Exige S update...
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From: North Yorks
Originally Posted by MB,Sep 24 2008, 06:17 PM
Baffled sump won't work from what I can work out from Lotus' response. I asked my dealer who then checked with Lotus.
The issue is oil getting trapped up in the galleries and not being able to return. Lotus seem to have tested sumps and the only sucess they had was with the Accusump.
"The problem with oil starvation in high speed corners is not predominantly caused by oil surge. The main cause is oil being trapped in the heads and not flowing back down through the block back to the sump to the pick up. "
The issue is oil getting trapped up in the galleries and not being able to return. Lotus seem to have tested sumps and the only sucess they had was with the Accusump.
"The problem with oil starvation in high speed corners is not predominantly caused by oil surge. The main cause is oil being trapped in the heads and not flowing back down through the block back to the sump to the pick up. "
If oil isn't returning under sustained cornering, having an extra litre in the sump should give more time before the pickup is sucking in air (25% more oil ought to mean more than 25% more time before it runs out), plus the baffling should ensure what oil is still in the sump is around the pickup.
Well, that's the theory from my point of view anyway. I'm not planning to race the car, and I don't have a second oil cooler to feed so I suspect on a non-S car it might be enough.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Sunshine Coast - England UK
Well I have now sold the car, so just thought I would summarise my experience after 18 months of ownership.
Awesome.
The car was just superb on road and track. I rarely used it on the road, other than to attend a track day and that really was it's sole purpose.
I did, Donny twice, Rockingham twice, Castle Combe twice, Spa twice, and the Nurburgring GP and Nordshleife. Probably 5000 miles in all and it did not skip a beat, not once, nothing broke, not even a light bulb (well there was a sticky blled valve but I knew about it before I bought it and insisted I took the car before they fixed it!) That is fairly phenomenal given the abuse it took. The best bit was the last trip it did to Spa / Ring, where it covered about 500 track miles, and drove me there and back too
I think i've given a few passenger laps in it, and most people have been fairly impressed with how it goes.
I added some Ohlins 2 way suspension, which transformed the handling, and added a Gotham ECU which took the power to 250 bhp. It's definately the fastest thing i've owned and too much road use would have seen my license removed. It's just a complete weapon.
In terms of cost, I put 2 sets of tyres on it and some front pads, and 1 service. I had the oil changed after each track day too. The car cost me 30k and I got 22 back for it, plus the suspension removed.
For me, it was the right time to sell it. Winter is here, it wouldn't have been used until April next year, and there was still a good chunk of money left in the car which is now in my pocket (burning a hole!) I also did find it a little tiring driving long distances, but it was really just the noise. The seats can be sat in for hours with no problems, longer than the S2000 in fact. So the sale of the Exige leaves a new car to be chosen, but no rush there
It was reasonably emotional letting it go - but i'm sure I will have another one at some point. If I was buying again, i'd go for a Cup 260 car, with the LSD, AP brakes, Accusump, 260 bhp etc etc. That really is a serious weapon!
Some pics of my journey with the car.
Awesome.
The car was just superb on road and track. I rarely used it on the road, other than to attend a track day and that really was it's sole purpose.
I did, Donny twice, Rockingham twice, Castle Combe twice, Spa twice, and the Nurburgring GP and Nordshleife. Probably 5000 miles in all and it did not skip a beat, not once, nothing broke, not even a light bulb (well there was a sticky blled valve but I knew about it before I bought it and insisted I took the car before they fixed it!) That is fairly phenomenal given the abuse it took. The best bit was the last trip it did to Spa / Ring, where it covered about 500 track miles, and drove me there and back too
I think i've given a few passenger laps in it, and most people have been fairly impressed with how it goes.
I added some Ohlins 2 way suspension, which transformed the handling, and added a Gotham ECU which took the power to 250 bhp. It's definately the fastest thing i've owned and too much road use would have seen my license removed. It's just a complete weapon.
In terms of cost, I put 2 sets of tyres on it and some front pads, and 1 service. I had the oil changed after each track day too. The car cost me 30k and I got 22 back for it, plus the suspension removed.
For me, it was the right time to sell it. Winter is here, it wouldn't have been used until April next year, and there was still a good chunk of money left in the car which is now in my pocket (burning a hole!) I also did find it a little tiring driving long distances, but it was really just the noise. The seats can be sat in for hours with no problems, longer than the S2000 in fact. So the sale of the Exige leaves a new car to be chosen, but no rush there
It was reasonably emotional letting it go - but i'm sure I will have another one at some point. If I was buying again, i'd go for a Cup 260 car, with the LSD, AP brakes, Accusump, 260 bhp etc etc. That really is a serious weapon!
Some pics of my journey with the car.
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From: North Staffs
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 33,838
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From: Sunshine Coast - England UK
They put that up quick! Used the original pics too - not including my leather clad gear tunnel 
Just off to collect the Ohlins from it.
Bargain car for someone there!
Just off to collect the Ohlins from it.Bargain car for someone there!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,318
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From: West Midlands
Originally Posted by MB,Oct 20 2009, 02:07 PM
I enjoyed the pax ride at Rockingham and it was an interesting comparison with MarkB's N/A Exige. A really well looked after car which I'm sure the buyer will be pleased with