Hey Lotus Talk,

FIRST QUESTION: How do Lotus' stack up against the competition (not just Z06s) as well as the Z06s on an autocross course?

SECOND QUESTION: Out of the box how do you veteran racers feel your Lotus is on the autocross course? If anyone can weight in how they feel when compared to a Z06? (i am looking for first hand knowledge here please)

THIRD QUESTION: I know the Z06s are power hounds but is it too much power for a autocross course? I feel the Lotus are more "racing refined" and the power is more adequite on a autocross course.

Any other suggestions and information would be greatly appreciated.

I really like the Lotus looks wise and if it were just about that then i would buy the lotus today. But i am also looking for something that will do well on the autocross course.

Thanks for all the help

Will

Well,

Where I am not technically a vetern racer....I have raced a bit, and just getting into it more. From what I have read, seen, and driven here is my 2 cents...and some/many may agree or disagree, but it is different from driver to driver as well.

The Z06 will offer you amazing performance on a track race where you can actually open it up and let it loose. However, based on the size of most autocross tracks that I have seen and watched, you will probably not be able to really get into the powerband of a vette. Also, due to its amazing power band, you will probably fight with the back end wanting to break lose more often than you would prefer, I would assume. Yes you can control the slide, but last I checked, the less you are losing traction the faster typically your car can go.

Now coming from the subaru community I think you will like the way the elise/exige handles much better. A friend of mine has a WRX sti, and well, when going through the local cannon roads I will almost always put distance between the two of us around the corners, and the only reason why he even catches up with me most of the time is because I slow down. He is totally stock and so am I. I own a 05 elise with sport/touring pack, and no lsd. So to give you a good idea about the handling.

Also based on the size of the elise vs. the vette, I can definately say that personally speaking, i think it will be easier to manuver the elise around the autox course than a vette, however I know guys do it quite successfully.

Another friend of mine and myself took my car out, and he is experienced in the autox race scene. And in general we both agreed that for the most part, after I start out in the elise, I will probably never shift down below 2nd gear or above 3rd gear...in general...varies from courses of course.

So the last statement...as everyone else here will state is to go for a drive and see what you think. The guy that took me out at my local dealer was VERY comfortable in letting me take a 25mph on ramp at 60, and when asked if it would do more, he smiled, nodded, and said Definately. That was all it took for me to understand the benefits behind these cars.

Hope that helps.

 

Of course the lotus forte is cone dodging. Tiny, light, good weight to to ratio. If you want to know how compettitive it i against zo6s just check out the solo national super stock results.

Cliff notes: A superstock lotus is probably a marginally better autocross car than a c6 zo6. On anything more open than that the zo6 will leave the lotus for dead. Lotus is more fun to drive imho...

Never mind just saw that you are talking about z5 zo6. You know the answer then, they are about the same. The lotus has much cheaper tire bill but you have to remember the fiberglass can get beat u if you are prone to smacking cones.....

 

"However, based on the size of most autocross tracks that I have seen and watched, you will probably not be able to really get into the powerband of a vette"

The wife has a 98 vette and compared to our high winding engines, if the vette's engine is running, its in the powerband.

Now if I could just get the rest of her car to not feel like a sensory deprivation chamber.

 

Very true. I haven't personally felt the powerband of a vette...so hard for me to guess on that. Just figured, larger motor, harder to get into the powerband...but makes sense

 

You are going to get more attention in an Elise, plain and simple. Any C5 Corvette will look like any other C5 vette to the uninitiated, but a Lotus is exotic appearing to all.

Out of the box, the car is excellent for autocross. Its peaky powerband and go-kart reflexes make autocrossing fun, and you will certainly be competitive in your class. The fact that you can literally place the front wheels wherever you wish with ease makes cone-avoiding an art.

You have to be quick with the shifter since you do NOT want to drop to low speed in 2nd gear as the engine makes no power in those revs, but to me, that's part of the fun. I'm sure the Z06 could do it all in 1st gear (if it could get traction).

And most importantly, you don't get the open top on the Z


Make sure you are OK with the power of an Elise. It's not slow, but it isn't nearly as fast as the Z06.

 

Thank you all for the very unbiased and welcoming thoughts.

Coming from the Subaru STI i understand the gokart feel, i bet the elise is even more so. That is what i love about my STI is how i feel as though where ever i point it, it will go. Obviously the elise is much much much better at this then the Subaru, what i am getting at is this is what i want and knowing the elise is like this makes me very very interested.

My only concern is something bavarian motorist brought up and thats the low torque the elise has. My STI isnt a Z06 but it does have a good sense of torque for a 4 banger. Basically i dont want to have to drop down to fourth gear just to make it up a hill.

I do agree test driving a elise would probably be a very good idea. Is there much difference in the 05/06 Elise vs the 06 Exige to justify the 5 to 8k difference?

 

My only concern is something bavarian motorist brought up and thats the low torque the elise has. My STI isnt a Z06 but it does have a good sense of torque for a 4 banger. Basically i dont want to have to drop down to fourth gear just to make it up a hill.

