Steering wheel

Momo makes the Elise wheel they could make the 360 as well

Great Derek - now rumors of Ferrari buying Lotus are going to be popping up.

(psssstt - Did ya hear Ferrari is buying Lotus????)

Yeah about that wheel...

I think the compressed tach is really cool, but I was wondering what its purpose really is. Is a 3 RPM clutch drop ideal for a good start without harm? Even if it is not entirely useful, its still cool. Any thoughts?

Oh yeah, I havn't seen this discussed before, but the new lotus symbol in between the guages is pretty sweet! It was not in the LA cars.

-Whit

I think the purpose of the compressed tach is that the small differences from 1500rpms to 2000rpms don't mean much. But they do from 5500 to 6000 rpms where it matters.

Regarding the steering wheel. The one thing I did not like and will have to get used to. When driving the car in anger, it is very difficult to not press the horn buttons. I was not alone in this, but I suspect I will get better at avoiding them.

If you look at the pic, the buttons are under the horn symbols.

Oh come now Randy... Who could actually drive an Elise in anger? This will be my angry face

But you are right about those horns. I assume that I will be randomly honking all the time with that horn setup.

-Whit

Randy Chase said:

I think the purpose of the compressed tach is that the small differences from 1500rpms to 2000rpms don't mean much. But they do from 5500 to 6000 rpms where it matters.

Regarding the steering wheel. The one thing I did not like and will have to get used to. When driving the car in anger, it is very difficult to not press the horn buttons. I was not alone in this, but I suspect I will get better at avoiding them.

If you look at the pic, the buttons are under the horn symbols.

Click to expand...

the 360 has the same horn setup...

Randy Chase said:

I

The one thing I did not like and will have to get used to. When driving the car in anger, it is very difficult to not press the horn buttons. I was not alone in this, but I suspect I will get better at avoiding them.

Click to expand...

Nothing impresses female passengers quite like doing your best slingblade impression while rounding the cones I imagine...

Patricko said:

the 360 has the same horn setup...

Click to expand...

But I believe a larger wheel? The horn symbols seem at least an inch in on the 360, but less than that on the Elise.

If you put your hands on the Elise's wheel near 3 and 9, the ball of your thumbs, or the thumbs themselves, are on the horns.

_JD_ said:

Nothing impresses female passengers quite like doing your best slingblade impression while rounding the cones I imagine...

Click to expand...

rotfl

Randy Chase said:

Regarding the steering wheel. The one thing I did not like and will have to get used to. When driving the car in anger, it is very difficult to not press the horn buttons. I was not alone in this, but I suspect I will get better at avoiding them.

If you look at the pic, the buttons are under the horn symbols.

Click to expand...

Huh, I never noticed that. I was thinking they would've made the horn the gigantic center button of the wheel!? I can definitely see a few accidental honks with this setup.

Randy Chase said:

Regarding the steering wheel... <snip>... When driving the car in anger, it is very difficult to not press the horn buttons. I was not alone in this, but I suspect I will get better at avoiding them.

Click to expand...

ME!!! I did that.
At least 3 or 4 runs, same turn... Just warning the pylon I was coming and to get the h*ll outta the way...

Kiyoshi

khamai said:

ME!!! I did that.
At least 3 or 4 runs, same turn... Just warning the pylon I was coming and to get the h*ll outta the way...

Kiyoshi

Click to expand...

So, did it work?

Oh, and how does the horn sound? Is it loud enough and large enough sounding to get someone's attention. Some of the cars today have horribly puny horns.

Decent sound. Loud enough to get the PA announcer to comment about my flamboyant toot!

Excellent. This way when I hit the horn at autocross people won't have something else to make fun of me.

zcar222 said:

Yeah about that wheel...

I think the compressed tach is really cool, but I was wondering what its purpose really is. Is a 3 RPM clutch drop ideal for a good start without harm? Even if it is not entirely useful, its still cool. Any thoughts?

Oh yeah, I havn't seen this discussed before, but the new lotus symbol in between the guages is pretty sweet! It was not in the LA cars.

-Whit

Click to expand...

Will our cars actually have the compressed tach, or is it only on the demo cars. I seem to remember seeing a post a few months ago that we were getting the non-compressed one.

I think the Lotus symbol is for the upshift light indicator.

And while we are on it, what color backlighting will the guages have?

xxxotic said:

Will our cars actually have the compressed tach, or is it only on the demo cars. I seem to remember seeing a post a few months ago that we were getting the non-compressed one.

I think the Lotus symbol is for the upshift light indicator.

And while we are on it, what color backlighting will the guages have?

Click to expand...

I am pretty sure we are getting the compressed guages. They are on all the newest cars. If the lotus symbol is in fact an upshift light, that is awesome. Oh and btw, the backlight is amber. The 111s is blue led, but amber is easier on the eyes, and you know how us americans like everything to be easier.

-Whit

I'm not positive, but I believe the shift light is at the top center of the tack. I think the Lotus symbol is just there to look cool. And doing a mighty fine job of that I might add.

I think that is right. There is a red light on the tach. The Elise lights up to remind you which car you are driving, in case you got confused.