I've passed quite a few lotus cars on the track many times in the last few years - most recently a Lotus 7 driven by an instructor. I've also seen a few of them run off the track. Haven't seen that loss of control with the Caymans as much. My take is the Cayman is the easier car to drive at 10/10ths. If you mod it and set it up right, the Cayman S has much more potential as a serious track car to keep up with the GT3's and Turbos.

 

I say track prepped Cayman.

BUT

I have seen some nasty Exiges.

-Nathan

 

For a more dedicated track, mid-engine sports car in this price rane, I would go Noble M400. If can afford new, do the $110,000 Rossion Q1. There is nothing out there that can touch these cares in this price range. The Lotus two-eleven is their best track car, but not street legal in the USA.

 

Got a chance to drive the 255 cup this weekend. What an awesome car. The car felt much stronger than a exige s with a much flatter torque curve and vastly superior suspension and brakes. I would love to get a ride in a Cayman with the TPC turbo because that would be the only car that I would consider instead of the cup car, well that and a GT3.

 

my vote is for the EXIGE

 

My vote would depends on how you plan to drive at the tracks.

I don't know your financial situation, so I'll give my opinion of the two scenarios. First, assume money is no object (or almost a non-issue), drive both and decide on one you like most. Lotus' are great track cars, from what I hear.
On the other hand, if you don't have $6 - 10k (min) set aside for incidentals (for things like mechanical failure or body damage), you may want to consider cars that are a little less expensive. Lotus' are great track cars. However, because they are made of aluminium and very expensive to fix, most insurance companies have and continue to write off cars with (what most layman sees as minor) body damage.

Most of us don't plan to damage things @ the tracks, but they happen to the best of us when we least expect it.

G'luck with your decision.. IMO, you can't go wrong with either one.

 

Had a Noble before and just bought a Rossion. Very high performance for $100,000. Very high performance even if it were $200,000. Low maintenance costs since there are no exotic components. The low mass at 2480 pounds and mid engine configuration makes it a great track car that is easier to drive fast than other cars. High exclusivity also. Only 40 in the world at this point in time. For $100,000 you can get a car customized inside and out. Comes standard out of the box ready for track work. For a few more dollars you can have dual adjustable shocks, harnesses, fire system, etc. installed at Rossion.

Check out the December Road and Track issue.

 

Lotus, no question, track animals for sure.

 

Just an observation........

There are a fair number of people that sold Lotuses and bought Nobles.

I am not aware of anyone that has sold a Noble and bought a Lotus.

 

Noble's are great cars but very different than a lotus. I considered the Noble as a Track / Road car which in my opinion it wins but once I decided to get a dedicated track car I choose the Lotus Cup. The cost of the two was nearly identical. My next road car will be a Rossion or a GT3.

 

I totally agree whit Casey, Cayman S with Turbo

 

I like the GT3 idea you mentioned earlier.

 

I took video at PBIR of a stock 08 Cayman S 6spd on PS2s vs a 2007? Lotus Exige S with mods that puts down around 230whp and is on Advan A048 Medium compounds i believe.

I really think that with Cup tires, the cayman S will put up a much better fight and will probably be a little faster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XafLARDcxM

 

For a straight track car, I would choose a Noble M400. They are monster fast, just 2,337 lbs, and 525 HP! ... and they maybe handle even better than the Lotus. Way faster than the Lotus 255 Cup and also much faster than the Lotus supercharged Two Eleven. Very little to do to it to make a full track car. And parts and engines are not crazy expensive.

 

Ive never had the pleasure of driving the lotus since if somehow i found a way to get in they would have to make it a chop top to get me out.. LOL

i really like the Cayman setup for strictly race,.. A sweet platform..

MIke