Limits of the car too high to enjoy

[Casa de Mesa]

I have always wanted an Elise. I envy you sir.

Jesse

+1

Except an Exige. I'm tracking the one on BaT right now:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-lotus-exige-s260-2/

I looked at it 10 min ago and it just went up $5k. Likely gonna be too rich for my blood.

[D-O]

Totally agree with this. I plan on keeping my E46 forever, and it makes an amazing street and backroad car. I went a different route and built a Lotus Elise as a track machine - super fun and very rewarding to drive at the limit.

I have always wanted an Elise. I envy you sir.

Jesse

[terra]

Hmm I was always led to believe that oem rack was crap by design? I guess I should check the bushings

Steering guibo is often a cause of a dead on-center feeling. And if you have an 01, get the 02+ steering guibo since it has a stiffer rubber disc.

[Casa de Mesa]

Nor I. I live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. West of the divide 12 miles outa town and 6 miles up a canyon road. Only downside is the mile of dirt and gravel between pavement and my house.

Damn, sounds like bliss (minus the gravel mile)

[Rkymtnrider]

Not I, NE TN and there are tons of mountainous curvy back country roads and not many people but I'm in a vert with no roll bar and just enough people around to keep me honest.

Nor I. I live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. West of the divide 12 miles outa town and 6 miles up a canyon road. Only downside is the mile of dirt and gravel between pavement and my house.

[Casa de Mesa]

Totally agree with the OP. Been wheel-to-wheel racing for 10 years and the E46 M3 chassis is almost too much car to enjoy on the streets. Very difficult to find its limits safely on public roads.

Doesn't stop me from modding it though!! :-)

[gabylonfive]

It's a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

Jesse

Totally agree with this. I plan on keeping my E46 forever, and it makes an amazing street and backroad car. I went a different route and built a Lotus Elise as a track machine - super fun and very rewarding to drive at the limit.

[Obioban]

Hmm I was always led to believe that oem rack was crap by design? I guess I should check the bushings

Nope, not crap.

[pawa_k2001]

They're onto something, you know.

That is why all the guys I know with Miatas are either swapped or supercharged. The stock engine ones are just speed bumps.

[Jickel180]

Im going to guess you have the zhp steering rack? Or something even faster? My oem rack is dead at the center

Actually I'm still on the non-ZCP rack, but I've replaced my steering guibo a while back. It'll fix your on-center feel and make a huge improvement. One of my biggest complaints about this car is how slow the steering rack ratio is, but It's not lacking in feel. I'll switch to a yellow tag rack eventually.

[Icecream]

It's a lot more fun to drive a fast car fast, than a fast car slow.

Jesse

Ftfy

[yhp2009]

Hahaha I had the same problem, turns out my steering guibo was dead lol.

Just purchased a new steering coupler joint p/n 32301094703 for only $70 and diy looks amazingly simple. Actually got me anticipating

[Johnvu]

Hmm I was always led to believe that oem rack was crap by design? I guess I should check the bushings

Hahaha I had the same problem, turns out my steering guibo was dead lol.

[r4dr]

That is what people in Miatas continuously tell themselves. 🤣

They're onto something, you know.

[ethan]

Hmm I was always led to believe that oem rack was crap by design? I guess I should check the bushings

That rubber joint likes to get sloppy.