Review of the Exige in Australian MOTOR mag [pics]

[adamant]

Originally posted by meat
ABS takes the skill out of it. Modulating your brakes is part of the fun! ABS just means mash on them as hard as you can and don't worry about it.

Absolutely right. ABS means that you can brake as hard as you like and it will give you better times and more control at the cost of skill. I am not a professional driver and so ABS is one of the few systems I would like. Perhaps not in a "track only" car though. I don't know why it is thought of as unsafe though when its whole purpose is to keep the car under control.
BTW before I am flamed to death, I am an experienced driver and have instucted students at HPDE (as they seem to be called now) events.

[Prolene]

ABS should be standard, imo.

[Lotus Fury]

Originally posted by adamant
I am not a professional driver and so ABS is one of the few systems I would like. Perhaps not in a "track only" car though.

That's what I think of with the Exige, it's pretty much track only. Yes, it's road legal in the UK but you're probabaly still going to find a large percent of Exige owners do a lot of track stuff. If the ABS system is good then I'm all for it. it's just up to this point I've not liked the ABS systems I'm seen, at least not for use on the track. *All street cars should have it. * On a track road conditions can be much better controlled. Typical surface streets are chaos.

[meat]

I guess I'm a purist when it comes to the Elise.

[ya hachu]

Originally posted by meat
I guess I'm a purist when it comes to the Elise.

Sadly, I am too. I finally put down a deposit because I expect the Elise to get more watered down with time, not less. I kind of wonder if it's not a misfire in Lotus strategy to start out in the U.S. with all the crap added or available in the beginning. As I understand it, features we'll get as standard crept into the European Elises in later years after sales slumped. Given the large number of deposits here when no features were announced, Lotus almost certainly could have gone a couple years with less standard equipment and a decent set of options (AC, power, ABS, Sport package, etcetera). Instead, I doubt we'll ever get an Elise for purists and Lotus will be in a bit more of a corner when the sales eventually slump.

[zvezdah1]

yahachu,
But Lotus only has exemptions good until the end of 06 meaning they'll have to have a fully compliant car then. Who's to say how that will turn out.

Also, a great deal of the add on components some people are complaining about are easily removeable. It's also sounding more and more like some of the goodies won't come on the car unless you opt for the touring package.


Also, as to ABS, if I recall from SELOC board. It's to be mandatory on all Road cars for EU countries in the next year or so. Smart for Lotus to go ahead and get it out of the way.
Chris

[armitage]

Do note, that the statistics have indicated that ABS is NOT safer. Problem is that people know they have ABS and have started driving more reckless, most noticeable is they tend to decrease their distance to the car they are following. A while back the stats were actually tied, where the ABS cars would still get as many accidents and damage as none ABS cars because of the forementioned reason.

I've just read that same goes for the crash test rating systems. Five star cars are accompied with adjusted driving technique, where people tailgate more and drive at higher speeds then before.

This latter fact I experienced over the last months of ownership and I was telling a friend that I noticed I got tailgated a lot lately by new Megane drivers. Guess they saw that with a five star NCAP rating they're safe... but I'm not... Safety arms race started?

PS: I would take ABS on car if optioned. Make a button to switch it off for the track day enthusiast.

[L8BRAKR]

Originally posted by armitage
PS: I would take ABS on car if optioned. Make a button to switch it off for the track day enthusiast.

I doubt if we get a button from the factory but I don't envision the electronics in this car to be all that complex so it should make it simple job of retrofitting something. I still have faith that the system will be very good and not step in until it absolutely has to.

[Randy Chase]

Originally posted by armitage


This latter fact I experienced over the last months of ownership and I was telling a friend that I noticed I got tailgated a lot lately by new Megane drivers. Guess they saw that with a five star NCAP rating they're safe... but I'm not... Safety arms race started?

The best safety device ever would be to have everyone else's car equipped with a large pointy spike coming out of their steering wheel. Then watch how they drive.

[Vantage]

There seems to be some assumption about the way Lotus have tuned the ABS system (see, I'm already conjugating verbs the British way). Perhaps it will engage very late and closer to the point of wheel lockup than most are accustomed to. It is well known that optimal braking is reached when the wheels are spinning a few revolutions slower than is normally required to travel a certan distance. In other words, some wheel slip is desired, isn't it? Those who knock the ABS sysem may not despise it as much, when they actually drive the new car and see how close they can get to the threshold. It is common I believe, for auto crossers with ABS cars to try not to engage the system, because it sometimes hinders their performance (told to me by an experienced fellow about a particular car). Your thoughts please...

[Randy Chase]

Depends on the car and how well the ABS works. On some cars, ABS sucks.

In general, ABS is better than not having it because if you are good enough to not lock up the brakes, it does not come into play. You think you don't lock up then you will not use ABS. ABS only works when the sensors indicate a wheel has quit turning.

Now there are some conditions that can confuse the ABS. Gravel or loose surfaces, or bumps.

My experience with ABS in the Spyder is that very hard braking and hitting a bump, can really make the brakes not work well.

[RacingDynamcs]

I have the same experience in the g35 coupe...

hard braking over a bump makes for danger...

[Tripledigits]

The nice thing about ABS on the autox course is that when the grip level isn't what you expect, you don't end up with flat spotted race rubber, which I've seen frequently on non-ABS cars. One test run for a driver that doesn't know your car, and you've (he's?) got a $500 bill for new front tires. Perhaps the new Hoosiers won't be so prone to this. I know the Kumhos are much easier to read under max braking.

Jeff

[banTTor]

spoiler spoils it

I would pay money to get rid of em

Ill be having my fun around tight curves, the road and hers

[RacingDynamcs]

according to lotus dealer near here...exige will be featured in america in 2 yrs