2008 Lotus Exige s problems
The Lotus Exige /ɛɡˈziːʒ/ is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family, featuring a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four. Convertible versions of both models are available.
Series 1
The original Exige was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1.8 L Rover K Series Inline-four engine in VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) tune. It is rated at 177 hp (132 kW; 179 PS) at 7,800 rpm in standard form. There was also a "track spec" version with 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, and a claimed top speed of 219 km/h (136 mph). 0–97 km/h (60 mph) was achieved in 4.7 seconds and 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds.
The first generation Exige bodywork was based on that of the Series 1 Elise, which was produced from 1996-2000, although the Elise was updated soon after the introduction of the Exige. The Exige added a non-removable hardtop, "fastback", kamm-tail style rear bodywork with a tinted transparent engine cover and a pylon-mounted rear wing. Front air intakes (blanked on the road cars) and a front splitter were added. Both front and rear bodywork clamshells were widened to accept a wider wheel track. The Series 1 was built until 2001. 604 examples in total were made and the car was not replaced until the Series 2 of 2004.
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Common 2008 Lotus Exige s problems
The 2008 Lotus Exige S is generally a reliable car, with no significant issues reported for its engine or gearbox. However, there are some common problems that owners have reported, which potential buyers should be aware of before purchasing a secondhand Exige S.
One common issue is with the air conditioning system, which can stop working after 4-5 years. This problem is caused by the sill pipes becoming blocked or damaged, which requires new ones to be drilled through to fix the issue. This can be a costly repair, so potential buyers should check that the air conditioning system is working correctly before purchasing the car.
Another issue that has been reported is with the rear toe links, which can become worn or damaged over time. This can affect the car's handling and stability, so it is important to check the condition of the rear toe links before purchasing a secondhand Exige S.
The Lotus Exige S2 (2008) comes with a different rear spoiler compared to the 2010MY, and some owners prefer the earlier design. Potential buyers should check which design they prefer before purchasing the car.
In terms of maintenance, the Lotus Exige S can be expensive to maintain, especially if the car is used for track days or high-performance driving. Parts and labor can be costly, and regular servicing is essential to keep the car in good condition.
There are also some issues with the interior of the car, such as the white clocks that come with some models, which some owners prefer to replace with black ones.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Lotus Exige S is not a car to be taken lightly. It is a high-performance sports car that requires a skilled and experienced driver to get the best out of it. Potential buyers should be aware of this and ensure that they are confident in their driving ability before purchasing the car.
In conclusion, while the 2008 Lotus Exige S is a reliable car, there are some common problems that owners have reported, including issues with the air conditioning system and rear toe links. Potential buyers should be aware of these issues and check the condition of the car thoroughly before purchasing it. Maintenance can be expensive, especially if the car is used for high-performance driving, and potential buyers should be confident in their driving ability before purchasing the car.
What engine is in a Lotus Exige S 2008?
S 240 Coupe 2008 Lotus Exige Specs
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Base engine size | 1.8 liters |
| Base engine type | I-4 |
| Horsepower | 240 hp |
| Horsepower rpm | 8,000 |
Does the Lotus Exige have a Toyota engine?
According to Lotus, the Exige S model, weighing 2,057 lb (933 kg), has the following specifications: Engine. Toyota supplied, 1,796 cc (1.8 L) I4, DOHC with VVTL-i (variable valve timing and lift - intelligent), supercharged and intercooled.
Is Lotus Exige rare?
Firstly, the Exige S2 is a rare car that has a limited production run, making it an exclusive and collectible vehicle. Its rarity is likely to translate to higher prices in the future, particularly for well-maintained and low-mileage models.
Is the Lotus Exige comfortable?
Engines, performance and drive
Incredibly, Lotus' engineers have also managed to make it ride comfortably too. One neat feature is the traction control system available on Race Pack versions which is so clever that even a professional driver is quicker around a racing circuit with it switched on than when off.
2008 Lotus Exige s car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lotus Exige s problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2008 Lotus Exige s vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2008 Lotus Exige s complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2008 Lotus Exige s.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-07-19
- VIN: SCCWC11118H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: RADIATOR COOLING FINS ARE METAL, BUT EACH SIDE HAS A RECTANGULAR PLASTIC TUBING THAT ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW UP AND DOWN EACH SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. AT 16,200 MILES, THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PORTION, SPRAYING RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD, UNEXPECTEDLY. (I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CRACK, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.) FROM REVIEWS OF THE LOTUSTALK.COM FORUM, IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS RADIATOR IS CRACKING IN A SIMILAR FASHION, REGULARLY AND AT LOW MILEAGE, REQUIRING OWNERS TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR (MY COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,700 IN PARTS AND LABOR). SEVERAL OWNERS ARE NOTED TO BE REPLACING THE PLASTIC RADIATOR WITH AN ALL METAL UNIT, AT THEIR COST, PRIOR TO ANY FAILURES, FOR FEAR OF THE PLASTIC RADIATOR CRACKING ON THEM, AS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHERS. I CONTACTED LOTUS TO SEEK ASSISTANCE WITH THE PARTS AND/OR LABOR AND DESPITE DOCUMENTING THE FREQUENCY THAT THIS IS OCCURRING, THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE, ONLY NOTING THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE 3 YEAR / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. RADIATORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL AT 16,000 MILES - THE OEM PART IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND LOTUS SHOULD MAKE THEM RIGHT; OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1,700 TO HAVE A RADIATOR THAT WILL LAST BEYOND 16,000 MILES.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2008 Lotus Exige s problems:
Exige Common Issues | The Lotus Cars Community
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Oct 18, 2010 ... 120 posts · Joined 2008 ... 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R ... Earlier you mentioned timing belts and someone corrected you that the ...
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