Hey
@Eric H .
I've had a 2009 S260 since 2020 so I can probably relate. I also spent some time in a 311.
The Rush is a lot more like the S2 platform than the S3, probably even more like the S1 which I have not driven. It is sharp, responsive, very low, and in my opinion easier to drive. Like the Elige platform, it's mid-engined, but unlike it, it's a lot less likely to come around on you unexpectedly. Interestingly, the more oversteery you make the Rush platform, the
less likely it is to unexpectedly spin, because you quickly learn to feel the edge of traction and correct. Power on to recover oversteer or you can even lock the wheels with hard braking and keep it straight.
The rack is very quick, quicker than on an Elige. It is fully manual, so it is a bit more difficult to turn than a street car but gets easier at speed. It is still a workout. I like it a lot. Like running a sim at higher force feedback levels, this gives you more feel and control.
Rotation aggressiveness is really a function of the setup. Out of the box, it is understeery. This is good for new drivers. But soften up the front, harden the rear, put a competition splitter on it, and you'll be rotating as fast as you want. It responds incredibly well to trail braking. Since you can left foot brake, it's easy to brush the brakes and get extra rotation - even when on full throttle. This was very helpful at Lime Rock Park around 2 and 7. You can also get extra rotation by keeping the revs high. See how Blair
does this here.
Braking is very good. It takes some work to get all four to lock simultaneously, and it depends on your setup. We see some of our faster drivers running full front bias and even some slightly more aggressive pads on the front.
Curbs are rough. You learn which ones you can handle. Generally, whatever would upset an Elige will upset this too. But you're not necessarily going to spin because of it. I hit the inner curbs a few times on 6 at LRP this last weekend and while it got me some air, it didn't hurt more than my pride.
It's loud inside. Wear earplugs.
Mental load is reduced over an Elige. The visibility is miles better due to the open cockpit, and the paddleshift means you're not spending effort heel-toeing when you could be hitting your marks instead. It's easy to shift 3x/second, perfectly.
Maintenance is easier. There are more maintenance items (like the chain), but they are supremely easy to get at. Being able to take off the body without tools is sublime. The car is so short with the panels off that it is incredibly easy to load on and off a trailer. You can lift the front end off the ground and pivot it.
While my S260 had the same power/weight as the Rush, I was immediately faster in the Rush. I eventually became > 10sec faster at Palmer, hitting a 1:42 when my best ever in the Exige was approx 1:53. Some of that was experience, of course. I haven't tracked the Exige in a while. It feels silly in comparison.
In terms of what I miss from the Lotus, it still is fun to drive a stick from time to time. It vibrates less and it's quieter. You can drive it on the road or take a passenger. The ability to take a passenger is probably the thing I miss most - it's so much fun around the circuit, I want to show people!
