Best trackday car: S2 Exige or 135R (Sport) ?

[Walton]

Hi

I want to pick up an Elise/Exige for trackday use, and don't know if a an S2 Exige or a S2 Elise 135R (with Bilstein adjustable suspension etc) would be more suitable? I've owned/tracked an S2 Exige before, and loved it, but if better handling can be had for £5k+ less I'll go that route.

I only plan to keep the car for Autumn/Winter whilst waiting for my next Atom, so roof-off benefits aren't an issue. I'll probably do 8-10 track days in the car. I'm a competent track driver.

On a side note I had a test drive in an Exige S the other day, and TBH it was a bit of a let down, power was obviously better but with the new '06 damper rates and sound proofing I found the steering much number and everything was a bit too quiet and refined - great for an everyday car, but not raw enough for me.

Thanks

Rich

[Lotusnick S2]

Get a S1 111s and fit some Ohlins/Nitrons and better brakes.

Job done, with cash to spare to even do some basic engine mods and loads of track days

[lotisi]

Lotusnick S2 said:

Get a S1 111s and fit some Ohlins/Nitrons and better brakes.

Job done, with cash to spare to even do some basic engine mods and loads of track days

And fit the honda out of the atom and save the atom money for fuel and trackdays

[hbaumhardt]

Agree with nick, as another S2 111S driver I would suggest that the S1 111S VVC + C/R gearbox is the best base for a track or race car. 135R LSS suspension is actually still too soft for full on cornering so will want harder springs and therefore new dampers anyways.

[hbaumhardt]

And its lighter.

[bher]

In the Lotus range, the S1 exige was also a very good track weapon.
If you look for something hardcore, the non modified elise/exige S2 range is too soft. I experience the Audi conversion on S2 and that was something.

If it is only for a few months I would go the S1 route and enjoy the lightness and snappy feeling.

To answer your question: I would take the 135 R (nice combo of efficiency and resale value)

Bher
111R track oriented

[hbaumhardt]

PS my opinion is based on having driven all of them on track and raced against all of them as well. Next.

[gorrieman]

hbaumhardt said:

And its lighter.

According to what I've read, the S1 111s is actually heavier than a 135R. 770kg plays 730kg.

[Lawrence5]

I think you'd have plenty of fun in a 135R and LSS is good enough (better than S2 Exige) for track work. Save more like £6-7k on current prices too....


Hear the arguements on the S1 but no point throwing money at it for short term ownership prospect.......

[hbaumhardt]

gorrieman said:

According to what I've read, the S1 111s is actually heavier than a 135R. 770kg plays 730kg.

What you read and experience are two extremely different things, which is why I qualify my opinions as based on experience. Still believe what you will, I wont argue.

[hbaumhardt]

Lawrence5 said:

Hear the arguements on the S1 but no point throwing money at it for short term ownership prospect.......

FFS an S1 111S + Nitrons and new A048s will still be several grand cheeper than a 135R. Wasting my time here really aren't I ?

[Cuzza]

Cancel the Atom and buy this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218318.htm.

Sorted

[Gareth135R]

I would take the 135R over the 111s any day due to the C/R box.
It makes a world of a difference.

S2 Exige is not 'that' much quicker than a 135R - I guess depending on track.

[Gareth135R]

Cuzza said:

Cancel the Atom and buy this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218318.htm.

Sorted

That will smoke most!

[Cuzza]

Gareth135R said:

Cuzza said:

Cancel the Atom and buy this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218318.htm.

Sorted

That will smoke most!

and unlike an Atom, will go round a corner /biased

[Lawrence5]

hbaumhardt said:

Lawrence5 said:

Hear the arguements on the S1 but no point throwing money at it for short term ownership prospect.......

FFS an S1 111S + Nitrons and new A048s will still be several grand cheeper than a 135R. Wasting my time here really aren't I ?

Fook me - you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning - he's going to sell it when his atom arrives and selling a modified car never gets back your investment !!!!!!!!

[bertie]

Beneth it all here there is a very good point, if you want a track day car you'd be better off with a Caterham than either Atom or any Elise varient (Exige included.)

A standard R400 never mind that Honda powered one will murder any Elise / Exige on a track.

[Gareth135R]

bertie said:

Beneth it all here there is a very good point, if you want a track day car you'd be better off with a Caterham than either Atom or any Elise varient (Exige included.)

A standard R400 never mind that Honda powered one will murder any Elise / Exige on a track.

As I know

[Cuzza]

And I bet people still pulled out on you at junctions??

[Walton]

Thanks for info.

It seems Nitrons + setup will cost around £1500.

My budget can stretch to a Exige S2 (23k), but the main objective is to have the best track car for the minimal ownership cost. It seems cars with Nitrons do fetch a small premium e.g. £500-1000 so it may be worth going this route. How does a cheap Toyota S2 Elise with Nitrons sound - circa £19500 all in. Reliability, performance and good resale? Am I right in thinking a well priced 2004 car bought now (Autumn) will pretty much lose zero if sold next Spring?

I was considering a Caterham, but have decided the cold/wet winter weather will spoil the party. Really want to drive to trackdays too. I don;t mind the wet too much, but my friends DO!

As for the Atom/Caterham debate - I had a 245bhp Atom and even though I've only done a year of trackdays, it's very rare I came across a faster Caterham - and then it was usually a R400/500 running slicks or ACB10s. Atom development is very quick, and they're much much better now than even 1-2yrs ago i.e. the new rollerbearing bell-cranks remove almost all stiction which caused earlier cars to be a bit snappy.