Touring vs Performance - real world difference?

[burnt]

Hello all, further to my previous thread the decision has been made that the S2 Exige is the way forward. Which is great, one problem down, one to go.

So the question is Touring or Performance. As far as I see it the Touring pack is carpets (ummm in all the pictures I see they are little more than mats?) and sound insulation. Does that really make much difference? I like to be able to hear some music or conversation but I can't help thinking that the sound insulation isn't going to make that much difference does it? Is that all you get with the touring?

Again I'll do 2 - 3 tracks a year most of the time drive to clients, etc. Not to be used everyday.

Thanks for your comments.

[MrP80]

IIRC

Performance Pack - Sports seats (with harness cutouts), Harness Bar, Additional T45 Rollover hoop, Twin Oil coolers, Dealer fit harnesses

Touring pack - Additional sound proofing, carpets, additional trimming on doors, leather/microfibre seats, upgraded stereo.

Performance pack worth it for the seats alone IMHO

[CSJXX]

what does the super performance pack consist of?

[NathanE]

Touring pack is definately not essential. I daily drived mine for about 8 months including the winter without any touring pack. Then to fix a reverberance coming from behind the seats I fitted the large chunk of foam that goes behind the speakers. That sorted the reverberence out and only reduced the sound levels in the car fractionally. I can hear the radio on a motorway now for example. I wouldn't want the car to get any quieter though as that is part of the fun.

With or without touring pack you still won't be able to hear the radio when you are giving it some beans.

[Jez O]

My 2005 model has Touring pack- in addition to the above you get some 'micro' sun visors, electric windows and a storage net behind the seats. This was what the Touring pack was back then mine was new in 2005. I think the sound deadening is carpet directly under the seats, along the side of the sill and on the sloping panel at the rear of the seats. Don't know if it works as have not tried it without!!

Edited by Jez O on Thursday 5th June 13:55

[subaqua]

If resale is a consideration, you don't want to buy an exige without the sport/performance pack.

[burnt]

Cracking advice as usual. I must admit I thought that the touring pack did sound a little 'empty' from the point of view that it's not going to turn the interior into a bentley.

I'm looking at an S with the sport pack, can you/would you want to retro fit sound deadening? Just pre-empting the wifes comments!!

[Lichtgestalt]

I would take the touring pack just for reselling purposes (unless you are purely tracking the car). Most of them have it anyway

[MrP80]

If it's an S you are looking at you don't have to decide Performance or Touring. You can have both (or sports pack as it came to be called).

Sports pack I think is essential as said before if only for the seats. Sports pack on the S also doesn't add Oil Coolers, as they are already standard on the S. Also after 2004 when the sports pack came in the harnesses weren't offered only the harness bar.

Touring pack also adds driving lights I forgot to mention.

The touring pack didn't seem to make that much difference in the sound levels from what I can remember. In the end got both Sports and Touring as the right car happened to comeup at the right time. The only way to find out is to go to a dealers and drive one with Touring pack and one without, see if it makes a difference for you. But for me touring pack wouldn't be a deal breaker, but Sports pack is - see what suits you best

[VladTheDad]

Are we talking a new or used car? The new Exige performance pack is a whole different ball game - you get 240 bhp, big brakes and a big roof scoop.

[burnt]

No it will be used. A year or two old. 'S' if I can stretch.

[R.P.M]

Its a difficult question to answer because as said before me, the exact specs have changed over the years.

IMHO your not getting a lot with the touring pack, and your defiantly not getting something that you can't retro fit later (think extra carpet). I have been in both and I couldn't really notice much difference with the extra insulation. Remember A/C was a stand alone option.

The performance pack is the option that comes with all the goodies that people want (think twin oil coolers, sports seats etc). So I think it will always be that little bit more desirable in the future. Think comfort/clubsport.



HTH

Rpm

[CSJXX]

Does anyone know what lotus have done to produce the 20bhp extra?

[MrP80]

CSJXX said:

Does anyone know what lotus have done to produce the 20bhp extra?

Remap, higher flow injectors and maybe a change to the air intake system I think.

