Questions for S2 Exige owners please
Discussion
Just had Exige test drive and love car but:
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
Brian J
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
Brian J
Dont own one, but have driven one and run the same tyres:
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
cant comment on this
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
OK if its just damp - lethal if you hit standing water at high speed
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
depends on use - as low as 1-2K miles on the rear if you do lots of track days...as high as 6K miles if its road use only
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
yes - they are servo assisted with 4 channel ABS, you can have a dealer adjust the free play a bit, but it will never be the same as the unassisted S1/S2 brakes
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
cant comment on this
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
OK if its just damp - lethal if you hit standing water at high speed
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
depends on use - as low as 1-2K miles on the rear if you do lots of track days...as high as 6K miles if its road use only
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
yes - they are servo assisted with 4 channel ABS, you can have a dealer adjust the free play a bit, but it will never be the same as the unassisted S1/S2 brakes
BrianJ said:
Just had Exige test drive and love car but:
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
Yes to an extent you get used to it, using the side mirrirs as guidance. you can spec park assist BTW, which I didn't thinking it was for poofs and against the ethos of the car. But after reversing into a Punto the other day and now needing a new rear clam at £3000 or a screwed insurance profile I think it might have been a good idea........
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
OK if there's no standing water and if there is no oil or other crap down. Had one or 2 moments at low speed on urban r'bouts and corners in the wet.
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
Mine are ok after 4500 miles and 2 track days. Others have needed new sets after same amount.
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
TADTS - you get used to it but the feel and positioning of the brakes does come in for criticism. They work ok though, except mine started to overheat and fade badly inin one of the sessions at Brands Hatch GP circuiot when I had a passenger. OK without the extra weight of passenger.
Brian J
BrianJ said:
Just had Exige test drive and love car but:
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
Brian J
You can get the dealer to adjust the pedal but after driving Davey S1's Exige on Sunday I can't really see the problem. The brakes work just as well and you can still heal and toe. I think its more of a case of just getting used to it.
Regarding rear vis, you do definitely get used to it when driving - you find after a while that you can see everything you need to if you position the mirrors optimally and check them carefully before making a move.
Reversing has been OK for me so far (touch wood!), you just have to take your time and err on the side of caution - not always easy if reversing into a tight spot holding up loads of other cars!
Reversing has been OK for me so far (touch wood!), you just have to take your time and err on the side of caution - not always easy if reversing into a tight spot holding up loads of other cars!
Hi Brian
Taking your questions in turn
- I was very concerned about the rear vis but you get used to it very quickly, now I acutally quite like seeing all that engine cover and wing struts in the mirror.
- Tyres nothing like as bad in the wet as you might think. Demand a bit of respect, obviously, but the car is not at all the skittish nightmare I expected in the rain.
- Only done 2k so far in mine, but wear rate I am told is approx 50% higher then the S2 Elise Bridgestones
- Brake pedal travel has been widely criticised, but it is adjustable. Jamie in the Scot Elises group has his sorted by Murrays. On my car it is actually no problem.
Go for it! You won't regret it I am sure, and it will be much less of a money pit than the Noble. Absolutely love mine so far - for me it is way better than my S2 Elise
Mark
Taking your questions in turn
- I was very concerned about the rear vis but you get used to it very quickly, now I acutally quite like seeing all that engine cover and wing struts in the mirror.
- Tyres nothing like as bad in the wet as you might think. Demand a bit of respect, obviously, but the car is not at all the skittish nightmare I expected in the rain.
- Only done 2k so far in mine, but wear rate I am told is approx 50% higher then the S2 Elise Bridgestones
- Brake pedal travel has been widely criticised, but it is adjustable. Jamie in the Scot Elises group has his sorted by Murrays. On my car it is actually no problem.
Go for it! You won't regret it I am sure, and it will be much less of a money pit than the Noble. Absolutely love mine so far - for me it is way better than my S2 Elise
Mark
BrianJ said:
Just had Exige test drive and love car but:
- Do you get used to limited rear vision in town / reversing?
