Lotus Elise 111R '04

[Iron_Weasel]

I'm looking for some feedback on the setup of this car, so any *helpful* advice is appreciated.
It has a slight amount of oversteer, which isn't really a problem. However, the biggest problem I'm having with it is the fact that the car has a bad habit of continuing in a straight path when I get on the brakes hard going into a turn. Rather than allowing me to turn into the turn..it seems like the brakes lock up and I'll skid forward (usually off the course).

Otherwise, it suits my driving style very well.

2004 Lotus Elise 111R bought new from Lotus.

--Modifications

Exhaust: Racing
Racing Chip: Sports
NA Tuning: None
Tire Type: Sports Soft (Front & Rear)
Nitrous: None
Turbo: Stage 3
Intercooler: None
Supercharger: None
Brakes Racing
Brake Controller: Equip
Suspension: Racing
Transmission: Full Customize
Clutch: Twin-Plate
Flywheel: Racing
Carbon Driveshaft: None
Driving Aids: ASM 1 (Both), TCS Controller: 1
Limited Slip: 1.5 Way
AYC Controller: None
Variable Center Differental: Standard

Engine Mods: All possible (No nitrous)
Wing: Straight Type AS
Other: 3 Levels of Weight Reduction, Increase Rigidity, Rigidity Refresher Plan

--Settings

Suspension:
Spring rate: 9.2 Front 4.9 Rear
Ride Height: 106 (Front & Rear)
Shock Bound: 8 Front 4 Rear
Shock Rebound: 8 Front 6 Rear
Camber Angle: 1.2 Front 3.5 Rear
Toe Angle: 0 Front -2 Rear
Stabilizers: 5 Front 2 Rear

Transmission:
Auto set - 10

Downforce:
7 Front 20 Rear

Brake Controller:
12 Front 7 Rear

Weight Balance: Ballast Weight 0 Front/Rear Balance 0

 

[kensei]

I'd say if you are locking the brakes up going into corners it doesn't suit your driving style well.

However, you have the car modified very much which could be part of the problem.

Go buy a stock 111r (one of the best cars in the game BTW) and learn to drive it stock first before you add all those parts into it. The Elise is a very lightwaight car. By adding all that power into it and subtracting all that weight you've made the car harder to handle. Especially if you never learned to drive it stock in the first place.

The key to riving the Elise is almost treating it like and RR car. Meaning brake early and in a stright line well before turn in. Turn in slow, let the back swing around and feather on the gas in the Elise's case to avoid rear wheel spin. Your braking points should be well in front of most other cars for the Elise. Once you get used to the car you can start braking while turning in to help the rear around but if you try that at first, without learning how to brake in a straight line you will just get discouraged.

 

[Iron_Weasel]

I think that by braking too late (which I seem to do quite often in this car), I'm probably contributing to the skidding problem.
I drove the car a few laps around various courses in the Beginner MR Challenge, but didn't spend a whole lot of it learning the correct way to drive it. Could be another problem....

Overall, perhaps I just need to change the way I drive with this car because it is so light and I usually drive heavier cars.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Once you get used to the car you can start braking while turning in to help the rear around but if you try that at first,

That'll kill the tyres.

Can't you just remove the LS, turbo and suspension mods?

 

[Zardoz]

Limited Slip: 1.5 Way

Brake Controller:
12 Front 7 Rear

I've never even looked at the 1.5 LSD. Does it have a "decel" adjustment? If not, get the fully-adjustable limited slip so you can play with the decel rating all you want.

Then, switch your Brake Controller settings. Load up the rear a ton. Try 12 on the front and 15 to 20 on the rear. This should make the rear end come around when you turn while braking. Adjust the rear brake controller level and the LSD decel setting until you can turn and brake at the same time, without rear tire chattering and skidding if possible.

You might also want to look at this guy's suspension settings. He doesn't like any limited-slip on the Elise, but I'm not sold on that:

http://www.gtvault.com/SetupDisplay.cfm?SetupID=0402J84450867A7CA06240441

These settings are for the Elise 190 in GT3, but they may give you some food for thought.

Personally, I find the Elise a very difficult car to drive and tune. I hate the way the rear end seems to float at high speed. However, I haven't tried adding a wing to the Elise in GT4. You may want to do it, then play with the front and rear downforce settings.