Originally Posted by dynamicS
Well then it was a modified turbo Elise, but it sure was a growly little car, kinda funny looking in person.
Probably not modded. From the sound of things, it had a stage II exhaust. If it had been modded it would not have been close at all. Remember, stock the Crossfire has only 15 more hp and is dragging around about 1,000 more pounds. The turbo'ed Exiges out there are carrying a minimum of 240, mostly 275 hp pushing 2,000 lbs, as you point out.
It's likely that although he took off quickly, he was not outright dragging you. If he had been trying, you would not have gotten the jump.
Launching the Exige/Elise at its quickest involves revving to about 8K then dropping the clutch. Can get a legit 4.6 to 60 that way, but it's a bit hard on the car. He probably dropped it around 4K to keep you in sights until the upper cam kicks in at 6,200 which makes the car scream and slams you back in the seat as if it were a turbo. That's probably what was happening when he started to close on you. It's a cacophony with a stock exhaust, with a stage II it's all hell breaking loose. Probably had a cold air intake on it too.
But...most Elise/Exige guys do not do the stoplight race thing, because that is not what the car's strong point is. It's really at best a mediocre street (straight line) racer.
Now, when you'd come up on a turn...that's another story...
I owned an Xfire and loved the handling, one of the better front engined cars in terms of handling. Having owned two Elises, there is no comparison in , the Xfire feeling like floaty boat next to the Elise/Exige. In SCCA autocross, the Exiges/Elises are classed with, and among the better drivers usually beating, C5 and C6 Vettes, Porsche GT3's, and Vipers.
But what the Crossfire gives up in performance it more than makes up in comfort and refinement. The Exige/Elise is nothing more that a full sized shifter cart with a body on it.
In a stop light race, the SRT 6 would probably beat the Elise because of the extra torque and power. It would be very close, with the nod probably going slightly to a well driven Elise/Exige, if the Elise/Exige driver were really going all out and dropping the clutch at 8K or above.