Simple question that will hopefully get a simple answer - or good advice!
I’m planning to do 6-10 track days next year in the ‘S’ and was planning to upgrade the suspension, options are:
Nitron single adjustable or Nitron/Ohlins 2-way.
I think that the 2-way is overkill and I’d spend more time trying to sort it out than driving the car. If I go for the 1-way Nitrons would the improvement over the OE stuff be worth it?
I was also thinking of going to Plans to have whatever I go for fitted, is this a good idea?
I have bought an exige S this year and intend on doing some trackdays next year, this is my third elise/exige but until now I have never had enough spare cash to take it on the track. I was hell bent on buying new suspension and upgrades for my car ready for next year until this week. Basically because I just spent Monday and Tuesday with Dave Minter at Hethel, He took me round that track in a totally std elise S faster than I think I have ever been driven and I have been in quite a few cars on track. In his words the car is capable of so much in std form as long as you know how to drive it, he also says that many upgrades can actually spoil the feel of the car as the setting up is not done correctly or as Lotus intend. I’ll not bore you to death with it all but I am going to spend more time and cash on learning to drive the thing properly because it was really prooved to me this week what an incredible car it is straight out of the box.
Boothy’s right - best investment is utilising Instructors at trackdays, before spending money on the car. The cars are capable of so much, it’s amazing! After that, change brake pads/fluid & ideally fit braided hoses. When the OEM dampers are shagged, replace them.
Boothy,
Glad to hear you had such a good time down at Hethel. Maybe I should try that!The Scare Yourself Sensible Day I did with Shernal and GC1 was pretty exciting but a couple of days’ intensive work might cure me of my perpetually sweaty palms when being driven by others.
If your on pagids and hoses already I would forget big brakes as the pagids will be more than fine. I really would save your cash or put it towards training and trackdays.
I have heard so many people say it before and always had the attitude of spending my cash on what the hell I wanted but this week was a real eye opener, I am booking in for more driver training and instructor laps. I will get some pagids tho as I do like the extra initial bite they give.
Thommo, Its highly reccomended, the things those guys can do with the car is incredible, I learned a hell of a lot but feel like I have hardly touched the surface, cant wait to get out there again!
the Pagids are good but the Big Brake kit makes a huge difference. I’m no track day God but the stopping power is so much more than that provided by Pagid pads on OE discs.
I have to agree that driver training is the way ahead. You can never have enough and, like you, the more I have the more I want! The suspension upgrade was just an idea and I was keen to hear what people had to say, I’ll probably still go for the Big Brake kit.
the Pagids are good but the Big Brake kit makes a huge difference. than that provided by Pagid pads on OE discs.
Beg to differ on that Change the discs when the OEM are worn out (to APs), but see below also.
4 pot AP calipers are only “needed” (& that’s debatable) if the car is used mainly as a track/race car. The OEM calipers are more than adequate for a road/track car.
If speed on track is the “criteria for upgrades”, then driver training PLUS suspension geo set up are the main things to go for (assuming decent brake pads/hoses are already fitted). Perhaps the geo-set up should really be the first priority - most of the cars leaving the factory benefit will benefit from this being done properly (I would recommend specialists, rather than Lotus Dealers for this!)
It should be pointed out that the guy who wins most of the LoT races - Randy - is on standard size calipers on his race car. Ignore that snippet at your wallets expense if you must. Try this - can you lock you brakes, as they are, when you really stand on them? If you can, they are good enough. HTH.