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Mike's 2007 Lotus Exige S (MR2 Replacement Autocross Car)
[Car Info | Mods: Current & Future | Photos | Project Plans ]
Car Info
BODY/EXTERIOR
2007 Lotus Exige S - Supercharged Toyota 2ZZ-GE (I guess by Toyota naming convention, it'll be "2ZZ-GZE") for peak 220hp. With a book weight of about 2057lbs., that's about 9.5lbs/hp, about the same as a 2007 Porsche Cayman S, a car I had considered. 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds: Not that the car is about straight line acceleration, but still impressive and puts close to supercar territory without the supercar admissions price.
Date purchased: Ordered March 2007, Built May/June 2007, Delivered (June 29, 2007)
Dealership: Huntingridge Motor Sports / Lotus of Greenwich: Robert Konick
Mileage as purchased: 10 miles (new)
Current mileage: 550 miles (as of July 6, 2007)
VIN: SCCVC11167HL82412 [#2412]
Factory options:
- Exterior Color: Laser Blue
- Interior Color: Magnolia Leather (Special Order from Lotus Trim Shop)
- Track Pack: Adjustable Bilstein Shocks, Harness Bar, Rear Toe Link Reinforcement
- Touring Pack: Leather Interior, Extra Carpeting, Upgraded Stereo
- Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) + Traction Control
- Floor Mounting Point for 6-Point Harness Setup
Other options (dealer-installed at delivery):
- HID Low-Beam Headlights
- Schroth HANS-Compatible 6-Point Harness Setup with modified Exige seats for sub belt
- Matching Magnolia Leather Door Interior Panel
Track Pack + Touring Pack seems like hypocracy, but I am not interested in a track-only car (I would have bought a Sport Exige Cup 255, then, or hell something more extreme like an Ariel Atom or F125 or Lotus 211 or...). I want a car I can drive to the track, on the track, and back from the track. I don't want to buy a truck and trailer and trailer this thing around, because again, what's the point of buying a street car, then? So to make it a bit more livable, I need things like A/C and stereo. It's still pretty light and that extra weight isn't gonna kill me, esp. when I am a small (5'4") guy and don't weigh much myself.
The safety stuff is safety stuff, including the upgraded headlamps, no need to justify that. I contemplated putting in a full roll cage in the car, but I'll think about that later if I find myself going to the track more. And LSD is something I've always wanted in my cars for autocross, so I'm glad it was a factory option and I chose it.
As for color, that was really tough. I initially wanted Laser Blue when I first saw that color. But then I saw Polar Blue and went back and forth a million times between those two colors and at the last second, decided on Laser Blue. Mostly because I wanted a nice Magnolia leather interior and I think the darker shade of blue that is Laser Blue would complement the light Magnolia color better: better contrast. If I'm ordering a car new, I like to make it "mine" so that's why I went with the special-ordered interior. I like the way the light Sand interior on my Topaz Blue 325Ci contrasts with the exterior color and also lightens up the interior and "opens it up" a bit. Of course Black leather is easiest to clean as scuffs and dirt can hide better. But I think it'll look very nice with the custom interior...
Current Mods
BODY/EXTERIOR
ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN
BRAKES/SUSPENSION
INTERIOR/SAFETY
- Removal of stock rear view mirror
OTHER
- Daytime Running Lights disable (aka "Green Wire Mod")
- Voltphreaks LiPeO4 3-lb Battery
Future Mods
BODY/EXTERIOR
- Extra set of wheels, probably SSR Competition or custom Keiser or Kodiak forged wheels or Volks. Wider wheels for wider tires F/R.
- Once available, Hardtop with extended roof scoop (a la Cup Car, GT3, etc.). Carbon fibre if available.
- Front and rear tow hook.
- Research into how to install trailer hitch -- and then buy/build a tire trailer if hitch solution is possible.
ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN
- Fettering of intake scoop
- Possibly install SPAL pull fan on the intercooler
- Possibly install water spray nozzle for the intercooler
- If possible, reflash ECU with Exige Cup (255hp) programme! Probably wait it out until warranty is over, I guess. UPDATE! Gotham 265 ECU Flash from CharlieX/Sector111 is now available! Woot! Post-warranty, you know what I'm going to do...
