Lotus Exige S vs. Porsche Cayman S: Which Would You Choose?

Drove a Lotus Europa for 17 years and would still have it if I had a 3rd garage stall. The Exige is a purpose built track car so it should not be asked to be a daily driver. The Porsche has been handicapped by its maker to prevent it taking away sales of the 911. I have a Cayman S as my daily car for the simple reason there is nothing else that comes close to the driving experience of a lotus that can also be a daily driver. Oh, did I mention you can also take it on a driving vacation and actually have real luggage?

Had an Elise on order until it came in and I couldn’t get in and out in a reasonable time.

If I had that extra garage space I’d definitely have an Exige for the weekend … but I have no plans to get rid of the Cayman – only add a LSD and up the power.

Realize this thread is a little old, but I have to say… You have to go with the Cayman S. It’s a work of art. The Exige looks like a cheap kit car, some bastardized version of a 1985 Pontiac Fiero.

I am having the same “problem” these days. Just test drove Cayman S (2007), 911 S (2005), Z06 (2006) and Exige S (2007). Porsche is on the bottom of my list. Cayman S is underpowered and overperformed by Lotus. Margin is so wide that I took Cayman S from my list. On the other side Z06 is so unrefined, brutal…. Porsche 911 S is very nice but very overpriced by performance it gives. You all have to remeber that Porsche sells image over anything else. Lotus is the right thing for me. So much performance so good handling and for small amount of money you can get ECU flush and car will go to 250HP. In fact it is ready for 250HP Lotus just did not want to do it. The car is amazing. I do have second car so Exige will be my “summer” car.

To answer original question: I would take Lotus Exige S over Porsche Cayman S by leaps and bounds!!!!

porsche ever only porsche.

the cayman s is the only car that i would like to have.

Just bought the 240 S. Pick it up wednesday
Definitely not a car to be used as a daily driver.. Most people probably looking for such a car already have something they use every day. I looked at the Porsche and M Coupe. Drove both. Owned a 06 exige. I do not exaggerate when I say owning the Lotus completely changes ones perspective on driving.. One of the few cars I simply enjoy standing back and looking at it. Another world driving it.

Just bought the 240 S. Pick it up wednesday
Definitely not a car to be used as a daily driver.. Most people probably looking for such a car already have something they use every day. I looked at the Porsche and M Coupe. Drove both. Owned a 06 exige. I do not exaggerate when I say owning the Lotus completely changes ones perspective on driving.. One of the few cars I simply enjoy standing back and looking at it. Another world driving it.

Frank points out yet another way in which a brilliant platform has been handicapped in order to protect the manufacturer’s icon. The Cayman is constantly compared to other cars, often favorably, sometimes not so favorably. To me, no comparison is valid until Porsche decides to pull out the stops and give the car even the basics, such as LSD, appropriate gearing, and the kind of horsepower Porsche knows only too well how to make.

I love the lotus and like some lightwieght sports cars, but the Cayman is a more daliy driver and as some people said the exige is very small i couldn’t take a friend with me without being extremely tight

so i’ve got to go with the porsche

PS: Porsche made the Cayman S gears longer so it wouldn’t beat the 911 in 0-60 accel.

I also own a Cayman S. It is a fabulous car in spite of the fact that it was intentionally handicapped by the manufacturer with no LSD and restricted horsepower. Give it LSD and the horsepower it deserves (say at least 400 hp) and it would be a world beater. In fact, in the near future I intend to do just that. My CS will take a trip to a well known mod shop were it will have the 3.8L X-51 swap as well as LSD. If Porsche won’t do it, I will. In terms of balance, fit and finish, and sheer beauty of design, it leaves the Lotus far behind, even without the mods.

Although I frickin love Porsches, I would definitely take the Lotus.
Can you imagine the cornering that Lotus will do on a track? Now, If it were a 911, there would be no contemplating!

I had the choice mentioned above. . .I bought a Black Cayman S. Love the Lotus, but I am in love with the Cayman. And did I mention I can take a girl out in the Cayman and she can actually wear a skirt? Does not work in the Lotus.

Lotus.

“you want a cool mid-engine sports car that will also serve as a fun track toy.” well that would be the Cayman. but if I was just looking for a track Toy only it would be the Lotus. the Lotus doesn’t fit the duel purpose roll that was asked.

The lotus is f##king rad its not a belly button car like the hurting Cayman! LOTUS FOR SURE!

definatly the porsche because it seems more corner aggresive and better grounded as it looks lower and stable.

Lotus Exige S just looks cooler

Lotus duhhhh just look at that cayman it really should be called COW its ugly.

LOTUS!!! all the way

lotus most definately the porsche is ok but lotus is so much better as a track car

Porsche has that German charm and durability oozing out from it , but that bullet like object ( LOTUS ) would make crazy driving a bit more enjoyable ….!!
L-O-T-U-S…..: ))

Porsche….my uncle got one and i’ve driven it, trust me its fast….really fast plus, its a pantydroper….u cant beat that….

Porsche Cayman S.

im not a fan of either one but i totally jump in that Porsche tho!

LOTUS!!!

I WOULD GO WITH THE EXIGE IF I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE TWO. TOSS A FORCEFED BOOST UPGRADE ON THE LITTLE 1.8 AND THE PORSCHE HAS NO CHANCE.