I do agree test driving a elise would probably be a very good idea. Is there much difference in the 05/06 Elise vs the 06 Exige to justify the 5 to 8k difference?

To answer the torque question...I tool around in my elise around town in 6th gear from 20mph to 100+...depending on my mood and where I am at.

I have owned and Driven MANY bavarian vehicles, and I can tell you right now that the torque curve on the Lotus is PLENTY. Sure it doesn't put you back in your seat when you take off, but that is also because you are not having to move so much "dead" weight. Hence there is no push back in the seat. It is literally, you push you go. I have not once had to downshift to go up a hill, just step on the gas and she goes. Trust me, the torque on the lotus stock is plenty...and I am just talking about the power in the first cam shaft...not even in the 2nd cam shaft.

 

Lots of us here have had Sti's. If you think an sti feels like a go kart you are in for a real shock. An sti feels like a moving van compared to a lotus.......

 

Haha yeah yeah i know lol. Understeer and massive body roll. My STI was by no means stock lol. But i can imagine my massively upgraded STI doesnt even compare to a stock Lotus lol. More and more you guys are convincing me the Lotus is the way to go. I know its not as fast and powerful as a Z06 but the lotus is so rare, different, exotic, and handles amazing which is what matters most to me.

 

If you are cone-dodging and posing, Lotus for sure. I like power too much to own a stock Elise. I turbocharged my street car and same to my track car, but neither is necessary for cone-dodge and would put you in some kind of unlimited class I am sure.

Not a fan of C5 Z06, but the C6 Z06 is spectacular and just right in terms of appearance comparison to base C6.

 

What PedalFaster said plus

If you get the Elise for Autox, I think you have to price in a tow rig and a trailer.

You can always tow a tire trailer with a Z06, and parts and setup are cheaper and more well known.

 

Tire trailer is entirely doable with an elise too, check out BOE fabrication's site for that.

 

After you get your Elise and have driven it awhile, you can always retrofit phil's TVA supercharger and have the best of both!

 

On an average autocross course, the two cars are so close performance-wise, that the difference is as likely to be the driver's preferred 'tool' as much as anything.

Overall, the Lotus offers unparalled efficiency, and is effectively a race car. The Corvette is a shining example of 'nothing succeeds like excess,' and succeed it does!

For street driving, what I like about the Lotus is what I call 'accessible performance': it is entertaining and in its element at speeds much closer to the legal limit than that for the Corvette.

 

**UPDATE** - What id we were considering a Exige instead of a Elise? Both SC and non SC Exige.???


Good question. What class do these cars run in and against what other cars?

dave

 

**UPDATE** - What id we were considering a Exige instead of a Elise? Both SC and non SC Exige.???


Good question. What class do these cars run in and against what other cars?

dave

Classing is the tricky part. Read the rules carefully and check a used vehicle out carefully, it's easy to pick up a mod somewhere that takes you out of stock.

The classing of cars that really are stock is easy though, Super Stock if it is normally aspirated, ASP if it has a super charger. XP if you added the super charger

Stock NA cars that have mods can get pushed to ASP or SSM depending on the mods, but Supercharged elise/exige go straight to XP if they violate the ASP rules... Balasting rules for specify balast goes in the "trunk or spare tire well" and our trunk comes with a warning not to put more than 100lbs in it, and the stock issue can of fix-a-flat probably can't be filled with enough lead to make weight .

Also note that non Z06 C5's are not Super stock... they are ASP as of this year, but the Z06 version is still Super-Stock (If I recall correctly)

 

So tracking/racing wise i have decided on the Lotus. I love the Corvette and i really want one but its always been a dream of mine to own a lotus and im finally at a point in my life that i can and i want to take the plundge. Honestly i have always owned FWD or AWD cars so it sort of scares me to own a RWD car with 405 HP! haha. Now im torn on what car i want. Look to the top of the OP for a new topic. If mods want to move this out of the track section i understand i just didnt want to make a whole new post and waste bandwith

 

Did you ever end up deciding on a Z06 or Lotus?

Having both, I can weigh in a bit....

The Z will be more comfortable for long trips, much more straight-line speed, cheaper service, good handling. The Elise will be better for curvy winding roads, much better steering feel and while not as fast it's fast enough.

In terms of head turning, the Z doesn't even come close to the Elise in terms of a wow factor. It's may daily driver and I may get a "nice car" comment once every few months, usually it doesn't even get a second look. However, almost every time I take the Lotus out people go crazy, thumbs up, and photos snapping everywhere. So, it just depends on what you're looking for and how much attention you want...best of luck.

 

Funny you asked

JUST BOUGHT A 2007 EXIGE S!!!!!!!! :nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner::nanner:

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!

After lurking these forums FOREVER and the corvette forums FOREVER i finally decided that the Lotus better fits me then a Corvette. I had my sights set on a 2006 Elise. Then deicded if i want a lotus i wont be happy without an Exige. As i learned more from LT i decided i needed the SCd exige so here i am now with my new 2007 Lotus Exige S!!!!!!!! Couldnt be happier!! Autocross in two weeks