Models · Lotus
Lotus Exige S3 buying guide
The third Exige moved to a supercharged 3.5 V6 in a bonded aluminium chassis, as a coupé and roadster, starting with the 345bhp Exige S and ending with the Sport 410 and Cup 430.
The versions
- Exige S coupé and roadster: supercharged 3,456cc V6, 345bhp at 7,000rpm
- Sport 350 (345bhp, lighter) and Sport 360 (354bhp)
- Cup 380 (375bhp), Sport 410 (410bhp) and Cup 430 (430bhp), power as given in bhp by Evo
- Six-speed Toyota manual, or six-speed torque converter automatic with paddles; rear-wheel drive
What to check on a S3 Exige
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Clutch wear and launches
What to look for: On the drive, pull away briskly in a higher gear and feel for slipping, juddering on take-up, or a burning smell. Ask whether a dealer has downloaded the engine data, which shows how many launch control starts the car has done.
Why it matters: Clutch wear is common on hard-driven cars and replacement is a major job. There's no diagnostic for clutch life, but the launch count gives a good idea of how the car has been used. Lotus's warranty terms limited launch control use, so a high count matters.
Cooling fan bearings
What to look for: Let the engine warm up fully until the radiator fans switch on, and listen at the front of the car for a grinding, whirring or rattling noise from them.
Why it matters: The cooling fan bearings were a known problem and get noisy as they fail. Most cars had upgraded bearings fitted under a warranty programme, so paperwork showing it was done is useful. The V6 itself has no major common issues and uses a timing chain.
Automatic gearbox shift quality
What to look for: On an automatic, note whether upshifts are delayed, and let the car coast down to a stop to feel for harsh downshifts.
Why it matters: The automatic is a torque converter gearbox, not a dual clutch. Harsh downshifts when coasting can develop. If no fault codes are stored, specialists look at the mass air flow sensor and at carbon build-up in the throttle body, rather than the gearbox itself.
Also in the full guide
- Kerbing and the geometry
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the S3 Exige
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Lotus.