2005 – Base vs. sport package

[CFRA_7]

I just spoke with a friend of mine who bought a 2005 new. He said if he was to do it again he would not buy the sport package. HE would get the base model and select his own wheels and shock/spring package. He thinks a 15” front and 16” read would be the best set-up for street and track. I forget what he said would be his shock/spring package ($4,000).

What do you guys feel is the right decision for a good street/track package?

Thanks

[RoadDad]

Whatever your rear end/legs/arms/neck etc like.

I have driven both the base and sport pack equipped models. I bought the sport pack and wouldn't trade it for anything currently. I love the stiffness even on the street. But I can't stand my wife's minivan because it is too squishy. I will not in the foreseeable future be changing my suspension at any point and would not want a base susp car (unless someone's giving it to me, then I would suffer with it). Many people feel the exact opposite and many feel base + aftermarket is the way to go. I think you will get a bunch of different responses that all boil down to:

Ride in as many different types as you can and pick what your rear end/arms/legs/etc like the best.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

Whatever your rear end/legs/arms/neck etc like.

I have driven both the base and sport pack equipped models. I bought the sport pack and wouldn't trade it for anything currently. I love the stiffness even on the street. But I can't stand my wife's minivan because it is too squishy. I will not in the foreseeable future be changing my suspension at any point and would not want a base susp car (unless someone's giving it to me, then I would suffer with it). Many people feel the exact opposite and many feel base + aftermarket is the way to go. I think you will get a bunch of different responses that all boil down to:

Ride in as many different types as you can and pick what your rear end/arms/legs/etc like the best.

The difference between the base and sport suspension is not that great; you make it sound like it turns the Elise into a Caddy! For the street I find the base suspension better because of the bad roads. And I don't mean comfort level on bad roads (although it is better for that too); I mean handling. I think the sport set up on the road is too stiff and thus unsettles the car easier when cornering. Unless you live in the land of perfect public roads (maybe some of you do), I think you will get more out of the base suspension.

As for base + aftermarket, don't you mean replace the base with aftermarket? The advantage to the aftermarket solutions is the adjustablility. You can set both rebound and compression and ride height with a set of Ohlin's for a very reasonable price of $2200 to 2600 depending on who is selling them (Forcedfed has a sale right now for $2300 I believe). Another guy is selling a used set with under 2000 miles for $1700. Now you are set for the street and track with one set of dampers and springs.

Of course the "track pack" from Lotus did change things a bit since it offers this adjustablility also. However, from what I have read,the aftermarket stuff is still better (I don't know from personal experience).

I think the Lotus driver who wants to set up their car for some hard-core racing is best served with a base car and then upgrading the suspension, wheels and tires. However, if you like the sport wheels and A048's (they are very good wheels and tires), then go with the sport and just do the suspension.

The biggest advantage to sticking with the Lotus factory suspension (base or sport), is that you will be getting a suspension that is specifically tuned for the car by the demi-god Lotus suspension engineers. If you do go aftermarket, I think you better really know what you are doing or find someone who does before installing and adjusting a new set of dampers and springs. No matter how good an aftermarket piece may be, it can easily make your car handle worse if not set up properly. So the hard core racers better do it right, or their times will suffer!

Since I am not a hard core racer (not even in the ball park), I prefer to go with the Ohlins because of their excellent street ride quility; and I can set them up based on the specs from Ohlins. I feel pretty good about this since Lotus also uses the Ohlins in their sport and cup models, so I know that there is some real engineering and testing that went into these dampers.

I hope that helps, anyone else want to comment who REALLY knows what they are talking about and correct my errors and BS?

[CFRA_7]

Originally Posted by Stephen

The difference between the base and sport suspension is not that great; you make it sound like it turns the Elise into a Caddy! For the street I find the base suspension better because of the bad roads. And I don't mean comfort level on bad roads (although it is better for that too); I mean handling. I think the sport set up on the road is too stiff and thus unsettles the car easier when cornering. Unless you live in the land of perfect public roads (maybe some of you do), I think you will get more out of the base suspension.

