Lotus Exige 360 Cup

[Edison Ngu]

On 12/28/2015 at 08:42, The Pits said:

Really? I didn't hear a single meaningful word about the 360 Cup or what it was like to drive, just more 'awesome, epic, totally insane'. Which he says about every car.

'I'm lost for words' 'I don't know how to describe it' are becoming regulars too. Seems to be working for him though.

 

On 12/28/2015 at 09:06, LF1 said:

The second I saw his face appear on the video I closed it. Amazed you managed to get that far Jonny!

Seems like I am not the only one who never bothered to click on any of his video.

[Swiss380Cup]

I had for a while the impression that Lotus was somehow a little lost in its limited edition models.....as if they wanted their customer to waite for a clear model line for the Exige V6 to come out of Hethel, which seems to be the case right now....they should follow the GT3 - GT3 RS line of Models of Porsche, probably a little bit what they have done with the 350 and 380... however I think they are still missing the point somehow......you don't have as standard, the track packages on either the 350 and / or the 380..... I'd go with a 350 something and a 380 with track packages as standard.... you get lost in the mixture... and when you find a new one at a dealer's you never have the options you want and it's a nuisance, to add them back.....I would have done differently.....I'm not sure there're many people around who like to order they car and waite..... I like to pick a new one at a dealer and go :):):) 

[JayEmm]

I had a go in a 360 Cup today courtesy of very kind TLFer @M4rk. I have to say before driving it I was slightly dubious as to what the "point" was.... but a short five minute drive and I was absolutely in love. It was, by some way, the best steering small platform car I have driven. A really, really special machine. Deeply flawed, of course - not at all practical, noisy and rattly, but absolutely, totally gorgeous to drive. I am hopefully going to be doing a video review on it in future.

Driving all these Exiges recently is not good for me. At all.

[PaulLF1]

JayEmm, would you swap your Evora for one?

[JayEmm]

I'd be very, very tempted. I absolutely love the brutal look of the new 380 cup, but cannot justify the price jump.

[M4rk]

@JayEmm I'm pleased that you enjoyed the car, nice comments!  I'd be happy for you to do a video sometime.  I agree they are not all that practical and, in cup form on the noisy side.  An event every time I drive it though and they are so at home on track.  For me they are a definite second car/toy, I would not want to live with one on a regular basis...that is where the Evora is becoming very attractive and having a short drive in yours today is increasing my interest.  I need to get saving up!

I have to say that I noticed a difference, for the better, with the new Avon ZZR tyres.  I really didn't expect to but they are very slightly wider on the front plus the increased grip in the dry has made a slight improvement to the steering and improved the feedback from all four corners.  These cars are so finely balanced that anyone could feel slight changes with tyres, geo, suspension, etc.

[Swiss380Cup]

Here's the Swiss Nr 13.....

[M4rk]

I wanted to share an excellent experience I had with my car this week at Snetterton.  I attended an evening track day session with a couple of friends, this being the third time on track with my 360 Cup and the first time with new Avon ZZR tyres.  I made adjustments to the Ohlin dampers to the ZZR settings recommended by Lotus before the day.  I dropped hot temp to 30 psi on the tyres and was good to go after the sighting laps.  I ran a shortish first session as I could tell the tyre pressures were too high because towards the end of that run the car was more unsettled.  Sure enough, drop a bit more pressure back to 30psi and they were then fine for the rest of the evening.

The ZZRs made a noticeable improvement in grip levels and the confidence I had to push the car on.  I consider myself to be new at track days but even I could pick up the improved handling from the tyres.  As the evening went on I pushed harder and got on the power earlier out of corners and I was noticeably faster than I have previously driven at Snetterton.  Other than a few twitches under braking or a bit of a slide on exit the car was perfectly in line all night (I know, need to push harder then ).  I had the geo checked and adjusted recently too, so that also contributed to a better feel I am sure, there did seem to be less understeer.

I passed a guy in a V10 R8 who spoke to me later suggesting I must be a regular so I took that as a compliment but really the compliment was to the 360 Cup.  I'm sure he got faster as the evening went on as it was only his first time at that circuit.  I also managed to edge by a V6S which I had followed for a lap and got a small edge on the start/finish straight in to turn one.  The slight increase in power and little less weight of my car over the V6S was the factor I'm sure.

It seems I am getting dialled in to the car now, it has taken a little while but it seems to be falling in to place.  I'm really looking forward to my coaching day with @david_pittard in a few weeks time - hopefully he leaves me some tread on the tyres for the journey home! 

[Bibs]

Sounds like you're making excellent Progress. Some time with David will bring excellent results especially as you're now more confident with the car.