340R vs Exige S2
Author
Discussion

Shakman

Original Poster:

180 posts

306 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
Anybody know which one is quicker around the track ... 340R or exige S2?

pley

179 posts

271 months

Tuesday 10th August 2004
quotequote all
340R is *alot* quicker.

Simply...
Lighter and faster.

The Exige IMO isnt *that* quick. It is more a 111R coupe.

It really depends what you want. I find some days I get past everything on track which can get boring.

Then one day you'll get a race driver in a 135R and he stuffs ya!

Good fun though!

Shakman

Original Poster:

180 posts

306 months

Wednesday 11th August 2004
quotequote all
Hmmm ... I'm looking at lots of options at the moment. I want something alot faster than my Elise S2 and something that will take me to the next level in race craft.

What I really want is a Radical SR3, but its too impractical for road use (I dont want a trailer to track car only .... odd Sunday blast B road killer wanted too) and also doesnt have enough road clearance to get over the humps in my area.

The other car that tickles my fancy is a Ariel Atom ... but a bit more pricer. Caterhams see too run-of-the-mill ... I want something different.

I really like the look of the Exige S2 and its handling, but found the engine, well rubbish. Just wanted to know how similar the 340R was.

Shakman

Original Poster:

180 posts

306 months

Wednesday 11th August 2004
quotequote all
Are there any magazine articles with a direct comparison ??? What are the performance figures of a 340R?

rico

7,917 posts

279 months

Wednesday 11th August 2004
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Try the Deronda F400. www.deronda.co.uk

It's similar to the Atom, but much more accomplished design with a number of extra features. 0-60 in sub 4seconds, 1.8 Audi turbo engine. Its still being refined, but first deliveries are expected in october.

DanH

12,287 posts

284 months

Wednesday 11th August 2004
quotequote all
rico said:
Try the Deronda F400. www.deronda.co.uk

It's similar to the Atom, but much more accomplished design with a number of extra features. 0-60 in sub 4seconds, 1.8 Audi turbo engine. Its still being refined, but first deliveries are expected in october.


What makes you say its more accomplished? It wasn't liked much in the Evo review (erant handling), and it looks decidedly low rent kit car in the pics on their website.

It took arial 3 years (?) to finally sort out its handling!

randy

544 posts

300 months

Thursday 12th August 2004
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What you need is an S1 Exige with a Honda engine.

s works

10,166 posts

274 months

Thursday 12th August 2004
quotequote all
randy said:
What you need is an S1 Exige with a Honda engine.

Cue the maniacal laughter

rico

7,917 posts

279 months

Thursday 12th August 2004
quotequote all
DanH said:
What makes you say its more accomplished? It wasn't liked much in the Evo review (erant handling), and it looks decidedly low rent kit car in the pics on their website.

It took arial 3 years (?) to finally sort out its handling!



LINK

I drove the Deronda. Although i haven't driven the Arial, one of the other guys used to have an Arial and preferred the Deronda. More pics on the article which show its design more so than the website's pics.



As i mentioned in the article, Deronda had a top design team working on the car. The same people made Foggy's Petronas race bike, as well as those corporate entertainment cars at Rockingham.

>> Edited by rico on Thursday 12th August 12:21

pley

179 posts

271 months

Sunday 15th August 2004
quotequote all
The 340 gets to 60 in around 4 sec's. 100 in 12ish

IME there isnt anything 'much' quicker on a track. Obv all depends on driver ability

The fact is if you get a radical or the like you will be the fastest on track by a long way...which is boring IMO.

I decided to go to '340ism' as I love the design but moreover the 'feel' of the car. Try one. You'll like it. The handling and turn in is something else.

Another option could be a R400/300. Personally they dont 'do it' for me. But are V-quick nonetheless.

hth


edit: The 340 residuals must make it a good buy compared to a S2 Exg.

>> Edited by pley on Monday 16th August 12:46

Mr Fix It

500 posts

292 months

Monday 16th August 2004
quotequote all
There was an article about it in I think Autocar, which reviewed all the elises derivatives, S1, S2 111, Exige s1 178/190, S2, S2 111R, etc etc and had lap times.

I had the article, but house is a tip at the minute with DIY heaven, so if i can find it in a few days time will post the info

pley

179 posts

271 months

Monday 16th August 2004
quotequote all
erm yeah 'that' article.

It was very biased.

The S2 exg came out on top...not the fastest you understand but won the day, suprisingly.

Where are you based? Best thing to do is get to a Lotus meet and blag a ride/drive with another 340 owner.

Dakkon

7,829 posts

277 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
s works said:

randy said:
What you need is an S1 Exige with a Honda engine.


Cue the maniacal laughter


Why the laughter, I thought it was a good conversion for the S1?

s works

10,166 posts

274 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
Dakkon said:

s works said:


randy said:
What you need is an S1 Exige with a Honda engine.



Cue the maniacal laughter



Why the laughter, I thought it was a good conversion for the S1?

I think you might have missed the point there mate... my intimation was

i.e. good, hence laughing like a maniac. Geddit!?!?

Dakkon

7,829 posts

277 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
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That's ok then, suddenly thought that perhaps peoples views had changed in light of some new developement or something

pley

179 posts

271 months

Wednesday 18th August 2004
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Nope the Honda conversion is still hideously expensive

aromaT

919 posts

269 months

Wednesday 18th August 2004
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340..every day.

the best handling thing I've ever owned

dannylt

1,906 posts

308 months

Friday 20th August 2004
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Shakman said:
Hmmm ... I'm looking at lots of options at the moment. I want something alot faster than my Elise S2 and something that will take me to the next level in race craft.
The Honda engined one is a LOT faster - with Nitrons and track tyres, it will be much quicker around a track. What do you mean by "next level" though?
Shakman said:

What I really want is a Radical SR3, but its too impractical for road use (I dont want a trailer to track car only .... odd Sunday blast B road killer wanted too) and also doesnt have enough road clearance to get over the humps in my area.
There's a guy on the Radical forum who's driven to Spa, so it's not that impractical - I've done a few hundred miles on the road too. With the non-race splitters, ground clearance over humps is supposed to be fine - I'm sure they'll be happy to quote max speed hump height. Admittedly with my race splitters you have to find an alternate route.
Shakman said:
The other car that tickles my fancy is a Ariel Atom ... but a bit more pricer. Caterhams see too run-of-the-mill ... I want something different.
Caterhams may look run of the mill, but have you driven one - road & track? If not, that might be the ticket - you'll forget the looks, and they come in any state of tune and road/track bias.

dannylt

1,906 posts

308 months

Friday 20th August 2004
quotequote all
pley said:
Nope the Honda conversion is still hideously expensive
Swapping cars is expensive too. If you know you have the perfect Elise, and you love the balance and it just lacks lots of power, I think it's quite sensible. Not biased at all mind Along with Pagid pads, it's loads more fun on track too.

Mr Fix It

500 posts

292 months

Friday 20th August 2004
quotequote all
AS for the mag review, it was in top gear.

It stated:

340R (177bhp) lap 1:35.3, 0-60 in 4.6 sec
340R (190bhp) lap 1:34.5, 0-60 in 4.2 sec
Exige s2 (189bhp) lap 1:35.5, 0-62 in 5.2 sec

Im not sure how useful the lap times are though, as the S1 190 exige was much slower. Also VX220 turbo was the same time as those above and the VX220 sprint was 5 sec faster. I suppose it depends on the circuit and how many goes around it the driver had in each car.