These last few comments allmost make me feel like a sad person.
When I ordered my car I could choose between a CUP240 (due to late delivery a 220S) and a standard Exige. Coming down from the power lane in a street car (tuned EVO, STI and turbo-ed MX-5) I opted for standard as it has nice power and doesn’t scare yourself silly if you press the accelerator.
For a streetcar the standard Exige/111R has enough zip IMHO. Dropping the cam change will make it easier to overtake. That last argument will probably convince me to go with the reflash. And at 400 quid it’s a LOT less then any other option.
Nico
ps. if Lotus wouldn’t have offered the lower cam change, but some tuner (ECUTEK or so) would have at 500 quid what would you have done?
That’s about 23.000 euro’s in listprice (62.000 Euro’s for standard versus 85.000 Euro’s for the 240CUP). But after adding the sportpackages etc. price difference came down to 13.000.
Money wasn’t the problem. It was more in terms of value for money. Value meaning driving fun. From my expirience with the MX-5 turbo (240 hp) I found that too much HP in a lightweight car is no joy in a daily commuter.
Jamie, surely you’ve got to look a the Noble as a kindred spirit to the Exige? Both british mid engined sportcars, amazing handling distinctive looks…
The Nobles engine does it for me (it also does the gearbox too, regularly), huge thrust, awesome noise etc. But when the gearbox becomes a service item you’ve got to draw the line. Maybe in a few years when the M15 has been around a bit and the new Graziano box has proven itself…?
Know of an Exige owner who used to have a Noble - he had to buy a new engine (for the Noble)…
They seem to munch turbos, gear boxes, radiators etc.
Although it is quick just like TVR I dont think they have quite got the balance of reliable performance
The cars I would go for for track use are Loti, Porker GT3RSs and Radicals.
Could be a good thing if someone that is just in order to do the swap will dyno before and after so whe can see the real benefits on same car and same dyno (but in different days).
Who’s the brave that want to be the beta tester?
I’ve had mine in the car for just over a week now. I had really gone for this as a track mod, and I had a trackday booked for Saturday so didn’t want to post until I saw how it went on track.
I have to say that I was a little underwhelmed on the first couple of drives out down the dual carridgeway. Not the natural habitat for the car I’m glad to admit. As I was expecting, the car definitely looses that bansai feel as it jumps up onto the second cam. You still get the change in noise but not the kick.
On the track it was a revelation, I’m now a firm convert. This has to be one of the first mods for anyone that is tracking their car.
Saturday was soaking wet, so it made for some really interesting and entertaining driving. The car is now so smooth up through the rev range, and the change to the second cam seems completely linear. It allowed me to push much harder than I would have dared before in the wet. A chance to throw the car in and try to balance it on the throttle instead of fearing catching the cam switch and it all going horribly wrong. Spent the whole day grinning like a loon, instead of pussying around.
Now just need a dry day to see how it goes when I’m trying to be a bit smoother, and do some decent laps.
I’m delighted, about the best money I’ve spent on the car.