My brother just bought this…

[Broncho]

Honda Type R Supercharged Elise, it’s absolutely mental!

He’s a track day hobbyist and had another Elise before this. He’s also into his super bikes and reckons this is easily as quick as his old 600.

It’s just over 300bhp and being an early S2 is around 800kg give or take.

I’m going to have a go this week, if I don’t post again it’s because I’m dead.

 

[Grunty-Motor]

nope, not seeing the attraction there....but maybe as a trackday toy

power to weight is impressive though

 

[Broncho]

nope, not seeing the attraction there....but maybe as a trackday toy

power to weight is impressive though

That’s exactly what it is, a track day toy, it’s his hobby.

 

[Techno]

A mate had an Elise with a 1.8 turbo engine transplant from an Audi some twenty years back. Felt faster than a fast thing to me at the time. Enjoy.

 

[boba fett]

I am not a Lotus fan, I have only had a couple, an Esprit and an excel, can't believe I went back for a second helping (if it was food it would have been a bowl of salmonella) and put me off them for life!

I know later Lotus's are slightly more reliable these days, and I bet that's a riot though! Nice one!

 

[Tengocity]

I had an V6 Exige for about 9 months. Did a fair few track days in it, and it was very good on track. I've never known a car with such good steering feel, and that could give you so much sense of the distinct phases of a corner.
I just couldn't drive it for more than an hour at a time on the road though, as could never get a comfy seating position (no steering wheel adjustment), and the noise was ear-bleeding (always wore headphones). I could live with the ride, which wasn't too bad at all, but the kit car feel after a lifetime of German cars took away from the pride of ownership feeling. I feel a little guilty saying that, but I suppose it just means that I wasn't a true Lotus guy.
Whereas I get in the Porsche and it sorts all of that, and satisfies on the dynamic front. I also knew my use would move much more to road than track though.

However, for out and out track use then these Elise and Exige are all fabulous. The lightweight means they have low running costs, with tyres and brakes lasting so much longer than in any Porsche or BMW. Only Caterhams and stripped out hatchbacks are cheaper as regular track cars.