RE: Lotus Exige Cup 430: Driven

[GFWilliams]

suffolk009 said:

Any other work at the same time? Short ratios, lightened flywheel, better clutch?

I’ve already got the Evora clutch (which I believe the new 430 has) and flywheel. I don’t want to change the ratios as I enjoy using the car in Germany in Autobahns occasionally and don’t want to lower the top speed. I managed 182mph at VMax, I want to get the car over 186mph next time I’m in Germany...

[mgbond]

I have had a Noble for 12yrs now and always like the V6 Exige, however the inside has stayed the same as an S2 (almost) since it was launched so it has put me off. The Evora on the other had these days (due to infant) is much more appealing but as mentioned the more powerful versions don't have the rear seats. When the Evora gets to 480+ with rear seats then I shall start planning

[Audemars]

You can spec an Evora 430 sport with rear seats.

[gigglebug]

Audemars said:

You can spec an Evora 430 sport with rear seats.

That would be the obvious thing to do then. Is that info on the Lotus website? I couldn't see it when I looked a while back, it was when the sport was announced on PH. Does that include the reinstatement of the rear windows as well do you know? I think you can also opt the wider rear wheels that the sport doesn't have as standard as well but here's the thing; I don't normally go for cars with rear wings but in this case I think it looks far better with than without so I'd be trying my hardest to have that optioned as well. Or in other words the original GT430 with rear seats.

[Audemars]

gigglebug said:

That would be the obvious thing to do then. Is that info on the Lotus website? I couldn't see it when I looked a while back, it was when the sport was announced on PH. Does that include the reinstatement of the rear windows as well do you know? I think you can also opt the wider rear wheels that the sport doesn't have as standard as well but here's the thing; I don't normally go for cars with rear wings but in this case I think it looks far better with than without so I'd be trying my hardest to have that optioned as well. Or in other words the original GT430 with rear seats.

No, but it was from Lotus themselves when I enquired. You can't have the lightweight wheels though but have to spec in the standard wheels. Something about the lightweight wheels not being strong enough for the additional weight of rear passengers.

Rear winged version cannot be specced with rear seats.

Edited by Audemars on Wednesday 15th November 15:43

[gigglebug]

Audemars said:

No, but it was from Lotus themselves when I enquired. You can't have the lightweight wheels though but have to spec in the standard wheels. Something about the lightweight wheels not being strong enough for the additional weight of rear passengers.

Rear winged version cannot be specced with rear seats.

Edited by Audemars on Wednesday 15th November 15:43

Good info, thanks. Are you ordering one for yourself?

[Audemars]

Yes Im getting the Sport version to be my "family" car.

[kambites]

GFWilliams said:

kambites said:

The Cup 380 had an electronic locking differential as an option. I can't see it on the 430 options list, though.

Is this not just part of race mode? If so, I can safely say it's rubbish. I'm putting a Quaife LSD into my Exige in a couple of weeks, it's very needed!

I don't know about "race mode" or indeed the technical details of the diff, but dropping an electronic locking diff (if you've got one) for a purely mechanical setup sounds like rather a retrograde step?

[suffolk009]

GFWilliams said:

suffolk009 said:

Any other work at the same time? Short ratios, lightened flywheel, better clutch?

I’ve already got the Evora clutch (which I believe the new 430 has) and flywheel. I don’t want to change the ratios as I enjoy using the car in Germany in Autobahns occasionally and don’t want to lower the top speed. I managed 182mph at VMax, I want to get the car over 186mph next time I’m in Germany...

Makes perfect sense.

Is the clutch and flywheel worthwhile?

[GFWilliams]

kambites said:

I don't know about "race mode" or indeed the technical details of the diff, but dropping an electronic locking diff (if you've got one) for a purely mechanical setup sounds like rather a retrograde step?

The race mode is the mode in the electronics which brakes wheels to give you the optimum traction. It supposedly locks wheels to give you an effective Electronic LSD. Problem is that this only works in race mode which is traction control on, not with traction control off. On track I have tried this mode and also traction fully off. Fully off is a few seconds a lap quicker, but I found that in 2nd/3rd gear corners the inside wheel is spinning when a mechanical LSD would solve this and mean more traction and therefore the car is faster.

I’m also partial to sliding the car around a little (lot) and the open diff is quite unpredictable when you transition from sliding one way to the other.

[GFWilliams]

suffolk009 said:

Makes perfect sense.

Is the clutch and flywheel worthwhile?

Clutch/flywheel were only done to handle the extra power (I’m running 460hp). There’s an added bonus that the clutch is a little lighter but apart from that you wouldn’t know any difference from the standard setup

[gigglebug]

Audemars said:

Yes Im getting the Sport version to be my "family" car.

