Lotus Exige Sport 350 Review
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2017
- In this week's exciting episode of JayEmm on Cars, we drive the mad, bad Exige Sport 350. Now it has been joined by the 380, does the 350 still cut it as a car?
Join me in a very rainy Surrey to find out!
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Just found your channel and now I want a lotus.
He has probably sold more Lotuses (Loti?) than Lotus.
Great review James, I went from a C63 coupe to a new 350 sport in January just like your pal. Loving it, been on a track once and it was superb. I use it as my DD (yes even to the supermarket) and don't have a problem with usability. I will say, it gets more attention than anything I had before. I also just had the soft top conversion done by central lotus. It's easy to take the roof off and store in the boot, with just enough room to get a small bag or two in as well and it now sounds even better! If anyone is thinking about one, go test drive but take your cheque book, you'll want one....
hi Gareth, how much was the conversion to soft top with roof etc?
Im guessing the hard top does not fit in the trunk, that was the soft top you were referring to.
If you got a new one, did you try the 380, or didn't bother with it?
How much discount % did you get overall off your new car and you got it from Central Lotus?
thanks
gary
Good video on a great car. I test drove one of these last year (I have a Nissan GT-R which I’ve owned for 8 years) and it completely blew me away. As soon as I pulled away in it, it felt special. The feedback you get through the wheel, the handling, the connected feel, well, it’s just bloody marvellous, that’s what it is.
In an ideal world I would have one in a shot but I can’t afford both cars. Would selling the Datsun be a big regret, would I miss it so much? I don’t know but, that test drive, it’s stayed with me. If anyone asks me what car would I have next, the Exige 350 Sport is my answer straight away.
thanks James for another straight talking video. Particularly like the idea of avoiding a test drive for fear of falling in love rather than thinking sensibly...
Good content as usual Mr M
coming from Audi RS5 and Golf R, collected my Sport 350 2 weeks ago. I am deeply in love with it. as always great content Jay! thx
if it was new, what kind of discount did you get from lotus?
just curious as I am thinking about one now
great video, i test drove one a few weeks ago, and has made me decide to sell my e92 m3 and go for one! cant wait to get one now
Your videos are so much help in letting me know about the Lotus range. My heart is set on the Exige 350 now, I wouldn't need anything else and that's already enough performance for my ability.
Glad to be of service!
I’ve driven an Exige 350 sport.
1) They are low. OK. Your driving sight line looks like a front bumper mounted gopro. The top of your head is at the same level as the top of a saloon car door.
2) Stating the obvious here. It feels like a race car on the road. Steering so good and direct. Suspension on UK roads firmish but very good, comfortable. The exhaust sounds amazing. Goes round a roundabout like it’s on literal rails.
A ton of hardcore fun to drive. Probably more exciting than a fast 800cc motorbike with 105 bhp.
Great car and enjoyed the vid, keep up the good work James
Another great video, James! I set up a CZcams account just to subscribe to your channel--you deserve more exposure!
Got mine on Friday, a white one as well!! Love it already
Good video, very professional style and commentary
I've just been to see one of these today and just like you I've refused to test drive... 😂... I can't hold off much longer though!
Thanks for the video - good review!
Great video once again - quality content
Love the ending. :D
excellent editorial!
Nice one James... been waiting for you to take a Sport 350 out. Even with the Sport 380 & Cup offers, I recon the Sport 350 is the sweet spot .
Fantastic review
You're awesome James. Have you seen Jay Leno's Elan?
Enjoyable review. You're a natural. TC
I wish series 3 Exige was available in North America.
I'm not sold on the black hump on the bonnet, it's the only thing I'm unsure of, oh an the leaf collectors behind the doors (air Intake) but that's on every sporty car and it's wife. I love the shape, I love my Z4 when I look in my mirrors and see my extra wide back and mines tiny compared to your motor. I think that's the greatest thing about sports cars, it makes me feel 10 again.
Or go with the glass panel variant on the V6s, quite a bit heavier though mind you, and £1,800-ish apparently. :)
Jolly good. Don't stop.
I think they represent fantastic value, the only other car that can deliver the same experience is a GT3 and they are twice as much. I love both cars though
I do need to 'test fit' one of these....
Interesting comparison Vs the GT3, 0-60, similar ish, but how often is that used? Certainly not a representative figure on track, 60-100 however. Now you're talking, and the GT3 is quicker there, no doubt about it. But as you quite rightly put, for twice the price, so it should be.
Having driven the holy triumvirate of S3 exiges now, in the USED market, i'd argue the 350 represents the best value between that, the 380 and the original V6S.
Great video (y)
I own a 350 and was tempted by the 380, but the look of the 350 won me over. The 380 is a weapon and an aerodynamic beast, but all the wings (specially the rear spoiler) give it a "fast and furious" design...
