Elise vs Griff
Discussion
Just out of interest, how would an Elise fair against a Griff on a circuit?
Assume both drivers are equall, the Elise is standard but the Griff is a genuine 330bhp, Nitrons, AP brakes etc. the circuit is fairly tight with only one long straight (Croix in France)
Would be interested in your experiences....
Assume both drivers are equall, the Elise is standard but the Griff is a genuine 330bhp, Nitrons, AP brakes etc. the circuit is fairly tight with only one long straight (Croix in France)
Would be interested in your experiences....
The Griff would take the Elise on the long straight but then the Griff would brake early everywhere else allowing the Elise to get ahead, If it's an SC Elise then I'm not sure how the Griff would cope on the straight 50/50, I had two Griff's one was a 500hc, I now have an Elise SC and I think it corners and comes out quicker than the Griff and it sprints quicker too, IMO.
Edited by Mr Sea on Thursday 10th September 17:08
culminator said:
Just out of interest, how would an Elise fair against a Griff on a circuit?
Assume both drivers are equall, the Elise is standard but the Griff is a genuine 330bhp, Nitrons, AP brakes etc. the circuit is fairly tight with only one long straight (Croix in France)
Would be interested in your experiences....
I've never driven an Elise, but driven quite a few circuits...I don't recall ever being overtaken by an Elise. Definatley not a std one anyway Assume both drivers are equall, the Elise is standard but the Griff is a genuine 330bhp, Nitrons, AP brakes etc. the circuit is fairly tight with only one long straight (Croix in France)
Would be interested in your experiences....
dhf said:
Has anything actually overtaken you ?.......
ROFL..erm...yeah :redface: usually Caterfields and the odd race prepped Exige, Porsche cup car and, one Elise with a trick 190bhp Toyota engine, now that had a naff'n quick pilot around Combe 
. All Prior to the S/C upgrade.I've yet to have a problem free T/D since fitting the blower, but hope to be at Cadwell on 28th without any excuses
can't wait, its been a VERY long problematic birth to this damn car 
when its working, its bloody awesome, i just don't seem to be able to cure a re-occuring missfire issue, and the last T/D at Combe it ran so learn the AFR alarm went off on the second lap.Donnington & Silverstone the Griffith wins !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B2GTkABJvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrm9SXphTsc&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B2GTkABJvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrm9SXphTsc&fea...
I sold my 4.3 big valve Griffith (282 bhp at this year's Growl) and bought a S2 111S Elise (156 bhp). I've driven both on track and the Elise is by far the quicker car (Castle Combe - fast circuit).
However, they were both on road tyres and the difference is probably down to me more than the cars. Yes, the Elise is 'better' at track work because it turns in quicker, is easier to power out of the apex (I didn't put the power down in the Griff until I was dead straight) and is better damped and more stable.
But...Griffs were being driven faster than me in the Elise - 5 litre with semi slicks. I suspect a Griff driver who was totally confident in their car; knew the limit and what to do to exploit performance up to and at the limit would get the better of the Elise.
I find the Elise more fun on track becuase I'm worrying less about it killing me, but it's a lot less exciting on the road. The Elise works so well with me that on the road it's all too easy. At least the Griff was a challenge (especially in the wet).
However, they were both on road tyres and the difference is probably down to me more than the cars. Yes, the Elise is 'better' at track work because it turns in quicker, is easier to power out of the apex (I didn't put the power down in the Griff until I was dead straight) and is better damped and more stable.
But...Griffs were being driven faster than me in the Elise - 5 litre with semi slicks. I suspect a Griff driver who was totally confident in their car; knew the limit and what to do to exploit performance up to and at the limit would get the better of the Elise.
I find the Elise more fun on track becuase I'm worrying less about it killing me, but it's a lot less exciting on the road. The Elise works so well with me that on the road it's all too easy. At least the Griff was a challenge (especially in the wet).
Some interesting comments, thanks for the feedback. I suspect, as grifter says, that in reality, a lot of it comes down to the driver. I know that I'd be a lot more nervous of making a mistake in my Griff than in my Caterham and for that very reason, my lap times would be less than someone totally confident in their Griffith.
The reason i asked was that next month the Griff goes to its first track day with a load of Caterham owners that I know very well. A Good buddy of mine has also recently got rid of his 7 and will probably turn up in an Elise or a Boxster s. One of us will get a lot of needleing that evening!!
The reason i asked was that next month the Griff goes to its first track day with a load of Caterham owners that I know very well. A Good buddy of mine has also recently got rid of his 7 and will probably turn up in an Elise or a Boxster s. One of us will get a lot of needleing that evening!!
