DROVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT! Lotus Exige 380 / Nürburgring

[@StartYourEngine]

Really interesting lap that shows 3 things important about the Exige V6 platform: 1) 5:36 rear end kicks because in "Race" mode, the ECU is learning the amount of grip available. And there is always a very first kick that you have to catch. You can then smash the throttle without any drama for the rest of the session. It resets every time you shut down the car. Race mode also helps to reduce the understeer to some extent. Glad you kept race mode. Fully off, the E-diff would have been off too and you would have been infuriated that the car can't put the power down, with the inner wheel living its best spinning life... 2) 11:12 Typical Exige V6 understeer when the ABS kicks. In this case, coming from the crest, when the car land, ABS instantly kicks because the weight transfer needed to help the car turn in never happened. This flaw is very common on all Exige V6 (only about 35% of the mass on the front axis coupled with really thin tires with high side wall, 215/45R17 Front VS 265/35R18 Rear) with factory alignment (about 0.5° Front). This can be greatly improved with a minimum of 2.0° of camber and better tires. Or at least, fresh CUP 2. Would have been interesting to see how old they were on this car. They seems to have dry out. 3) We can see in this video, how fast and epic the car feels to drive, even if this lap isn't really fast VS the other cars driven by Misha. This is what this car is all about: fun. Hope Misha that one day you will try a sorted out 410 Sport or 430 Cup 😀

[@mgcharoudin]

True for the race mode, yet we switched off the TC in addition too as far as I remember. Otherwise it did a pretty shitty job in Hocheichen😂

[@StartYourEngine]

@@mgcharoudin dashboard shows "Race". So TC is on, E-diff too. In addition, there is some help at corner entry to help with the understeer to some extent (this doesn't work like an ESP). What happened in Hochechein is totally normal. To learn the grip, the ECU lets you on your own until you have to catch a first powerslide. Then, you can go pretty hard ok the throttle and nothing should happen. That's why you didn't have another event like this one for the rest of the lap. I just re-watched the video and understood that the car had an alignment done. Would have been interesting to know it. Front camber is limited (about 1.5°) without any further modification to the upright. What a pleasure to watch. Even for viewer this car driven hard feels special!

[@kevindunning4916]

@@mgcharoudinso I’m planning on heading over in a 420 final addition - happy for you to try that as a comparison - good brakes/ full nitron suspension and a little more go…. 👍👍… first car for the guy… amazing

[@mgcharoudin]

@@kevindunning4916 Would love to! Please email or dm me!

[@StartYourEngine]

@@kevindunning4916 wow that would be so awesome!

[@EndstyleGG]

You know its a good lap when the passenger looks like a fish on land gasping for air

[@ChuckisNorrish]

god his expressions were hilarious, im sure id be the same

[@omedonnie]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@Jessie-Z90]

Though the guy passed away serval times but he wasn't lol

[@zososound]

His jaw dropped when Misha drove over one of the curbs lmao 6:45

[@NoDoSwLa]

haha you found the right words :D

[@Maisaranator]

He’s having a heart attack 😂😂 meanwhile Misha’s being so serious 🧐

[@ApKieras]

He forgot to let Misha know not to rev above 6k. 🤣

[@D.H038]

Kerel ziet lijkbleek, Dacht eerst dat hij ging kotsen

[@Scotty-vs4lf]

@@ApKieras y

[@Krisisawake]

Exactly what I thought 😊

[@ratman19731]

Misha got tires after a bit more than half the circuit. You could tell he wasn't be as playful.

[@Ultixa]

My man praying for his life 😭

[@the_mcmartin]

Entrance to Hocheichen was sketchy but the control you had was amazing. The Exige sounds lovely too.

[@jpgmatrixgmail]

Cup2's were like 🫡 i got you

[@evansc3580]

I knew that Misha is an accomplished driver, but to jump in a stock V6 Exige and drive like that is really something. I bet many Exige owners that track their cars understand what I mean. Respect to you Sir.

