new else s3

[harry elise]

Hi all new lotus owner will pick her up in few weeks
But 1000 miles run in
?

[kambites]

It's an off-the-shelf Toyota lump designed to do hundreds of thousands of miles in the hands of someone who knows nothing about cars, propelling half the weight it was designed to move - it doesn't need running in beyond what the handbook tells you to do.

[harry elise]

Thanks kambites
Maybe it's just advice to stop me pushing it to much to soon as it's a bit different. From my old pickup truck
3 weeks to wait for delivery., counting the hours
Ps nice car

[kambites]

It may be that you need running in more than the car then. Take it easy while you get used to the car, it's amazing how many Elises are crashed within the first few weeks of ownership.

[Dr_Rick]

kambites said:

It may be that you need running in more than the car then. Take it easy while you get used to the car, it's amazing how many Elises are crashed within the first few weeks of ownership.

Speaking as a first time Elise owner, and a brand new car at that; I would agree with the above.

I was told / it was suggested that for the first 1000 miles stick to no more than 4k revs for running in purposes and that it was using a thinner running in oil. This I did and I can safely say that while not rocket ship, it was more than enough to be learning with. That 1000 miles was dispatched in 3wks.

I'm now at 5,700miles from March and I see the change lights whenever I get the opportunity. But I'm still careful with it. I can also hear the supercharger scream too ... which is nice.

[harry elise]

Thanks. For all the advice
I'll take it easy
Maybe look at the lotus drivers course.
But it's not cheap 500quid for,a day
Any one done this
Ps sc. Maybe. One day

[kambites]

I haven't done one, but Walshy days are very highly regarded.

[Heathrow]

harry elise said:

Thanks. For all the advice
I'll take it easy
Maybe look at the lotus drivers course.
But it's not cheap 500quid for,a day
Any one done this
Ps sc. Maybe. One day

I did 2 separate days at the Lotus Driving Academy at Hethel. This was the bronze and the silver course (now level 1 and level 2 respectively I believe) both spent in the Elise S 2.5 (i.e. the facelift 1.6 version). Very fun car on track it was too. The "bronze" day included a factory tour and also a tour of the old Team Lotus F1 workshops.

I considered both to be good value and you get enough seat time and 1-to-1 quality tuition to make it worthwhile. The circuit is also superb, resurfaced in recent years. There is a good mixture of theory and practice, the instructors were informative, experienced and the banter was good. The experience was tailored to your ability level. You could tell the instructors were Lotus through and through (some had worked there since the Chapman days) and this passion adds to the experience. Lots of the people who attended were Lotus drivers too which made for a good car park!

At one point we had to stop the track sessions for 15 mins as one of Bahar's mates rocked up for a few laps in an Evora S, then just as quickly left!

I had a particularly memorable end of day passenger lap in the wet, with my instructor for the day and ex-Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly. Top driver and a top bloke too.

It's not cheap as you say but I'd highly recommend it.

[harry elise]

Thanks it sounds good I'll book. Me the 1st leval
Sounds. Like. It will suit me as a lotus. Novis, not just the drive. But also the history

[otolith]

Wurls said:

Was the engine designed to have a supercharger bolted on top? (A genuine rather than rhetorical question)

The previous one (2ZZ-GE) was sold supercharged by Toyota. Don't know about the current one (2ZR-FE), but I think not.

[simpo555]

Is the OP talking new Series 3 1.6 (130bhp) or 1.8S(220bhp)

[harry elise]

Just the 1.6
Was advised. Against the1.8. 220 as first sports. Car
And after dealer took me for a run I can c why
Still very quick. On a b road
Had me Bricking. It

[otolith]

It's quick enough. You don't need anything quicker.

You will probably soon find that you want something quicker though. I've got another 55bhp in mine and still have irrational ideas about a supercharger.

[otolith]

It's also probably going to ruin every lardy car on the market for you, too. A more powerful Lotus is the only thing I covet these days.

