elises this time of year
Discussion
hi guys, ive just bought myself a tvr cerbera after owning a highly modded pulsar for qute a few years. Now the main thing im discovering with the tvr is how little traction i have in it at the mo with the roads being the way they are! I was looking at elises too before i bought the tvr and am still interested in the little gems! the tvr demands so much concentration and you have to be so cuatious atm that its taking the fun out of driving it! even putting the throttle down halfway in 2nd makes the wheels spin and send me sideways! I got back in my pulsar (running about 320bhp) and have had SO much fun in it! Even the 4wd starts to break traction on the roads atm being so greasy, but its so much easier/fun to drive. What is it like driving the elise atm? dont get me wrong, i love having a bit of oversteer action, but i cant even put my foot down in a straight line! Is the elise this much of a handfull or is it still good fun to drive this time of year? Thanks for listening to my moaning!lol! cheers
Elise is pretty much the same - especially if you have a modded high power one. The prob with the Cerb is the torque - so much of it from low down.
What tyres you running? - could try some sticker ones, also try lowering the pressure a little...also softer suspension can help...but to be honest most high power RWD cars with no traction control can need care on a wet winters morning....my other was running a Tuscan all year around and I have a 300bhp Elise...you just have to be careful
What tyres you running? - could try some sticker ones, also try lowering the pressure a little...also softer suspension can help...but to be honest most high power RWD cars with no traction control can need care on a wet winters morning....my other was running a Tuscan all year around and I have a 300bhp Elise...you just have to be careful
bogie said:
Elise is pretty much the same - especially if you have a modded high power one. The prob with the Cerb is the torque - so much of it from low down.
What tyres you running? - could try some sticker ones, also try lowering the pressure a little...also softer suspension can help...but to be honest most high power RWD cars with no traction control can need care on a wet winters morning....my other was running a Tuscan all year around and I have a 300bhp Elise...you just have to be careful
If I ever bump in to you, you will have to take me for a spin in your machine! I would love to know what a 300bhp Elise goes like.
I agree with shnozz - the low down torque is an issue in a TVR. The elise needs care, but unless you are daft in the wet, the traction in second is reasonable (especially in a straight line). Bogie is in a different league (300bhp! - I also laugh when I hear that), but he manages. I personally have a lot of fun playing with the car in the wet - Wellington roundabout in the wet makes for fun sliding. My neighbour's TVR (4l chimera) is a totally different prospect in the wet.
once the elise spins it can be hard to catch as the engine isnt in the front, unlike the pulsar.
personally i drive cautiously in winter.
there do seem to be a fair few stories of people spinning and craches elises once winter arrives.
normally its roundabouts and sliproads.
here was one example i was just reading this morning:
www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=lotusbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=2050&source=T&thread=200511271102339821
Ive had a hairy fishtail moment in the wet with by old 118 bhp elise
I wasnt even driving that fast. i certainly wasnt pushing it
personally i drive cautiously in winter.
there do seem to be a fair few stories of people spinning and craches elises once winter arrives.
normally its roundabouts and sliproads.
here was one example i was just reading this morning:
www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=lotusbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=2050&source=T&thread=200511271102339821
Ive had a hairy fishtail moment in the wet with by old 118 bhp elise
I wasnt even driving that fast. i certainly wasnt pushing it
Agree with Shangani, always need a bit of care when the weather's like this in anything a bit racey, the Elise is no different. I had a bit of moment today in my S1. Have to say it was a surprise - first real (unintentional) moment after 7 years with the old girl. Just exiting a roundabout and must have given it a bit too much pedal, but wasn't trying at all. Hey-ho think I must be getting out of practice (too much Smart Roadster driving recently has got me out of the habit!!)
Just give the old girl respect and everything will be ok (like don't lift off mid corner when your "pushing on". They're much more forgiving than some of the motoring press will have you believe - it's not playmobil (come to think of it...)
Just give the old girl respect and everything will be ok (like don't lift off mid corner when your "pushing on"
. They're much more forgiving than some of the motoring press will have you believe - it's not playmobil (come to think of it...)The cerbera is a slightly more extreme animal. The Liz hasn't given me any nasty surprises (apart from when my tyres were 1 mile old in pouring rain the other day) You just have to be sensible. There is still leaf mulch etc on the roads and grip is really poor. Drive to the conditions, don't do anything daft - as folks have said - and bring on summer!
Any variant of the Elise will (like all rear weight biased, rear wheel drive sportscars) break traction on a greasy road given the right hamfisted inputs.
Too much throttle, inappropriate braking technique, lack of mechanical sympathy in gearchanges etc. can cause a loss of traction and induce
consequences. However, treat it with respect, FEEL the car as you drive and take heed of what it's telling you and it is immensely rewarding in all weathers (bar perhaps snow!).
Roads in Kent were greasy as hell today but I've still had about 150 miles of superb driving out of the day. I also had a bit of fun in a park n ride carpark, deliberately kicking the back out for a bit of opp-lock oversteer fun
Too much throttle, inappropriate braking technique, lack of mechanical sympathy in gearchanges etc. can cause a loss of traction and induce
consequences. However, treat it with respect, FEEL the car as you drive and take heed of what it's telling you and it is immensely rewarding in all weathers (bar perhaps snow!). Roads in Kent were greasy as hell today but I've still had about 150 miles of superb driving out of the day. I also had a bit of fun in a park n ride carpark, deliberately kicking the back out for a bit of opp-lock oversteer fun
The Elise is the most fun with your clothes on. In the summer, grip is incredible and corners are too small.
In the winter the grip is low and the greasey roads are just as much fun but in a different way, fishtailing through 2nd gear, easy into the bends and getting the end out and playing with the slip!
Just learn where and when to show caution and when you can be a little lairy!
In the winter the grip is low and the greasey roads are just as much fun but in a different way, fishtailing through 2nd gear, easy into the bends and getting the end out and playing with the slip!
Just learn where and when to show caution and when you can be a little lairy!
gooby said:
Just learn where and when to show caution and when you can be a little lairy!
done that....its about 1/3 of the pedal travel on the right pedal! lol!
I also have 265/35/18's bridgestone so2's on the rears.
Was just wondering if the elise suffered as bad this time of year really, sounds like you guys do then!lol! cheers.
Toady1 said:
Was just wondering if the elise suffered as bad this time of year really, sounds like you guys do then!lol! cheers.
nope. The problem with the Tivs in winter is the torque, and even the higher powered elises dont have much in terms of torque compared with the cerb. Rather than having sweaty palms after each drive (like this time last year) I still have a big grin.
My natural next step was a Cerbera, and instead I went for an Elise. I still hanker after a cerb but every time I climb behind the wheel of the little Lotus I remind myself why I made the move.
yup Torque in the Cerb...in the Elise its the mid engined part that can catch people out ...both can be fun in the wet
lets face it any sort of lightweight car, with no electronic gizmos and a decent power to weight ratio will be fun in the winter...
I bet 30 years ago it wasnt a problem when nearly every normal car was below 1000Kg and RWD ..but thats because most people were used to driving them !
...both can be fun in the wet lets face it any sort of lightweight car, with no electronic gizmos and a decent power to weight ratio will be fun in the winter...
I bet 30 years ago it wasnt a problem when nearly every normal car was below 1000Kg and RWD ..but thats because most people were used to driving them !
bogie said:
I bet 30 years ago it wasnt a problem when nearly every normal car was below 1000Kg and RWD ..but thats because most people were used to driving them !
they also didnt run half as much power!lol!
im sure my attitude to it will change once i can experience a dry day! plus i need to adjust my drivinig style from having 4wd for the last 3-4years!;_
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