Discussion
Snapper7 said:
Out of interest how did the GTM fair against the Lotus Elises on the trip? I was wondering which is the better car for touring?
I like the looks of both but have only owned a Lotus Exige. Always had a soft spot for the GTM but never really had a good chance to look around one
I guess it's a little bit faster, easier to get in and out of, more luggage space as there is a decent space behind the seats and more space in the cabin.I like the looks of both but have only owned a Lotus Exige. Always had a soft spot for the GTM but never really had a good chance to look around one
Handling wise they are similar, I would expect the Lotus is going to be a bit better since the development budget of the Libra was 12.5p.
Around Zolder last year I was no slower than the Exiges there apart from the Supercharged one driven by a Lotus test driver. So it's no slouch.
Furyblade_Lee said:
By approach to the Col du Turini, do you mean in a Supermarket Car Park hitting a bollard at 1 mph, or do you mean all 4 wheels airborne, a hard landing on a tight left-hander just before the 500ft drop as you were undertaking a local in his group N rallycar ?
Yeah that's what I mean!I can vouch that a Libra can be hustled round a track quite quickly. At Brands Indy on an EVO magazine trackday 2 guys in FQ320's came up to ask me what the hell I had under the bonnet as they enjoyed 10 laps of nip and tucking and could not shake me. Also, I do Trackdays with Lotus-on-Track and I would say it takes a good K-series Elise or Exige to beat the Libra (albeit high spec chassis)comfotably, the equivalent Elise is probobly 50kgs heavier (my 1.8 170bhp Libra was 780kgs with fuel). At Folembray, 3 Elise / Exige drivers wanted passenger rides as they did not believe I just had 170bhp. However, the Libra is far trickier on the Limit than an Elise, suffering from roll-oversteer. And the steering rack is slower, so when it does slip you have to wind on a fair bit of lock quickly! But I never span it. You just had to be aware and not take liberties. As a road car for touring, i would take a well built Libra every time, Rogers black one is one of the best. It is easier to get in and out of, carries far more luggage and looks individual. And you will probobly pay half the insurance cost. But if serious about tracking regularly I would probobly go for an Elise, purely because the tuning / setup side of things has had Hethel at the helm for a decade, you cannot put a price on that. Chris D owned the Elise on our trip and he downgraded from a Ferrari 355 and absolutely loves it. I suppose in a straight choice Elsie or Libra you have to weigh up individuality / cheap insurance / slow parts supply / head turning / great touring car, against the Lotus badge / amazing car and off the shelf everything. I'd take a Libra, but then i like to be different. But a good used Libra is a great car.
Very safe! A couple have been crashed very hard and no one to my knowledge has had more than the odd bruise.
One recently had a jeep cheroke roll over the top of it while the driver was sat in the car watching. He was ok and the car is being repaired.
Have a look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seiOjnZ8xlU
One recently had a jeep cheroke roll over the top of it while the driver was sat in the car watching. He was ok and the car is being repaired.
Have a look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seiOjnZ8xlU
Stephen.GTM said:
it doesn't look very safe the car is broken in bits they would of died for e.g in a new modern car it would not come close to lookin like that. My dad have got a kit and he said it can be as safe but i don't think it is tht safe
The Ferrari Enzo that ex-Gizmondo guy Stefan Erickson crashed at 160mph-odd was ripped clean in two and parts distributed over the road in such a way as witnesses said it looked like a 'plane crash. Yet, crucially, the passenger safety cell was intact and he walked away with barely a scratch.Don't forget, the energy required to break a car in bits (as you put it), especially when glass fibre or carbon fibre is concerned, is enormous. Every joule of energy that goes into breaking the car is a joule that doesn't get transmitted into your body.
Stephen.GTM said:
it doesn't look very safe the car is broken in bits they would of died for e.g in a new modern car it would not come close to lookin like that. My dad have got a kit and he said it can be as safe but i don't think it is tht safe
I think it's in amazingly good condition for going into a ditch at an indicated 100mph +. As said the tub is pretty much undamaged, it's just the decorative bodywork that has been ripped off. As far as I know the driver was perfectly ok.Edited by Stephen.GTM on Monday 28th July 13:42
Ferg said:
Stephen.GTM said:
it doesn't look very safe the car is broken in bits they would of died for e.g in a new modern car it would not come close to lookin like that. My dad have got a kit and he said it can be as safe but i don't think it is tht safe
Then don't get one.Next.
