2009 Lotus Exige vs. 1995 Ferrari F355 6-Speed

Before I forget, I wanted to share my thoughts on a test drive I took a couple of months ago when I actually <gasp> considered trading in my 355 for a Lotus.

The Ferrari dealer had taken in a Lotus Exige on a trade and I saw it parked next to my 355 in the consignment lot. I had always wondered what those Lotus cars were all about so on a whim, I asked the salesman for a test-drive. I'm an average-sized guy, 5'9" 160 and fairly fit. To shoe-horn myself into that car was a contortionistic challenge and set the tone for the drive. It actually physically hurt to twist myself into that car.

Once inside, I immediately felt claustrophobic and uneasy due to the cramped cockpit. Even the salesman was grumbling. Firing up the engine was uninspiring, but even more disappointing was the lack of balls when I punched the gas pedal. With the 355, you can feel the power. The Lotus felt like my old 4-cylinder 1990 Jeep Wrangler!

Confused, I turned to the salesman and asked him "Is that all?" referring to the power. He sheepishly told me I'm used to the 430 and 355 and to stick to Ferraris or Lambos. I immediately drove around the block back to the dealership as the salesman berated me for having him suffer thru the test-drive! Hahaha!! I thought that was funny.

In conclusion, I was amazed that my 15 yr old Ferrari blows a practically new 2009 Lotus into the weeds....I think you 355 guys will like this.

 

So I have an '08 Exige S 240. I test drove Elise/Exiges for years--always thought "not very much" of them. Then I drove one on the track--holy crap--far more involving than either my 360 or my 430. And, if you look at stats, the Exige is faster 0-60 than a 355, and is essentially identical to a 360 (depending, of course, on whose numbers you look at). On street tires, my impression is that it will spank the 355 in corners (except perhaps for very fast sweepers--the Exige really starts to run out of steam over 100 mph).

There is nothing street legal that I have driven that is more connected to the road than my Exige. Having said that, the Exige also is a cramped, loud, uninspired sounding, questionably screwed together bug car. But if you enjoy going to the track, it is an a great ride. And it is endearing, in the way that quirky cars often are.

 

Why in the world would you downgrade from a Ferrari 430/360 to a Lotus Exige? The economy?

 

That's a very long story, but no, not the economy. 430 was too much money to risk driving 10/10's at the track. Because of my work schedule, it spent a lot of time sitting in the garage not be driven (didn't want to drive it in sloppy Portland winters, didn't want to drive it to work [patients], and so on). I ended up feeling guilty looking at it, and decided to move on. The Exige S is at a more comfortable price point to both sit (I don't care about driving it in the rain, but the semi-slicks don't like water much) and to risk at the track. The other thing is the 430 is almost too much car for the road. I am the type of driver that likes to probe the limits of what any vehicle can do. I completely understand that is not necessarily an appropriate activity on public roads, but it is more appropriate to probe the limits of a 72 Alfa than an 08 430 (given you are at much lower speeds, cornering g's, etc.)

I should have clarified that for everywhere but the track I'd rather be in 355 (though, as I said, the Exige has its charms, but they absolutely do not reveal themselves on a test drive).

 

You, 160lbs, sales person 200lbs, together 360lbs, which is a 25% increase in the total weight of the Exige. No wonder that is ... all she gave.

Someone asked me how do I make my car lose 50lbs. The answer is watch what you put in the car.

 

Sorry to chime in again, but absolutely true. You really, really notice having a passenger (in terms of diminished go).

 

When I drove the 355 with my linebacker bro, 230-ish, it still had way more balls than the wimpy Lotus. Sorry....

Plus, the salesman was a scrawny 180-ish. So your litmus test was blown into the weeds.

 

An Exige will rape and pillage your 355 in every possible manner, providing it's driven properly, passenger or no. You need to fully warm the car up before it will let you use the full rev range, and as it's a fairly small four banger, you need to wring its neck to go fast. However, when you do, they are very, very fast.

If your experience was lackluster, my assumption would have to be that you either weren't using the full rev range, or something was wrong with the car.

With that said, the Exige/Elise is not for everyone. It is a small, raw sports car built for enthusiasts, which has not been something a Ferrari has been anything like for decades. The 355 has theatre, much more power and torque, and a fairly relaxed driving position. Unfortunately, it also has quite a lot of weight compared to an Exige.