[@mgcharoudin]

Thank you! It's a handful, but so amazing!

[@ciello___8307]

@@chrisbailey7820 its a 2gr toyota v6

[@JalopNick]

This really showed his skills as a driver

[@GeorgeTsiros]

THAT HOTWHEEL MATCHBOX HAS A V6???

[@rosstee]

@@GeorgeTsiros Yes that lightweight, fun to drive car has a V6

[@remissiveslave]

Mishas footwork is Divine. Let alone the rest of the driving. It's really quite a spectacle.

[@andyelliott8027]

Divine 👍

[@remissiveslave]

@andyelliott8027 thanks for correction

[@OitbCZSf0bUiQAMXK2Mz]

He will make a woman very happy with these feet someday.

[@siegfriedo]

​@@OitbCZSf0bUiQAMXK2Mz🤣🤣🤣

[@urbexman3024]

It's impressive how fast Misha can adapt his driving style in fonction of the car he is driving even if he doesn't know it 😳

[@guillermoguillermo4368]

The only car that gave him a run for his money was that xsara with the shitty bald tires that car had a will of its own 😂

[@mgcharoudin]

​@@guillermoguillermo4368😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@OllieW501]

@@guillermoguillermo4368 i nearly wet myself on that one ....

[@jamesj590]

Agreed. And the Exige is not so similar to so many that he drives, so to handle it so well is a real credit. I love the Exige incidentally.

[@cielo20]

​@@jamesj590a real driver can handle all cars , he gets used to them fast no matter what car it is

[@fatesandmyths]

Showing the young guy what his car is capable of is great. He has a long way to go until he reaches that competance. Great video

[@gabspopo2300]

If he does 7:4x with the car, as Misha states, he's faster than Misha in this video who does 7:5x. Not to say Misha is slow, he doesn't know the car. 7:5x on a first go shows how quick the car and Misha are, separatly one from the other. I'm not the kind of person to point fingers, but judging by the way the guy reacts to a 7:5x if he says he's doing 7:4x is a bit surprising. Being driven in your own car car be surprising still I understand.

[@mgcharoudin]

​@@gabspopo2300passenger seat always feels light speed. Fast owners always think I do 20 seconds faster than them, but I'm actually slower than their best. But yeah, first lap, no feeling for the car yet :)

[@tyrantworm7392]

@@gabspopo2300 Misha's 2 up also ofc. Saying that, I know people who've been racing for 10 years by this dude's age and know better than to presume age or first car means he can't drive.

[@NajiHAMIDI]

@@gabspopo2300lap with Misha also counts an extra passenger though…

[@gabspopo2300]

@@tyrantworm7392 I'm not the one assuming anything, quite the opposite. If he's quicker he certainly knows what his car is capable of. That was my response. Anyway, not intent to go into a shitstorm. Respect for both, love the car.

[@davidsmall7676]

What a lap! I can only imagine how fun it would be with upgraded brakes and suspension. Nice drive.🎉

[@ronjatter]

What a little weapon! The cornering speeds looked high. Looks like you really enjoyed that one Misha, seemed like you were almost out of breath a little bit. It must have been a lot of fun!

[@vanqy.]

yeah you can easily reach about 1.4G in corners on Exiges. its nasty

[@exajoules]

lightweight cars are always fun to drive, looked really fast

[@flyingman09101984]

I love Misha's focused face vs passenger's full-body-clenched situation hahaha

[@jrhowrey]

That pedal work is phenomenal

[@paulgilbert9346]

Misha driving is such a joy! The Exige is a wonderful track car and the owner is a very lucky chap even if he was nervous 😂.

[@kingston3355]

I could watch this lap over and over. Over the years this must be one of my favourite 🔥🔥

[@streetapex]

Misha is enjoying himself in this one. New cars are fast, but raw mechanical cars like this bring emotion and joy every time.

[@phattjohnson]

6:30 the adrenaline rush! 🤣 Old mate's loving it! Then he just leans right back into the chair to feel the G's... great stuff!

