Exige S becoming to powerfull on B-roads???

[RCduck7]

I read a qoute in a dutch Top Gear magazine that the Exige S (240+ bhp) finaly has the power to match exotic cars for straight line performance but is becoming frightning on B-roads while it used to be fun on older less powerfull models.
How much of that is true?? Maybe a supercharger isn't as controlable as an NA engine??
Any experience with the old versus new cars??

[NathanE]

Don't push the pedal as hard?

I find my 111R can be scary on the back roads sometimes but only if I'm pushing my limits ("my".. not the car's..)

[TIPPER]

Any fast car is going to be scary on a B road if you overdrive it. Its possible that the extra acceleration means that the driver is arriving at corners quicker than expected.
Less enthusiasm with the loud pedal and bit more self control.

[nsm3]

Sounds like nonsense to me, my S has a very linear delivery so I can't see 240 bhp being some unmanageable beast, unless they have managed to add 50% or more of the torque delivery at around 3500 rpm?

[jondude]

Agree that the car itself can never be too powerful as such, more about how you, the driver, use that power.

For example, every motorcycle above 500cc is 'too powerful' for our roads. So you back off the power in the bends, but then feel safe knowing that when some tw-at tries to tailgate you, or won't move over to let you pass, you have tons of very useful power now to blast away to safety.

So more power = more safety - just all about how you administer it.

If Lotus are adding these kind of benefits to the Exige, then hat off to them.

[GravelBen]

I can see how above a certain point a more powerful car could be less fun on B-roads as (I find anyway) a lot of the fun in driving comes from pushing the car a bit, if the limits (grip and and acceleration) are too high you'll find fewer opportunities to use all of it.

Opposite case would be the MX5 which is slow enough that you can have heaps of fun in the twisties and use all its acceleration through the first 3 gears without really going that fast (compared to an Exige anyway, it still carries decent corner speed compared to normal cars).

[AlSharpton]

Learn to drive and you should be able to handle it.

[dulcinea]

I do think there is something in this. To really have fun in the Exige you have to push it round the corners and its limits are just so high that this means you are travelling around corners significantly faster than other road users. I use mine mostly on B roads and have had a few occasions where I come out of a corner to see a clear road for say 50 metres so barrel into the corner at the end only to find another car just exiting at well under half my speed. I do not think it is a question of acceleration as you can use it all relatively safely. My concern is the corner speed. I am really wrestling with what to do as I just do not have the time for track days which I guess is really where the car wants to be. Whenever I am out of the car I find myself questionning whether to chop it in for something with lower limits but then whenever I get in I know I will miss it if it goes!!!

Perhaps an Elise S is the best Lotus out there for road driving.

[Gooby]

I thought the 220 bhp exige was too fast for B road blats....

[Skyman]

Having had an Exige S (220), I have to say that I find my 170bhp S1 far more enjoyable for B road blats. As much fun, at slower (legal) speeds, and overall a greater experience for the senses.

[S Works]

Same here with my Honda'd S2. Hence why I sold it.

[RobM77]

Rubbish. An Exige S has the same power to weight ratio as a bottom of the range Caterham. I've driven both and the B road pace is similar, and both cars are delightful to drive. I also know plenty of people with Caterhams of 300, 400 or 500 bhp/tonne who drive them regularly on the road without an issue at all, ergo until an Exige has 450bhp I wouldn't take any such comment seriously.

[jjr1]

My 330bhp Exige is just the tonic for B road fun. I wouldn't want any more power as the speed would get rediculous but nonetheless I would not want any less.

[Scuffers]

I agree, that's a stupid comment to make...

it's all relative, but I have yet to come accross an over-powered Elise/Exige (assumign the rest of the car is up to scratch).

definition of over-powered...

when you can wheelspin all the way from the last corner to the next corner.

somehow, I don't see the Exige 240 having this problem...

[Gooby]

Scuffers said:

I agree, that's a stupid comment to make...

it's all relative, but I have yet to come accross an over-powered Elise/Exige (assumign the rest of the car is up to scratch).

definition of over-powered...

when you can wheelspin all the way from the last corner to the next corner.

somehow, I don't see the Exige 240 having this problem...

Obviously safe on a public road.
Probably perfect for a track.