- what are these tyres like in the wet?
- what wear do you get with these tyres?
- brake pedal seems to go way below level of accelerator compared to my Elise S1 - is this normal?
Brian J
As Mark Said I have had my brake pedal adjusted because I found it difficult to H&T on track and got to say its like being back in a pre-ABS car.
Jamie
PS
The tyres are very progressive and easy to catch in the wet, but they dont like standing water. They can be quick too, the soft compound still works in the wet. :-D
>> Edited by jamieall on Wednesday 20th July 18:12
Jamie
PS
The tyres are very progressive and easy to catch in the wet, but they dont like standing water. They can be quick too, the soft compound still works in the wet. :-D
>> Edited by jamieall on Wednesday 20th July 18:12
Brian I have the Performance Pack on mine as well.
No downsides for daily use but I still have the normal 3 point inertia seat belts. The harnesses are fantastic if on track or on a long blast in the country but in town they can be a real pain. You cant lean forward to look out at junctions, reach the stereo and can be a pain to put on & adjust etc.
Other than that it is great. The sports seats are supportive and comfy.
The other bits on the Touring pack I either didnt want or didnt have on my old Elise so wouldnt miss - sun visors, stowage net DAB/MP3 player etc.
As for the other questions thay have been pretty much answered. Lack of rear vision is rarely a problem.
Tyres do wear quickly. My car has done just over 3,500 miles and I only have a few mills of tread left on the rears. This is 1000 miles of gentle running in, quite a few fast miles, one airfield day (not tyre friendly) and the rest just normal driving.
They will see me through my next trackday at Donnington then will need to be replaced.
You also have to get a Stage 2 exhaust. Sounds absolutely fantastic
No downsides for daily use but I still have the normal 3 point inertia seat belts. The harnesses are fantastic if on track or on a long blast in the country but in town they can be a real pain. You cant lean forward to look out at junctions, reach the stereo and can be a pain to put on & adjust etc.
Other than that it is great. The sports seats are supportive and comfy.
The other bits on the Touring pack I either didnt want or didnt have on my old Elise so wouldnt miss - sun visors, stowage net DAB/MP3 player etc.
As for the other questions thay have been pretty much answered. Lack of rear vision is rarely a problem.
Tyres do wear quickly. My car has done just over 3,500 miles and I only have a few mills of tread left on the rears. This is 1000 miles of gentle running in, quite a few fast miles, one airfield day (not tyre friendly) and the rest just normal driving.
They will see me through my next trackday at Donnington then will need to be replaced.
You also have to get a Stage 2 exhaust. Sounds absolutely fantastic
One other thing to throw into the equation if you are thinking about spec is that, contrary to popular belief, it is actually possible to spec exactly what you want rather than go for the perf or touring pack. I dont like alcantara which comes in both packs, so Lotus Sport arranged red and black leather trim to be done in mine - looks superb, is unique, and was surprisingly reasonably priced. Seems that they can do pretty much anything you want. Dealers aren't much interested in the hassle of this as there is no margin in it for them, but don't be told it is either of the option packs or nothing.
Mark
Mark
Talking to customers you get used to the brakes you just have to drive a slightly different way for a while. I drove one for a weekend and didn't find it a problem but then my other car is a Voyager !
The tyres are fine in 'normal' driving conditions and nice and sticky on track but as everyone has said standing water can be a problem so you have to take it extra easy on bad weather days.
Re the reversing issues you can have a reversing aid put inside the rear of the car (rear clam) that does not even show we have fitted a few of these for people who didn't want to look like hairdressers
so no loss of face there
Gill
@Sinclaire
The tyres are fine in 'normal' driving conditions and nice and sticky on track but as everyone has said standing water can be a problem so you have to take it extra easy on bad weather days.
Re the reversing issues you can have a reversing aid put inside the rear of the car (rear clam) that does not even show we have fitted a few of these for people who didn't want to look like hairdressers
so no loss of face there
Gill
@Sinclaire
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