RE: Driven: Lotus Exige S
Discussion
rhinochopig said:
6'5". Tried an S1 Elise, two S2 and an Exige and they all have the same problem. Knees too close to the steering wheel so that my hands catch, and top gear sits under my left knee. This was wearing driving boots too - well it was on the two S2s. I could drive one but I wouldn't want to have to apply any corrective lock in a hurry.
The steering column is just too low and/or the wheel too far away. IIRC it was one of Plato's criticisms of the Elise and he's not a tall chap.
The steering column is just too low and/or the wheel too far away. IIRC it was one of Plato's criticisms of the Elise and he's not a tall chap.
Same problem I have and I'm only six foot - you can buy spacers to fit behind the wheel but it makes it harder to reach the stalks. My next job is to get some custom indicator stalks made so I can space the wheel out even further. cathalm said:
Great initial review, but my god Harris you are driving me nuts with the 911 love. Is it really necessary to talk about the 911 in every single review you ever do of any car? I accept in this case it makes sense with the GT3 but I've already worked up a bank of irritation so you'll have to lump it.
We all know you love the 911, we all know how wonderful it is and what a benchmark it is. But seriously? Every single review without exception. The Merc SL compares to the 911 on the following ways, The M600 in these ways, the Renault Twizy as follows. Next on PH, the Perodua Nippa doesn't steer like a 911, the Roewe 550 can't match a 911 in the twistys and SCANDAL! A Ginsters chicken and mushroom slice isn't as good at the ring as a 911!
I'm being harsh here I know but I really enjoy the mans insight into cars and it's just an irritation and makes the review bit monochrome.
you forgot the Noble M600 and Ariel Atom V8 video, 'of course neither car is as well rounded at the 911 GT3' whilst driving with porsche branded gloves, though it was good to see the big porsche sticker on his visor has gone at last.We all know you love the 911, we all know how wonderful it is and what a benchmark it is. But seriously? Every single review without exception. The Merc SL compares to the 911 on the following ways, The M600 in these ways, the Renault Twizy as follows. Next on PH, the Perodua Nippa doesn't steer like a 911, the Roewe 550 can't match a 911 in the twistys and SCANDAL! A Ginsters chicken and mushroom slice isn't as good at the ring as a 911!
I'm being harsh here I know but I really enjoy the mans insight into cars and it's just an irritation and makes the review bit monochrome.
I'm with you on this one. "For the money, I can’t see anything to touch this as road/track device" looking promising.... "other than a used 997 GT3." ... for the sweet love of...
Having said that it's refreshing to see such a porsche obsessed journalist who has done nothing to help the Evora (no doubt for daring to compare itself to the 911) actually write in glowing terms about a Lotus. I hope the porscheophiles out there who hang on chris harris's every word take notice (unlikely but they should, for CH to like it, it must be extraordinarily good).
Edited by The Pits on Wednesday 25th April 11:02
kambites said:
The problem isn't so much height as body structure. I'm six foot but can't comfortably drive a standard Elise simply because the steering wheel is too far away from the seat when the seat is all the way back. They desperately need to fit a telescopic steering column if they want to make the car available beyond the 90th percentile.
mate, by the sounds of it, you are a Tyrannosaurus Rex and as such, you shouldn't be driving cars like this!!just kidding.... I guess the idea of adding more weight to allow the car to appeal to a very small percentage of potential owners (I would say more like the 99th percentile) is outweighed by the keep it as light as possible mantra
ikarl said:
mate, by the sounds of it, you are a Tyrannosaurus Rex and as such, you shouldn't be driving cars like this!!
just kidding.... I guess the idea of adding more weight to allow the car to appeal to a very small percentage of potential owners (I would say more like the 99th percentile) is outweighed by the keep it as light as possible mantra
An awful lot of people have this same problem. I know at least two people who would have bought Elises if they could drive them (and one of them was looking to buy new) but didn't because they couldn't, and lots of others who bought them and subsequently modified them so they could. It's not like it's off by a bit - I'd like the wheel a good six inches closer to me than the standard position if it was possible (although if it was fixed at that position, it would make getting in and our even harder). My ultimate aim is to fit a removable wheel about six inches further in than the standard one and re-designed indicator stalks to bring them up to the new wheel position. just kidding.... I guess the idea of adding more weight to allow the car to appeal to a very small percentage of potential owners (I would say more like the 99th percentile) is outweighed by the keep it as light as possible mantra
I would have thought the extra sales would make enough money that they could find the extra 5kg of weight somewhere else.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 25th April 11:03
ikarl said:
kambites said:
The problem isn't so much height as body structure. I'm six foot but can't comfortably drive a standard Elise simply because the steering wheel is too far away from the seat when the seat is all the way back. They desperately need to fit a telescopic steering column if they want to make the car available beyond the 90th percentile.
