Fastest ground coverer....

[MrKipling]

We're talking country lane here... this is something I'm planning on actually testing soon, so I'd be interested to hear what you lot think.

Exige S or Impreza STi?

I reckon that the Exige would be quicker than the STi.

[lightweight]

Exige for me

[Matra et Alpine]

hmm, country lanes with dips and brows ?
The Impreza .... better visibility lets you see further on the vanishing point and hence drive the corners faster, safely.
hmmmm, "soon" means the roads will still be muddy/greasy from winter salting ...so ... Impreza again due to grip.

Sunny day with failry flattish, not huge hedges country lane and it's the Exige

[NicFromLA]

hmm, country lanes with dips and brows ?
The Impreza .... better visibility lets you see further on the vanishing point and hence drive the corners faster, safely.
hmmmm, "soon" means the roads will still be muddy/greasy from winter salting ...so ... Impreza again due to grip.

Sunny day with failry flattish, not huge hedges country lane and it's the Exige

I agree. Great question either way.

[MrKipling]

Very good points. I drove the new S on those silly semi-slicks they put on them in the wet on a track and I was amazed by how much grip they offered. Very hairy on standing water though.

Visibility will be an issue with the Lotus - I guess we'll have to at least find a wide range of roads. I feel a trip to the Peaks coming on!

I still have a feeling that in a broad range of conditions the Exige would ultimately come out on top...

[NSXType-R]

I would say the STI because of its all weather capability. Not to say that the Exige is slow though.

[ScionDriver]

Weight wins: Exige > STI

[whiteballz]

Sure footedness of the STI for me. I love the exige, but AWD and decent bump/damp control = win

[Ferrer]

Isn't enjoyment more important than outright speed?

I'd personally choose the Lotus regardless of it being faster or slower.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Lots
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious

... or so I've heard. I would imagine this doesn't apply to the Elise/Exige as much as it does classic Lotus and Esprits.

I can't speak from experience, but common sense suggest lots of torque + AWD is hell on the sti's drivetrain.

Isn't enjoyment more important than outright speed?

I'd personally choose the Lotus regardless of it being faster or slower.

Couldn't agree more.

[whiteballz]

Lots
I can't speak from experience, but common sense suggest lots of torque + AWD is hell on the sti's drivetrain.

Common sense shows that You rarely ever see STI's or WRX's on the side of the road/track broken. I see more toyota's and mitsubishi's than subaru's on the side of the road.

[Rockefella]

Common sense shows that You rarely ever see STI's or WRX's on the side of the road/track broken. I see more toyota's and mitsubishi's than subaru's on the side of the road.

Mitsubishi's haven't had the best track record with reliability. I recall there being a lot of problems with the transmission..

[bruxell]

Isn't enjoyment more important than outright speed?

I'd personally choose the Lotus regardless of it being faster or slower.

Agreed, and not to lose the point too much, but why not a Westfield XI, and go for maximum enjoyment at less than half the cost of the Lotus? Just a thought.

[kingofthering]

Agreed, and not to lose the point too much, but why not a Westfield XI, and go for maximum enjoyment at less than half the cost of the Lotus? Just a thought.

Apparently, Mr.Kipling's magazine doesn't care about the Westfield XI, because he's not going to test one.

[Rotary.freak]

I think the Lotus would be a lot more exciting. By country lane you mean still paved right? Otherwise i think you'd be sorry for taking the Exige.