[@TheOpius123]

Great Lap! He couldn't push himself any further into that seat... Glad he kept breathing through the whole lap! haha

[@3pedais]

I don't know, but I think this has been the most fun I've had watching you lap the nordschleife. Lotus cars are really special. And the sound this one makes... And I will never get tired of praising you on how educational your videos are! Your left-foot breaking is spotless...

[@CyroTheSpider]

God every time I see a Lotus on here, they look like the most exciting cars to drive period. Also, one of the most telling things is always when nobody is passing you. This thing is FAST.

[@jasonlohbauer6749]

I never get tired of watching your footwork bro. It’s inspired me to learn how to left foot brake to the best of my ability. I’ve always been able to on a sim, but I was too harsh on the pedal in real life. Videos such as this one are the reason I kept at it until I learned. Appreciate you!

[@rosenscharf]

The sound is too good to be true, one can see how engaging the driving experience is when watching Misha and the owner's reactions are gold! Great video!

[@avocatdelamusique9778]

This Lotus seems amazing to drive, seeing how easy and quickly Misha got the hang of it. Nailing downshifts, quick shifting and stuff, just great!

[@DennisfromMunich]

The sound of the engine right behind the driver and passenger is so brutal, so good! Love the lap!

[@LmaoZeroGN]

Misha you absolutely SLAUGHTERED in this video, serious probs for being one of the greatest drivers in cars you don't have a lot of seat time behind.

[@SgtTom]

The owner was fighting for his life haha. We can clearly see that you Misha had so much fun in it, in the corners :D Ow and the sound is superb!

[@vanqy.]

hey misha really hope you read this. In my opinion the Lotus Exige (or the Evora when you want a bit more GT flavor) is the best bang for the buck you can buy before you have to enter the 911 Porsche territory. the Exige started its life with a merely 350HP and some hiccups. during production there have been multiple facelifts and massive improvements clearly stated by the model name. The Initial was the Exige S aka Exige V6. The latest model is the 430 Cup which is by tech and by price a pretty much different car. Since the curb weight is so low on these cars, the Engines performance has a huge impact. Komo Tec is offering several engine stages for the Exige, top end is a 500HP package with a tire shredding peak torque of 530Nm. In such a car, from stock to this, its a day and night difference. And i haven't started about aero yet... I genuinely think in the next decades the Exige will be one of the most sought after sport cars. Simple and Pure

[@mgcharoudin]

It's absolutely amazing

[@Malar1898]

Ah yes, the amazing bang for the buck, starting at 80k. Or you could get a Cayman 3.4 for 50k and all the mods you need, then get a nice daily for the rest.

[@vanqy.]

@@Malar1898 a cayman 3.4 is a 300kg heavier car with a NA engine. apples and bananas

[@Malar1898]

@@vanqy. My 981 Cayman is 1'064kg with a half tank (and PDK) and pushing 390hp. How does it matter if its NA or FI, if the NA engine is outperforming the FI engine by weight placement and similar Output?

[@vanqy.]

@@Malar1898 the torque curve. how come your weight is so low? you must have spend extra, no way youre talking 50k

[@t3chn0m0]

Cool Dude, def. gave birth mid-track ^^. This thing, or the Elise and the 997.1/2 are basically the definition of a mechanical Sportscar. Maybe also the E46 M3 CSL. All very special.

[@guitariste47]

I am under the impression that is the best drive Misha has had... Amazing

[@babstardeluxe22]

Gosh, if i didn't have my family i'd sell my 21' Jazz Hybrid right after seing this :D But wife and kids first, so thanks for all these videos that makes me live my dreams behind my screen.

[@jogi453]

Stop living your dreams behind a screen make them happen bro we all have it in us.

[@edwardwilcox6606]

Lotus Exige = more smiles per mile! Great car, great lap & thanks.