As for base + aftermarket, don't you mean replace the base with aftermarket? The advantage to the aftermarket solutions is the adjustablility. You can set both rebound and compression and ride height with a set of Ohlin's for a very reasonable price of $2200 to 2600 depending on who is selling them (Forcedfed has a sale right now for $2300 I believe). Another guy is selling a used set with under 2000 miles for $1700. Now you are set for the street and track with one set of dampers and springs.

Of course the "track pack" from Lotus did change things a bit since it offers this adjustablility also. However, from what I have read,the aftermarket stuff is still better (I don't know from personal experience).

I think the Lotus driver who wants to set up their car for some hard-core racing is best served with a base car and then upgrading the suspension, wheels and tires. However, if you like the sport wheels and A048's (they are very good wheels and tires), then go with the sport and just do the suspension.

The biggest advantage to sticking with the Lotus factory suspension (base or sport), is that you will be getting a suspension that is specifically tuned for the car by the demi-god Lotus suspension engineers. If you do go aftermarket, I think you better really know what you are doing or find someone who does before installing and adjusting a new set of dampers and springs. No matter how good an aftermarket piece may be, it can easily make your car handle worse if not set up properly. So the hard core racers better do it right, or their times will suffer!

Since I am not a hard core racer (not even in the ball park), I prefer to go with the Ohlins because of their excellent street ride quility; and I can set them up based on the specs from Ohlins. I feel pretty good about this since Lotus also uses the Ohlins in their sport and cup models, so I know that there is some real engineering and testing that went into these dampers.

I hope that helps, anyone else want to comment who REALLY knows what they are talking about and correct my errors and BS?

You are correct. It was the Ohlin's the he recommended. He liked the ability to corner weight a car. He said they also worked well on the street.

[Morty]

Just got my 2nd Elise I went with the sports pack more for the second oil cooler than anything else. In mid 2005 they stoped putting 2 in the base modle cars. If you are tracking in Texas in the summer you want 2. Having tracked both the base and the sport I think they are night and day different on the track. The Base is a little too soft and saves are much more tricky when the car unloads. I am going to wait a little while to upgrade suspension on this car. I like to learn to drive each mod before changing anything.
Morty

[fish_dave]

I bought 2 cars, one touring and one sport pack. I ended up selling the sport optioned car as I felt that the touring car was more engaging to drive and handled better on the roads that I drive. The sport pack car jumped around on anything but smooth road and was very unsettled on average bumpy roads. I do not doubt that the sport pack car will turn faster laps on a smooth track but on typical city roads you will be both more comfortable and faster with the base suspension. Everyone that drove my cars agreed that the touring car felt quicker and was more engaging to drive.

If anyone is interested in an early 05 car, touring, hardtop, twin oil coolers, etc. Starlight black 11,000 miles I would sell mine for around 31,000.00. Car is located in L.A. area right now.

Dave

[Z-dculus]

only sissy's can't deal with the Sport Pack on the street!

[Gizmo3000]

Originally Posted by fish_dave

If anyone is interested in an early 05 car, touring, hardtop, twin oil coolers, etc. Starlight black 11,000 miles I would sell mine for around 31,000.00. Car is located in L.A. area right now.

Dang, somebody outta jump at it for that price!

--

I think the name of this thread is a bit misleading. it's not Base vs Sport package.
It's For Track: Base+Ugrades vs stock Sport package?

As most of us non-Sport guys who have no desire to track our cars are quite pleased with our decision (along with the Touring package).
whereas guys who track their cars will always say how superior the sport package is on the track!

[CountTracula]

CFRA_7,
no Elise is going to be as fast as a Formula Mazda...

[drivendriver]

Originally Posted by Z-dculus

only sissy's can't deal with the Sport Pack on the street!

Only Sissy's can't deal with a little body roll and harder tires.