[CSJXX]

MrP80 said:

CSJXX said:

Does anyone know what lotus have done to produce the 20bhp extra?

Remap, higher flow injectors and maybe a change to the air intake system I think.

So really i should be able to get the parts from lotus to do this, except the remap? Possible? Or is there an easier way to gain 20bhp more?

[S Works]

What extra 20bhp gain?

The performance pack is the only one worth having if you're only choosing one or t'other IMO. The standard head units there were fitting (blaupunkt?) were cack, and the new ones (Alpine?) are much better - however I'd personally just get whatever I get with the car and spend a few hundred quid getting a decent one with iPod connectivity put in there, some dynamat, decent aftermarket speakers and a small amp'd sub, rather than the extra lard Lotus stick in and charge you for.

[MrP80]

CSJXX said:

MrP80 said:

CSJXX said:

Does anyone know what lotus have done to produce the 20bhp extra?

Remap, higher flow injectors and maybe a change to the air intake system I think.

So really i should be able to get the parts from lotus to do this, except the remap? Possible? Or is there an easier way to gain 20bhp more?

The intercooler is a major weak spot IMO, it sits on top of a hot engine and gets very little airflow. This could be improved with the longer roof scoop in the performance pack to get more air flowing in their. Some guys in the states have also added some ducting from the side scoops to the back of the intercooler (like the arrangement in the 2-11 apparently). A more complete fix is to change the intercooler for a chargecooler, with a front mounted rad such as the one Pro-Alloy offer.

This will not necessarily up the power but more restore it to the level of what it should be, as you are no longer pumping hot air into the engine.

You could also try adding a sports cat which may release a few horses, but I've never seen a back to back against a standard cat so couldn't say how much could be gained.

If you want to gain more power the injectors are apparently a stopping point, on the 220 they are maxed out. You will need to add higher flow injectors, apparently can be sourced from the US cheaper than from lotus. Once this is done you can then map for a higher fuel flow and more power such as the Gotham unit. Without the uprated injectors trying to map for any greater power will create a very lean mix.

[MrP80]

S Works said:

What extra 20bhp gain?

We are now on the performance pack currently offered, not the original Perf Pack on N/A exiges. Perf Pack on 08 S's ups power to 240, extends roof scoop and adds AP front brakes.

The Perf Pack on MY04 and previous cars was as you mention just the sports pack

[S Works]

Ah yes, gotcha.

[anonymous-user]

burnt said:

Hello all, further to my previous thread the decision has been made that the S2 Exige is the way forward. Which is great, one problem down, one to go.

So the question is Touring or Performance. As far as I see it the Touring pack is carpets (ummm in all the pictures I see they are little more than mats?) and sound insulation. Does that really make much difference? I like to be able to hear some music or conversation but I can't help thinking that the sound insulation isn't going to make that much difference does it? Is that all you get with the touring?

Again I'll do 2 - 3 tracks a year most of the time drive to clients, etc. Not to be used everyday.

Thanks for your comments.

I've just changed from an Exige with touring pack car to one with PP but no touring pack. Certainly hearing more stones and crap hitting the arches, sill and undertray. Had expected it but seems more than I ever had on my non-carpet S1 and I wonder if that's the stickier A048s picking them up and letting fly. The surprise was that I can hear so much from the rear tyres, every surface change is noticeable. This may not be entirely due to carpets though - the last car had a deafening stage 2 and thanks to Larini this one is still fitted with the standard exhaust. I can't hear the stereo very well in this one but have no doubt that's partly due to 3 years of the stage 2...

Touring also gives you a cup holder and a fancier stereo with ipod connection and 'holder'. The base Alpine doesn't even offer a clock - the only reason I ever used to fit the head unit on the old car. Sun visors and electric windows used to be a touring pack feature but are now standard as far as I can tell.

Edit: I think touring also offers the lumbar support. My car doesn't have it and having never needed it before I'm wishing it did because I'm finding the Probax seats less comfortable than the seats in my old Exige and S2 Elise.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 6th June 12:55