IN ALL REALITY IF I WHERE TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A CAR I WOULD PROBABLY JUST HAVE AN ULTIMA SPORTS GTR BUILT WITH A NICE 383 AND STOMP ON EITHER OF THOSE TWO CARS NOT TO MENTION Z06 VETTES

Porsche, just cause im a fan, but i really like the Exige so its not bad…

The Porsche Cayman S is the track car that is usable everyday for all the other things we have to do on a daily basis. The Lotus is nice, but too singularly focused. Also, the styling is just too…”techno”. Think of the two cars like Amanda Beard, the really hot US Swimmer. WOuld you rather look at her in a racing suit, or in a nice bikini. She will go fast either way, but let’s be honest with ourselves.

lotus for sure, always wanted one

Never was a fan of porsche, the exige S is a filthy car id take it over the cayman any day.

The Exige S. Until this car hits the street the Elise is the best handling sports car. After this hits the street. This is the best handling sports car that is streetable in the world.

I would go with the Porsche mostly because of the aftermarket potential that can be added to it and make it more than what it already is…
Im not sure Lotus has much to offer as far as aftermarket anything goes.
So I guess my decision is based on my comfortability in the manufacture and what I eventually see the car being.

LOTUS – I have always wanted one, although I would go with the Exige S 240. Whats another $5000 on a $60k car right?

I’d choose the Exige. Any car that can hang with cars twice-three times its power is good in my book.

Lotus all the way

Lotus

~LOTUS~

I’d take the lotus all day, especially if it’ll be my third vehicle. If I only had one car to drive daily it would be the porsche because it’s slightly more of an everyday driver. But i love how exotic the lotus performs and looks for 60k.

so i own a lotus elise and i love that car so i have to stay with my brand and say the exige s plus its supercharged and light whats not to love about it

Lotus allllll the way its such a great NO Bull Sh!t kinda car

I’m just not a fan of Porsche, i’ll have to go with the Lotus.

Although the Cayman is bad ass, I think I would have to go with the Lotus because it seems like it’d be more fun to drive. It’s got a race car feel to it, whereas the Porsche is more refined and luxurious, while upholding it’s Porschesque sportiness. Good comparison though!

Lotus! But, Ill need to lose some weight to comfortably drive it.

porsche is classic. lotus looks a dam spaceship…and its british built yuk!. PORSCHE EVERYTIME!

Exige S….already have a Cayman :S

porsche because i could drive it every day

It’s gotta be the Lotus for me….but then again I’m a toyota fan anyways even if it’s only a toyota engine in a sleek body

Lotus all the way!!!1

PORSCHE!!!

Yeah that Lotus is dead awesome! Looks like something out of space or something, no?

i absolutely loooove porsches….i love their performance and the look they have carried for decades now. But on this one i would have to go with the lotus. The cayman is just not enough performance compared to the lotus. But if i were given one for free, i of course would take it. duh.

wow tough choice but i would have to go with the cayman just cuz ive always loved porsches

although i would pick the cayman over many things, a Lotus is probably not one of them, gotta go with the
exige S….heck id prolly choose the elise too.

i’d say the cayman,im just a fan of Porsche,nothin against the lotus.or i’d put about 10-15 grand into my cavi Z24 and take the 45-50 grand left and pay for my college which i’d proll have alot left.

I’d have to gowith the Cayman, but thats probably b/c I couldn’t fit in a Lotus…

i’d buy a 2004 mustang cobra, TT charge it, use the rest of the money to upgrade performance and style, still have cash left over and blow away both of those cars on the track and street

id put the 60k into my car

Think the Cayman is something I would rather rip through the streets on a daily bases but the Lotus is defenitly something I would rather rip around a track or down an airstrip full throttle! Both cars rule and would love to garage one every night @ the house

Cayman. The Lotus is nice but impossible to get into (and I’m 5′2″).

Both of these cars are great and in truth the ability of the driver will matter more than any difference between the cars. And a few mods and one or the other can leapfrog the other.

But the cayman has more versatility. A few mods and it is amazing at the track. No mods and it is amazing on the street. Lotus can’t go to the street that well and is more single purpose.

Lotus Exige YES! Pure sports car, no nonsense, giant killer, what else to say… light makes right. Or is that “Might”!

LOTUS

i cant afford em

… whatever wont kill me on insurence

… whatever wont kill me on insurence

LOTUS

C-A-Y-M-A-N S!
These thing are hella fast,i saw one racing a bike and IT FUKIN FLEW!This is not a contest,caymen is better in everything!

L–O–T–U–S

this isn’t even a contest. The only thing they have in common is the color.

lotus any day. all porches look alike.

Lotus

Lotus for sure

Lotus for sure. So much more attractive.

Porsche Cayman S for sure. No contest…

Well the Cayman obviously. It is a MUCH better daily driver and street car and is equal to or better than the Lotus on the track, so all-around the Cayman winds hands down.

Well with no question I see everyone agrees the PORSCHE ofcourse. Yep def not the lotus, cause god would frown on us.

Hmm…I gotta go with the Lotus.

Get a Lotus if you want one of the best track toys ever.Get a Porsche if you want something cool to ride to work in. I’d go for the Lotus

LOTUS

PORSCHE

Gotta say Lotus too – there’s just something about those cars that I can’t say no to

Lotus all the way.

lotus, is way more bang for the buck

if it was a carrera, i’d say the porsche

Lotus. No question.

WOOT! FIRST ONE TO COMMENT! Exige by leaps and bounds….