240 Cup Track spec (no air con)

[tenantinquestion]

OK chaps so what's the consensus - kiss of death on residuals and a nightmare to live with due to excessive cabin heat (especially on track in the summer) or actually OK and due to the focused nature, cage etc you could live without the air?

Cheers

TIQ

[MrP80]

If it's track spec, and you are only using it on track I would say no A/C is fine.

Selling it on; if others are after a track spec car aircon is unlikely to be high up on their priorities.

[tlracing]

The fact that you're asking seems to tell me you really, really, really want one!

Positives:

- It's a Lotus
- It's very focussed
- It has windows if you get warm

Negatives:

- It's not a family car
- It's no good for moving furniture

So for my opinion, the positives far outweigh the negatives! Buy it

[squirejo]

forget using aircon on the track, useless.
It is however the only way to ensure you arrive at your circuit destination cool and collected. I would not have one without it. Surprisingly effective in mine (black too), driving to Spa in the heat of the european summer. Not to mention the obvious demisting benefits, in a car that is not always watertight.

[TOENHEEL]

I never use my a/c..just drop the window.

[Alexbturbo]

squirejo said:

forget using aircon on the track, useless.
It is however the only way to ensure you arrive at your circuit destination cool and collected. I would not have one without it. Surprisingly effective in mine (black too), driving to Spa in the heat of the european summer. Not to mention the obvious demisting benefits, in a car that is not always watertight.

I second this comment - i did a track day last year at Goodwood in the height of summer & aircon was excellent to have on the long drive home after the track day was complete

[R.P.M]

If your using it on the road, I wouldn't consider a car without TBH.
This time of year my a/c is always left on, to help stop the windows steaming up. In the summer time and when stuck in traffic it can get a very hot and sweaty without, not nice.

I agree that on a track you don't need it and even if you have A/c I would never have it turned on! Just leave the window slightly open.

[aelord]

Get aircon - or you'll have a perpetual nagging in the back of your mind that you made a mistake.

[TonyHetherington]

R.P.M said:

If your using it on the road, I wouldn't consider a car without TBH.

Agreed, it's not just useful in the summer either.

Highly recommended, it's effect on residuals is just a bonus.

[Type 49]

I looked at a 240 cup in an odd silver colour back in the summer. It was less than 2k miles and I was offered it for a knockdown price prior to it being sold on to another dealer. I was told by the origional seller that it had aircon but when i eventually viewed it i discovered it had not been fitted. However it had all the track bits inc the cage, the extinguisher and the cut out.

But for the salesman at the dealership not bothering to contact me to arrange a test drive (dispite me driving 2.5hrs one way to see it in the first place) I would have bought it and it would be snug in my garage now.

Fate is a fickle friend, because in the meantime I was advised by a fellow pher "no aircon no sale". Shortly afterwards I found and bought a 240 cup with similar mileage with aircon and for a lot less.

My advice if it hasnt got aircon walk away. When the time comes for you to sell you will have the self same problem.

Even if it is being offered at well below the current market "price" steer clear, you will never get rid of it.