I have heard both in the same showroom side-by-side, measured both and inspected both internally right down to the crossover board components.
The pod displacement on the Vector is definitely larger.
The Vector pod materials, construction and assembly method is so similar to the Exile that I suspect they both come from the same plant. Same with the Memphis HLCD.
The Vector definitely uses a much more rigid midbass driver cone material, similar to the Wetsounds Rev series.
Although both the Exile and Vector are 8-inch HLCDs, they do sound different.
The Exile has a slight midbass bump in the response, with a slight null in the midrange, and clearly extra emphasis on the highs.
The Vector has a more uniform response with upfront mids and really no false emphasis or strong bias. They may have gone a touch too flat for a steady diet of wakeboarding.
I like the Vector's lack of bias for near field listening but I like the Exile's aggressiveness for long range projection.
I'd call it a toss up and up to the individual's preference. There is no substitute for hearing both and making your own conclusion. Your particular usage, the style of music you play, and what past speakers you are familiar with, all form your personal preference. People tend to favor that sound which is most familiar.