The Exige is Dead
Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:45 pm
I've had the Exige for approaching 5.5 years now, in which time I've managed to put just over 25 thousand miles on it. With just under 35k on the clock, it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that it would likely need some work doing to it for it to remain fresh and any increase in performance was going to cost a significant amount, of which I'd see very little back. With that in mind, the Exige is dead...
...long live the Exige.
I started looking at replacements around the turn of the year and all of the usual suspects entered my mind. Having driven various GT3s over the years, they are undoubtedly very impressive bits of kit, but they just seemed to lack a little bit of intensity of the Lotus to my mind. I did consider a GT4, but again thought they may be just a little bit too polished for my tastes. I was also mindful that I'd be terrified of putting too many miles on either given my budget, and also the spectre of big bills should something go wrong. A certain secret agent from around these parts had to put up with several weeks of my indecisiveness around what to opt for, but in the end however and, in an amazing display of a complete lack of imagination, this Cup 430 has just turned up.
It's the first one off the production line having been owned by the previous owner since new. Metallic black with black alcantara/carbon interor. It's also had 4 point Schroth harnesses fitted, together with a speaker upgrade and slimline sub in the footwell (lightweight of course). Most importantly, it's somewhat unique in that I'm fairly confident it's the only Cup 430 with a cupholder. A Cup 430 Cup, if you will.
The spec and various additions over the years are as I would have ordered/done to the car, even down to little details like the painting of the carbon roof (as I think it looks fairly disjointed if left naked), the removal of the matt black transfer surround of the carbon engine cover that they normally have fitted (which I think looks pretty cheap) and the gloss black Lotus lettering against the matt black rear section. The previous owner had first class taste to my eyes.
I've only had it out briefly, but on first impressions it's a world apart from the old Exige. My old car was putting out in the region of 370bhp and 295lb ft as it had been fettled slightly. This has closer to 440bhp and 325lb ft of torque (they're reportedly a little healthier than official figures suggest). It also weighs almost 100kg lighter. As such, when punching it in second, it's completely breath-taking. You can really feel the difference in weight too as, when combined with the 3-way Nitrons and the forged wheels or Cup 2s, it's got a simply astonishing front end. It makes the older car feel resolutely flat footed in comparison. The Nitrons are amazing too, as it feels well controlled but not fidgety or crashy. Undoubtedly more focussed, but not at all tiresome.
It's fair to say I absolutely love it already and cannot wait to be able to use it properly.
serious bit of kit - like it!
Love the photo comparison. Hadn’t appreciated how much further the diffuser in the 430Cup extends til I saw that.