[CFRA_7]

Originally Posted by CountTracula

CFRA_7,
no Elise is going to be as fast as a Formula Mazda...

I know but at least with the Elise I'll have someone to run with.

[CFRA_7]

My question is: Do I save money by buying a 2005 without the sport package (assuming it adds value to a used Elise) and use the savings to upgrade shocks and rims or do I buy the sport package and keep it stock for the track. The car will see around 8 days a year on the track. This isn't being bought as only a street car. As for the additional oil cooler, I guess that's a $500 addition as well if I don't get the sport pack (and a late 2005 car).

[sleepe]

I now have RAC monolites w/A048's, abd the sport suspension (for now)
I plan to put all season tires on my base wheels...I couldn't live without my Elise for 4 months.

Robert

[PsychoRallye]

with or w/o sport pack probably won't make a huge price dif on a used 05. Choose based upon the car's other attributes (mileage, color, hard top or not).

As for the oil cooler don't bother, with hpde track days there is no need for a second cooler, really and truly... especially w/ only ~8 days per year (the response would still be the same if it were ~30 days per year, fyi).

good luck

[vortrex]

Originally Posted by CFRA_7

I just spoke with a friend of mine who bought a 2005 new. He said if he was to do it again he would not buy the sport package. HE would get the base model and select his own wheels and shock/spring package. He thinks a 15” front and 16” read would be the best set-up for street and track. I forget what he said would be his shock/spring package ($4,000).

What do you guys feel is the right decision for a good street/track package?

Thanks

your friend is smart. the sport pack is horrid.

[PsychoRallye]

the sport pack is fine, I have no idea what some of these people are saying. The car's ride is just fine, for a sports car.
Apparently those who are complaining are used to their Escalade on the street.

If I had to do it again, I might buy the base and add my own suspension, but there are choices now (readily available in the US), there weren't in 2005.

If you're not a tinkerer, or not suspension savvy, stay with the base or the sport, and don't do adjustables. Multi-adjustables are the best way to multiply screw up your suspension. If you're not an EXPERT (most of us aren't), don't do more than a single, and even then... it's versatility is that it is able to be set differently for track and street, but no-matter what you do, it will be a hard ride, just like the sport pack.

For god sakes, it's a sportscar that's 4" off the ground, not an escalade, give it a rest.

[NMRJock]

I've enjoyed my sport-pack car. I would buy it again the same way.

[RoadDad]

Still all boils down to ride in as many differently equipped cars and see what your butt/arms/legs/neck etc like the most.

[brgelise]

Major point mised in this thread. All Elises in US were setup with a lot of understeer to keep them safe on the street in Joe Average's hands. The base model with its real skinny front tire wheel combo is far worse in this regard ( let alone unavailability of many tire options in that size)than the sport pack. The sport pack wheels are superb with regard to weight and strength. The base wheels are sharp but heavy as anything! As far as the oil cooler is concerned, ever measure the oil temps? They wouldn't put the 2nd (notice 2 v. 1) one on if they weren't concerned. You won't see the affect for several years, but when it shows, it could be ugly. I know oil temps are a big concern on my STi!
Finally, you can upgrade a sport pack once you've learned to maximize it. Alignment is far more important earlier in the learning curve than upgraded shocks. Costs a lot less too! JUST MHO.

[fzust]

Originally Posted by CFRA_7

My question is: Do I save money by buying a 2005 without the sport package (assuming it adds value to a used Elise) and use the savings to upgrade shocks and rims or do I buy the sport package and keep it stock for the track. The car will see around 8 days a year on the track. This isn't being bought as only a street car. As for the additional oil cooler, I guess that's a $500 addition as well if I don't get the sport pack (and a late 2005 car).

I have 1 with and 1 without. Either one is livable day by day. Here is the clincher: When several ETers and I drove non-sportpack cars around LOTUS' OWN TEST TRACK IN THE UK AT THE FACTORY, they were still AWESOME! Onless you are contending for a championship(in that case buy Penskes). Save money and DON'T buy the LSS.