How does an Esprit Turbo SE handle on the track?
Discussion
I took my '89 SE to the Buggatti circut with the OLC in 2000 as my first track experience i.e. I was an amateur (and based on my Brandshatch escapade that is still a good description).
I fried the brake pads on the second outing (they turned to glass) and was advised that they are not suitable for track use. You can use the SE on the track, but you need to be aware of this Achilles heal and make allowances / cooling off periods.
I didn't get up to much of the exciting stuff you describe, however I will say that the car handled very well and despite some rash speeds into corners she got through them despite my inexperience.
Against other motors I think it will depend on your level of skill. An amateur in an EVO vs an amateur in the Esprit then I'll put money on the EVO. However, in skilled hands the Esprit can pretty much chew up everyone.
Martin
'95 S4s.
I fried the brake pads on the second outing (they turned to glass) and was advised that they are not suitable for track use. You can use the SE on the track, but you need to be aware of this Achilles heal and make allowances / cooling off periods.
I didn't get up to much of the exciting stuff you describe, however I will say that the car handled very well and despite some rash speeds into corners she got through them despite my inexperience.
Against other motors I think it will depend on your level of skill. An amateur in an EVO vs an amateur in the Esprit then I'll put money on the EVO. However, in skilled hands the Esprit can pretty much chew up everyone.
Martin
'95 S4s.
Friend of mine has a stunning 89SE and enters all the club lotus track days, early porsche's, EvoII are no match for the esprit, he cleans them up. He understands every aspect of the car handling wise and gets his car to go round corners like they are not there. His is all stock btw. On the other hand late model EVO's and Porsche have nearly twice as much HP and light weight so am sure you can work that one out.
If you want to beat your mates in their jappas, move up to a S4s or V8.
If you want to beat your mates in their jappas, move up to a S4s or V8.
There are a few quick routes to save weight and the not so quick or cheap ways.
First is to stip all the luxury items out or replace with lighter options
Carpeting, mats, replace for race seats, air conditioning pump pipes and radiator, radios, heater elements and as much of the internal trim as possible.
Next is replacing parts such as rear engine cover, rear wing, and other seperate from body panels, for carbon fibre, or thinner fibreglass equivelants.
Therer are also some heft bars in the side doors that act as side impact protection that can be machined for weight without loosing strength.
Not sure how much that would all loose but 100-150kg (very rough estimate).
This would not be very nice on the road, and for track extra weight would be put back, roll cage and other safty devices.
Would like to see how far a car lightening project could go without comprimising safety, just out of curiosity.
Del
S4s 95
First is to stip all the luxury items out or replace with lighter options
Carpeting, mats, replace for race seats, air conditioning pump pipes and radiator, radios, heater elements and as much of the internal trim as possible.
Next is replacing parts such as rear engine cover, rear wing, and other seperate from body panels, for carbon fibre, or thinner fibreglass equivelants.
Therer are also some heft bars in the side doors that act as side impact protection that can be machined for weight without loosing strength.
Not sure how much that would all loose but 100-150kg (very rough estimate).
This would not be very nice on the road, and for track extra weight would be put back, roll cage and other safty devices.
Would like to see how far a car lightening project could go without comprimising safety, just out of curiosity.
Del
S4s 95
As a "jap car racer" - I autocross an RX-7, MX-5 (my favorite), and an MR2 from time to time - my two cents adds up to this...
Particularly with the MX-5 Miata there is no great level of skill required to drive well. As skill improves, the MX-5 naturally improves right up to crazy levels of fun. But, to drive -say- 6/10ths or 7/10ths requires no great skill. The car is THAT good and THAT fun. I recon I'm up to 8/10ths with the MX-5... The Esprit (mine is an 88' turbo) on the other hand can be a bit sloppy where there is no skill. The car, however, comes to life like a bolt of lightning in the hands of a skilled driver. I am unfortunatly only a little skilled... but I soooooo love my Esprit - and I get better every trip to the road course!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Particularly with the MX-5 Miata there is no great level of skill required to drive well. As skill improves, the MX-5 naturally improves right up to crazy levels of fun. But, to drive -say- 6/10ths or 7/10ths requires no great skill. The car is THAT good and THAT fun. I recon I'm up to 8/10ths with the MX-5... The Esprit (mine is an 88' turbo) on the other hand can be a bit sloppy where there is no skill. The car, however, comes to life like a bolt of lightning in the hands of a skilled driver. I am unfortunatly only a little skilled... but I soooooo love my Esprit - and I get better every trip to the road course!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
I've tracked my Esprit many times, and I've also got a bit of experience behind me.
The stock Brakes on the Esprit are the biggest fault, they are woefully inadequete for track use, not matter what pads or ducting is used.
However with proper brakes there are no problems with a skilled driver mopping the track with most other cars. (excluding an Elise)
I have to agree that the Esprit takes some skills to drive at the limit, but if you try to "man handle" it around your performance will suffer.
The stock Brakes on the Esprit are the biggest fault, they are woefully inadequete for track use, not matter what pads or ducting is used.
However with proper brakes there are no problems with a skilled driver mopping the track with most other cars. (excluding an Elise)
I have to agree that the Esprit takes some skills to drive at the limit, but if you try to "man handle" it around your performance will suffer.
Yeah, gotta agree, get shot of those awful brakes, get a set of Wilwoods from PNM, APs (from various sources) or simply put and anchor in the passenger seat and throw out of the window when required, it would work better.
Elises are quite amazing. Blink and they're gone!
If I could get all the air con gear out of my car I would pass it on to anyone for a song. I never use it and it must weigh a fair bit. Any estimate on how much I would lose if this lot came out?
Elises are quite amazing. Blink and they're gone!
If I could get all the air con gear out of my car I would pass it on to anyone for a song. I never use it and it must weigh a fair bit. Any estimate on how much I would lose if this lot came out?
Not as much as you'd like. The Sanden compressor weighs about 15lb, evaporator/condenser/fan probably around 20lb total, plus hoses, etc. I'd estimate about 50lbs tops. I know I've actually done this on a Mustang GT and we weighed everything after pulling all HVAC stuff - only got 52 lbs that was relatively spread out but forward of the mid point of the car.
And, this was from a friend of mine that was at least 30 lbs overweight. I figured if he'd lost 30 lbs he'd be better off, car would handle maybe a little better, and he wouldn't sweat in the summer! ;-)
And, this was from a friend of mine that was at least 30 lbs overweight. I figured if he'd lost 30 lbs he'd be better off, car would handle maybe a little better, and he wouldn't sweat in the summer! ;-)
benfell100 said:
If I could get all the air con gear out of my car I would pass it on to anyone for a song. I never use it and it must weigh a fair bit. Any estimate on how much I would lose if this lot came out?
Not much, but you could put the condenser to better use as an auxiliary chargecooler radiator, as Lotus did with the Sport 300.
Cheers,
Sanj
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