[xtn]

Originally Posted by Riddlefox

Originally Posted by xtn :

Because the right setup would:

1. feel twitchy and darty on public roads,
2. wear our tires faster on highways, and
3. not be as safe for un-educated drivers.

The last two points are irrelevant for press mules, I'd imagine. The first one might apply, but I think most journalists would see it as part of the Exige's track-ready nature.The last two points are irrelevant for press mules, I'd imagine. The first one might apply, but I think most journalists would see it as part of the Exige's track-ready nature.

I'm sure you're right, but the question was about why Lotus delivers them with lousy alignment settings, not about how journalists would feel about it. I doubt very strongly that the turnip farmers in Hethel specifically prepped that car for the R&T test. It's much more likely that R&T called up somebody in the USA and that somebody said, "Yeah we got one here, come and get it."

xtn

PS - I see a lot of people talking about body roll, and relating it to the damper settings. First, one has nothing to do with the other, except with regard to transient changes. Firming up the dampers will not effect how far the body rolls. And second, body roll is not detrimental to performance unless the suspension geometry results in undesirable alignment changes past a certain travel point and you want to keep travel from getting to that point, or you're rubbing the fenders or hitting the bump stops. Unless you're reaching one of those conditions (and a stock Elise/Exige is not) then the only benefit of lower body roll is an emotional/confidence one for the driver.