Rossion vs Lotus track comparison request

[LordZ]

Can anyone give me a comparison between the Rossion and a track prepped Exige?

I'm digging the finish of the Rossion and power to weight. But I love the way the Exige feels on the track and wouldn't want to sacrifice that even if it did get rid of all the rattles, squeaks, and bolts falling out.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by LordZ

Can anyone give me a comparison between the Rossion and a track prepped Exige?

I'm digging the finish of the Rossion and power to weight. But I love the way the Exige feels on the track and wouldn't want to sacrifice that even if it did get rid of all the rattles, squeaks, and bolts falling out.

I think your going to have limited abilities to find people who have seriously tracked their Rossions yet. They are all brand new. However, I can't imagine it would be that difficult to find many people who have tracked their Noble M400s. You could try the Noble forum. The cars are only cosmetically different.

Since I own an Elise and a Rossion I can tell you my early impressions. My Elise has a FF 275 turbo so it's fairly quick. I used to say fast, but there simply is no comparison in a straight line. That said, the Q1 feels wider, and the steering is a bit lighter... being boosted and all. Other than that, they feel similar. The extra 500 lbs or so is definitely noticed in the interior, but it's still so light compated to a Porsche. lets say, that it still has a nice flickable character about it.

I feel a little more connected to the road in my Elise, but I have no doubt I would be faster around a track in the Rossion. The Rossion is a lower compression, higher boost motor and as such has more turbo lag than my Elise, but a much longer throttle pedal travel to compensate. The brakes are magnificent in the Rossion. So much better than the Elise is a let down every time I drive the Lotus. The pedals are also much better placed for heel/toe in the Rossion and each gear is exactly 1000 rpm's apart, making it that much easier.

[Randy Chase]

I have spent a lot of time on track with my Lotus and the Noble and a little time on the track with the Rossion. My Noble is a bit modified so it is beyond the stock Noble/Rossion.

I think Slaughtr's take is pretty accurate. The Elise for me is still better in terms of nimble and road feel since weight matters and it is lighter. But not a lot. Both cars are on the end of the bell curve right?

The Noble/Rossion has a LOT more torque. I think my Noble was near 500 pounds of torque. So corner exit was a lot easier without having to make sure I was over 6000 rpms in the Lotus. And of course the Noble/Rossion has a lot of power.

We went out at Barber at LOG in the advanced run group and I did ok babying the car because of the break in period. I never gave the car more than half throttle and stayed in the pack.

I also have no doubt my lap times in the Noble or Rossion will be better than my supercharged Elise.

[LordZ]

Thanks guys. I'll just have to find a track day somewhere that one will be at so I can try to get a ride in one.

I just have a hard time believing anything short of a dedicated race car would be more fun on track than my Exige. But on the street. Ugh...just not as much fun anymore and no one wants to ride in it due to the noise and harshness of the ride. Not to mention my AC freezing up now that summer has hit.

[Chili Red]

There is a Noble that runs with TDE sometimes, Ive seen it there once or twice. The girl who is driving it is not that quick, but I suspect its more driver than car that results in her slowness.

One thing to consider as well, Im suspecting that consumables are going to be much more expensive for the Noble/Rossion than Lotus.

[Randy Chase]

Originally Posted by Chili Red

One thing to consider as well, Im suspecting that consumables are going to be much more expensive for the Noble/Rossion than Lotus.

Such as ?

Should be a little harder on brake pads due to extra weight but aftermarket pads are easily sourced. Rotors are available and I bet less expensive. Tires wear about the same or even less since they are wider, but they do cost more initially since they are larger.

Brand new *built* crate engine for the Rossion/Noble is $4400.

I don't know about the cost of a clutch job. I do know the labor for doing it on my Lotus was a bit high... but I have yet to do it on the Noble.

Since most of the parts are easily sourced off of various less exotic cars, and since the car only weighs about 350 pounds more, and the Noble/Rossion is a lot easier to work on, I don't see it being much more expensive to track. But I could be wrong?

[LordZ]

With the powerplants in them I don't see them that expensive to keep on the track. Pads and rotors due to weight shouldn't be that much. Not like it's a Z06 or anything.

Just daydreaming right now. It would be one Rossion vs a 211 + another car. And really do I need three cars just for myself?

Now going off track looks a bit expensive though.

[Chili Red]

My main thought was on tires.. Whats a set of tires go for?

[swaq]

Originally Posted by Chili Red

My main thought was on tires.. Whats a set of tires go for?

The Rossion runs 225/40-18 front and 275/35-18 rear. A set of Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires in that size on tirerack.com are $808 (plus shipping, mounting, etc.). Some others:

• Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position - $968
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric - $910 (standard equipment, judging from the pictures on rossioncars.com)
• Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 - $1158
• Yokohama ADVAN Sport - $948

So it's in the same ballpark as a set of AD07's or A048's for the Elise.