The 1000 kg line in the sand...

[cyberface]

In another thread regarding what the S3 Elise will become, a few of us had stated that the Elise / Exige should always be below 1000 kg - this being its niche...

Just looking through the paperwork that came with my new Exige and the EEC Certificate of Conformity states a 'Mass of the vehicle with bodywork in running order'... and for my car... 1010 kg

The 'maximum running order mass' is 1024 kg...

So looks like we've already broken that particular line in the sand. I wonder whether the big new wing of the 2010 models is what pushed over the edge...

There's a chance mine is actually less than a tonne because the OEM Lotus exhaust is notoriously heavy and I've replaced that with a 2bular. But that's still lardy for a Lotus, good job it's got big brakes and plenty of power

Anyone know whether the Certificate of Conformity numbers are bureaucratic fantasy or whether that mass number is actually a decent indication of the 'real' mass of a running car? Too many 'manufacturer' figures are BS, either being without fluids on board or other 'technical defences' to make the car sound lighter than it really is. TVR's weight (and power) figures were usually nonsense, and I'm sure I was told earnestly that the Noble I bought was less than 1100 kg, which I now find incredibly hard to believe.

Not that I really care TBH, but it certainly brings a wry smile to my face remembering all those people criticising my old VX220 Turbo as being 'massively overweight' at 930 kg

[Esprit]

Get the car on some corner scales to find out. I'd not be trusting any of the conformity docs.

Still, if it IS a tonne, that's pretty shocking. My pretty stock S1 Exige was 764kg fully fuelled... So that's basically a 25% increase in weight, which is massive.

Mind you, you can use yours everyday.... I can't :P

[dom180]

Lotus brochures/website quote unladen mass.

Lotus website (tonight) says 935kg for MY10 S.

http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/showroom.html#/exig...

Same quoted unladen mass as the first (pre-airbag model) Exige S according to my old Exige brochure - 935kg no options or 949Kg full options.

Nice car btw. (I wouldn't bother trying the launch control as I believe it voids the drivetrain warranty!)

Edited by dom180 on Saturday 19th December 21:48

[Scuffers]

1,000kg's is a total joke.....

to be honest, >800 is plain disgracefully

[TIPPER]

One of the things that would put me off replacing my S1 with a newer model is the increasing weight.
I love the sheer bidability that light weight brings so I guess I'll eventually go down one of the engine conversion routes and keep replacing things on the old girl.
I realise that Lotus have offered the 2-11 as the balls out track car but I'd really like to see them strip all the extra weight out of the Exige and give us a nice lighweight car with the power of the Exige SPP: I don't need or want capets, sound deadening etc; just a weatherproof car that I can drive distance in wet weather to and from track/Sprints, carry my overnight kit, a few tools etc and have some fun in. I don't want my Elige type Lotus to be a GT.

[-Neil-]

What sort of stuff can be removed that could be put back in come resale time?

I've done already:

Lightweight battery
Manifold
CAT Removal
Backbox
Ally belled discs

To do

Carpets
Bulkhead trim + Sound deadening <---- Is this stuff glued to the bulkhead?
Remove headunit and speakers
Change to non airbag steering wheel
Lightweight flywheel
Lighter wheels

One thing I would never remove is the air con, as it's my everyday car.

Neil.

Edited by -Neil- on Saturday 19th December 23:23

[TIPPER]

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

[Scuffers]

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Esprit said:

Get the car on some corner scales to find out. I'd not be trusting any of the conformity docs.

Still, if it IS a tonne, that's pretty shocking. My pretty stock S1 Exige was 764kg fully fuelled... So that's basically a 25% increase in weight, which is massive.

Mind you, you can use yours everyday.... I can't :P

Just to be pedantic it's actually just over a 30% increase

[doggydave]

[quote=dom180]Lotus brochures/website quote unladen mass.

Lotus website (tonight) says 935kg for MY10 S.

http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/showroom.html#/exig...

Same quoted unladen mass as the first (pre-airbag model) Exige S according to my old Exige brochure - 935kg no options or 949Kg full options.

Nice car btw. (I wouldn't bother trying the launch control as I believe it voids the drivetrain warranty!)



Is it me or are these cars getting slower as time goes on. I know that they get heavier as they evolve but looking at the performance times, the Exige 220 times are creeping up to 60 mph and 100 mph. Is this also because they are trying to lower their emmisions as well.