[@ChristopherGaul]

What an awesome lap. The kind where you figure out lap times aren't what matters, the driving experience is. Watching a good driver driving a great car on a great track, they way they were both meant to be driven was awesome. For the passenger to just sit and experience it all without thinking about driving it, but just taking in the feel of the car surging ahead like a cheetah on the hunt, the suspension settling in and hugging him to the seat through the corners. The sights of the world rushing by in a blur, the sound of the engine singing and the tires whispering feedback to the driver, the rising and falling soprano song of the supercharger. I'll bet he never forgets it. Nicely done.

[@mikhailblakhin]

I love to watch every second of the driving part of this video cause you can definitely see how Misha really likes to drive this car and does it professionally. And one of my favourite cams is that is focused on the legs and pedals, there are some crazy and nice job. Amazing!

[@j.b.7982]

What a drive, incredible! You were for sure the main character on track 👌

[@fokko1976]

Amazing car, addictive v6 sound, entertaining lap! 😉 Thanks Misha!

[@jasonlavigne5448]

Absoltely mesmerizing to watch!! Love the extra camera at the feet, really adds to the thrill! Loved watching the left foot braking and heal/toe action. You definitely made use to the fullest the : downforce,tires, brakes. Very nice lap indeed.

[@Drifty325i]

What a car! Lotus are incredible, so much fun to drive you can tell!

[@JorgeCabrera-zh7yr]

Holy shit! That was an intense lap i felt that shit in my seat at home 😂

[@Charles-e5v3m]

Misha, that dude can freaking drive!! Thank you for this video!! The pedal cam is great to see heel toe shifting. Awesome car amazing driving skills. Well done!!

[@КарабасБарабас-й3х]

Не перестаю восхищаться вашей работе ногами с педальном узлом. Браво! 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@1993j]

This is instantly one of your top 3 videos Misha. Loved every second of that!

[@lumbric4271]

What a lap with this car. Awesome. Sound, speed, weight (distribution) and you driving like crazy. Siiiiick

[@madcaddies01]

It's funny, i saw a lot of your videos recently; with much faster cars; but the feeling of speed in that Lotus really was on another level. Raw & beatiful. Thanks for the ride :P

[@NoDoSwLa]

What a beast! The sound of that Toyota engine is one of the coolest i've heard in a long time 😎

[@OscarTheSausageDog]

Amazing lap in so many ways. Driving it on the limit, the owner seemed overly chill considering, with a good mix of facials displaying thrills, concerns and trust all in one. Bravo to both of you guys.

[@jritechnology]

Those cup 2's saved losing the rear end a few times...great little cars with the power to weight ratio. You do not need 600hp in this little beast....just a nicely setup suspension, good tires, decent brakes and balls.

[@Nudel-nc1cp]

last one is the most important factor 😄

[@LymanGreen]

It’s a pleasure to watch you Misha, watching anyone who is good at their chosen profession or hobby always is cool!

[@Ryanrussell92]

One of my favourite videos of yours Misha, probably because I was fortunate to once drive a Lotus Exige on a track day in South Wales a few years ago. On the same day I also drove a GTR and a Ferrari (i think) California, and although the GTR was an absolute monster that was apparently tuned to around 600-700 BHP, the Exige was by far the most fun and memorable, the Ferrari being the most forgetable. I'll never forgive the Instructor for only giving me 3 laps in the Exige when i was supposed to have 5! I did get a free passenger lap in an Ariel Atom though to make up for it.

[@robertadamski]

That sound ... just pure symphony!

[@MJNGaming]

Lotus really knocked it out of the park with the Exige it's one of the best road going track cars money can buy, and this lap proved it (despite looking a little soft on the dampening)

[@380Scania]

Great little car. Wonderful sound and loved your explanation of the back end sliding “yeah ok keep it planted the car will do the rest”. Weather looked fantastic. Hope the festival goers did not turn into speed bumps 😂. Greg 🇬🇧🚘🏁

[@vinny2474]

this was one of my favorite videos of yours! the passengers reactions were so good. the car was so wild. so fast. what an amazing video!