Only direct comparison I can offer is at Gurston Down Hill climb which to be fair is really a “power” hill. Generally a standard Elise will not be as quick as a standard 500 Griff. The Lotus will be slightly quicker in the handling part but the Griff will absolutely slaughter it in the power bit. Becomes a bit different when comparing modified cars, where the Elise tends to be lot quicker than the Griff and to be fair a lot of other things as well. If he comes in the Boxter then you will have no problem staying in front.
You will have fun at the trackday, those 7's & Caterhams will come flying by on the brakes - I suggest you let them !!!
The great thing about the Griffith is you can drive Brands Hatch in the morning, drive across France in the afternoon then have fun in the Alps the next day. You would be deaf, numb and very stiff if you even attempted that in a caterham.
The great thing about the Griffith is you can drive Brands Hatch in the morning, drive across France in the afternoon then have fun in the Alps the next day. You would be deaf, numb and very stiff if you even attempted that in a caterham.
Croix is a pretty tight circuit - 3 consecutive hairpins separated by 2 short straights spring to mind.
Unless the suspension and brakes are really sorted on the Griff, I would expect the Lotus to fare a little better.
The only place where you can really use the power is the main straight. Even the uphill section would be a little tricky to get the most out of the griff as there are a series of kinks & curves, leading into another tight hairpin.
Will be interesting to see how you get on.
Unless the suspension and brakes are really sorted on the Griff, I would expect the Lotus to fare a little better.
The only place where you can really use the power is the main straight. Even the uphill section would be a little tricky to get the most out of the griff as there are a series of kinks & curves, leading into another tight hairpin.
Will be interesting to see how you get on.
Thanks again! Will look at the video later. Your description of croix is correct, good for underpowered well balanced and good handling cars as it's very twisty and as you say, only one long straight.
I love the circuit, visited many times when i had my JPE Caterham and got to know the lines reasonably well.
I love the circuit, visited many times when i had my JPE Caterham and got to know the lines reasonably well.
I have had an S1 Elise 111s and a Griff 500.
The Elise was by far the quicker of the two on the track. It has a much better turn in, mid-corner balance and composed exit. It generally carries more speed everywhere. Having said that, my old Griff wasn't "sorted" and could have been made to go a lot quicker (brave pills for the driver would have helped)!
Out of the box the Elise is far better sorted, but it does sound like a hairdryer compared to the Griff. The Caterham 7 Superlight I had inbetween was in a different league to both.
The Elise was by far the quicker of the two on the track. It has a much better turn in, mid-corner balance and composed exit. It generally carries more speed everywhere. Having said that, my old Griff wasn't "sorted" and could have been made to go a lot quicker (brave pills for the driver would have helped)!
Out of the box the Elise is far better sorted, but it does sound like a hairdryer compared to the Griff. The Caterham 7 Superlight I had inbetween was in a different league to both.
clive f said:
you want to ask Chimjunkie, he has a well sorted 500 chim, and his wife is pretty quick in her elise by all accounts.
'Wife' 
Think I'm just a toy-boy 
Alex Gurr said:
I have had an S1 Elise 111s and a Griff 500.
The Elise was by far the quicker of the two on the track. It has a much better turn in, mid-corner balance and composed exit. It generally carries more speed everywhere. Having said that, my old Griff wasn't "sorted" and could have been made to go a lot quicker (brave pills for the driver would have helped)!
Out of the box the Elise is far better sorted, but it does sound like a hairdryer compared to the Griff. The Caterham 7 Superlight I had inbetween was in a different league to both.
Dont think there is any doubt that comparing both cars out of the box the lotus is by far the better car round a track. With a fair amount of work the chim/griff can be made to handle very well. I have spent a fair amount of time chasing loti about since the other half has a modified Europa S and i go hooning with the essex lotus lot, and i have done a few track days in the TVR with Lotus on Track. With similar driver skill i would say my car paces with a supercharged Exige. Where the lotus wins big time is on fast corners. With the weight biased over the rear the lotus is planted on high speed corners. It takes a brave man to slide the rear of a TVR at 100mph! But i would say i have the edge on tight corners and the straights. Where the lotus is awesome is on driver feedback. The TVR is a bit numb through the wheel. The lotus is alive!The Elise was by far the quicker of the two on the track. It has a much better turn in, mid-corner balance and composed exit. It generally carries more speed everywhere. Having said that, my old Griff wasn't "sorted" and could have been made to go a lot quicker (brave pills for the driver would have helped)!
Out of the box the Elise is far better sorted, but it does sound like a hairdryer compared to the Griff. The Caterham 7 Superlight I had inbetween was in a different league to both.
Edited by Chimjunkie on Monday 14th September 23:57
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