Very cool. I'm going to have a proper look at an earlier version as I'm no where near that price range. I think even if I love the driving it might end up boiling down to how practical the back seats are. I have got a small missus but my 10 year old is only getting bigger and I can't imagine having a car that we couldn't all enjoy properly together. I have got quite a big list of other cars I wouldn't mind trying as well if it doesn't pan out luckily.

[Ares]

Mikearwas said:

Ares said:

Jellinek said:

Ares said:

400bhp/tonne is unparalleled at that price.

New Corvette ZR1 is closer to 500 bhp/tonne and 135k dollars....

And it won't see which way the Exige 430 went on track

How much is the 500bhp/tonne ZR1 in the UK?

I think You'll find you're mistaken. A new ZR1 will decimate this Lotus around almost any track. A standard Cayman was only marginally slower round Hockenheim than the 380. Great cars but have never been properly rapid on circuit.

Are you sure? A Cayman S couldn't keep up with me in a NA S2 Exige on several circuits in 2007/2008. Double the power and I can't think it would be anything other than light and day?

[kambites]

GFWilliams said:

The race mode is the mode in the electronics which brakes wheels to give you the optimum traction. It supposedly locks wheels to give you an effective Electronic LSD

Ah OK, not the same thing then. As far as I can see the 380 has a proper electronically controlled clutch-plate limited slip differential.

[Thorburn]

kambites said:

Ah OK, not the same thing then. As far as I can see the 380 has a proper electronically controlled clutch-plate limited slip differential.

I don't think this is the case.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/lotus/lot...
"Unlike the Evora 400 and 410. the Exige retains a standard open differential rather than a limited-slip diff, and on a patchily damp circuit it did spin its inside rear occasionally at the exit of a hairpin – and in the middle of the bus-stop chicane that punctuates Hethel’s back straight. An LSD would have weighed 5kg extra, says Gales, and cost more too."

Same for the Cup 430:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/lotus/lot...
"Like the rest of the Exige range, the Cup 430 doesn’t have a limited-slip diff. ‘To fit one would have taken another year to adapt the Bosch ESP,’ Gales says. ‘The traction control and downforce compensate.’"

Seems odd since I thought the Evora 400 onwards used a similar ESP system and an LSD.

Edit: 3-11 has an LSD as well?

Edited by Thorburn on Wednesday 15th November 23:13

[Thorburn]

Audemars said:

No, but it was from Lotus themselves when I enquired. You can't have the lightweight wheels though but have to spec in the standard wheels. Something about the lightweight wheels not being strong enough for the additional weight of rear passengers.

Rear winged version cannot be specced with rear seats.

Do you lose the carbon fibre b-pillar 'windows' and get the standard glass ones as per the 400 as well?

[corozin]

£100k really is a lot of money for a Lotus. It would need to be made from a carbon shell with unicorn tears to justify that price in my book. I can't imagine where the market for this car is. A new Atom is £60,000 less and still has a better power to weight ratio due to it weighing almost 500kg less.

Seriously, how the hell do Lotus get something as small as an Exige to weigh 1100kg? Did they put lead in it?

[SidewaysSi]

corozin said:

£100k really is a lot of money for a Lotus. It would need to be made from a carbon shell with unicorn tears to justify that price in my book. I can't imagine where the market for this car is. A new Atom is £60,000 less and still has a better power to weight ratio due to it weighing almost 500kg less.

Seriously, how the hell do Lotus get something as small as an Exige to weigh 1100kg? Did they put lead in it?

What are you on about? Are you genuinely comparing this to an Atom? Why not compare it to a Phantom FFS?

[corozin]

SidewaysSi said:

corozin said:

£100k really is a lot of money for a Lotus. It would need to be made from a carbon shell with unicorn tears to justify that price in my book. I can't imagine where the market for this car is. A new Atom is £60,000 less and still has a better power to weight ratio due to it weighing almost 500kg less.

Seriously, how the hell do Lotus get something as small as an Exige to weigh 1100kg? Did they put lead in it?

What are you on about? Are you genuinely comparing this to an Atom? Why not compare it to a Phantom FFS?

Do I really need to explain it? Have you ever had either a sports car or a track car?

[CABC]

corozin said:

SidewaysSi said:

corozin said:

£100k really is a lot of money for a Lotus. It would need to be made from a carbon shell with unicorn tears to justify that price in my book. I can't imagine where the market for this car is. A new Atom is £60,000 less and still has a better power to weight ratio due to it weighing almost 500kg less.

Seriously, how the hell do Lotus get something as small as an Exige to weigh 1100kg? Did they put lead in it?

What are you on about? Are you genuinely comparing this to an Atom? Why not compare it to a Phantom FFS?

Do I really need to explain it? Have you ever had either a sports car or a track car?

Go on then, explain.
Answer is Golf R. Chipped. Innit.