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Exige S 240 - price justification?
Given the $65k price tag of the 2008 Exige S 240 (near $70k with a few options packages), how can someone justify buying this vehicle over a similarly-priced Nissan GT-R?
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They are not even REMOTELY similar. One is a 3800-lb GT that makes for a pretty good all-around sports car and the other is the purest sports car on the market.
You can't look at cars like Pokemon cards, where each car has its own set of "stats" and "numbers" attached to it. They are to be driven and your analysis should come from how they drive. Since you probably won't drive either, just listen to what our friends here at Edmunds have to say.
I own a Lotus so I can tell you first hand it's ruined pretty much any other car for me.
Hilarious - I'll have to remember that one!
Great analogy for a recurring theme here and elsewhere on other auto enthusiast forums. Some people just don't get it, and never will.
I delivered a 1997 McLaren F1 to a guy in the Portland area a few months ago. We met at a local supermarket as he didn’t think I could get my truck into and out of his drive. He asked me to follow him to his house in the F1, which I reluctantly did. When we got there, he had me back the car into a steel building that was approximately 150’ x 50’. As I backed the car to the back of the building to the spot he had set aside for his new car, I noticed that the building was completely full of exotic cars. I also noticed that he had 6 Lotuses lined up together. On our ride back to my truck (in an Enzo no less) we talked cars. This guy is one of the very rare collectors that actually drives all of his cars (and drives them like he stole them, I might add). In the course of our conversation, I asked him about having so many Lotuses, as they were clearly outclassed by the likes of his Enzo and F1, and other exotics. I mentioned that Lotus claims that they are the best handling car ever made and asked him for his opinion. His answer was that they are by far the most fun to drive of all his cars.
That to me is the best endorsement Lotus could ever hope to get. Here’s a guy who has what must be a $100 million car collection. He drives these cars all time. He just paid $1.7 million for an F1 and is out cruising in an Enzo, and he says that his Lotuses are his favorite. Think about that for a few minutes and then continue contemplating if Lotus can justify its prices.
Really can't... it's personal. This, the 240S, is my second Exige. I bought the first release to the US in 06 and it was a N/A engine. Love it, still drive it, and it performs like no other car I've owned. I passed on the 07 S because I knew this was coming stateside in 08. I've had my share of BMWs, Mercs and Porches, great cars, but they don't hold a candle to the thrill factor that the Lotus gives me. Granted, it's apples and oranges as a comparison.... but really, a Japanese car of this style against this fine little Heathle spawn? At least use an Accura NSX, even if it is a bit piggish. The 240S rules! Sweet candy doesn't even come close!
Now I'm not knocking the GT-R, it's a nice car... but not as good as a performer as the Lotus. You'd have to drive one to really understand the draw and mind set for this type of vehicle, it's not fancy, utilitarian or luxy.... if fact it's down right spartan but it drives like no other car out there and no other can. It not about horsepower, as others can out perform it... in a straight line, but put this honey on a twisty track or back canyon road and it is almost (if not) better than sex. There I said it, and I dare any other Lotus owner to disclaim that! The biggest draw back I can think of is having a passenger in the car. This is a personal car built in F1 roots and that's what it meant for. So like the person above said, it's something to think about.
Thumbs up on the Pokeman card comparison
Do you want a car that is fast, and does everything for you? That's the GTR. To me, as an enthusiast, I appreciate it, but it's totally cheating
Or do you want a driver's car? With the lotus, you'll be doing the grunt work, *you* will be doing the racing, not the car. If you never ever plan to take your car to the track, I'd just go with the GTR.
Seriously though, it takes a week to build an Exige - much of it by hand. Low volume, exotic materials, and hand craftmanship costs money. Worth every penny if you ask me...