Project Lotus Exige

[Evan]

I guess its finally time I start one of these threads



The car as it sits now:
2006 Lotus Exige
Track Pack (with sweet ass remote resevoir bilsteins)
Touring Pack
LSD
Moroso baffled pan
2 peice aluminum hat rotors

The plan:
first stage will be to make it a better street driver and fix some of the cars drawbacks

-swap to street rotors and pads (done)
-New tires (done)
-Install HIDs to fix truly pathetic lighting
-Install Multivex sideview mirrors to help with poor rearview visibility
-Install softtop supports for top down pimpin
-Install rear view camera for more rearview help
-Upgrade terrible stereo system. nothing fancy, just better speakers and maybe a better headunit
-possibly get clearbra paint protector stuff
-fab some sidevent grills where the dumbass previous owner removed them :finger:

the future:
new wheels
boost....?
K20/K24...?

[SlimKlim]

Totally. Bitchin.



DIBS ON FIRST RIDE!!!

[ScottyB]

no yellow MM sticker?

what kind of gauge package does it come with? oil press/temp might be nice to have. also does the engine fall out of VVTi going from first/second like a stock celica GTS or did Lotus do their own tune on the engine management?

you may also want to look into a forcefield to keep people away from the plastics ala John's experience

[Goodspeed]

No vids/pic montage of you getting in and out?

I was checking one out the other day (I still don't think you can do the above) and I'd definitely go for the clear shielding. This Exige had it everywhere and it obviously helped...that car is a prime target for road rash.

Still want one....BAD.

[Evan]

no yellow MM sticker?
going from first/second like a stock celica GTS or did Lotus do their own tune on the engine management?

its funny, theres actually no place to put a MM sticker. i guess I could do the window? that would look strange though. not much glass on this car.
Lotus does their own tune, and I can say with much experience that the car stays in VVTLiLTTVTLiii :mrgreen:

No vids/pic montage of you getting in and out?

its not that bad, honest! In my wedding I wanted to drive it from the church to the reception but my wife nixed that idea. Had to settle for a '45 jaguar. drag 8)

I actually had a guy on another forum PM and seriously ask me for a video of me getting in and out..... :lol:

[Evan]

oh yeah, this thing. I still have it.

Ive been working on it a little lately so I suppose its time to update the not-entirely-exciting things that I did a while ago

HIDz y0! headlights with stock halogens are pretty pathetic.


Interesting install since there is no front hood on the car, just the headlight cavity itself.


mounted the ballasts in the fender well. not much else of a place to put it really.


after installing them, lighting still isnt great but its better. no getting around the fact that the lights are below knee-height. no before/after garage door shots. sorry.

[Evan]

next up- softtop.

exige does not come with soft top compatibility out of the box, the official word from lotus is that its a coupe.
but, elise soft top works just fine with the exige, but you have to install the anchors in the fiberglass of the roll hoop.

first, mask off and cover everything. carefully measure. very carefully dremel


install the supports


all done

doesnt look as nice as the hard top of course, but the point is that you will only put the softtop on when necessary.

[Evan]

Arlington cops LOVE to give me front plate tickets.

but what to do, Im sure as shit not drilling into the front splitter.

one thing Ive been impressed with about the lotus aftermarket is that there is a solution for everything. you pay out your ass for it, but there is a solution. The solution will also be carbon fiber or CNCed aluminum.

so a custom front plate mount was ordered and installed with limited fuss. Paying money to look like ass sucks.

[Evan]

currently working on installing some carbon fiber bling. pics and a writeup when its done, hopefully this weekend (i want to drive it!)
some more carbon fiber bling is on its way, and Im looking into custom apholstery shops to possibly do some leatherwork on the plasticky interior peices. Also going to get some new seat mounts to drop the seat an inch, and get a better radio and some speakers.
if all that is done before, Ill be very happy. and who knows, maybe celebrate with a track day.

[navin]

The "Great Hate" at the track again? hock:

I remember being at Shenandoah event with you, Mikey, and RJ. I'll let one of those fools drive my car if you make a comeback as well

I picked up some DDM's as well for my 4runner based upon your review in Justin's thread.

[fiveoh2go]

Arlington cops LOVE to give me front plate tickets.

Just curious, as the car that I'm eying right now wasn't really designed to accept a front tag, how much are those tickets? It's just a fix it ticket so no points on your license...correct?

[JustinG]

correct, in richmond and harrisonburg i think its like $90ish.

[fiveoh2go]

correct, in richmond and harrisonburg i think its like $90ish.

Damn, I was thinking it was closer to $25....jeez.

[ispoonwithmugen]

K20/K24 <3

[Evan]

K20/K24 <3

yes. The engine that should have been in this car had Honda not been little punk bitches and rejected Lotus.

However, its a really shitty swap. Lots of fitment drawbacks, trans never feels right, with lots of custom work and an asston of money.

[navin]

Just yoink one of Kaan's 234234 'spares' he has - He won't even notice.

[ScottyB]

However, its a really shitty swap. Lots of fitment drawbacks, trans never feels right, with lots of custom work and an asston of money.

any plans to fortify the 2ZZ a bit more? aftermarket oil pan/ECU/header etc? i like the 2ZZ, its a pretty fair B-series challenger but definitely not a K-killer.

[WRXtranceformed]

I thought the Exige was the boosted Lotus? Love the ride dude, jealous of your weekend car!

[JustinG]

Exige S was SC. Exige is just the hardtop Elise.

[Evan]

any plans to fortify the 2ZZ a bit more? aftermarket oil pan/ECU/header etc? i like the 2ZZ, its a pretty fair B-series challenger but definitely not a K-killer.

well I have this tax return sitting here but no way would I blow it on something stupid

Exige S was SC. Exige is just the hardtop Elise.

"just"?!!?! you shut your whore mouth! its the fastback elise with more downforce and bodywork not-designed by martha stewart