BRAKES/SUSPENSION
- Extra set of track brake pads, probably Porterfield R4S or similar
- Might consider full race dampers/springs (coilovers) such as Ohlins or Nitron or Penske, depending on how I feel about the car after driving it a bit. Might be overkill for autocross duty, though.
INTERIOR/SAFETY
- Fire Extinguisher (As a rule, I have one in all my cars)
- Convex side mirrors, such as the Mulitvex
- Probably install a stereo with LCD screen and hook it up to a rearview camera (one cannot see through rear windows on the Exige-- only side mirrors). The JVC 1-DIN Unit looks like a great option...
- Possibly swap out center console with Carbon Fibre one, or leather-wrapped one.
- Trunk box of some sort, like the "Bootie" from Sector 111.
OTHER
- Hardwire RJ-11 Connector for Radar Detector (also have this in all my cars and I just take my Escort 8500 to whatever car I'm driving)
Replace battery with Odessey PC680 or similar
Photos
The "2ZZ-GZE":
Lotus/Elise/Exige-Related Links
- Online Community / Forums:
- EliseTalk: Probably the biggest online forum for the Elise/Exige. More social, but still has good archive of information (search for them!)
- More Monkey: Online forum geared more towards Elise/Exige tuning and technical stuff. For real gearheads and DIY modders.
- Articles/Reviews:
- Videos / Multimedia:
- Top Gear: Exige S: Top Gear's drive in the Exige S. Includes the Mustang vs. Exige S 2-lap race on their test course.
- Top Gear: Exige vs. Apache: The infamous episode where the Exige has to outrun the target lock of an Apache helicopter.
- Elise S vs. Exige S: Really fun video of Elise and an Exige S on the test track at Lotus. They are just drifting around corners having a grand time!
- Exige S Drifting (Exige Promo Video): Video of a Magnetic Blue Exige S drifting around half the corners on a Lotus's test track.
- Exige S: Another YouTube video.
- Official Information:
- Lotus Cars USA: It's outdated (no updated info on Exige S, for example), but you can use it to look up a US Lotus Dealer and download MSRP pricing/options information.
- Group Lotus plc - Cars: Official Lotus website, car section (as apposed to their Engineering/Consulting section). Drool over cars that they sell in the UK/EU that we don't get here, basically... At least they brought the Supercharged Exige over which they said they wouldn't do, so I'm not complaining too much!
- Lotus of Greenwich / Huntingridge Motorsports (HRM): My oustanding dealer. If you're in the tri-state area, don't go anywhere else and put up with snooty salesmen (like the assholes at Manhattan Motorcar)-- check these guys out first. They know their stuff, are enthusiasts like us, and have A LOT of cars in stock (new and used). Ask for Robert Konick or Mark Starr. These guys are legit and alright in my book.
- Aftermarket Vendors/Distributors:
- Sector 111: US Distributor of goodies for the Elise/Exige. Exclusive distributor for many of the products they carry (i.e. you can only get them through Sector 111).
- Blackwatch Racing: Aftermarket goods for the Elise/Exige. Robert Puertas's business.
- ...
- Other Links of Interest:
The Story
June 29, 2007 - Delivery Date / Day 1 Break-in - 10 to 250 miles - Westchester County, Bear Mountain
June 30, 2007 - Day 2 Break-in - 250 to 270 miles - Long Island
July 1, 2007 - Day 3 Break-in - 360 to 540 miles - North Fork, Long Island
July 6, 2007 - Day 4 Break-in - 540 to 550 miles - Long Island
1040 miles - First Serivce
My Other Cars
- 1988 Celica AllTrac Turbo: my first AllTrac, I really miss it...
- 1992 Celica AllTrac Turbo: my second AllTrac, currently undergoing restoration/reconditioning. Will set up for occasional STX autocross, but mostly for cruising and car/club shows and events.
- 1986 MR2: my first MR2: really really fun autocross car. About 90% same as the Exige, quite impressive for a 20+ year-old car! Exige will replace this.
- 1991 MR2 Turbo: my second MR2: project car to be built as a track (road race) car. Sold Spring 20007. Exige will replace this.
- 2001 BMW 325Ci: this is my first new car. I use it for stock-class (GS) autocross and weekend/night drives. Used to be used in winter in snow/ice, but no longer.
Mike Choi / exige@325ci.com
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