Lotus Elise & Exige - Subtle and Not So Subtle Differences Explained

Рет қаралды 2,784

Күн бұрын

This is NOT a driving comparison. How well do you really know the differences between the Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige? I'll point out many of the small details to make you a Lotus expert and impress your friends.
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Пікірлер: 32

@nedsgarage 2 ай бұрын

Great video! one other difference (i'm not sure you mentioned) other than clam styling is that i believe the fiberglass process is different between the Exige and Elise. The Elise had a molded process where the Exige had a hand laid fiberglass clam and is thicker and heavier than the Elise clams. I've been watching your all your videos since before i got my Elise so keep up the good work!

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

Correct! I saw Shinoo pointed this out in his video on the Inokinetic channel too.

@nightshifted 2 ай бұрын

Great video! While essentially the same car with some tweaks, many more little differences than one might think!

@tvrduude 2 ай бұрын

Great video as usual Vince. Only a few things I would add... more as a spotters guide. All the wings on the 06 Exiges were black, so easier to spot "sans supercharger". Also those "LSS/Sport" wheels were 6.5" wide fronts. Phasing in starting 2008, those fronts were reduced to 6.0" wide. :( Later wheels after that went to 6.0 fronts and 8.0" rears....further increasing the understeer.. :(

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

Oh great point on the black wings on the 2006 exiges!! Do you know what size rears the other lss wheels were? I know they went to the narrower fronts but did they increase the rears? Funny because you don't hear about the 8" rears being like a coveted upgrade on the forums (or maybe I've not been paying attention!)

@tvrduude 2 ай бұрын

@AtypicalDriver The base and LSS rears were both 7.5" wide. Only the true "rare" later rare wheel sets went to 8" rears . The later Elise SC wheels and I believe the later "Y" Exiges wheels too. Why they wanted to dial in more understeer is beyond me. Only the "lightweight" forged wheels had 7.0" wide fronts, with 8.0" rears. The Lotus Sport Wheels, the Cup 260 wheels, etc.

@tvrduude 2 ай бұрын

@edwardnilges1675 the rears would help to a degree, but the narrow fronts was the issue. Ultimately it achieved what they wanted, probably to aid the "average" driver. Turn some and minor understeer, timid people back off, more turn and still in it nets more push to try to slow driver, but a sudden lift will cause tail to step out... larger width rear ideally catches some of that.

@drew699 2 ай бұрын

Great video as ever. Whilst I love the S2 look of both cars, the very earliest S1 Elise were only 700KG & with the 135 head or upgrade cams etc, 200BHP per tonne is achieved without all the additional weight that the S2 brings. You should try driving an S1 for a comparison with your S2 stable. The weight of a passenger in an S1 is very noticeable. It’s a great shame US didn’t get the S3 Exige - total beast of a car that I am sure would have appealed to the American driver. Thanks for posting.

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback and yes I'd love to drive an S1 Elise! The S3 Exige is honestly one of my favorite cars in the world and I've been looking into options for getting one here in the US. There are a few around for track use only.

@andrewpolasek5524 2 ай бұрын

Really well done video, the only one I've seen to compare the subtle differences on these cars. I like both, but would have to pass on the Exige for that lack of a rear view alone.

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

Thanks I really appreciate the compliment! I felt like I was making a mistake not doing a driving comparison in the video, but there are a lot of those already. Totally agree on the lack of a rear view. I mean I guess you get used to it eventually but when I go to cars & coffee in the Exige and have to back into parking spaces it's always hard.

@ISpinUWin 24 күн бұрын

Options to mitigate lack of rear view: Get a back up camera and/or they make convex mirrors. When using both door mirrors you can see a person behind you unless they are standing dead center in the rear of your car.

@chubuking 2 ай бұрын

This is a really cool video I’ve been looking at these cars for a while and didn’t notice the small differences. For mostly road use and maybe occasional track day which car would be better? I’m guessing the Elise but the exige looks so cool!

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

You can't go wrong with either but I like the Elise better! The increased torque of the supercharger is nice though as the naturally aspirated 2zz only makes 133 ft lbs of torque, which I can probably exert with a break bar, hahah.

@chubuking 2 ай бұрын

@ do you think the supercharger is too much for road use and it’s more to rev the naturally aspirated engine out?

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

@@chubuking No not at all, in fact I think maybe the supercharger would be more fun for road use with the better torque. Truth is, both are great!

@andrewthompson6893 2 ай бұрын

The silver wheel that you say came later on the Exige and Elise is incorrect. That wheel, internally known as the "Exige" wheel, was the first to ever be fitted to the Exige. It only appeared later on the Elise on special editions like the California (or when supplies ran low). Also, the weight difference between the 2006 cars was only 31 lbs, much of which was wheel/tire weight. Fitted with the same wheel/tires combo the cars were as near as makes no difference in weight. Lastly, the 4-pot AP Racing 7624 caliper (semi-gloss black, raised center) was fitted to some 2007 cars, and later replaced with the 7635 4-pot caliper (gloss black, flat face). Overall good job with the video.

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

Wow good catches and thanks for sharing this info. Are there any other Exige wheels? I showed the 5 spokes on the orange 260 in the video but I recall another style too....the 5 spoke lotus sports like you have only came as separate order right (and maybe in the 211 or Cup cars?)

@andrewthompson6893 2 ай бұрын

@@AtypicalDriver Yes, there were several wheels that were supposed to be Exige-only, but Lotus did fit them to special edition Elise cars as well.

@denverhuang1828 2 ай бұрын

The front and rear clam for the exige is also wider than the elise. Track width is wider on the exige as well. Very important point

@andrewthompson6893 2 ай бұрын

This is incorrect. They are identical at 57.4 / 59.3.

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

As a couple of people have pointed out, I think they're the same given the chassis and suspension are all identical. I think it's more of an optical illusion that the Exige looks wider.

@denverhuang1828 2 ай бұрын

The clam shell on the exige is definitely wider than the elise :)

@midlifecarsis6420 Ай бұрын

Yep, the Exige clam is wider but a lot of people (including owners) don't know. Wheel arch liners are a different part number.

@FreeworldOL 2 ай бұрын

If you have two how do you decide which one to drive?

@AtypicalDriver 2 ай бұрын

I mean the running joke is, a true Lotus owner always has a backup Lotus to drive when the other is broken. But honestly they are pretty reliable with the Toyota powertrain!

@FreeworldOL 2 ай бұрын

@ I didn’t know this… that means I’m going to have to get a second one. It was interesting seeing the differences between the two and then also comparing against my little s1.

@haz3004 29 күн бұрын

No LSD? Really? Even my NA mx5 had LSD. Surely there is enough power to spin the inside wheel, especially on uphill hairpin. Is this mitigated by the weight of engine on the rear wheels?

@AtypicalDriver 28 күн бұрын

Yeah no LSD! There are a few places where I do spin the inside tire sometimes on the Elise at the track, but have never had it happen on the street. I think maybe T7 at Sonoma. I think because the Elise comes with 225 rear tires and usually a very sticky compound (RE-71RS, Yoko AD048 / AD052, etc) and only 190 hp it generally has a lot of grip.