CSL > Exige

[KPNUTZ]

CSL > Exige. Anyone done this or is anyone lucky enough to own both? It was a toss up between the CSL or an Exige 240/260, the CSL won but I still find myself drawn to the Exige.

[Mike R]

Originally Posted by KPNUTZ

CSL > Exige. Anyone done this or is anyone lucky enough to own both? It was a toss up between the CSL or an Exige 240/260, the CSL won but I still find myself drawn to the Exige.

A mate has one and I have driven it loads of times (but only on track) - it's great fun, but the CSL is easier to control on the limit (not sure if this is down to the open diff or mid-engined lay-out of the Exige).

The Exige is one of my all time favourite cars - but I still bought the CSL instead .

[alexk]

Originally Posted by Mike R

but the CSL is easier to control on the limit

Hi Mike, going to tease you now
Did you already took the CSL on it's limit ?

[Barry C]

I go to the track with a lot of Exige/Elise owners. They are great cars, particularly on tight circuits and for me it really depends on what type of driving you want to do.

If you want to drive the car often on the road, the Exige would be a pain in the ass to be climbing in and out of all the time.

The Elise/Exige don't have enough top end grunt for the Nurburgring, I found they get blown in to the weeds at anything over 100 mph.

If you go to the track a lot, you'll find it way cheaper to run an exige. Tyres and consumables are way cheaper.

A couple of guys I know have put K20 Honda engines in them and they really fly!

[KPNUTZ]

Cheers chaps, as I suspected really and a couple of reasons why I opted for the mighty CSL. The low rent interior really put me off as I use the car some days to commute.

Love the look of them though and they seem to be more precise with regard to steering but the lack of top end grunt would be an issue.

[gingernuts]

I test drove a few before I bought the CSL, and would still have if i have a second car to use. Drive beautifully but any sort of commuting in it would become tiresome. The fourpot engine for me sounded a bit boring too even with a stage 2 exhaust. And having to take a running jump to try and slide into it everytime would also get a bit old fast I think.

[Mike R]

Originally Posted by alexk

Hi Mike, going to tease you now
Did you already took the CSL on it's limit ?

Its only got Michelin Pilot Super Sports on, so it's very easy to provoke and it LOVES to slide .

I used to have a 1275kg / 515bhp / 420ftlb Sapphire Cosworth with just 235 tyres on the back, that would leave 11s EVERYWHERE up to 90mph. So 1385 kg / 360bhp / 273lbft feels like someone has stolen a few cylinders .

Suffice to say that the CSL 100% needs the Turner Motorsport rear trailing arm limiter kit, as it feels a bit wayward. Does that answer adequately ?

[glendog74]

I've always liked them too but i would not consider chopping the CSL for one...

[Mike R]

In Cup spec, the gearboxes are known to be fragile,the intercooling on them is horrendous as well, with charge temps high enough to cook with LOL (hence why they have to run so rich).

[EVLXGE]

I had a 220 Exige S from new in 2007. Did 18,000 miles in 18 months.

Brilliant fun and as said cheap as chips to run, only things mine had other than normal services, tyres and a set of pads. Where rear toe links under warranty and the Alpine head unit cd player packed in. Not bad for 18k hard road and track use.

They are perfect for small twisty tracks and probably the right amount of power for the road. You could actually use the performance.
As Barry said though on the ring you feel like your going backwards sometimes, im sure my clio 200 was quicker

I only sold mine as I wanted something with a 'proper' engine and more grunt hence the move to a CSL.

For the money though, the performance (below 100) is fantastic and for sense of occasion theres not a lot out there to compete.