[anonymous-user]

I bought mine new in 2012 and ran it in by the book. It didn't want to rev at all when new, just making lots of noise. I reckon it took 3,000 miles until it would rev out nicely. In fact when I collected it I drove home via the B-roads for plenty of throttle variations and gear changes. Sitting at a constant speed is not good to begin with. Sustained high revs are really bad.

Also bear in mind that the dealer will download the ECU log when you take it in for the running in service and they'll see how much time you've spent with too many revs or throttle, standing starts and vmax which could invalidate your warranty.

As others have said though, you're unlikely to drive it like you stole it to begin with; despite the naysayers the 1.6 is not slow and you'll be overloaded by the extra involvement in driving.

[Heathrow]

I had an Elise SC (the old 2ZZ-GE engine) and have driven the Elise S a few times. I liked the rarity of the supercharged Elise (I had one of the facelift ones in Storm Titanium with the black pack) and it's overall pace was very strong, particularly at full throttle when on-cam and with the supercharger spinning too. I didn't track mine but I've no doubt it would have been very quick and probably very good fun too.

Looking back, for me at least, I think the 1.6 Elise would have been the better all round road car. I found the engine in the SC to be quite manic, you were either cruising around, enjoying the feel and feedback of the Elise, or you were completely on it, fully focussed, with nothing in between. The 1.6 by contrast, sounds better (IMHO) and was a much more progressive car, making you work it harder to get the best out of it, and ultimately more rewarding, more of the time.

I also test drove an Elise R with a supercharger conversion. This car wasn't as convincing as the Elise SC, but the supercharger was definitely a lot louder, which in a way added to the appeal. However, the overall car wasn't quite as coherent, which may have been down to the engine mapping.

[harry elise]

Thanks for all the advice
Given from u all
Looks like I made the right choice. For my first lotus
Still counting the day to pick her up
Hopefully. On,12 September
I am new. To piston Heads And to lotus
And i feel already Part off a family
Hear
Thanks again

[jakesmith]

harry elise said:

Thanks for all the advice
Given from u all
Looks like I made the right choice. For my first lotus
Still counting the day to pick her up
Hopefully. On,12 September
I am new. To piston Heads And to lotus
And i feel already Part off a family
Hear
Thanks again

Great post And. good
luc k with.
the
new
car, enjoy!

[Robert Elise]

Heathrow said:

I had an Elise SC (the old 2ZZ-GE engine) and have driven the Elise S a few times. I liked the rarity of the supercharged Elise (I had one of the facelift ones in Storm Titanium with the black pack) and it's overall pace was very strong, particularly at full throttle when on-cam and with the supercharger spinning too. I didn't track mine but I've no doubt it would have been very quick and probably very good fun too.

Looking back, for me at least, I think the 1.6 Elise would have been the better all round road car. I found the engine in the SC to be quite manic, you were either cruising around, enjoying the feel and feedback of the Elise, or you were completely on it, fully focussed, with nothing in between. The 1.6 by contrast, sounds better (IMHO) and was a much more progressive car, making you work it harder to get the best out of it, and ultimately more rewarding, more of the time.

I also test drove an Elise R with a supercharger conversion. This car wasn't as convincing as the Elise SC, but the supercharger was definitely a lot louder, which in a way added to the appeal. However, the overall car wasn't quite as coherent, which may have been down to the engine mapping.

interesting post.
i got the 1.6 as i prefer the "drive a slow car fast" technique. It's great for public roads and on twisty circuits like Brands i'm still only taken over by v.serious cars/drivers. The best Elise IMHO would be a n/a with 175 horses, after that you're losing the real Lotus feel on public roads and indulging in playstaion-style acceleration kicks. I recommend the Lotus airbox & sports exhaust, more noise and more willing throttle response. it's around £700 but you can negotiate, warranty intact too.

[harry elise]

Thanks for advice
I am getting. The air box,dealer. Suggested. That I have it fitted after. On first service after 1000 mile run in
Not sure about sports. Exhaust. Will it be too noisy? And which. Type should I fit, heard about stage 2 ect not shure. Wats. Wat..
Plus as u said it will have to be acceptable with the warranty

Ps getting. Close car. Arrives at dealer. Today
Few more days to driving. Heaven