What makes the Exige so good?

[Muncher]

What components make the S2 Exige handle better than a 111R, or indeed the standard S2 Elise?

I am thinking:

Suspension - does the Exige use Ohlins or Nitrons?
Tyres - Yokohama A048s?
Geometry setup - Any different???


What else is there? I'm not convinced aerodynamics play a big part and surely the weight distribution is pretty much the same?

[bogie]

its just suspension, wider front wheels and geo - thats it really ...fit the above to a 111R and you will have the same....

<cue arguments about how a wobbly plastic wing attached to the boot lid can actually add downforce!>

[DanH]

bogie said:

its just suspension, wider front wheels and geo - thats it really ...fit the above to a 111R and you will have the same.... <cue arguments about how a wobbly plastic wing attached to the boot lid can actually add downforce!>

I think you'll find its drag, not downfarce

[poptosis]

bogie said:

its just suspension, wider front wheels and geo...

...and it looks baaaaaad aaaaaaas mo' fo'

[Muncher]

So in going for Oz wheels, Yokos and Nitrons my VX could effectively handle like an Exige, albeit with a different engine? I always hoped that would be the case but assumed there must be something more to it.

What geo settings does the Exige use? A close variation on the 340R settings are the best for the VX/Elise apparently, does the Exige go with that?

[DanH]

Muncher said:

So in going for Oz wheels, Yokos and Nitrons my VX could effectively handle like an Exige, albeit with a different engine? I always hoped that would be the case but assumed there must be something more to it. What geo settings does the Exige use? A close variation on the 340R settings are the best for the VX/Elise apparently, does the Exige go with that?

Er no. The VX has more weight in the rear and a different rear subframe. Lotus tried this trick with the VXR and most reviews seem to think its less than the sum of its parts...

[bogie]

yes - it looks bad ass

Dan - yes its drag

geo wise - theres a multitude of stuff to consider -go somewhere that knows how to set these cars up, get it all adjustable and get it set up properly

[Muncher]

DanH said:

Er no. The VX has more weight in the rear and a different rear subframe. Lotus tried this trick with the VXR and most reviews seem to think its less than the sum of its parts...

I'm not concerned with being identical but not being a million miles off. In any case the Exige 240R weighs 100kg more than the VX and I presume that weight is going to be pretty much in the same place?

[DanH]

Muncher said:

DanH said: Er no. The VX has more weight in the rear and a different rear subframe. Lotus tried this trick with the VXR and most reviews seem to think its less than the sum of its parts... I'm not concerned with being identical but not being a million miles off. In any case the Exige 240R weighs 100kg more than the VX and I presume that weight is going to be pretty much in the same place?

Perhaps, but I doubt its that easy as otherwise the VXR would have been better! Perhaps Yvo will reply to this thread as he knows more about whats different on a VX.

The people on vx220.org.uk forum or whatever its called have messed around with all this stuff. I think they had to buy lotus hub carriers to fit Elise wheels etc. That would make it pricey ignoring the fairly large expense in getting Oz alloys with AO48s and nitrons.

[Muncher]

Oz alloys which fit the VX hubs are £800 and Nitrons about £1,200. About £2,600 shod with A048Rs.

The VXR is slightly different in that it has a heavier engine and different rear subframe to the VX.

[bob_defly]

The Force!

[Davey S1]

And dont forget the all important plastic front splitter!

>> Edited by Davey S1 on Monday 17th October 22:52

[therossatron]

Muncher said:

Oz alloys which fit the VX hubs are £800 and Nitrons about £1,200. About £2,600 shod with A048Rs. The VXR is slightly different in that it has a heavier engine and different rear subframe to the VX.

The VXR wheels are heavier than the OZs your wanting to fit so you'd probably have a superior setup to the VXR. Your NA can't be that far off the weight of a standard Exige either.

[Muncher]

My VX is 830kg.

[therossatron]

Muncher said:

My VX is 830kg.

Sorry thought it was heavier than that. The Exige weighs in at 875kg and youd be saving 10kgs overall with those wheels too. My point being I reckon you could get a pretty sweet setup out of that combo your talking about.

>> Edited by therossatron on Tuesday 18th October 11:16

[aelord]

Davey S1 said:

And dont forget the all important plastic front splitter! >> Edited by Davey S1 on Monday 17th October 22:52

Mine's metal - I know because it scrapes going into my drive and has scratched throught the bare aluminium underneath.