You don't have to remove the screws from the brackets. They are meant to be captive, that's what the unthreaded neck is for. The screws can be left captive, the brackets are removed from the front and rear latching/hook positions, and the top can be lifted off. You can get a better grip on the bolts with a true Torx bit instead of fitting an Allen bit into the Torx screw. The are less likely to spin in the head.
I do not unscrew the fronts, only the rears near the seats is enough to remove the hardtop, just pick it up at the back first makes it possible to remove it.
Good grief, I was seriously considering buying one but that’s an enormous pain in the butt! 4C Spider is far simpler! And an MX5 looks hi tech in comparison!
This video only shows the hardtop. You can have a softtop just like the 4C Spider, that can be removed easy and quick. Most of the Lotus Elise cars have this softtop. "Normally" you don't remove the roof of an Exige (see the triangle at 2:15) It is more of a "Coupe" than a spider/roadster, but that doesn't mean you can't ;-) Don't make your judgement on this video alone, Lotus has some great cars, try to test drive before making a choice.
You don't have to remove the screws from the brackets. They are meant to be captive, that's what the unthreaded neck is for. The screws can be left captive, the brackets are removed from the front and rear latching/hook positions, and the top can be lifted off.
You can get a better grip on the bolts with a true Torx bit instead of fitting an Allen bit into the Torx screw. The are less likely to spin in the head.
Thanks for the extra info :-)
Making me nervous with tools laid out on the painted surface like that haha 😬
I was very careful to put them there, but I wouldn't do it again. Now seeing it, it makes me nervous too :-)
Is it required that you double tap the roof? Or is that an optional step?
To bring good luck ;-) :-D
Required
I do not unscrew the fronts, only the rears near the seats is enough to remove the hardtop, just pick it up at the back first makes it possible to remove it.
Thanks for the info!
Torx bits are star shaped like the heads of the bolts. You are using an allen bit.
It’s odd to me that no one else commented on this. I was wondering what a size 5 torx could be, and then I saw the allens and it made more sense.
@@bcarbiener You are right, I removed that part of the video.
Nice job. If I can find the allen needed doing this
Is it ok to drive without the Roof witrh a SC Exige s? wouldn t the missing roof and scoop let less air inside the turbo and overheating the engine?
The car is supercharged. It shouldn't be a problem for road use. For a trackday I always use the roof.
@@SportsCars_TE thank you so much!!! This is what I thought .
Is the hardtop stowable onboard? I thought I had heard it can be stored under the hood in the front but I may be thinking of a different car.
There is no front hood and the hardtop has to be stored at home, only the softtop can be stored in the back of the car.
Sportscars TE Ahh okay. Thank you for clearing that up for me.
Thanks! i needed this.
Have fun!
Useful information, thanks
What year is your lotus I'm looking to buy the same one
M3RK Fusion It is a Lotus Exige Cup 260 from 2009. It is called Sport 260 in the US & Canada.
Need to know your Allen Key v Torx key differences
Good grief, I was seriously considering buying one but that’s an enormous pain in the butt! 4C Spider is far simpler! And an MX5 looks hi tech in comparison!
This video only shows the hardtop. You can have a softtop just like the 4C Spider, that can be removed easy and quick. Most of the Lotus Elise cars have this softtop.
"Normally" you don't remove the roof of an Exige (see the triangle at 2:15) It is more of a "Coupe" than a spider/roadster, but that doesn't mean you can't ;-)
Don't make your judgement on this video alone, Lotus has some great cars, try to test drive before making a choice.
It's ok to remove the exige roof on the US spec cars, but on UK ones the roof scoop is functional.
Thank you for the help
super