With our weather?

You do know that about the only American stereotype about Britain that's true is that it rains a lot, don't you?

 

Seems the colour choice is similar to the battleship grey seen on here so regularly!

Good advice fellas - cheers for that!

I'm after something that won't fall to bits on regular occasions so the S1 is out! I've also been looking at some mental Westie/Caterhams although I'll need the car for the odd trip to the Ring/Le Mans/Spa etc and although you can do it in a Westie, you'd be praying for good weather.

Sheer grunt of the Tuscan will be missed - it's back up to 420bhp now so its just bloody scary trying to hold on to it! On this basis I was swaying toward the S fort the extra 7K.

Mark - I'll have to bell you tomorrow as I'm packing for London at the mo!

R

 

I'm going to have to give the thumbs up here too, as MB says, i've just done the deal on my own. (well, still a bit of haggling to do, but a member here has given me some excellent advice). I've went for a new one with performance and the (GAY?) touring pack. With the performance pack it's upgraded to 240bhp (slightly down on MB's) and it is utterly terrifying in the best possible way! The quicker i take the keys the better!

 

I spent a month in the UK a few years back and lived in Europe for the better part of 4 years.... so yah I know about the rain and still drive and ride in it.

If you've only got one car then perhaps it is a bit rash to have an Atom or 7... but then again we're not going to melt upon contact with water I can't promise your female passengers will feel the same way though.

I see the BMW bike guys out even when it's pouring, so an extra two contact patches would make me VERY comfortable in the rain well those and some weather appropriate clothing

 

Rich, the pace from the S is pretty savage, not like the grunt from a muscle car like the Tuscan but you feel every bit of it. Factory and Evo figures for the 240 car are sub 10 secs to 100 so it is up there with the big stuff.

Both S and N/A have to be revved hard to get the best from them though.

 

What is this about driving in the rain? I've got a Megane 225 for my runabout but I'm after a track orientated road car. If I wanted a track car that you can use on the road I'd buy a R500. (Still tempted by this by the way!)

Yep, the weight difference does make a difference to the characteristics of the car, but the difference I imagine will be in the handling, well I hope so anyway.

Tuscan is twitchy as hell on a B Road, fun mind, but spinning the rears at 70mph mid corner keeps your wits about you!

I'll definately try both as I don't want one of the quickest cars on the track, you just spend all your time overtaking!

I'll have a trawl through the garages this weekend, and put some new shocks on the Tuscan!
R

 

Best choice i made was going for the Exige S. Its my daily driver & can't fault it in any way. The overall driving exp far outweighs the S2k but they are different cars for different markets.

Did an OP trackday in the first month of ownership & loved it to bits. It needs some TLC in this shite weather though, inc winter tyres for round here, my well worn A048's are useless. Tyre choice much more influential on the Exige than in the S. Mind you i did a reasonably fast Evo & Horseshoe pass run two weeks ago & it felt pretty planted on damp/wet roads.

The low end torque is excellent. Keeps pulling & going. Once everything is all warmed up & you are hoofing it, having the sports exhaust on it snapping & banging on overrun is the dogs nads for grin factor. The car is a real head turner too, part of which i don't understand but hey ho. Yeah, great fun to drive & well worth the changeover.

Ed

 

Ain't that the truth.

I couldn't get heat into the tyres at Donington all day, they were warm at best and never got to the sticky stage they usually do on track.

On the way home, by 6pm the car was really skittish, the cold temperatures meant the tyres were solid as rocks and had no grip. The A048s are great in mild weather, but below 3degrees or so they're hopeless.

I'm going to try R888s in the new year I think, they seem to be slightly softer (and cheaper).

 

And easier to balance...

 

I've had my fronts balanced twice in 2 months after trackday wear.

Useless.