9 min. Top Gear Exige video

[_JD_]

Right click and save (it's a keeper)

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/Top_Gear_Exige_hi.wmv

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/To...ge_Stig_hi.wmv

Great video- worth the time to download.

[sonza68]

Slow download, but worth the wait. Nothing like watching an Apache try to hunt down an Exige on the track.

[frayed]

Very cool.

Can anyone run down the performance enhancements to the Exige over the Elise with LSS?

I'm wondering what makes it that much better than an Elise LSS besides downforce.. I seem to recall from the Best of British video that a multitude of changes were made to the Exige, including the steering rack, but can't recall the specifics.

[MickOpalak]

I've never read anything to indicate that there is anything more than aerodynamic differences.

[PeterF]

This is the second part, when "The Stig" drives it on track.

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/To...ge_Stig_hi.wmv

[MikeAR303]

Does anyone remember when that Elise special was supposed to air on the speed channel?

[frayed]

Originally posted by PeterF
This is the second part, when "The Stig" drives it on track.

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/To...ge_Stig_hi.wmv

[wstrohm]

AAAAGH! My Mac will not show the video when playing Windows Media Version 9 movies! I can HEAR the whole thing, but Microsoft has not bothered to create a codec for its latest version of the Windows Media Player that will run under Mac OS 9.2.2. Can anyone convert this to either an MPEG file or the next-to-newest version of Windows Media, like version 8 or something? This drives me crazy!!!

Thanks...

[Joetz]

Was I the only one that was rubbed the wrong way by the comment about the USA shooting their own allies? The whole audience laughed at the joke, so I don't think Jeremy is the lone voice in the wilderness.

In the 10 years that I have been reading european car magazines, I have always noticed that they will, somewhere in the issue, bash the USA. I don't think it's about politics because this has been going on forever, no matter who is in office.

The USA is vital in helping keep Lotus and lots of other British companies off of life support. Attitudes like that make me wish the American automakers knew how to build a car anywhere near as fun to drive as the Elise.

[shay2nak]

who really is...The Stig? What the hell does "The Stig" mean? I like his taste in music. LOL Maybe he's Little Bastard?

[ringmeister]

No kidding. Without the help of the US there would be no Lotus and the Brits would all be speaking German.

Disclaimer: It must be just the leftist journalists that are US bashing. I spend a lot of time in Germany and at the Nurburgring and by far the nicest and most car crazy folks at the 'Ring are the Brits. These guys know how to have fun!

[Derek]

Originally posted by ringmeister
No kidding. Without the help of the US there would be no Lotus and the Brits would all be speaking German.

Disclaimer: It must be just the leftist journalists that are US bashing. I spend a lot of time in Germany and at the Nurburgring and by far the nicest and most car crazy folks at the 'Ring are the Brits. These guys know how to have fun!

If not for the Brits we might all be speaking German.

[Randy Chase]

Originally posted by Joetz

In the 10 years that I have been reading european car magazines, I have always noticed that they will, somewhere in the issue, bash the USA.

It doesn't bother me, though I can see how it bothers some.

I look at it this way... put yourself in their position. It's fun to mock and poke at the large giant. We do it with Walmart, Microsoft, etc.

Add in the history between US and UK.

Add in that a perception becomes reality and people see what they want to see... like one Detroit article on the Elise proves that the fat Americans just don't get it. Add in perceptions shaped by media, specially American TV.

No reason to get upset at what is really ignorance. It's a combination of perceptions and that American bashing is a bit of a sport there. It's mostly all in good fun. I am not playing, but I can see that they are... and there is a little disconnect between our styles of humor.

Lastly, it is no different then... to paint all Brits with the same brush while proclaiming that we are offended by all of their generalities. Many people in the UK are well informed and understand the situation. Or at least they keep telling me that.

A bit of American bashing is no big deal.

All my 2 cents, like I said, I know others take it more seriously.

[Randy Chase]

Originally posted by Derek
If not for the Brits we might all be speaking German.

If not for the Brits, I would not exist.

[Derek]

Originally posted by Joetz
Was I the only one that was rubbed the wrong way by the comment about the USA shooting their own allies? The whole audience laughed at the joke, so I don't think Jeremy is the lone voice in the wilderness.

In the 10 years that I have been reading european car magazines, I have always noticed that they will, somewhere in the issue, bash the USA. I don't think it's about politics because this has been going on forever, no matter who is in office.

The USA is vital in helping keep Lotus and lots of other British companies off of life support. Attitudes like that make me wish the American automakers knew how to build a car anywhere near as fun to drive as the Elise.

There is a common belief outside of the USA that “Shoot first and ask questions later” is the American way and that this, in turn can lead to mistakes. In all seriousness I can honestly tell you I had never heard of the term “friendly fire” until I came to the USA.
I don’t think any harm is meant by JC comments; he is merely playing off the stereotype.
Americans are well liked in the UK (ask MW). The news media tends to give favor to the few people that have an anti US view.
JC is not anti-American, but he might take a friendly jab just to make sure you're still alive

[ringmeister]

You have a point Randy. I can understand when you look back at the history of the British Empire and then look at the present day. I can see how there might be some jealousy and envy of the USA.

I still think it's unfortunate and I feel that the US will always be there as an ally for the Brits. There's a bond there that goes back a very long time and has been tested on more than a few occasions.

From my own personal experience, I think you're right, most Brits are great folks and I thank them for sharing the Elise with us overweight, fast food eating, gas guzzling, cheap beer drinking 'mericans.

[wallabyguy]

I don't mean to side track or back track a bit but can anyone help out Bill and I on the Video? We both run Macs and the newest WMP format doesn't allow visual. It sounds good though.................. except for the American bashing

[ringmeister]

Wish I could help but I'm running a Dell with XP from that son-of-a-b**ch Gates.

[frayed]

So, does anyone have a rundown on the difference b/t the LSS Elise S2 and the S2 Exige?

I swear that there was a multitude technical changes including steering rack, suspension, diff, and other changes. I could be wrong though. Anyone have the Best of British DVD? If so, there's an interview near the end with Gavan Kershaw and another chassis guy; one of the two outlined the differences in pretty good detail.

[mikester]

"There is a common belief outside of the USA that “Shoot first and ask questions later” is the American way and that this, in turn can lead to mistakes."

Gee I can't see why that would be.....(irony intended).


"Americans are well liked in the UK (ask MW)." In my experience and studies Americans are liked the world over, it's the policies of the U.S. that are often resented and disliked, because of their sometimes devastating consequences, intended or not.

Cheers, Mike G.