Stephen.GTM said:
e.g in a new modern car it would not come close to lookin like that
Your right the modern car would look like its been put in a crusher, I have seen cars which have crashed at a fraction of the speed that the Libra crashed at. And the cars were wrecks after and most of the occupants had nasty injurys.Having seen pictures and heard about various GTM road accidents its pretty amazing how well they hold up.
Paul Drawmer said:
Jamie; I agree with Lee's summary. It's exactly what I've found, 'cept I have spun mine, and I'm older and slower than him.
Mine's the Libra that turns up at the L7 pub meets sometimes.
Have you still got the Exige?
Hi Paul Mine's the Libra that turns up at the L7 pub meets sometimes.
Have you still got the Exige?
Sadly no I don't have the S2 Exige anymore which is very gutting. Once I have re-invented myself business wise I will be looking to get another sports car.
Maybe you could take me for a spin in your GTM so that I can get a feel for it. I notice that GTM has a Honda powered one for sale at the moment. hmmmm
Regards
jamie
Stephen,
It will be a challenge to find a black 1.8 car. As far as I know Roger's car is the only black 1.8 that exsists. The first ever black Libra was a V6, and somehow Black became a more or less dedicated color for a V6. There are several V6 cars which are not black, but these are very few (I think only one) black 1.8 (or 1.6, 1.4, etc..) cars.
A V6 is not nessecarely a bad thing, loads of torque at low revs. Another advantage of a V6 tub is that you could ditch the V6 and swap it for an Audi 1.8 Turbo. ;-)
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
It will be a challenge to find a black 1.8 car. As far as I know Roger's car is the only black 1.8 that exsists. The first ever black Libra was a V6, and somehow Black became a more or less dedicated color for a V6. There are several V6 cars which are not black, but these are very few (I think only one) black 1.8 (or 1.6, 1.4, etc..) cars.
A V6 is not nessecarely a bad thing, loads of torque at low revs. Another advantage of a V6 tub is that you could ditch the V6 and swap it for an Audi 1.8 Turbo. ;-)
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
Bertram said:
Stephen,
It will be a challenge to find a black 1.8 car. As far as I know Roger's car is the only black 1.8 that exsists. The first ever black Libra was a V6, and somehow Black became a more or less dedicated color for a V6. There are several BOAT ANCHOR cars which are not black, but these are very few (I think only one) black 1.8 (or 1.6, 1.4, etc..) cars.
A BOAT ANCHOR is not nessecarely a bad thing, loads of torque at low revs. Another advantage of a V6 tub is that you could ditch the BOAT ANCHOR and swap it for an Audi 1.8 Turbo. ;-)
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
There are 5 black ones as far as I know. 4 of them are of the anchor variety. I think the factory one has been stripped to rolling chassis for shows, leaving 4.It will be a challenge to find a black 1.8 car. As far as I know Roger's car is the only black 1.8 that exsists. The first ever black Libra was a V6, and somehow Black became a more or less dedicated color for a V6. There are several BOAT ANCHOR cars which are not black, but these are very few (I think only one) black 1.8 (or 1.6, 1.4, etc..) cars.
A BOAT ANCHOR is not nessecarely a bad thing, loads of torque at low revs. Another advantage of a V6 tub is that you could ditch the BOAT ANCHOR and swap it for an Audi 1.8 Turbo. ;-)
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
Does that make my lovely, unique VVC ebay rare and worth a premium?
Perhaps I should sell it and build an R1 powered Phoenix?
No, not without major cutting of the bulkhead. It really isnt worth the effort for the extra performance. A V6 Libra has never come past me on track with my VVC, i would say it was marginally quicker in a straight line but slower through the corners due to the extra mass in the back. Pointless exercise. there is nothing wrong with a 1.8. If you do need more than that, a better bet would be the 1.8 typeR engine from the DC2 integra typeR. Apparently that fits. If you are an inexperienced driver, then a 1.8 libra will be more than enough for you to get to grips with, TRUST ME!
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