[@CyberChr1s]

Just to let you know, race mode lighting show on means the cars traction aids are on maximum. You have to hold race again for a few seconds until the light goes off and the traction control light is illuminated. Then everything is off. Fantastic lap!

[@markeames5115]

Such a fantastic experience and so good to see Misha at the wheel of a Lotus and on such a quiet track. Having been in the same position as the owner myself I know the last thing on your mind are the cameras! Great to see him enjoy it and to have some constructive feedback - hopefully we'll see Misha back at the wheel once the further tweaks have been made. Loved it.

[@leeberry3155]

I love the “car “world ,the people are absolutely insanely cool,the work on the cars is outstanding,very expressive,but very much worth it ,the fun factor starts at the beginning of the build ,and then don’t stop ,just keeps getting better and better 😎

[@maticcro5992]

I watched like 90% of your videos Misha, and this was THE MOST entertaining for me, you seemed to have a lot of fun, passanger was excited/scared in a good way, car is great and so light, you were pushing pretty good, 10/10 video 🤩

[@mavic6155]

OK, you convinced me, my next car will be an Exige. It ticks all the boxes. The “there is no room for supermarket shoppings” is old fashioned as products are delivered at home these days. This thing lives, way more vibration then in other video’s, I like that raw experience with engine roar, it makes you feel alive! Beautiful weather as well, dang, one of the best videos imo.

[@20gibbon]

That thing is like a scalpel, so precise, nice drive. 👌

[@rootsmanuva82]

The section from just after carousel to the “bridge” is always insane. Every turn links to the next and the speeds are incredible as you fly downhill.

[@sylvainjamais904]

That thing goes! Nice bonus to see the steering through the pedals cam

[@S2NAZ]

Holy mother of GOD! 😂😂😂😂 Misha’s calm demeanor and control really show in this video. The drift corners were so much fun to watch. ❤

[@cosestaras8823]

that owner face is telling "yeah i was driving it like a grandma" , that car is crazy good, i just want to imagine mischa trying hot lap it after like month of driving this masterpiece

[@hacktrap007]

wow, I should get you a lap in my Exige 430 somewhen! Nice vid Misha!!

[@mgcharoudin]

Yes pls!

[@coolguy_2997]

Pls make that happen!!!:))

[@lyzek01]

One of the nicest sounds I have heard in this channel!!

[@icsunonove72]

One of the most exiting laps I've seen! Amazing video! The car isn't bad either...

[@CodyLamson]

Damn what a car!! Looked amazingly fun to drive around there and the owner was hanging on for dear life 🤣🤣🤣✌️ love the video overlay style you have going now too man. Good work

[@benjzh]

Awesome lap, incredible driving skills, cool owner and of course fabulous car! Brake pads suggestion: PFC 08 are great on the Exige. Squeaky when cold, but add a lot of friction compared to stock, and they last long. Other good options exist, but I can definitely recommend those from experience.

[@KeithJD]

Great lap Misha. You really get a sense of how fast your going judging by the state of terror of your passengers.

[@welshhunter7284]

What a weapon the Exige is, Lotus know how to make a car thats for sure

[@johannsmith5697]

What a sick car, one of the absolute best I seen on your channel IMO. Id love to see 2 more laps with good tyres please guys!!!

[@certifiedbidry]

6:28 that double tap and acceleration sounded sooooo damn good

[@SimonWorlds]

I drive a Lotus 410 Sport for my work pretty regularly, they are very capable cars. The only thing is long distance drives is a bit tiring, but on track they are very nice indeed !!!!

[@STORM3SHADOW]

The kid's facial expressions are PRICELESS!!! lol I'm sure he will never forget this lap, Misha!

[@SahanRavinder]

That heel/toe was on point Misha! Each vid I watch humbles me more and more. Amazing driving!

[@Bassalicious]

A bit quick over kleiner Sprunghügel, huh? :D Nice lap! I'm pretty sure that if this thing was my first car neither the car nor myself would exist any more..

