Pauls Exige 410 Sport
Discussion
Rocket. said:
+1 on the above, enjoying your updates.
I am hoping to be in a position to buy 410 in a few months, it sounds like you are very happy with your purchase, curious to know if there were any other manufacturers you were looking at when you decided on the Exige?
No, I don’t think there were once I’d narrowed down my requirements. It needed to be fast and fun on track, but also not heavy on tyres and brakes. But it also needed to be able to do the 3+ hour journeys to track days in relative comfort, and be parked up safely at hotels overnight. It also needed to live outside. So that ruled out Caterham type cars for me. I am hoping to be in a position to buy 410 in a few months, it sounds like you are very happy with your purchase, curious to know if there were any other manufacturers you were looking at when you decided on the Exige?
With all that in mind, I couldn’t really see past an Exige or an Elise.
Paul_M3 said:
No, I don’t think there were once I’d narrowed down my requirements. It needed to be fast and fun on track, but also not heavy on tyres and brakes. But it also needed to be able to do the 3+ hour journeys to track days in relative comfort, and be parked up safely at hotels overnight. It also needed to live outside. So that ruled out Caterham type cars for me.
With all that in mind, I couldn’t really see past an Exige or an Elise.
I know I have spoken to you but this confirms everything for me why I am looking for an Exige as my next car as well.With all that in mind, I couldn’t really see past an Exige or an Elise.
keo said:
I know I have spoken to you but this confirms everything for me why I am looking for an Exige as my next car as well.
There isn’t really anything for sale that can come close to an Exige if you want to track regularly but also drive to and from the circuit and not have to sell your house to run it.Of course there are Marques which offer some of what an Exige can do and there is also the Elise but if you want to embarrass GT3 and 570s owners then a well sorted Exige does that.
My Cup430 now has almost 14,000 miles on it and still feels like it was new, and certainly the later model Exige are well screwed together
Rocketreid said:
There isn’t really anything for sale that can come close to an Exige if you want to track regularly but also drive to and from the circuit and not have to sell your house to run it.
Of course there are Marques which offer some of what an Exige can do and there is also the Elise but if you want to embarrass GT3 and 570s owners then a well sorted Exige does that.
My Cup430 now has almost 14,000 miles on it and still feels like it was new, and certainly the later model Exige are well screwed together
Great to know thanks 430 cup is the dream! Have you got any pics? Sorry for going off topic Paul!Of course there are Marques which offer some of what an Exige can do and there is also the Elise but if you want to embarrass GT3 and 570s owners then a well sorted Exige does that.
My Cup430 now has almost 14,000 miles on it and still feels like it was new, and certainly the later model Exige are well screwed together
Paul_M3 said:
No, I don’t think there were once I’d narrowed down my requirements. It needed to be fast and fun on track, but also not heavy on tyres and brakes. But it also needed to be able to do the 3+ hour journeys to track days in relative comfort, and be parked up safely at hotels overnight. It also needed to live outside. So that ruled out Caterham type cars for me.
With all that in mind, I couldn’t really see past an Exige or an Elise.
Thanks for your reply, I kind of figured as much. I've been going round in circles a bit also keep arriving back at the Exige, I have owned 2 x Elise's in the past, a 996 GT3 moons ago and most recently a modified Cayman S but it just wasn't special enough for weekend fun and a bit heavy for track days. 2-11 is also on my radar but very compromised! With all that in mind, I couldn’t really see past an Exige or an Elise.
One more question what is the gearing like on the Exige? Curious to know where 3rd gear tops out roughly?
Edited by Rocket. on Friday 10th September 10:07
Paul_M3 said:
Looking at my track videos with the data overlay, it looks like 3rd tops out at 95mph.
2nd is about 69mph
4th is 123 mph.
That's good to know thanks. My Cayman always felt a bit too long geared and I think 3rd was good for just over 100 maybe even 105.2nd is about 69mph
4th is 123 mph.
Edited by Rocket. on Friday 10th September 13:41
Had a trip over to Hangar 111 for an alignment check and adjustment today.
The main purpose was to get a bit more camber put on the front for less understeer on track, but it's always good to have the settings checked on a car you've bought.
Arrived first thing and they got the car on the machine.
Despite only being a couple of years old, the rear toe links were seized and were therefore a bit of a pain.