The 350 is so slick but I admit -more power would be great.
an aftermarket exhaust (like Larini) and a custom tune would solve the problem.
previously I owned a Bemani Exige MK2 with almost 300hp. With the semislicks and even less weight it was crazy fast around the corner. This is also the biggest difference with the 350.
having said that, I wouldn't custom tune any car anymore -just for warranty reasons and resell value.
Great video, I now want one especially after seeing one in the flesh the other day, how is it for road trips ? And stupid question does it have a cup holder?
Actually much better than you think for road tripping - and one can buy a cup holder although it might be an aftermarket one. They do exist. There is a space for a cup between the seats as standard anyway
JayEmm on Cars thanks for the reply , re cup holder question, girlfriend is looking for a little practicality , but think she will be happy driving one of these , really enjoyed your lotus vids and totally put me off the Ftype , will have to compare against the 997 gts tho
What would you say is the major difference between the series 2 exige with the S260 1.8 liter tune and this V6 350? Does having less weight still feel better than the more powerful torquey V6? Less understeer in the lighter Series 2? I have the S260 and my biased opinion thinks that it's better proportioned. 🙂 thanks for the great videos.
James Martin thanks. I just took the Exige to cars and coffee. Always looks great and turns head but I have to say it is very hard to live with now since I moved to the city. Thanks fully it's not my daily driver. I have decided to sell it. It needs to be driven in a mountainous and track environment.
Good review James, i've just done a deal with Jamie and bought that car. :)
You can tell B&C this helped lead to a sale of their car, all the best matey :)
Hey James ! At quite the same price would you get the 350 or the Elise Cup 250? In which features do you think the cup 250 is better ?
James Martin speaking about road only, I just drove the 350 and it's great in engine and high speed turns where I think is superior over the 250 but I am guessing maybe on road you would apreciate more the less weight, the agility and precision of the Cup250. With the 350 I was struggling to keep a caterham pace in mountain roads. I ll watch your next videos than !
Guess this is a taster for the next video with the 380. Can't wait, can't wait to win the lottery! :)
know this lotus I love! does it feel much quicker than your 400? if only I was not 6ft 3 tall "
will have to try to have sit in exige" would be lot better with hard top removed in summer! Is it easy to put top back on when in the car?
Jay, (that is your first name ? ) How would the Exige behave (on the street, nice roads, nice weather . . . fluent ride) without the giant rear wing ?
+DirkDucat It's James and the Exige works great - havr a look at my review of the Exige Roadster to see what it looks like.
The wing only really plays a part above 100mph or on track
Once my driving ban is over this is the car I’m going to buy!
Bravo!
I wish the Exige still came to the USA.
Next model,Exige 430 Type-LM.Well, I'll be damn if they make an Exige 450.
Hangar111 / Komotec, job done :)
we just want a fucking cold start and revs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One Day James...
Can you get these cars easily in Canada?
+Aamir Qureshi I dont think so? You can get them in the USA just not for road use
That just crushed my dreams 😢
...why is is always p*$$*ng down when you test drive a new Lotus? i still feel they are only marginally a step up from a kit-car sans an Evora.
..ty for the response....very informative review!
Everything perfectly balanced. Who needs ludicrous horsepower?
lotus, please buff the petrol tank.
The race mode is not quite suitable for me, it slows 2 second of my lap time.
James Martin I turn everything off, no traction control.
Harry Zhao, that's because you've uprated the supercharger to the TVS1900, though, correct? much more torques. I'm not surprised the race mode is struggling with this augmented power delivery. :)
Martin Palmer Hi Martin, I try the race mode when the car was stock. I have never used the race mode after the supercharger upgraded.
That is interesting, here in the UK, the used Exige S3 market is slowly moving, if your car does NOT have race pack, it will be very unpopular.
Knife to a sword fight... not gun fight. LOL...
great video, *considering letting the C63 wagon go for one of these* :) not sure where my 2 girls would sit. Seriously though, would love to swap my supercharged VX220 for the 350!!
Any chance you can review what is possibly the best car in the World; The Toyota GT86? :D
Ooh, well I'm in England at the tail end of July, so I can lend you mine - depends if I can spare the time, though. Where are you based? Down south?
I was there today.... rude staff
Aloof... unfriendly
Completely put me off the brand
And there were several rusty exige’s out front only a couple years old .... will stay clear and go to Porsche!
Rusty Exiges? Which bit of them was rusting exactly?
JayEmm on Cars spoilers, screws in the trim, breaks & discs looked awful.... it wasn’t subtle .... most of the screws
@@joshuawright4142 brake discs will always rust when a car sits still. Your experience is different from almost everyone else that I know who has been there. They are a brilliant dealership and exceedingly friendly.
JayEmm on Cars yes I had a very different experience. Incredible condescending.
The rust was on all bolts and screws holding all of the trim, splitters and especially on the spoilers - .... less than 2 years old ... top of the range ‘Cup’