[@SebSeb224]

haha. i know what you mean

[@mgcharoudin]

The speed was ok, the brakes were done by that point :(

[@Bassalicious]

@@mgcharoudin Ah, okay thanks. Definitely a scary spot to lose braking performance..

[@aaronpreddy35]

Don't know how I missed this video. It was a good watch. You looked like you were having a lot of fun from the very beginning. I hope someone lets you drive a JUBU Performance 500HP Exige, Evora or Emira one day.

[@Anderuplunden]

This is probably the video I enjoyed the most in your collection. Great, sound, great car, great driving! Thanks to you and the brave owner👍😊

[@sux2bu883]

I have watched around 100 videos of yours Misha . I think this the most I've seen you throttle through the turns, some completely through the turn. Also it seems the most aggressive track attack . I watched you pilot a 992 gt3 RS which was much faster and smoother. You had me a little nervous and leaning in my rocking chair. Great job again . After you give your advice and they do what you recommend as far as tweeking , drive their car again. Like a part 2. Thanks for the ride .

[@osiozzz]

You did Lotus justice. engine sound was awesome. The lightness of the lotus adds speed to the vehicle, but besides, handling can be risky at high speeds... it's a good video.

[@electro1146]

Damn, god tier skills Misha!! I couldn't keep track of you foot work let alone everything else.

[@lolibloxking6342]

Exhilarating lap. Excellent driving as usual.

[@naudzy]

Good pick for a first car!

[@AlpinaBG]

Back to back great videos! The R8 was really nice, and funny to watch, this one might be even better. I mean - really like all of your videos, but somehow those two stainds out from the rest... At least last weeks. Thank you again for sharing those videos with us!

[@gareth.6]

One of the best sounding cars you have done Misha.

[@Galf506]

Great video. One of those cars that had me stuck holding my breath without realizing!

[@orinochoflaw5200]

You drove it like you were riding a motorbike! Loved seeing it being thrown around. Awesome!

[@GrafHenry]

Its always so nice to see how Misha is already aiming for the next corner

[@ginge-tube5172]

Proper Driving that was superb! Best video I’ve seen in a while👍

[@ImBarryScottCSS]

When this video drops and the Exige is in the garage and the ring is only ~100km away. I'm feeling very sick tomorrow 🤒

[@OzzyM1998]

Very tempted to get myself one of these. It would be stretching myself quite a lot, but worth it! I just got a nice rise from work, maybe time to treat myself 🤔

[@rodbrown8306]

After thrashing his car glad that Misha is advising him of some great upgrades, terrific car well driven....Sweet Car.

[@C64SX]

Love the sound of the engine. Tried my friends Exige 360, and I finally found a V6 with almost as good sound and as great response as my all time favourite, the Busso V6.

[@alanhaigh9682]

If I ever have any money a Lotus is what I'd buy, what a cool car amazing lap about the best I've seen.

[@jpgmatrixgmail]

Such a RAW car, love It! Superb driving as always Misha!

[@deashunboi]

As a lotus owner I love how does you you're mistakes and pushes you to be a better driver

[@BarneyWobba]

I remember my first Elise and being amazed at the level of driver involvement, mainly the non-servo assisted brakes! It's quite a shock at first. Loved that car. And this is his first car!????? Christ. He must have been playing a lot of Gran Turismo on Playstation :D

[@simonjoshuafriedrichs1267]

Misha you played those pedals like Piano pedals, made the car sing around the whole track. The double clutch was perfect. Amazing video thanks.

[@stoneeh]

Amazing sound 😍Hehe nice, was going to mention the suspension after a couple of corners, and then at the end Misha immediately addressed it too. You can really tell how a car drives just from video, especially with a capable driver at the wheel; that's one of the benefits of this channel, other than just entertainment.

[@krissklein]

Dude, the owner turned in to a fish! Bro was gasping for air! Awesome lap.