Honest thoughts on My Lotus Exige - Can it Really Handle a 3 Day Journey?

[@76CedricD]

Thank you for sharing. As a Exige 350 sport owner, I would add that, while it is indeed doable, what tends to tire me out during longer trips is the overall noise cabin. As we see you in a couple of shots, I think it is important to recommend to use earplugs / noise cancelling headset for longer drives. The wind level at the side mirror area can be quite pronounced when cruising on the highway, and the very light, racey steering makes it so that even on the highway, in the straight line, you need to be ready for the occasional sudden steer you feel. As a result over longer drives, I would always tire out at the shoulds and upper back. The seats, though they look firm and uncomfortable, are actually very nice for long periods. Enjoy, and thank you all the way from France for your Exige content :-).

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Great points that I forgot to mention in the video, you are 100% correct and I feel exactly the same 😁, how long have you had your Lotus? Have you done a long journey with it?

[@McKeeC91]

I bet this was a blast! So cool to see so many Lotus's (Loti?!) in one spot. That's so awesome there are so many Lotus owners close enough to meet up like this. I may be the only Lotus owner within a 3 hour radius from me so not sure I'll ever to get experience something quite like this. Also not much of anything close worth exploring and there are no views like what you've got there. Love the Exige, looks like an awesome ride.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Yes, there is a very good Lotus community in Auckland (NZ), and we often go for drives and meets together, it's very nice to interact with like minded petrolheads socially when you own these cars, it makes the ownership more fun. Are you based in the US?

[@McKeeC91]

That's so awesome! Jealous of that for sure. I am in the US. I'm sure there are a fair amount of Lotus owners in the US but we're obviously much more spreadout over here and it doesn't help I'm in a fairly rural area with no large cities within 3 hours of me.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@McKeeC91 Lotuses in the US are usually pretty rare right? And I don't think you got the Exige and Elise models there

[@McKeeC91]

@@sundaymorningdrives They are definitely rare in the US. There are some Exiges and Elises here but it's definitely not something you'll see often. I've seen maybe 5 Lotuses in my entire life over here. My love of Lotus started with the Esprit, I've seen one in real life when I was a kid and I fell in love. Also really love the Exige/Elise. Very jealous of yours. I'd love to own one, one day maybe.

[@marial8235]

Enjoyed your film. I took a long trip in my ND Miata and found the road noise a bit tiring, but otherwise it was a similar trip to yours. I have a C6 too and am thinking about a Lotus.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Sounds like a fun trip with the MX5, I used to have a ND2 as well, loved it, but I sold it for the Lotus 😆. I think if you enjoy the purity of driving, a Lotus Elise or Exige is best in that price bracket.

[@constantinrenoir8273]

Very great job man! Great heel and toe at 1:43! It could be fantastic to fix a camera on the pedalbox for next videos to film your awesome footwork. ;)

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Haha, thank you, I am no pro, just enjoys driving and how to drive these cars properly. But a foot cam is a great idea! I might give it a go next time, it will be difficult with the limited space in the Exige though 😆

[@constantinrenoir8273]

@@sundaymorningdrives Great, thank you very much! :D

[@samueldowney2806]

Actually that was a cleaner heel and toe than I seem to manage!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@samueldowney2806 you are too modest Sam 😆, did you participate in the 75th Anniversary Event?

[@samueldowney2806]

@@sundaymorningdrives I managed to miss it! There will be other opportunities for great runs :)

[@AtypicalDriver]

Beautiful Exige! I've done some road trips in my s2 Elise...including about ,2,000 miles roundtrip to Utah for the annual lotus owners gathering. PS. My wife is from Palmerston North

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Wow, really? That's really cool! Have you been to NZ? There are some amazing roads here to explore 😀

[@AtypicalDriver]

@@sundaymorningdrives I've been there once. Looking forward to going back!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@AtypicalDriver nice nice, let me know if you come, we can go out for a drive, haha

[@AtypicalDriver]

@@sundaymorningdrives that'd be fun! So can I ask, how expensive is a Lotus Exige S3 there? If I recall, cars are pretty expensive in NZ?!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

@@AtypicalDriver car prices are ok here, not as cheap as US or UK, but cheaper than Australia and most Asian countries. The Exige when new was about NZD175k

[@itslev4404]

Thanks for the video. This 8s exactly what I was lo9kmg for to gather info on useable space etc.

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Not much storage space in the Exige

[@mikeyerke3920]

Awesome video!! I wish I was there. I just ripped the Honda XR650L in the snow! Sick!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Haha, nice one Mike! We are enjoying our lovely summer here in NZ, have a merry Xmas and happy new year!

[@mikeyerke3920]

@@sundaymorningdrives Thanks man, always a pleasure to hear from you guys down there!

[@peterhuang172]

Wow..... Amazing! Were you exhausted after 3 days of driving? I know I would😅

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Not really, had so much fun, really envy the club members that went to the South Island 😆

[@peterhuang172]

Fabulous! You should join them to the S. Island next time

[@kimyee2010]

Nice!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Roadtrip in the Exige is doable, haha

[@samueldowney2806]

Thank goodness you ended on a post wash shot, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to handle it! I hit wet cement when coming back from Akl around that time also and nearly had a heart attack when I saw the car at home! We have some fabulous country and roads in NZ but the state of most of those roads is a disgrace, as this video shows. Great video and thanks for putting this one together! I've been keen to see what I missed out on on this trip! Never been on the Desert Road before???!!! Typical Aucklander....Lol. Did you hit the Rimutaka Hill in your travels? That's fantastic when traffic free ;) Loved the little test pull between the 390 and Rev400 also ;) Great Video!

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Ahh... damn, totally forgot about the speedo 😅, it's a shame you couldn't join us, it was really really fun driving with the Lotus guys. And yes, washing it clean was very therapeutic 😆

[@safvanak779]

Pop

[@sundaymorningdrives]

Huh?