From Lotus Exige to GT86
 

Hi there,

I'm new here and I thought I should start my buld thread now, even if I still have no GT86 o:

I got a 2005 Lotus Exige S2 NA, which I only use at the track. Mostly near Paris at "Les Ecuyers" :

http://www.circuitdesecuyers.com/


It's very fast, even faster now as it got a Kaaz gearset and other good stuff.
It's very light too, with 870kg with a full tank and no driver.

The parts are here if you wanna have a look :

https://www.wheelwell.com/profile/54...e/parts/#Parts

This how it goes at the track (slightly wet track and worn out A048r) :

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TMfWjwEAns"]Driver's eye Lotus Exige S2 02/05/2015 - YouTube[/ame]


The plan is to sell the Lotus to buy the GT86.

For sale here :
http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/844759347.htm


So why a GT86? Because it's the only light car with big cargo space that can be turned into a track car.
And cargo space means a set of slick tires in the back.
France (especially Paris) is nothing like California, it rains a lot. Surviving with semi slick tire is too much of a pain.

The plan is to get the following parts :

Jackson Racing CARB supercharger
Penske Raceseng suspension if the price is not too crazy, otherwise Nitron.
4.55 final drive
OS Giken LSD
Essex sprint BBK with Carbone Lorraine RC5+
Michelin race slick tire 24/61 17
Yokohama V105 for the street (we have no PSS or Conti DW in the proper size in Europe)
Wedssport TC105n 17x9 for the track
GramLight 57DR 17x9 for the street

I think it might make the GT86 faster than the Lotus. Which gonna be great fun, as for everyone out there, the GT86 is painfully slow :p


On the driver side:

I have a massive SimRacing career behind me, which was mostly LFS back in the days and iRacing after that. I'm not racing anymore now, just training to keep the pace.


Now, I just hope to get the GT86 soon :p
If you're in Europe and want a Lotus, you can have mine :)

I have nothing else to do, so I'll talk a bit more, sorry o:

I have been a car engine engineer for 10 years now. Working mostly on emissions. (did a bit of ECU software too, but I don'l like that much).
Working on this kind of stuff makes me want a perfectly tuned engine. Something like the Jackson Racing stuff, or Cosworth, ...
It's so easy to have a poor working engine just by ruining MAF with the intake, or making stupid mistakes like that


On the Lotus side, I can make a few comments, as I think if you like the FT86, you may like a Lotus too.

The Exige is a great car and a poor one at the same time.

The steering is so good, that's crazy.
Suspensions are great with the double wishbone and strong chassis
The car is fast because of the lower weight.
Runing costs are very low

Weight distribution is lame (62% rear)
Stock Gearbox ratio are wrong between 2nd and 3rd (you need the Kaaz gearset)
Shifting feel is very bad
Build quality of non chassis parts is very low
The car is too heavy. (hard top, engine door, Radio, ...)
The rear aero is stupid, the rear wing is not even in the air flow.

Every mr2 guy's dream is the Lotus Exige. I don't think I'd ever go from an exige to a GT86. Personally, I'd keep the Exige and get another vehicle for DD.

I got a Fiesta S for DD and plan to switch to a Prius.

The problem is driving 100km to the track in the wet on worn out semi slick is very dangerous.
And A048r are still fast in the dry when they are dangerous in the wet.

Thanks for stopping by. It is an awesome platform. We know we are driving an instant classic. It is a ton of fun to take an econobox platform and customize it.

I have Lotus cars on my list - I just don't have the time for a dedicated track car. So - this was a perfect way to find something in the middle.

Have fun with your choice and good luck!

Thanks,

Yes that's the point. If I was rich, I would have turned an even slower car into a track car.
Like an old Volvo, or something like that

Why not get a trailer hitch?
Tow your race tires to the track. Seems a lot less expensive....

I would love that, but in France, the streets are very small and I'm already very lucky to have 2 parking spots. That would be impossible to exit the underground parking anyway. This Country is so lame.

You are certainly right about one thing with the gt86. It was designed around being able to haul your racing gear to and from the track without a second vehicle or a small trailer.

:lol: he said prius.. :bellyroll:
:barf:

Sorry, I love hybrids :D

get the Auris hybrid instead, same drivetrain sans the Prius looks :)

I like the look too :D
Looks purpose build to me.
I would love an IS 300h, but the price is still too high.

The car is still for sale, I made some new shots: