Been wrestling with this decision for a while now. Probably will be getting one or the other before the summer.
Two very different cars at a similar price (lightly used, $45k). I'll keep my 04 RX8 as a daily, and I always have my zx-10r bike for straightline speed & power.

Exige is exotic, raw, and a real drivers car. I think it is probably more fragile than the Z06, and more expensive to insure. Also there is not much inventory to choose from nationwide.
The Z06 is amazingly fast and powerful, but it looks far to similar to the base C6, which everyone owns where I live (phoenix). Not really a head turner.

I've driven a 2007 Z06, and I really liked it. I also drove a 2008 Elise SC, which should be fairly similar to the Exige S240. That was a blast too, and it got a lot more attention.

Tough choice.

 

What would you be using the car for?

I'd lean towards the lotus.

 

I have driven a S240 (friends father is the owner of Intermecanica, a lotus only shop). If I had to describe it in one sentence, I would compare it to an oversized impractical go-kart. Again, state your needs.

 

That's a tough call without knowing your intended use

Weekend car to drive around to fun places / on fun roads?

Track car? If so how experienced are you??

Competition use in Time Trials and/or Autocross?

 

In my opinion, the Exige would be more of a focused track/weekend car.

If you like the feel of driving an American beast with loads & loads of power, the Z06 would be your ticket.

Yet if you really want to dance on the track, and truly feel connected as man & machine, it's extremely hard to beat the Exige.

Keep in mind that the Lotus will always be a very small & tight car to slide into.

I'd go for the Exige. I was actually thinking of ordering the S240 for myself in the future, but I'm keeping my options open for the time being...

Good luck with your decision.

 

same...not enough info.

i assume this is for a daily driver...?? they're too different to really compare anyway. both great cars, but vastly different. and with a bike and an rx8, i don't know why you'd want either.

 

He said the 8 is going to be the daily... so he's definitely looking for a "fun" car, but it kind of depends on the fun he's looking for.

 

ah, thanks 8maniac, i missed that line!!

then i'd say the z06, the lotus is closer the rx8 imo...lightweight, balanced, handling oriented, not straight line speed. to be different from that, get the z06, unless, like others have said, you want the rx8 for daily driving and a dedicated track car...then i'd get the lotus. but if it's just to have a fun, fast, 2nd car that you take out on the road, the z06 seems like a better fit since you're keeping the 8. also, if the z06 isn't a head-turner enough for you, upgrade the wheels and exhaust to make it look and sound a bit different...done

 

It would actually be a very hard decision for me. I am a purist. I like my cars light on its feet, nimble, basic, and power is not a huge concern. I like uniqueness. Then again, power is fun and the Z06 has gobs of power. I have never driven an Z06 so I cannot compare it to the Exige S240 I have driven. If I were you, I would fine a way to some how compare them two in driving feel.

 

C6 is gonna be a lot more livable day to day, and easier to drive at 10/10. Get the vette

 

Rock a Lotus just because.

 

Ha yea - that is the appeal isn't it?

Yeah the car would be for fun weekend touring, occasional track day. Basically a new toy. There are fun mods to be done for each car:
Lotus: Upgrade intercooler, injectors, pulley + tune for ~300hp
Vette: Headers & intake, maybe cam.

 

Lotus all the way! Yeah the Z06 is fast but that's all it is...its American. I grew up in England and toured there factory twice. Driven the Exige and Evora and you cant beat them.

 

Driven both.
The lotus is on another level.

 

Having the Rx8 for a daily driver I'd go for the C6Z. Granted I drive a modded C5Z...so you know where my taste is...

Both nice cars though. Good luck with whichever you choose

 

hmm, might depend on the tracks then. If they're tigther the Z06 won't quite be as fun because it won't really get to stretch its legs...

I'd run them for a while stock at any rate. Both of them are a WHOLE lotta car as they say

 

No really, Vettes feel bulky like any American car does, bse50 is right, a Exige is on a whole other level of feel. Your really do feel at one with the car unlike a vette which is still fun and content like your wife, the exige is like that tiny super hot, super crazy chick you met at the bar and cheat on your wife with... does that make things any clearer?

 

It's a drivers car.

 

How many C5 or C6 Z06s have you instructed in or driven at speed on a track?

While I haven't been in an S240 I've been in both outside of that as instructor. You really have to try and feel what the car is telling you so you can help your student learn. Yes, the Exige does feel a bit more responsive, but ultimate grip is actually quite close. And at least with the Exige's I've been in they didn't feel very impressive straight line whatsoever, while the Z06s feel like the hand of god is pushing you forward as you leap into warp speed. Both are very much driver's cars but each in their own way of doing things.

So yeah, I do feel like it'll come down to the tracks you run at and your personal preferences in the balance of a car as to which you would like better for general trackday use - and that's coming from experience instead of magazine reading conjecture at least

If you've driven both, by all means share with us tells us what track it was on too I generally won't drive a student's car unless there is no other way for me to get them to do what I'm trying to teach - I don't want the liability should something happen to their car with me at the wheel.

 

get the vette. your bike essentially fills the gap of the elise. plus you have an 8. time for some good ol' detroit muscle.

 

I've driven a c5 z06 but as for the Lotus I have only driven the Elise. The Elise was much more my cup of tea. All I drive are small japanese cars... the RX8 is the most powerful and largest car I have owned but by no means is it the fastest.

It looks like its comming to the "go test drive it and see which you like best".

 

I have a Lotus Elise SC for the next week and a half and let me tell you this one thing.....THIS THING SUCKS DRIVING EVERYDAY! haha but it sure is a blast. I have no corvette driving history, but if I had to pick a weekend driver/track car it would have to be the Lotus. I see vettes everyday, how often does someone see a lotus? This is an interesting question, which would be cheaper to fix on your own? I know the lotus obviously since its exotic, but the motor is a toyota so seems maybe it wouldn't cost near as much as some of the vette parts.

 

The 'vette would probably be cheaper.
To do anything serious on the lotus you need to remove the engine, it's packed very tight in there.

The lotus is built better and with better materials anyway and if bought fully loaded (brakes, susp. etc) outbrakes and corners like no vette does.