Lotus Exige S

Some cars need a sport button to make them interesting. A supercharged Lotus Exige gets on with it from the moment you climb over the sill.

Finished in Pearl White with black wheels and carbon-fibre details, this 2008 Exige S looks every bit as purposeful as it should. Exceptionally clean and beautifully presented, it’s a rare sight on Irish roads, with the history and specialist attention to make it particularly appealing.

With just 49,000 kilometres and five previous owners, it comes with an outstanding, fully documented service history spanning two service books. Imported from UK Lotus specialist Jon Seal Sportscars in March 2023, it has been dry stored throughout its current ownership and serviced annually. The money spent here has gone into the right places.

HPE previously refurbished the upper and lower suspension arms and replaced all bushes, while new original Lotus Bilstein suspension was fitted in 2023. In 2024, extensive work was carried out by Hangar 111, a UK Lotus specialist. Having this work undertaken by a workshop familiar with these cars and their particular requirements is an important part of its history.

This included a full gearbox rebuild with replacement third-gear synchro and new seals, a Helix clutch and a Fidanza lightweight flywheel. With the front clam removed, a new radiator, hoses, fittings and air-conditioning condenser were installed. Fresh fluids and a full suspension geometry setup completed the mechanical work. The front clam was repainted to address stone chips, the headlining retrimmed and the engine cover refinished.

A few chips have appeared since, but the overall presentation reflects the care this car has received. A full paint correction and three-year ceramic coating were carried out in 2025. The HPE billet shifter deserves a mention of its own. Fitted and set up by HPE with new original Lotus gear cables, it’s a lovely piece of engineering that makes the shift much more precise.

A polybushed rear engine mount complements the setup. Other highlights include a TRD airbox, 2bular exhaust, extended rear diffuser, carbon-fibre front splitter, carbon engine cover and carbon sill covers.

Inside, custom embroidered Corbeau LE Pro leather seats, Alcantara door cards and an AIM digital dash finish things off nicely. Replacement window seals, a new battery, EBC discs, Mintex pads and four Nankang NS-2R tyres add to the extensive expenditure, with the brakes and tyres fitted in 2025.

Finding an Exige S in Ireland is unusual. Finding one this clean, with such comprehensive history and so many of the major jobs already addressed, makes it particularly special. All the right touches to improve the experience without losing what makes these cars so appealing.

Getting in gracefully remains the next owner’s responsibility.