RB260 vs exigeS how much better?

[HokumPokum]

Hi,

pardon my ignorance on the topic but other than the obvious signature, what does the RB special have over the Exige S other than the extra 20 HP? I have always been keen on an exige as a road legal track car. Cheers

[zasker]

The 3 main differences are the engine as you have said, the RGB also has a structual shear panel as part of the rear sub frame that supposedly increase lateral rigidity by 30% and finally different wheels.

There are other things that you might find on other Exiges but these would have had to be spec'd from new whereas they were standard on the RGB:

Performance Pack
Sport Pack
Touring Pack
Air Con

There are a few minor things like Roger Becker signature, monochrome Lotus badge on the front, build plate.

[TonykartEVR]

The only options available on the RGB were:-

LSD
Ohlins dampers

...everything else was standard

[Exige77]

Std Exige S has 220BHP.

Some were fitted with optional PP giving 240.

Ex77

[TonykartEVR]

RGB and cup260 both had - 260

From my bum dyno i noticed a difference between the 220 car and the RGB.

I am waiting for a go in the new v6 and hopefully if my bum dyno thinks its quicker than my RGB i may just have to get one!

[Exige77]

TonykartEVR said:

I am waiting for a go in the new v6 and hopefully if my bum dyno thinks its quicker than my RGB i may just have to get one!

How long are you prepared to wait ?

Ex77

[Zyp]

Exige77 said:

TonykartEVR said:

I am waiting for a go in the new v6 and hopefully if my bum dyno thinks its quicker than my RGB i may just have to get one!

How long are you prepared to wait ?

Ex77

My dealer was hoping to get me a drive in their demo about now, but they haven't got it yet!
I organised it just before Christmas but he was a little hesitant as to when exactly they'll have a demo car, but implied that he could get one from Lotus for me to drive.

At least I'm on his list...

My problem now is that I'm just beginning to like my current car again, and the longer this goes on the less likely I'll be swapping.

[HokumPokum]

i have never had a lotus and wondered how much difference it is compared to the spyder on the track and on roads?

[Zyp]

HokumPokum said:

i have never had a lotus and wondered how much difference it is compared to the spyder on the track and on roads?

I've had both, albeit I only had the Exige for 5 weeks.

Can't comment on track work as I never got the chance (although I was all booked to go on several), but on the road the Spyder is quieter even with the flappy roof.

The Exige, on the road, was just fantastic.
Utterly, utterly brilliant.

I can't really compare to the Spyder - the Porsche is capable as you know, but the Exige just blew me away (coming from a 996 x50), but is to me a totally different proposition.
It's a balls-out stripped out racer, no matter how light the Spyder is the Exige just feels so much more nimble (and is!)

Are you thinking of selling the Spyder or CR for one?

I have unfinished business with Lotus...

[HokumPokum]

nope. love the CR but the spyder is so special. can't bear to sell either really

I am thinking of adding a 3rd car which could either be a 996 Gt3 or an exige. They are roughly the same price although the exige is 7 years younger.....

[TonykartEVR]

Exige77 said:

How long are you prepared to wait ?

Ex77

Good point, and i've never been very patient!

...still very excited by the prospect though

[RobM77]

I recently compared a standard Exige S with an RGB Exige S. From a road test, the most obvious thing was that the RGB was a bit faster. Not a lot, but it was noticeable. The other differences that I noticed on a road drive were simply down to the differences between the two cars (geo, one had a sticky gearbox, they had different options on them etc). I must say though, whilst both were superb cars in their own right, neither really ticked my boxes as a road legal track day car, and I ended up with a 2-Eleven, which surprised me in feeling totally different to the Exige to drive.

[Pesky]

zasker said:

.........the RGB also has a structual shear panel as part of the rear sub frame that supposedly increase lateral rigidity by 30%

That cannot be true?

[TonykartEVR]

Pesky said:

That cannot be true?

..it says so in the RGB Roger Becker brochure from lotus

[Thorburn]

Pesky said:

zasker said:

.........the RGB also has a structual shear panel as part of the rear sub frame that supposedly increase lateral rigidity by 30%

That cannot be true?

Introduced with the Cup 260 IIRC, you can fit it to all the Toyota engined cars: http://www.lotuscars.com/gb/ownership/racing-acces...

"MOTORSPORT SHEAR PANEL

(Increases Longitudinal Stiffness for Motorsport Applications)
Fits: Toyota Powertrain
Part No: ALS3A0074F"

[Pesky]

Thanks chaps. I was aware of the actual product, but doubted (& still do!) the claim of 30%. Wonder what it is actually 30% of, & how significant it is in practice?