MotorMouths

You might conclude that the Lotus Exige S240 is a throwback, a relic of simpler days. On the contrary, I see it as a harbinger of the future. It’s simple, light and fun.

It’s truly invigorating to pilot any Lotus, and every corner is a thrill ride. It’s exciting even on the highway, where you’re filled with a remarkable sense of speed even at velocities less than 80 mph.

While it’s far from a daily schlepper – whatever space you can manage in the passenger seat is what passes for cargo space – as a play thing, the Lotus Exige approaches four-wheeled perfection.

The impressive Lotus Exige S 260 Sport is still one of the most exciting and organic street-legal track cars of all times. It starts at $74,995. But that’s still cheap for anything this exotic.

Driving a Lotus Exige S 240 for the first time is, surprisingly, an exercise in déjà vu. Because it’s the exact same car you’ve driven in daydreams since you were seven years old.

The Lotus Exige S 260 Sport provided a lifetime of memories in just 416 logged miles. We got used to the symphony of rattling carbon-fiber interior panels. We even got used to asking for help to back the thing up. We’re not sure, however, that we’ll get used to life without it.

The 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 is still very much an enthusiast car, but its lost something with the addition of these “driving aids.”

Few cars deliver the unabridged driving entertainment that this Lotus Exige S 260 does. Unfortunately, most of those other “few” are also made by Lotus, and they are only slightly more comfortable and less expensive.