As for the settings, well the initial settings were pretty much as you'd expect apart from one thing...my front toe was quite a way out. The car had way more toe out than you would expect. Here are the initial and final results:
On the drive home the car felt completely different. I had assumed the amount of 'wandering' and steering wheel tugging around over poor surfaces was just how this car was. Obviously that wasn't true, because on my 40 mile journey home I didn't feel it do that at all. The car just felt planted and stable, and I didn't need both hands on the wheel to keep the thing from darting around all over the place.
In conclusion, I highly recommend getting your alignment checked out, even if you want standing settings. You never know had bad it is, and how much it's affecting the drivability of the car.
The main purpose was to get a bit more camber put on the front for less understeer on track, but it's always good to have the settings checked on a car you've bought.
Arrived first thing and they got the car on the machine.
Despite only being a couple of years old, the rear toe links were seized and were therefore a bit of a pain.
As for the settings, well the initial settings were pretty much as you'd expect apart from one thing...my front toe was quite a way out. The car had way more toe out than you would expect. Here are the initial and final results:
On the drive home the car felt completely different. I had assumed the amount of 'wandering' and steering wheel tugging around over poor surfaces was just how this car was. Obviously that wasn't true, because on my 40 mile journey home I didn't feel it do that at all. The car just felt planted and stable, and I didn't need both hands on the wheel to keep the thing from darting around all over the place.
In conclusion, I highly recommend getting your alignment checked out, even if you want standing settings. You never know had bad it is, and how much it's affecting the drivability of the car.
Excellent thread, thank you for the detailed updates.
I've already ordered the black fuel ring and black door panel fixings for my Elise Sprint. I also have the lithium battery, i'm guess that box only lets you check when near the car?
Only got mine last year, but my ultimate goal is a 410. I drove one at Hethel and my god it's a fabulous car. Just a shame they're so much more money. £35k to £65k is a big leap!
I've already ordered the black fuel ring and black door panel fixings for my Elise Sprint. I also have the lithium battery, i'm guess that box only lets you check when near the car?
Only got mine last year, but my ultimate goal is a 410. I drove one at Hethel and my god it's a fabulous car. Just a shame they're so much more money. £35k to £65k is a big leap!
No mods this time, just another track day. This time at Cadwell Park.
The day didn't start of great when my name wasn't on the list to be there, so I had to go back at 8:30am when they could ring head office. Turns out I was the first person to try and sign on, and they actually had the attendee list for a different circuit. Nobody there was on the list...
Next up was noise testing, and I'd heard from somebody that their 410 had squeezed through the week before with a wink. I decided to chance my arm and I also managed to get through. A full day with maximum noise and no additional stupid silencer hanging off the back of my car.
I've only been to Cadwell once before, and it was about 8 years ago. So I was basically starting from scratch again. I'd forgotten what a daunting circuit it is, and it took me much longer than normal to build up speed and confidence in the grip levels. The best lap in my first session was over 2 minutes. By lunchtime it was down to about 1m50s. And by the end of the day I was down to 1m44s. The laps were still far from perfect, and I've identified a few places to improve when I go back.
As usual, the car itself performed faultlessly. I had a few people come up to me to chat about it, and more than one person say it was the best sounding car out there (normally followed by "How the hell did you pass the noise test").
This video is from the final session of the day:
https://youtu.be/ET4FFYfwzaA
And a few of the photos from the day:
I think the Clio in the final picture might have been pushing quite hard...
https://youtu.be/PZeFUhPB2TA
The day didn't start of great when my name wasn't on the list to be there, so I had to go back at 8:30am when they could ring head office. Turns out I was the first person to try and sign on, and they actually had the attendee list for a different circuit. Nobody there was on the list...
Next up was noise testing, and I'd heard from somebody that their 410 had squeezed through the week before with a wink. I decided to chance my arm and I also managed to get through. A full day with maximum noise and no additional stupid silencer hanging off the back of my car.
I've only been to Cadwell once before, and it was about 8 years ago. So I was basically starting from scratch again. I'd forgotten what a daunting circuit it is, and it took me much longer than normal to build up speed and confidence in the grip levels. The best lap in my first session was over 2 minutes. By lunchtime it was down to about 1m50s. And by the end of the day I was down to 1m44s. The laps were still far from perfect, and I've identified a few places to improve when I go back.
As usual, the car itself performed faultlessly. I had a few people come up to me to chat about it, and more than one person say it was the best sounding car out there (normally followed by "How the hell did you pass the noise test").
