Anyone regretting that they got the Sport suspension and Cup 2s?

[geoffbland]

I'm looking at buying an Emira (used) and wondered how you could tell if the car came with sport or touring suspension. Can't find that info on the window sticker. Thanks.

You can tell the difference yes. I drove both on test drive for a hour each. But the difference between the two is not massive. If you check the specs of the two suspensions there is not a massive difference, on spring & dampers rates etc. other than that the suspension is the same.

I found that I preferred the sport suspension, you can feel more of the road and how the tyres are doing through the seat but more so through the steering. Neither are a harsh or jarring ride and I deliberately took both cars down some rough UK country roads for testing.

As a very rough guide, if I was to have a scale of a normal road car at 0 and my Elise S1 with suspension set for track use at 10, the touring would probably feel like a 6 and the sport like a 5 for ride stiffness/comfort. Both feel as "precise" to drive as the Elise, the sports just gives you a little more "information".

I think the tyres you fit may may more of a difference to the feel. I have the cups 2s and are pretty happy with them for road use, very grippy and not bad at all for wet use (I had expected some problems there). I do know Cups 2 seem to be very sensitive to the their pressures, having them inflated a few psi out can really change the feel in a bad way.

I would strongly suggest you test drive both if you can. But also remember you can always change springs and dampers later for not too much cost.

Both springs and dampers are labelled sports or touring if you need to check.

 

[bshads]

Having been through the sport suspension with the goodyears, then swapped to PSC2's because I felt the tire sidewalls were too soft for turn in on track, then swapping to the Ohlins from Jubu...

I think both the touring and sports suspension on the car have inadequately stiff springs, and overcompensate by way overdamping the car. I didn't find the sports suspension pleasant, and thought the touring was also a bit rough for what it needed to be. That's all from the shocks being too stiff. Personally, I wish lotus offered a sports suspension with stiffer springs (500lb/in range F, maybe 600lb/in R), and more compliant compression, and rebound tuned to not skip the tires on concrete. The Ohlins setup gets you in this range with its massive adjustability and it's a fundamental shift in how the car rides. Think more Ferrari like. It would also be nice on the sports suspension if it did have an adjustment to be able to have a road and track setting on the dampers which activated in track mode.

Anyway, wishful thinking. Had I to do it again. I'd get the touring suspension and live with the non-idealities on track, just so it was more comfortable daily. If I wanted to put money in... better tires, and possibly some stiffer and slightly lower springs on the touring shocks.

 

[zdr]

If you turn the front wheels to one side and look, it'll either say Touring or Sport on the shocks and springs.

This is a V6 Sport spring.

View attachment 66485

Thanks!

 

[AZemira-i4]

I have sports suspension and Cup 2’s. At first, I was concerned with harsh ride on bad roads. I must have gotten use to it because I hardly notice any more.
Overall, the handling is great. I’m glad I have the sports suspension. Also, I think recently did my first track day and was amazed how well it grips and carves through the corners.

 

[me73]

You can tell the difference yes. I drove both on test drive for a hour each. But the difference between the two is not massive. If you check the specs of the two suspensions there is not a massive difference, on spring & dampers rates etc. other than that the suspension is the same.

I found that I preferred the sport suspension, you can feel more of the road and how the tyres are doing through the seat but more so through the steering. Neither are a harsh or jarring ride and I deliberately took both cars down some rough UK country roads for testing.

As a very rough guide, if I was to have a scale of a normal road car at 0 and my Elise S1 with suspension set for track use at 10, the touring would probably feel like a 6 and the sport like a 5 for ride stiffness/comfort. Both feel as "precise" to drive as the Elise, the sports just gives you a little more "information".

I think the tyres you fit may may more of a difference to the feel. I have the cups 2s and are pretty happy with them for road use, very grippy and not bad at all for wet use (I had expected some problems there). I do know Cups 2 seem to be very sensitive to the their pressures, having them inflated a few psi out can really change the feel in a bad way.

I would strongly suggest you test drive both if you can. But also remember you can always change springs and dampers later for not too much cost.

Both springs and dampers are labelled sports or touring if you need to check.

This is my experience as well driving both back to back. There's a subtle difference. It can certainly be felt but it's not night and day. It's more like 11:00am and noon. The touring rides slightly better and the sports has slightly less body motion on accel, braking, and turning. But you really have to drive them back to back to even discern that.

I went with the touring to deal with the crappy frost heaved roads here in Minnesota but I don't feel like I lost much of the experience that the sports gives.

 

[@Life411]

There have been times when I've wished for a softer ride than my Sport suspension offers...times like now when I have a herniated disc causing a lot of pain in my neck especially when going over a harsh bump. But I'm not sure the Touring suspension would help much with this. Sucks getting old!

 

[Wolkenspiel]

Bought a car with sport suspension off the lot, so didn't really have a choice. I find the sport suspension quite livable, and in most situations more pleasant than that of the G80 M3Cx I traded in. A nearby offramp features a relatively high-speed corner with a large dip right at the apex, and I was impressed by the smooth one-and-done damping motion in the Emira - better than the M3, a 991 911 and a bunch of other reasonable cars at the same spot.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Had a Touring, then go the Sport.

Hated it at first, but have gotten used to it. The car is much stabler at speed which I like a lot better, and in the winter with comfortable tires, it reduces the harshness.

But i live in NYC so my level of daily harshness is probably more than most.

 

[seriously]

No regrets at all. Across normal roads performs wonderfully. Tight but supple.

I am reminded that some streets in LA were terrible and the car was really unpleasant driving over them. However I don’t think touring vs sport would have made much difference. If your roads suck I would get a different car for daily or take a different route. I don’t think touring vs sport is going to make any real difference.