you're on it.

 

i would recommend asking for: mike finneran (he specializes in the highline division). share with him... you learned about the car through me, andrew smith. this may aid with better assistance. you could also call them at: 614.889.2571

 

Gee I am only two hours north of you Andrew...might have to take a nice Sunday afternoon drive down there to that Lotus dealership and look around. I am sure the g/f will come along since I can bribe her with a little shopping later...haha.

 

you should... "easton" town center has some nice shopping too!

 

Yes we have been to easton before ...it is nice the way they have it set up. Columbus has come a long ways since I lived down there 25 years ago...(for one year)...it has turned into a major city now...I am amazed everytime I go down there at the changes going on. Ok now the bribe will be used and a visit to the lotus dealer.

 

Although non supercharged Exiges are being delivered, the supercharged version (for the street) is not available in the US. Lotus just announced this week that they will be bringing in Sport Exiges w/supercharger for track use only, not streetable.

The roof scoop on the US Exiges are blocked off/non functional because there is no supercharger.

If you'd like more info, check out elisetalk.com

There is a forum there devoted entirely to the Exige.

 

Last night I ran into a black Exige, and managed to line up with him at a stop light. I just have to say, that car is an animal and very tiny.

A soon as the light went green I dropped the clutch and blew him away for about 250 feet, then that TC light started flashing (even though I turned the damn thing off!), that's about when the little Lotus smoked my ***. Damn that car had some serious growl to it, could hear the blow off valve popping.

It's Amazing he could pull so hard, but he does have 1,000 lbs less weight to pull around, than the Crossfire. I'm pretty positive the SRT6 could offer a better race and might just beat the Exiges. I believe the power out put on the lotus is 190 HP and something like 180 ft/lbs. weight 2,050 lbs empty. Should have similar power to weight on srt vs Exige.

 

Dude, uhh...Elises/Exiges DO NOT come with turbos or superchargers in America. Therefore, you raced a MODIFIED lotus. Probably a forcedfed or has turbo upgraded car. Nevertheless, awesome that you got to run one! I knew our low end torque would get the jump.

 

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.

 

]..."is there an easy way to get out of this car? "...[/I]

I have a sentimental weakness for SBCs (Small British Cars). I am a sensibly-sized 5' 6", and as lithe as a jungle panther, despite a head of grey, and am thus able to tolerate comical limey ergonomics.

Anyway, here's the move:

I'll assume you are in the driver's seat (how you got there is entirely your business). We'll further stipulate that the car is left-hand drive(I'm hard enough on clutches and gears as it is, never mind trying to deal with a full-on English right-hand drive setup).
Open the door. The simple act of unlatching the door of an MG (or any British Leyland product) is apt to sound like an explosion in a hardware store, but that's part of the "charm".
Ball your left hand into a tight fist. That is, if it's not already clenched; these cars will keep you angry much of the time.
Press your left fist into the Tarmac, as if you were FirebaseD about to perform your morning set of knuckle pushups.
So there you are; Butt in the seat at an altitude of eleven inches, left fist sizzling on the blacktop (I live in Dallas, where crossing the driveway barefoot to fetch the morning paper can send you hobbling for the aloe gel), and poised to effect egress.
In a modified Fallsberry Flop,right leg crossed over left leg, swivel the pelvis anti-clockwise and roll for freedom.

Next time you see a guy in line at AutoZone sporting burned and scraped left knuckles buying a can of carbeurator oil, you can break the ice by asking "So...TR3, huh?"

 

I assumed it was a turbo b/c he mentioned that he heard a blow off valve.

 

yes, it was definitely a boosted Lotus, But I do think he was sand bagging after blowing past me, just to keep me runin' with him.