mate, by the sounds of it, you are a Tyrannosaurus Rex and as such, you shouldn't be driving cars like this!!just kidding.... I guess the idea of adding more weight to allow the car to appeal to a very small percentage of potential owners (I would say more like the 99th percentile) is outweighed by the keep it as light as possible mantra
Lotus need to either raise the steering column a little and lengthen it. Everyone from 5'8" to 6'5" could drive my westy comfortably; in fact several of the Westy mechanics preferred the wheel position over standard as your arms weren't out-stretched - think touring car / WRC position with arms bent at ~ 90 degrees and the wheel in front of your knees, e.g.
Lotus could easily do the same.
Raify said:
Article said:
There are three settings, Touring, Sport and Race. .....
Track mode removes the understeer control....
So four settings then?Track mode removes the understeer control....
What's the sport setting like?
They've even provided a photo to help with the counting, which is nice.
MagicalTrevor said:
Raify said:
Article said:
There are three settings, Touring, Sport and Race. .....
Track mode removes the understeer control....
So four settings then?Track mode removes the understeer control....
What's the sport setting like?
They've even provided a photo to help with the counting, which is nice.
So the article is confusing.
GroundEffect said:
Draexin said:
ticedtwice said:
Looks like a Noble does it not?!
Exactly what I was thining when I saw it. Not that it's a bad thing, all Noble cars look stunning.Apart from the light assembly, it does have a similar "kit-car-esque" feel to it, which I really love.
What are you smoking?
No, I'm kidding, but I just love cars that are a bit rough around the edges.
This new Exige (and Noble's for that matter) look purposeful, form follows function and all that.
Edited by Draexin on Friday 27th April 10:04
I agree with the height issue in an Elise, im 6 ft 5 and have an unusually long upper body, spent a trip to the Nurburg in a 111R and whilst it was fine to be a passenger I sat so high up that all I could see was the bar at the top of the windscreen. Also if you have a long upper body there's plenty of cars (elise included) you fit in fine but put a Helmet on and there's no chance, having an Elise and not being able to track it would be like dating a model on the condition you didnt sleep with her.
Is it just me? I like the simplicity (crudity?) of this switch surrounded by what is (or looks like) grey plastic.
On other Loti (Evora, Esprit...) because they are primarily road cars this needs to look better (stainless steel or polished aluminium) to properly compete with Porsche/Aston Martin/Ferrari et al.
Raify said:
Article said:
There are three settings, Touring, Sport and Race. .....
Track mode removes the understeer control....
So four settings then?Track mode removes the understeer control....
What's the sport setting like?
When Chris says 'Track mode' he means Sport; edited now to tidy up the confusion.
Cheers,
Dan
All the comments about fitting in an Elise/Exige, I'm 6'5" and powerfully built and I drive a variety of them frequently. Must say when I first started I thought it would be a pain, particularly hands against knees, but I've actually got used to them.
Whether that's through subconsciously shifting myself around to finally find a suitable position or just familiarity I don't know, but while it's not the most natural position, it's not uncomfortable despite my back being dodgy. The only problem I still have really is heel and toe being hit and miss.
As a tall driver it would be nicer if the wheel were closer and higher, but it's not the end of the world IMHO.
Whether that's through subconsciously shifting myself around to finally find a suitable position or just familiarity I don't know, but while it's not the most natural position, it's not uncomfortable despite my back being dodgy. The only problem I still have really is heel and toe being hit and miss.
As a tall driver it would be nicer if the wheel were closer and higher, but it's not the end of the world IMHO.
Captain Muppet said:
MagicalTrevor said:
Raify said:
Article said:
There are three settings, Touring, Sport and Race. .....
Track mode removes the understeer control....
So four settings then?Track mode removes the understeer control....
What's the sport setting like?
They've even provided a photo to help with the counting, which is nice.
So the article is confusing.
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