This video is from the final session of the day:
https://youtu.be/ET4FFYfwzaA
And a few of the photos from the day:
I think the Clio in the final picture might have been pushing quite hard...
https://youtu.be/PZeFUhPB2TA
Finally thought of a simple solution to something that I've been trying to figure out. I really like doing videos of my track sessions with the data overlay, but I think it adds something when you also have a rear view on the video. Finding a way to do this on an Exige isn't as simple as most cars - an internal camera looking backwards won't show a lot! I initially tried a clamp mount on the diffuser, but as well as being a bit low, it was too hot and the GoPro kept shutting down. Next I considered a suction cup mount on the surface where the number plate lights are, but I just don't have enough confidence in them. That's when I thought that looking back from the number plate is actually a perfect place, especially if you could find a way to attach an external microphone for the exhaust noise...
Number plate was previously stuck on with pads, so I took this off, cleaned everything up, and fitted some strips of proper heavy duty velcro.
Then it was just a case of finding an old number plate, and mounting a GoPro base on it. I fitted a tether point and tether in case the main mount fails (and to potentially keep the track day marshals happy). It also allowed me to mount an external microphone with wind shield permanently on the plate.
Now once I get to the circuit it'll take me about 20 seconds to go from this..
To this...
Okay... it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but then neither is a big suction cup with an additional safety tether. The heavy duty velcro grips well, so there's no way it's going anywhere, which means I won't constantly worrying like I would with a suction cup.
Now to just wait and see how the footage actually turns out.
Number plate was previously stuck on with pads, so I took this off, cleaned everything up, and fitted some strips of proper heavy duty velcro.
Then it was just a case of finding an old number plate, and mounting a GoPro base on it. I fitted a tether point and tether in case the main mount fails (and to potentially keep the track day marshals happy). It also allowed me to mount an external microphone with wind shield permanently on the plate.
Now once I get to the circuit it'll take me about 20 seconds to go from this..
To this...
Okay... it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but then neither is a big suction cup with an additional safety tether. The heavy duty velcro grips well, so there's no way it's going anywhere, which means I won't constantly worrying like I would with a suction cup.
Now to just wait and see how the footage actually turns out.
How did you get on with noise at Cadwell? Last time I was there I noted there were several noisy cars and lets face it the track is in a hole and there is nothing around for miles? I note you don't have your extra exhaust pipes on...does your car otherwise have the standard set up...but not the titanium back box I guess although not sure if that makes any difference to the sound level when compared to the standard rear box??
CTE said:
How did you get on with noise at Cadwell? Last time I was there I noted there were several noisy cars and lets face it the track is in a hole and there is nothing around for miles? I note you don't have your extra exhaust pipes on...does your car otherwise have the standard set up...but not the titanium back box I guess although not sure if that makes any difference to the sound level when compared to the standard rear box??
Cadwell were ‘generous’ during noise testing. I didn’t need to but the extra pipe on. (They knew that as the valve was opening at 4500rpm it was going over the limit though).
Mine is the standard exhaust, but not the titanium one.
Not the best track day I've ever had. My front end doesn't look quite so immaculate now. Must admit it took the shine off the day a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biPGU36hKMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biPGU36hKMQ
Paul_M3 said:
Not the best track day I've ever had. My front end doesn't look quite so immaculate now. Must admit it took the shine off the day a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biPGU36hKMQ
Do you have PPF?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biPGU36hKMQ
I had something similar happen to me at Brands last year. A bloke in an M2 ended up in the gravel and rather than pit he decided to re-join traffic directly in front of me. I spent the next 2 laps dodging high speed gravel before he got black flagged.
No PPF on mine Eddie unfortunately.
The middle and right hand side grills are dented and have had paint chipped off. Im hoping I can just straighten those out.
The windscreen has a small chip, but it’s over the passenger side and doesn’t really justify a replacement.
There are several stone chips on the front clam, so I’ll just try and touch those up.
The carbon front panel has a deep scratch a couple of cm long. Not sure what I can do about that, and I think it’s the most annoying of all the damage.
The middle and right hand side grills are dented and have had paint chipped off. Im hoping I can just straighten those out.
The windscreen has a small chip, but it’s over the passenger side and doesn’t really justify a replacement.
There are several stone chips on the front clam, so I’ll just try and touch those up.
The carbon front panel has a deep scratch a couple of cm long. Not sure what I can do about that, and I think it’s the most annoying of all the damage.
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