Porsche 911 GT3 Mk1 to Elise / Exige - Advice sought please

[andy tims]

Don't tell the Porsche forum boys, but after many years of 911 ownership and lots of track days I'm thinking of chopping my Mk1 GT3 in and getting back into either an Elise (I had two very early S1's Elise's) or an Exige. I've had my GT3 for 4 years & mainly use it for track days + the annual run to Le Mans. It's been fantastic, but I've got the itch to move on & a more capable 911 is going to be big money.
I'd be looking for a car for roughly the same usage - something track focused but without the need to trailer it.
A cursory browse has thrown up the Elise or Exige SC as possibles, but what do the experts here think?

Thanks in advance.

[Scuffers]

get your arse in them first, current cars are quite far from the original S1 you had before.

[andy tims]

Appreciate the progress - just trying to narrow down my choices as I've not been following the model developments closely over recent years.

[simsith]

Hi Andy, as an s1 driver I love my car to bits, I had a drive in an s2 11s last week and found it disapointing, the reason I love my car is because it feels so special, there are not loads about its a classic, its hard to get into but its so rewarding and there is so much noise and feel back. if you are looking to get a more rewarding drive and have that special feeling then you may be better off getting a nice s1 but try an s2 as you may find you love it.

[cyberface]

There's not much that'll compete with a GT3 mk1 in terms of feel, specialness and speed.

You're either going to need a 260 Cup or equivalent brand-new top-spec Exige (for getting near on specialness), or going the opposite direction with an ultra lightweight S1, but ideally one with something special under the bonnet.

Popular engine conversions (i.e. done in volume, warrantied by their fitters, loads of experience as they've been done for years, etc.) include the Honda K20 conversion (nasp or supercharged, the supercharged one will be faster than the Porker) as per Scuffers, and there are quite a few Audi (4-pot turbo) conversions out there too.

I think the Honda is the most mature of all the conversions since it's the engine everyone wanted in the car in the first place.

[Scuffers]

andy tims said:

Appreciate the progress - just trying to narrow down my choices as I've not been following the model developments closely over recent years.

be prepared for a bit of a shock...

cyberface said:

There's not much that'll compete with a GT3 mk1 in terms of feel, specialness and speed.

You're either going to need a 260 Cup or equivalent brand-new top-spec Exige (for getting near on specialness), or going the opposite direction with an ultra lightweight S1, but ideally one with something special under the bonnet.

with respect, a top level cup 260 is still not going to hold a candle to a GT3...

[andy_s]

I think there's a jump in performance expected, but not by miles I wouldn't have thought, should come along with increased build quality/refinement as well though if it's not particularly track used.
I've been thinking about changing to a newer Exige, seems the choices are 190 plus aftermarket charge cooler/s/c, the 220s, cup/non-Cup 240s or Cup 260s being progressively more track orientated - is that fair to say? If so - which one is more suited to road use - longish summer trips?

[Scuffers]

andy_s said:

I think there's a jump in performance expected, but not by miles I wouldn't have thought, should come along with increased build quality/refinement as well though if it's not particularly track used.
I've been thinking about changing to a newer Exige, seems the choices are 190 plus aftermarket charge cooler/s/c, the 220s, cup/non-Cup 240s or Cup 260s being progressively more track orientated - is that fair to say? If so - which one is more suited to road use - longish summer trips?

I think you will be disappointed with a current NA Exige compared with your 111S.

I would suggest you would need an Exige S + PP (240) to get back to the outright performance level you have now

[andy_s]

Scuffers said:

andy_s said:

I think there's a jump in performance expected, but not by miles I wouldn't have thought, should come along with increased build quality/refinement as well though if it's not particularly track used.
I've been thinking about changing to a newer Exige, seems the choices are 190 plus aftermarket charge cooler/s/c, the 220s, cup/non-Cup 240s or Cup 260s being progressively more track orientated - is that fair to say? If so - which one is more suited to road use - longish summer trips?

I think you will be disappointed with a current NA Exige compared with your 111S.

I would suggest you would need an Exige S + PP (240) to get back to the outright performance level you have now

I wish you were my bank manager....

Cheers - I was looking at around that point, may take one out for a spin when next back in UK.

[jackal]

Coming from a GT3, i'd ignore S2 factory cars IMO and look toward a heavily modded S1 or S1 exige + honda power.

The supercharged cars are heavy with a lot of weight high up and in reality probably no quicker than a ~170bhp elise S1 on some decent dampers and some good geo.

Either that or go for a 996GT3RS or a Caterham R400 + trailer which will be more fun/faster than any of the other two.

[kambites]

If it was me, I think I'd be looking at a late K-series S2 with we a Honda conversion and some carefully chosen suspension upgrades. I think any factory car (other than perhaps a 2-11) will probably be disappointing on track after a GT3.

[Grinnders]

I have trodden a similar (although less spec'd path). I had an S1 for 9 years, a 997 C2S for 11 months and now I'm in an Exige S (220). Never driven a GT3 but I think you'll appreciate a supercharged option is the one for you.

I suppose it depends how much tinkering you want to do. You could buy a 220s and mod it up yourself with the aftermarkets or plump for the newer 240/260. Not having driven the latter 2 I cannot comment on how much real world performance you get from the Cups, but I understand there are other factory mods associated with the Cup spec which may be more track focussed.

Whichever way, you'll deffo need a supercharger. The power is very immediate and quite addictive.

[cyberface]

Scuffers said:

cyberface said:

There's not much that'll compete with a GT3 mk1 in terms of feel, specialness and speed.

You're either going to need a 260 Cup or equivalent brand-new top-spec Exige (for getting near on specialness), or going the opposite direction with an ultra lightweight S1, but ideally one with something special under the bonnet.

with respect, a top level cup 260 is still not going to hold a candle to a GT3...

Hence my first sentence... they're fantastic cars, GT3s, and I'd love one but they cost so much to run and especially to run on track!!!

However if you want to 'win' at track days... GT3s may be significantly better cars than most Lotuses but many GT3 owners don't know how to drive a 911 properly, hence most average drivers will be quicker in a fast Exige, IMO... (not saying *anything* about the OP's driving, of course)

I'd have thought that one of your supercharged Honda conversions, even in a relatively heavy 'touring' capable spec car, would be capable of giving a GT3 a hard time? The race cars seem to do well in GT racing down under, for example.

[Scuffers]

cyberface said:

I'd have thought that one of your supercharged Honda conversions, even in a relatively heavy 'touring' capable spec car, would be capable of giving a GT3 a hard time? The race cars seem to do well in GT racing down under, for example.

no doubt about it, road car spec SC Honda will murder a road going GT3.