The cabin is indeed small and entry and exit is not something typically accomplished with a great amount of grace, however, the experience does grow on you if you "get" why the Lotus was made the way it is. Show it some twisties and just about every Ferrari made since the F40 feels like a river barge by comparison.

If you're ever in the NY area, you're welcome to come try out my turbocharged Elise. While it's faster than the Exige, it's not that much faster, and perhaps the proof is in having someone who knows what they're talking about take you through the car, which it sounds as though the salesman in question was not.

 

Out of the box they aren't all that 'special'.

But get a N/A Exige, go to sector111 and do some sizeable performance upgrades.

I'm over in Oz and at the moment our main perforamce mag is doing a 'tuner challenge'.

An Elise R with supercharger + other mods. 0-100ks 3.89s, 400m [email protected].

Couple that straight line speed with some R Spec tires + low weight I don't think there would be much that could keep up on a track (in the dry).

But it will never have your 355's amazing engine or sound, and that goes a long way.

 

My point is you take a car that is branded as "light weight with decent power-weight ratio" and add 25% of the weight without changing the power, you will notice the difference. Which really is not a fair thing to do.

 

On pure aesthetics a comparison is inane. The Lotus looks like an ugly kit car. Performance-wise, speaking strictly stock, the 355 is still tops. The Lotus excels at low speed turns in combination like autocross. But as for ergonomics, heh, no average human being can either egress or function in this kiddie car designed for performance-oriented circus clowns. Talking about modifying them kind of takes the discussion to a different level since the comparison never mentions a modified 355.

It is a go cart with few equals in tight twisties but hardly in the same class as any Ferrari.

 

I have the 2 cars, and both have upgrade for the track

Of course the Lotus is much faster in corners, brakes much later but slower on straights.
On most tracks the Lotus is faster, but on fast tracks like Spa Francorchamps, I'll be faster with the F355.

Both cars have the Nitron shocks by the way

But you can't compare the 2 cars about the sound of the engine of course!!

 

to cyclisto:

Yes the Exige is not impressive, not as much as the F355, but when you reach 6200 rpms, it is like a kick in the ass!
On technical tracks, with good shocks absorbers, new pads and a good geometry you can smoke almost all Ferraris excluding the Scud

 

Interesting perspective....

I'll be glad to give you another view of the Exige at the FCA VIR track days next summer.

Bring it on brother

Sincerely,

Ex F355 owner

 

I had a supercharged Elise and now have a 355. The Elise was faster overall. Did you give time for the temp to come up above 160, because the ECU won't let you use the second cam until the engine is warm (and that makes all the difference). Trust me, with the MP62 supercharger and a good ECU tune, this car was fast! I even did a highway run against a tuned 355 and i'd say they are very evenly matched. Sure it's small, but that's why it's great! I really miss this car.
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See license plate above

 

I've got Nitron double adjustable shocks, different control arms, and other goodies to get more negative camber. Also running Cobalt Friction race pads. It is an absolute joy on the track.

 

My business partner (a 348 owner) just picked up a supercharged (2007) Exige. My first impression (driving it fully warmed up, and alone) was that the Exige doesn't feel anywhere near as fast as my 355. The test numbers, however say the Exige is quicker.

We're taking the Exige to the track this Sunday, so it will be interesting to see if it feels faster out there.

 

There's a lot more to a car than the numbers.

An exige being slightly quicker than an F355 would make me desire it as much as a Pinto that's slightly quicker than an F355, which is to say, not at all.

 

Agreed,

There is much more to a car than the numbers that it makes. No car is perfect for everyone. I really love the Lotus, it is chassis is race car stiff and it is a blast to drive. Don't dismiss the car based on the motor, it is a fast car until 140 (with stock exhaust). It is truely a bullet proof car that I drive daily.

It is the exact oppisite of a F355, it is no wonder to me that owners of these cars have little interest in the other brand.

 

+355

I was NOT feelin the passion that I feel when I drive my 355 and/or 430.

 

How could you even compare a 355 to a lotus?
isn't a exige have a toyota engine or something???

 

Another reason why the exige is so awesome. For the price of a 355 major service, you can buy at least 4 brand new 2zz motors, haha. And each of those motors will probably last 200k miles with only oil changes. Toyota actually hired Yamaha to build these motors. The cylinder head on my Elise was cast with Yamaha insignia.

 

Yes but at the end of the day you are getting out of a lotus and not a ferrari...

 

Generally, Lotus drivers are more interested in performance than image.