Alternative to '6 for track days

[gingertoss]

There is a bit more room in a 220 than there is in an S1 Elise. How tall are you Shop? I am 6'4" and find Elise's a bit cramped but driveable. Wouldn't want one as my daily though.

[chunky79]

If he's too tall for a Lotus (and he is a tall <beep>), is he gunna fit in a 220? It's the same floorpan with seatbacks against the firewall, right!

Didn't realise they were same pan.

[gingertoss]

Bam I am not sure they are the same floor pan, if my memory is right the VX was stretched slightly.

[bam_bam]

Bam I am not sure they are the same floor pan, if my memory is right the VX was stretched slightly.

Ahhhhh.

[chunky79]

I go with my first comment then.

[adsgreen]

Bam I am not sure they are the same floor pan, if my memory is right the VX was stretched slightly.

Ahhhhh.

Nope - increased rear subframe to take the larger (and heavier) ecotec lump. The chassis rails are slightly more cut out and ever so slightly wider but in terms of interior length I believe they are identical.

You can gain an extra few inches (oh er) if you take the seat out and reverse the sliding mechanism. Weird but true.

[chunky79]

Then I shall go with my second comment.

[gingertoss]

Bam I am not sure they are the same floor pan, if my memory is right the VX was stretched slightly.

Ahhhhh.

Nope - increased rear subframe to take the larger (and heavier) ecotec lump. The chassis rails are slightly more cut out and ever so slightly wider but in terms of interior length I believe they are identical.

You can gain an extra few inches (oh er) if you take the seat out and reverse the sliding mechanism. Weird but true.

There speaks someone with more knowledge than me. So it's just the overall car length that's bigger

[sweegie]

Bam I am not sure they are the same floor pan, if my memory is right the VX was stretched slightly.

Ahhhhh.

Nope - increased rear subframe to take the larger (and heavier) ecotec lump. The chassis rails are slightly more cut out and ever so slightly wider but in terms of interior length I believe they are identical.

You can gain an extra few inches (oh er) if you take the seat out and reverse the sliding mechanism. Weird but true.

^^^ This man speaketh the truth.

I'd love to write about just how epic, crisp and engaging i think the dynamics of the Elise and vx are, and try and do justice to my post and Mr Shoppinit's decision to buy, but this is my last night in Johannesburg and I've had a lot to drink

FWIW The standard M3 might be faster in a straight line, but IT WILL GET ABSOLUTELY ANNIHILATED on the brakes, and in corners and we all know that's where the fun is Unless you're driving on Silverstone, the vx will dick it round the vast majority of tracks... Dont be a straight line hero You can always sell it if you dont like it

[Shoppinit]

I like the M3 and considered a E36, but I really want something light.

Is the Elise 111R S2 the same as the Sport 190? I'm liking the sounds of these.

I'm going to have to drive the VX220 and the Elise.

[sweegie]

I like the M3 and considered a E36, but I really want something light.

Is the Elise 111R S2 the same as the Sport 190? I'm liking the sounds of these.

I'm going to have to drive the VX220 and the Elise.

The 111R is the toyota engine car while the Sport 190 is a legend of a car but rare as hens teeth. It has the Rover K, tuned to the max and on throttle bodies. Very nice to own and to treasure, but probably not what I'd consider track slag material. In fact I dont recall one coming up for sale...

If you try the 111r, you might find the engine quite cammy & need to be kept on the boil, but otherwise I like them a lot. Remapping helps the cam change point a bit & superchargers are always an option going forward if you go down this route in the future.

Hope you enjoy your tests in the elise & vx - they're a special breed & after 110k miles in mine, I dont think I'll ever part with it.

[PhilT]

My alternative was a GT-R (runs_for_cover). Want to get there in style, drive and come back in style. GT-R insurance includes track day cover.

Need a second mortgage to run one though!!

[adsgreen]

I like the M3 and considered a E36, but I really want something light.

Is the Elise 111R S2 the same as the Sport 190? I'm liking the sounds of these.

I'm going to have to drive the VX220 and the Elise.

The 111R is the toyota engine car while the Sport 190 is a legend of a car but rare as hens teeth. It has the Rover K, tuned to the max and on throttle bodies. Very nice to own and to treasure, but probably not what I'd consider track slag material. In fact I dont recall one coming up for sale...

If you try the 111r, you might find the engine quite cammy & need to be kept on the boil, but otherwise I like them a lot. Remapping helps the cam change point a bit & superchargers are always an option going forward if you go down this route in the future.

Hope you enjoy your tests in the elise & vx - they're a special breed & after 110k miles in mine, I dont think I'll ever part with it.

S2 190 was a joy - lumpy tick over that reeked of tuned fixed cam engine but could rev past 8k. Sounded great with the big carbon airbox. Mine weighed in at 720kgs so significantly less than a Toyota car.
No abs and non servo assured brakes.
Actually a car that was 'ok' on the roads but came alive when you pushed it on track.
Not sure if anyone remembers the top gear mag article a few years back when the s2 exige was launched but there was a little red n white s2 190 beastie driven by stig that was mine

Nothing wrong with the Toyota engine cars (after all it's what is in the 211) but its a little... Clinical and soulless.
Perhaps even too good at what it does. I actually prefer the bonkers tuned k series engine that had no torque below 4k rpm and you had to really work to get the most out of.
But I prefer corners to straights

[Shoppinit]

Well, I drove a 111R and have decided it's definitively not a car for me. I am not doubting its track pedigree, but it left me feeling completely underwhelmed. I could fit in and drive it OK (although actually *getting in* was complicated and would have best been accompanied by circus clown music).

Acceleration and braking *felt* mediocre. I'm not expert, just going by what I am used to, but maybe there is a completely different way of driving them, but when the seller demo'd it I was failing to feel enthusiastic where it was obviously expected of me.

I think I'm just spoiled by big power and torgues (sic) and lazy fat boost. I guess I was expecting something a bit like the GT3 I drove on the track a few months ago. That felt just right for a track car (and I hate Porkers) and I thought the lotus would be similar to that, but it couldn't have been more different.

The drive back in my mate's E46 M3 convertible was much more engaging - felt much quicker and more exciting. Maybe an Elise for me is like giving caviar to a pig - I have no pretensions about my ability to evaluate a track day car.

[njm rs6]

How about a stripped out r32 gtr, you still get all the power your used to with great reliablility and the planted feel of awd. Also they're supposed to be the best handeling and lightest of the gtr's
Plus you can pick them up for less than 8k for a good one, spare parts are plentiful and cheap if you bin it and with a few simple mods and a map 450hp and 450flb is well within your reach?