Is a Lotus Exige just a hard top Elise??

Arkaign

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Oct 27, 2006
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Elise is available in lower levels of power output. Exige output starts at the 111R output IIRC, but yeah, they're the same platform/car.
 

JulesMaximus

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Jul 3, 2003
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The Exige has a removable hard top and the engine cover is different, it also has a small spoiler on the back. The Exige S has a supercharger but they've since released a supercharged S model for the Elise.
 

AMCRambler

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Jan 23, 2001
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I thought the Exige had a whole bunch of carbon fiber parts to lighten it up as well as a lot of the interior extras removed to reduce weight too?
 

Arkaign

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It varies on market I think. In the UK IIRC, Elise were available with low-output configurations, whereas Exige and Exige S were standard with higher-output motors. It's all a bit confusing.
 

JulesMaximus

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Jul 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I thought the Exige had a whole bunch of carbon fiber parts to lighten it up as well as a lot of the interior extras removed to reduce weight too?

It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.
 

ItTheCow

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Apr 7, 2002
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I thought the Exige had a whole bunch of carbon fiber parts to lighten it up as well as a lot of the interior extras removed to reduce weight too?

It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.
Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable
 

cheesehead

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Aug 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.

It's actually slightly heavier - and I'm pretty sure that the hardtop isn't removable, either. However, the increased chassis stiffness allows for greater power output (up to 260HP) and more agressive suspension settings. If you want to perform an engine swap or turbocharge the Toyota engine (one tuning company guarantees 400HP!), the Exige might make a bit more sense.
Originally posted by: ItTheCow

Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable

The current Toyota-engined NA Elise weighs only 1,896 pounds. The original version of the car, which lacked carpets, air conditioning, a stereo, and many other amenities, only weighed 1,587 pounds. The hardcore version of the car called the "211" weighs only 1,477 pounds and produces 260 horsepower - but it hasn't even got a windshield
 

JulesMaximus

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Jul 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.

It's actually slightly heavier - and I'm pretty sure that the hardtop isn't removable, either. However, the increased chassis stiffness allows for greater power output (up to 260HP) and more agressive suspension settings. If you want to perform an engine swap or turbocharge the Toyota engine (one tuning company guarantees 400HP!), the Exige might make a bit more sense.
Originally posted by: ItTheCow

Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable

The current Toyota-engined NA Elise weighs only 1,896 pounds. The original version of the car, which lacked carpets, air conditioning, a stereo, and many other amenities, only weighed 1,587 pounds. The hardcore version of the car called the "211" weighs only 1,477 pounds and produces 260 horsepower - but it hasn't even got a windshield

I wasn't sure. I rented an Elise for 4 days a couple years ago though...it is without a doubt the most rewarding and fun car I've ever driven. Pure sports car with zero compromise.

I'd be very happy with an Elise, even more so with the S model. I like having the ability to go topless. ;)
 

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.

It's actually slightly heavier - and I'm pretty sure that the hardtop isn't removable, either. However, the increased chassis stiffness allows for greater power output (up to 260HP) and more agressive suspension settings. If you want to perform an engine swap or turbocharge the Toyota engine (one tuning company guarantees 400HP!), the Exige might make a bit more sense.
Originally posted by: ItTheCow

Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable

The current Toyota-engined NA Elise weighs only 1,896 pounds. The original version of the car, which lacked carpets, air conditioning, a stereo, and many other amenities, only weighed 1,587 pounds. The hardcore version of the car called the "211" weighs only 1,477 pounds and produces 260 horsepower - but it hasn't even got a windshield

I wasn't sure. I rented an Elise for 4 days a couple years ago though...it is without a doubt the most rewarding and fun car I've ever driven. Pure sports car with zero compromise.

I'd be very happy with an Elise, even more so with the S model. I like having the ability to go topless. ;)

My big ass (6'5, 205) can't fit in one, so I'm hoping to give a Noble a shot one day.
 

Apex

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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www.gotapex.com
Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.

It's actually slightly heavier - and I'm pretty sure that the hardtop isn't removable, either. However, the increased chassis stiffness allows for greater power output (up to 260HP) and more agressive suspension settings. If you want to perform an engine swap or turbocharge the Toyota engine (one tuning company guarantees 400HP!), the Exige might make a bit more sense.
Originally posted by: ItTheCow

Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable

The current Toyota-engined NA Elise weighs only 1,896 pounds. The original version of the car, which lacked carpets, air conditioning, a stereo, and many other amenities, only weighed 1,587 pounds. The hardcore version of the car called the "211" weighs only 1,477 pounds and produces 260 horsepower - but it hasn't even got a windshield

I wasn't sure. I rented an Elise for 4 days a couple years ago though...it is without a doubt the most rewarding and fun car I've ever driven. Pure sports car with zero compromise.

I'd be very happy with an Elise, even more so with the S model. I like having the ability to go topless. ;)

My big ass (6'5, 205) can't fit in one, so I'm hoping to give a Noble a shot one day.

You're right at the limit there too. The biggest owners are 6'6" and ~250 lbs. It depends on your torso to leg ratio.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
923
126
Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


It might be a tad lighter but we're talking maybe 100lbs. Have you seen the interior of a Lotus Elise? There isn't a whole lot you could remove from it.

It's actually slightly heavier - and I'm pretty sure that the hardtop isn't removable, either. However, the increased chassis stiffness allows for greater power output (up to 260HP) and more agressive suspension settings. If you want to perform an engine swap or turbocharge the Toyota engine (one tuning company guarantees 400HP!), the Exige might make a bit more sense.
Originally posted by: ItTheCow

Considering the Elise weighs somewhere in the mid 2000's, 100 lbs is pretty noticeable

The current Toyota-engined NA Elise weighs only 1,896 pounds. The original version of the car, which lacked carpets, air conditioning, a stereo, and many other amenities, only weighed 1,587 pounds. The hardcore version of the car called the "211" weighs only 1,477 pounds and produces 260 horsepower - but it hasn't even got a windshield

I wasn't sure. I rented an Elise for 4 days a couple years ago though...it is without a doubt the most rewarding and fun car I've ever driven. Pure sports car with zero compromise.

I'd be very happy with an Elise, even more so with the S model. I like having the ability to go topless. ;)

My big ass (6'5, 205) can't fit in one, so I'm hoping to give a Noble a shot one day.

Yeah, I'm 5'11" and average weight so the Elise fits me like a glove. :D