Heel & Toe in Exige S2 (MY05 or older)

[Phil-CH]

Sorry about posting another thread on this topic that I'm sure has been discussed several times. Since the search seems to be offline, I'm hoping a short thread will bring me some enlightenment regardless...


I've got an Exige S2, model year 2005, which as most of you are aware, doesn't feature the electric drive-by-wire system and better suited pedals for heel & toe featured in the new 2006 models. While driving I have noticed that heel & toeing is essential in doing quick and smooth downshifts while driving hard.

The problem is, the break and accelerator pedals seem to be aligned in a way that makes it a very hard and uncomfortable task. Either I have to twist my leg to that extend that I can toe the break and barely touch the accelerator with my heel, and even then, it's very difficult since the break has to be pressed quite hard to get sufficient breaking power out of it.

Does anyone have some sort of advice on what can be done with the pedals to make it easier? How do you do it?

Thanks in advance..
Cheers Phil

[speedyellow]

The peddles adjust, you need to do both of them, but you can sort it out with some slight pain to your lower back...

There is lotus of info on SELOC and Exiges.com on how exactly to do it... sorry too busy find the link at the moment...

[shangani]

Hi there.

Try this for the brake pedal:
www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/experience/maintenance/brakes/brakeadj.html

Accelerator pedal:
I have never needed to do this to heel toe. I will try to find something on this, I think I have a link at home.

[Phil-CH]

Oh best of thanks! That link helps a lot already.. I'll look into it!

Thanks!

[theo111r]

Apart from adjusting your pedal as much as possible, you may also try a product called "HnT pad" from www.sector111.com

I've fitted it on my brake pedal, and voila! I can perfectly heel'n'toe!

If I could only adjust my left foot braking skill as easy too!...

Cheers,

Theo


>> Edited by theo111r on Thursday 27th April 19:49

[ferrisbueller]

theo111r said:

Apart from adjusting your pedal as much as possible, you may also try a product called "HnT pad" from www.sector111.com I've fitted it on my brake pedal, and voila! I can perfectly heel'n'toe! If I could only adjust my left foot braking skill as easy too!... Cheers, Theo >> Edited by theo111r on Thursday 27th April 19:49

Got a link to that please? Can't find it the HnT pad.

[aelord]

ferrisbueller said:

theo111r said: Apart from adjusting your pedal as much as possible, you may also try a product called "HnT pad" from www.sector111.com I've fitted it on my brake pedal, and voila! I can perfectly heel'n'toe! If I could only adjust my left foot braking skill as easy too!... Cheers, Theo >> Edited by theo111r on Thursday 27th April 19:49 Got a link to that please? Can't find it the HnT pad.

DING! The product isn't on the site as far as I can see....

[theo111r]

aelord said:

DING! The product isn't on the site as far as I can see....

Oh dear!
You'll find it in the Performance section/Track parts

Try directly from here: www.sector111.com/handler.cfm?cat_id=20216&cat_id=20230&prod_id=1277&function=product

Hope I helped,

Theo

[Phil-CH]

Thanks for the link Theo! I see that site has some really tasty upgrades besides the HnT one.

[ferrisbueller]

$125?!

Better off with a modified orthopaedic shoe.

[GTRene]

I like heel and toe...and I hate it because I never practisized it, and I can't do it aaaaaaahh at least not smooth and on high speeds and last moments... there have to be another way to overcome this by doing something else instead...
Ofcorse slower driving will be one of that...but that is not what I want...
better have a sequential box then you can brake left and blip the throttle...
Also I remember the handthrottle I had in a Bertone X1-9(fiat) but then you also need a extra hand...one for the gearstick and one for the handthrottle...
Maybe some Idea is a little handthrottle on the front on the gearstick...?
Or when you have the new drive by whire electronic throttle make a program that blips the right amount throttle at the right revs when shifting back! me thinks that can be done...(not by me I'm no elec man)
So dive by wire can be a avantage over cable throttle with the right program
GTRene

[shangani]

I find the easiest way to "heel-toe" on an elise / exige, it to use the outside of my right foot on the throttle pedal, rather than try to swivel my foot to use my heel. Braking with the part of my right foot in line with my big toe (ie the medial or inner aspect of the ball of my foot) allows me just to roll the outside of my right foot onto the throttle to blip it.

I always need to subtly adjust my technique after I have changed pads or fiddles with the brakes.

[GTRene]

aren't you afraid of slipping of the brake pedal when your foot is not full on?
GTRene

[shangani]

The pedals are really close together on an elise - I am still fully on the brake pedal with at least a couple of centimeters of shoe sole overlapping the left side of the brake pedal.

[aelord]

theo111r said:

aelord said: DING! The product isn't on the site as far as I can see.... Oh dear! You'll find it in the Performance section/Track parts Try directly from here: www.sector111.com/handler.cfm?cat_id=20216&cat_id=20230&prod_id=1277&function=product Hope I helped, Theo

Thanks Theo

now i am stuck on the registration as it only has US states on the list of provinces and wont allow to proceed so i ve emailed them directly.

$125 is a bit steep...but Lotus are criminal producing a sports car that you cant heel and toe in. It is one of the true pleasures of driving once you get it right. I used to do it an all down shifts routinely but I cant on my 05 Exige....

[Grinzzz]

aelord said:

but Lotus are criminal producing a sports car that you cant heel and toe in. It is one of the true pleasures of driving once you get it right. I used to do it an all down shifts routinely but I cant on my 05 Exige....

Well as a total novice at doing anything other than keeping my right foot firmly planted on either the loud pedal or the stop switch I'm finding it quite satisfying to try this heel and toe malarky. Ive only been practicing for about 4 days (since the back end flicked a bit on a downchange) and its a lot easier than it sounds even in the 111R (06MY). But then Im probably doing it wrong

[shangani]

I am surprised to hear you can't heel toe in a lotus elise / exige. It is by far the easiest car to do it in that I have ever driven. Something must be wrong with the pedal position.

[speedyellow]

S2 ABS cars have the worst setup sports car pedals I've ever come across as standard, the bite point of the brakes is a good 2" under the gas pedal. Doesn't matter what technique I tried before adjusting the pedals, you just can't heal toe with any level of success, adjust them up though and it's very easy!

Best way from my point of view is classic small pedal box, just like Caterham, Esprit etc... position your foot so the inside is on the brake pedal and rock the outside to press the gas.. work a treat and is very controllable.

[nellie116]

Don't really understand what all the fuss is about. Like shanghai i find it one of the easiest cars to heel and toe in.
Are people getting confused with the term itself and trying to use their actual heel and their toe, because this would indeed be mucho difficult for anyone with non freakish feet. The trick is to use the ball of your foot (the bit behind your big stumper) for the brake and the edge of your foot behind the little toe for the gas. I always brake covering both pedals and find it completly natural that way now.
Also helps prolong clutch life and passenger relations if you match the revs every time on downshifts.

[shangani]

Sh*t, I hadn't thought of the ABS issue. My non-ABS brakes are fabulous now - better pads / lines /discs and the pedal position is fab.

They'll be putting traction control and cupholders on elises next.....


OOOPPS, they've already done that.