 335i and Evo X MR are no match for the 370z at those speeds.

Lotus!! You don't drive that much, and damn, the thing just looks pure butsecks!

Hey! :rolleyes: I resemble that remark (... feigns humility)... let's not write off the Z as a real race car just yet

After reading everyone posts.... I would have to say a Z, then mod. it.

No no no, your Z is a race car. My Z is not! I meant just general daily driven Z's/

Well.. I think I will sit on it for a month or two then make my decision. THX GUYS!!

There are very few people that can drive them to their limit. An instructor in my S2000 (with me in the passenger seat) passed a number of them that were on slicks and we were on street tires. However, the Elise/Exige is MILES faster than an S2000 around a track, given equal drivers.

It's all about who is driving them. With a truly competent driver, they are as quick (stock for stock) as cars with up to double the power (ie, Z06, Porsche 911, Ferrari 360) on tight tracks. They lose out on the straights because their aerodynamics are horrible and they aren't high powered (weight effects are negligible at speeds above 60 or 70 mph and so drag dominates, meaning power is the major requirement for speed).

A properly driven Exige will murder a 350Z/370Z around almost any track. They are beasts. There just aren't many beast masters. ;)

They are not daily drivers for most people. Zero cargo room, loud, harsh, and rough riding. They have virtually no sound deadening and you can hear every pebble and piece of grit you drive over.

Could I DD one? Probably, since I drive under 20 miles a day on good roads. However, it probably wouldn't be that fun since most of it is on 60 mph highways (ie, boring). The Z probably does make a lot more sense to 99% of the population.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.............

Well after 5 pages do we have decision?

LOL!!! Give me some more time to think about it!!

After consider all the good info and pointers, and combing through a Lotus board, I am now leaning back towards a modded 370 Z. I am going to sit on it for about a month or so, then make a final decision...

make sure you are near a lotus dealer for when **** goes wrong... a track car will have issues even when on the worlds most simple tracks (roads)...

that is becoming more of a factor in my decision actually....

I just got back from testing out the 7AT. The tranny is WAY above par for an AT tranny.

However...

For me, it simply is not engaging enough. For some reason, I have more fun driving my wife's CX7 in 'sport' mode than I did driving the Z in 7AT manual mode. Trust me, driving the Z overall is much better than a CX7 or my current RX8, but I just did not feel connected enough.

Wow.. The Z is just a great car however..... I am going for another drive in an Exige when I get back from my business trip, but I think I am going with a White 6MT 370Z.

Join the PW 6MT group...or else! lol.

But for reals, I really like the Z as my daily driver. It is sporty enough to make me smile after a long day at work and comfortable enough that I dont get annoyed of the really rough roads I go over. I think the only thing that bugs me about the Z is this one particular rattle, but from what they say is there are way more rattles in the lotus because it is so stiff and there is hardly if not any sound/vibration proofing.

I haven't driven an elise/exige so I can't say for sure. I am awaiting your decision and if you get the lotus, I want to know of your review after you have logged a few thousand miles in it.

If you can afford the Exige S then go for the Nissan GT-R for a little more and get the best of both worlds.

GT-R is just too big for me.... I need something smaller.

What about the new corvette? If I could afford a $65,000 Lotus I dont think I would be looking at the Z. The Z is a great car for its price range, which is about where most can only go but I think I would be looking for a higher end car to decide between with the Lotus.

Vette's just do not do it for me. The Z06 B A R E L Y does it for me.. I like the size of the Z. Seems just right while the Exige is a tad too small...

Easy one. You should get the Exige. that's my personal opinion.

Well when it comes down to it money is not everything so get what you like regardless of money and all should be good. Between the two, a fully loaded Z would be my choice.