Edited by doggydave on Sunday 20th December 11:01

Edited by doggydave on Sunday 20th December 11:06

[TIPPER]

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

So K series cars are always going to be lighter?

[Mattt]

-Neil- said:

What sort of stuff can be removed that could be put back in come resale time?

Fat Driver.

I always find it amusing when people spend ££££ saving weight to the Nth degree - when the driver is a lardass. (Not saying the OP is however - he might be though)

[junks]

TIPPER said:

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

So K series cars are always going to be lighter?

You can pick up a K series engine by yourself Tim so there's a lot a weight saved there! I delivered a VVC engine the other day & he guy was amazed when I just picked it up off the trailer by myself! lol

I can build you a lightweight 2/11 with a screen if you want mate

[Sam_68]

Mattt said:

Fat Driver.

I always find it amusing when people spend ££££ saving weight to the Nth degree - when the driver is a lardass. (Not saying the OP is however - he might be though)

Guilty as charged... 15 stone driver with a 424 kilo car (though I didn't spend £££ getting the car down to that weight).

In defence of us fatbds, though, realistically, if I starved myself to the point where I was an equally unhealthy weight in the other direction, I could save maybe 25 kilos.

If Lotus could build an Elise that had only suffered as much middle-aged spread as I have in the last 13 years, it wouldn't be so bad.

[-Neil-]

Mattt said:

-Neil- said:

What sort of stuff can be removed that could be put back in come resale time?

Fat Driver.

I always find it amusing when people spend ££££ saving weight to the Nth degree - when the driver is a lardass. (Not saying the OP is however - he might be though)

No problems on that front for me, 6ft and under 11st

Neil.

[Scuffers]

TIPPER said:

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

So K series cars are always going to be lighter?

yes, ignoring the drivetrain weight differences, your starting with a significantly heavier platform.

junks said:

You can pick up a K series engine by yourself Tim so there's a lot a weight saved there! I delivered a VVC engine the other day & he guy was amazed when I just picked it up off the trailer by myself! lol

Phil,

Light as the K is, you must be stronger than you look!

[junks]

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

So K series cars are always going to be lighter?

yes, ignoring the drivetrain weight differences, your starting with a significantly heavier platform.

junks said:

You can pick up a K series engine by yourself Tim so there's a lot a weight saved there! I delivered a VVC engine the other day & he guy was amazed when I just picked it up off the trailer by myself! lol

Phil,

Light as the K is, you must be stronger than you look!

lol It did surprise me too, I'd actually never tried before!! No ancillaries on it just a bare engine though

[Scuffers]

junks said:

lol It did surprise me too, I'd actually never tried before!! No ancillaries on it just a bare engine though

it was a Kink K one wasn't it!

[TIPPER]

junks said:

TIPPER said:

Scuffers said:

TIPPER said:

I suppose what I'd really like is a 2-11 with windscreen and a targa roof (in stead of aircon!). Surely that could come in at under 800kg?

2-11's are not the light to start with....

by the time you have added doors etc, they would be over 800 easy.

the basic issue is the subframe etc are monster heavy, and these's sod all you can do about it.

So K series cars are always going to be lighter?

You can pick up a K series engine by yourself Tim so there's a lot a weight saved there! I delivered a VVC engine the other day & he guy was amazed when I just picked it up off the trailer by myself! lol

I can build you a lightweight 2/11 with a screen if you want mate

Fortunately my car fund is rather depleted at the mo

[cyberface]

Mattt said:

-Neil- said:

What sort of stuff can be removed that could be put back in come resale time?

Fat Driver.

I always find it amusing when people spend ££££ saving weight to the Nth degree - when the driver is a lardass. (Not saying the OP is however - he might be though)

Me???



I'm more of an S1... I only weigh 69 kg at full fighting fitness (5'11" tall) and I haven't been eating properly for the last month so I'm currently not fitting my trousers... probably down to 63-65 kg at the moment.

Of course I'd rather be 75 kg and stronger / healthier, but ain't so for various reasons. However, I doubt there are many drivers here who are both lighter *and* taller than me... most of the lighter chaps are significantly shorter.

I can't get below 60 kg without being *seriously* unhealthy though. At some point it makes more sense to lose weight from the car rather than the driver!!!

(and no, I'm not a good enough racer to actually *need* to care about these last few kg - I have some very specific track driving issues that will get me whole seconds once sorted, which have nothing to do with the car)