I've driven a friend's Exige 390 and had a revelation... so now I need some help choosing the model

[nerevar]

I drive a 987.2 Boxster S, and I thought I had a sports car. Boy, was I wrong. The Porsche is a couch for middle-aged men compared to the Exige. The 30min Exige drive I had was almost a religious experience. I drove a 992 GT3 on the same road and it doesn't come close to the Exige experience. The steering, the chassis, the noise. Oh. My. God. The noise. I heard the V6 had an amazing sound, but I wasn't ready for this.

So I decided there is no other way but to buy one. I prefer the Roadster in looks, it's also cheaper, and I will mostly use it on the road.

I have only one question: I need that noise. My friend's is a 390 FE (EU version). Is the exhaust on V6 Roadster the same, or do I need to do something to get that sound?

[C8RKH]

Plenty of exhaust options around to be honest. Find the right car for you, then if needed, upgrade the exhaust.

The hard part will be finding the colour/spec you want as just not many around.

Enjoy!

[HXT]

8 hours ago, nerevar said:

I drive a 987.2 Boxster S, and I thought I had a sports car. Boy, was I wrong. The Porsche is a couch for middle-aged men compared to the Exige. The 30min Exige drive I had was almost a religious experience. I drove a 992 GT3 on the same road and it doesn't come close to the Exige experience. The steering, the chassis, the noise. Oh. My. God. The noise. I heard the V6 had an amazing sound, but I wasn't ready for this.

So I decided there is no other way but to buy one. I prefer the Roadster in looks, it's also cheaper, and I will mostly use it on the road.

I have only one question: I need that noise. My friend's is a 390 FE (EU version). Is the exhaust on V6 Roadster the same, or do I need to do something to get that sound?

In a word no.

I think the 390 is the same system as on the 4xx versions. 380’s might be the same/similar.

As stated previously a few options for upgrades, 2ubular seems to be the popular option although I’d read the reviews first as timescales on production seem haphazard at best.

 

[nerevar]

Sorry, I wasn’t clear - I’m looking at first gen V6, Exige S. Any differences between that and 390? Or 350 vs 390?

Edited April 14 by nerevar

[Bravo73]

8 hours ago, nerevar said:

Any differences between that and 390? Or 350 vs 390?

Yes. A totally different supercharger and exhaust system. 
 

Exige V6 = Evora S. 

Exige 390/FE = Evora 400. 

[pete]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=15&t=2044155

[jmcvaughn]

On 14/04/2024 at 08:06, nerevar said:

I drive a 987.2 Boxster S, and I thought I had a sports car. Boy, was I wrong. The Porsche is a couch for middle-aged men compared to the Exige. The 30min Exige drive I had was almost a religious experience. I drove a 992 GT3 on the same road and it doesn't come close to the Exige experience. The steering, the chassis, the noise. Oh. My. God. The noise. I heard the V6 had an amazing sound, but I wasn't ready for this.

So I decided there is no other way but to buy one. I prefer the Roadster in looks, it's also cheaper, and I will mostly use it on the road.

I have only one question: I need that noise. My friend's is a 390 FE (EU version). Is the exhaust on V6 Roadster the same, or do I need to do something to get that sound?

Keep in mind that a Roadster will likely be more difficult to move on, and that the roof comes off on all these cars (see Pete's link and I've got a couple of posts in there). But I do think the interior of this Roadster would do it for me over the white coupes currently on sale for less money: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15578199

Could also buy a hardtop, wing and front splitter to "convert" the roadster and get the best of both worlds, though Roadsters always look better than in reality than in photos.

Yes, you can buy a non-390+ car and retrofit all the required exhaust parts.

 

20 hours ago, nerevar said:

Sorry, I wasn’t clear - I’m looking at first gen V6, Exige S. Any differences between that and 390? Or 350 vs 390?

 

For drivetrain differences, see my post in the thread Pete linked (and quoted below).

Otherwise, pre-350 cars have the old gear linkage which isn't anywhere near as nice apparently (can't comment personally). I believe it's the facelift 350+ cars that have more nicely trimmed interiors (Alcantara etc.). Glass hatch on the older cars.

4 hours ago, pete said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=15&t=2044155

My post in that thread doesn't mention the exhaust bits required as I'm not actually sure. I believe everything after item 2 backwards is required but a specialist will need to clarify that.

Edited April 15 by jmcvaughn

[nerevar]

1 hour ago, jmcvaughn said:

Keep in mind that a Roadster will likely be more difficult to move on, ...

Won’t make a big difference for me, cars like this are hard to move in my country.

 

1 hour ago, jmcvaughn said:

Could also buy a hardtop, wing and front splitter to "convert" the roadster and get the best of both worlds...

I would actually go the other way around. I am a big fan of the wing-less Exige.

 

1 hour ago, jmcvaughn said:

Yes, you can buy a non-390+ car and retrofit all the required exhaust parts.

So just buy the OEM exhaust for 390 and I’m done? 

Any ideas how does Komo-tec exhaust compare in person? That would be a second option for me.

 

1 hour ago, jmcvaughn said:

Otherwise, pre-350 cars have the old gear linkage which isn't anywhere near as nice apparently ...

I heard and already budgeted for Dolomiti Shifter and linkage upgrades. The 390 shifter wasn’t great either, to be honest.

 

Thanks for the response!

[MrD]

Exhaust wise - you'd need the y-pipe as well or at least a link to join them (any exhaust welder can do this) because the diameter of the 380/390/410/430 box is bigger. 

Linkage - yes, the older cars need one and happy to see that there are options out there. Dolomiti if you are in the continent, HPE if you are in the UK. I got the latter, and it's a thing of beauty.

[C8RKH]

4 hours ago, nerevar said:

I would actually go the other way around. I am a big fan of the wing-less Exige.

I'm with you. I think the Roadster looks fabulous.

[jmcvaughn]

17 hours ago, MrD said:

Exhaust wise - you'd need the y-pipe as well or at least a link to join them (any exhaust welder can do this) because the diameter of the 380/390/410/430 box is bigger. 

Linkage - yes, the older cars need one and happy to see that there are options out there. Dolomiti if you are in the continent, HPE if you are in the UK. I got the latter, and it's a thing of beauty.

Oops, I forgot to link the relevant Lotus Parts site link in my last post, this is what I meant by "item 2 onwards". https://parts.lotuscars.com/a/Lotus_2019_Exige-2GR---SC-Sport-410/_50016_9108636/Exhaust-System/12MY_Exige_4501.html (parts site is buggy, if it shows in $, it's actually the same number but in £).

So in reality it might be item 3 onwards it seems...

I haven't added up the costs but you might be better off going with 2bular's EPK or similar, less restrictive also.

Edited April 16 by jmcvaughn

[alias23]

If you're after intoxicating noise just add an intake kit