Speccing a 250 Cup

[Hellers]

I have a first-gen 250 Cup-esque SE which was already specc'd by Lotus. I too could have done without the radio because the radio reception is poor, even in built up areas. Standard fit Clarion radio (unless it's changed) has no DAB of course and no LW (what, no cricket?!). However what redeems it is the USB port for phone charging and Bluetooth for playing my iphone music which is actually surprisingly good with by far a better sound than the radio, and connects automatically, although sooner or later I'm sure there will be a new aftermarket DAB single DIN with a pop-out large screen for nav (and apple CarPlay which is a real boon in my Alltrack). The dash speakers are also specc'd down to a price.

Having read tales of ineffectual aircon, I'm actually very pleasantly surprised. In these current warm and muggy days it has performed really well and cools so well sometimes that I have to take some chill off using the heater too to moderate, otherwise it's too cold. And that's very much part of the car's analogue charm. I personally wouldn't be without it, living in a northern conurbation with stop-start traffic a lot of the time. I use the car 2-3 days a week, just to keep the LI battery topped up of course ??

[LF1]

Yes. If they suit you they are stunning - go for it. I love them just can't do big miles. 

We trailer the car. Originally we drive it but little issues were a big deal when your across the channel (the Elise has been perfect but as we have the trailer...) 

We don't have sound insulation. Don't know what it involves. Back when we ordered it was comfort spec or not they had not split the options out at that time so all or nothing. However we were fine with that as wanted nothing. 

I'd think nothing of a Euro trip in it

[Neal H]

Airbags with harnesses?

I have the option to delete the airbags on a factory order and I'm planning to get harnesses fitted. I have a couple questions on this:

I plan to keep the normal seatbelts alongside the harnesses, but is it actually safer to have no airbags if using harnesses? I personally have no safety concerns with deleting the airbags.

I do wonder if it may adversely effect the resale value later on. I wouldn't consider deleting airbags on anything other than the Cup version.

 

[LF1]

There has been a lot of discussion on this (have a search of the forum). We deleted at factory but also removed the inertia reels. If you do delete them see if you can get the replacement air back cover on the passenger seat branded with the model like the old V6 Cups. I wish I'd done this.

Personally I'd keep the inertia reels for road driving, harnesses are completely unnecessary for such and are very inconvenient at junctions.

[Neal H]

Logo on the airbag cover sounds like a good idea, I'll ask about that. Allon White's did this on my Exige, so if the factory aren't willing it can always be added (probably more cheaply!)

I agree harnesses can be a pain on the road, which is why I'd always want to retain the inertia reel belts as well.

[Neal H]

250 Cup now ordered

Motorsport green (whole car including rear wing)

Yellow stripes (Vinyl, just in case I change my mind afterwards!)

Black forged wheels with yellow calipers (dealer will probably need to get the calipers painted)

Yellow interior stitching and yellow painted centre console surround

Sound insulation, mats, stereo, air-con.

Harnesses (dealer to fit)

Thanks to Aimee at Silverstone for arranging a factory tour, and to Scott Walker for making it such a great experience. Both my father and I were very impressed and it just makes me even more enthusiastic about these fabulous cars

 

[SFO]

49 minutes ago, Neal H said:

 

Motorsport green (whole car including rear wing)

 

No matt black at all?

[Neal H]

Only the front splitter, barge boards and rear diffuser.

[SFO]

7 hours ago, Neal H said:

Only the front splitter, barge boards and rear diffuser.

perfect!

so the vertical bits on the front splitter and barge boards will be painted?

[Neal H]

The aero kit on the latest 250 Cup has been toned down so the vertical bits don't really exist anymore.

 

[The Pits]

Great colour choice! So light sensitive it's 100 different shades of green a day. Impossible to get bored of!

[Neal H]

@The Pits Jonny, if you're feeling generous or bored and would like to do a Paintshop render of the following in Motorsport Green (including access panel and rear wing) I'd be forever in your debt

 

[Alan H]

The radio reception on my Cup 250 was really poor. It was looked at under warranty and I was told the aerial cable was not fitted correctly. I now get very good reception everywhere I have been since it was looked  at.  Quite surprised by how good it is.  

[lovus]

On 21.08.2017 at 23:34, Neal H said:

250 Cup now ordered

Congrats!!  I have two questions.  Are the 250 cup cars limited? and What is the estimated delivery time? Thanks

Edited August 30, 2017 by lovus

[Neal H]

250 Cup isn't limited. I've been quoted about 3 months for delivery, so hoping for late November or early December.

[Composite guru]

Just a word of warning. If you want to keep the bodykit looking good then seriously consider having the front splitter and rear arch aero pods stonechip protected with tape. 

I bought a year old 220 Cup with 4500 miles on the clock and the pods were knackered. 

I had to repaint them and apply a matte stonechip tape. I also edged them in a small gauge rubber edging too. 

They went from this...

 

To this....

 

Also so consider having the front end and Sills Armourfended too. This car had been done but not the upper part of the front end. 

I have managed to touch in the 5 stonechips I had and have got the cut section of tape to cover it. Should be bulletproof after that. 

Edited August 31, 2017 by Composite guru

[Neal H]

That's a top tip, thanks

The dealer is adding paint protection film on the front clam for me so I'll get the splitter and rear arch parts done as well.

[Composite guru]

5 minutes ago, Neal H said:

That's a top tip, thanks

The dealer is adding paint protection film on the front clam for me so I'll get the splitter and rear arch parts done as well.

No problem. Just make sure they use a matte version as the normal glossy version doesn't look very good.

[J-P]

I'm seriously considering going down this route now.  Mrs has signed it off (with a few provisos) and I think it will be perfect for low consumable cost track days.  Will throw as much carbon at it as I can afford and want the two piece brakes too!

[LF1]

I don't know much about the 2 piece brakes, are they still the same pistons - just the discs changed?

[Trevsked]

Think it's just the disc change. I would have specced the two piece brakes had mine not been a stock car but as yet I've had no reason to complain about the standard items.

 

Trevor.

[LF1]

Yea not convinced I'd bother. Car stops fine - pushed it yesterday in the sprint and if anything I'd say my pedal's a bit long on a cold start - not used to having to be straight on the brakes first corner without warm up. The pads certainly need changing but run the OEM first to appreciate the change is my philosophy. I'm going to swap out the fluid before next outing. 

I'd be tempted to change the discs if there was a significant weight difference maybe. Not sure if it effects race/sprint classss?

[SFO]

lightweight discs are each 1kg lighter 

[LF1]

In that case maybe when the OEM discs are dead.

[J-P]

So what I'm struggling with is what colour to choose - motorsport black, with good wheels and red details? Gulf Blue? Or white?