Discussion
Quick question please. Now that my Chimaera has been sadly written off by a t
t of a schoolteacher in too much of a hurry to stop at junctions, I'm now after a replacement.
Looking at S2 elises in particular, also Europas, but I prefer a softtop. When did the better roof get fitted to the S2? I see a number of 2002 cars with the s1 type roof and it looks like most of the 2004 cars have the better one. Is this about right? I'm really after an 111s or a similarly tweaked car, but don't want to get into a wet car every time I leave it outside (live in the west coast of scotland, so damp 70% of the year).
Many thanks in advance for any help.
t of a schoolteacher in too much of a hurry to stop at junctions, I'm now after a replacement. Looking at S2 elises in particular, also Europas, but I prefer a softtop. When did the better roof get fitted to the S2? I see a number of 2002 cars with the s1 type roof and it looks like most of the 2004 cars have the better one. Is this about right? I'm really after an 111s or a similarly tweaked car, but don't want to get into a wet car every time I leave it outside (live in the west coast of scotland, so damp 70% of the year).
Many thanks in advance for any help.
There are two different types of roof for the S2, neither of which is anything like the S1's tent. The later "short tail" roof has the advantage that you can take it off from inside the car (although the only place to put it is in the passenger seat/footwell). There were also various improvements to the seals over the years which made the roofs seal better.
I think all 111S cars had the short-tail as did all Toyota powered cars. Only the non-VVC Rover cars were short-tail, and not all of them.
I think the important seal modification to look for is the little rubber "cups" at the top o the A-pillars which catch drips off the front corners of the roof and route them out of the cabin. I believe this was a MY04 change.
I think all 111S cars had the short-tail as did all Toyota powered cars. Only the non-VVC Rover cars were short-tail, and not all of them.
I think the important seal modification to look for is the little rubber "cups" at the top o the A-pillars which catch drips off the front corners of the roof and route them out of the cabin. I believe this was a MY04 change.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 3rd September 12:47
Kambites is on the money. The short roof on the S2 coincided with the 111S in early-mid 2002. There is no comparison between the S1 press stud contraption and the S2 clip in designs.
My late 2001 has had no issues with leaks or ingress during the last 12 and bit years of ownership, although I do confess to not using the roof much. The only time it ever lets in water is when I drive below 50mph in the rain, so I try to avoid doing that.
Happy Hunting, that's a bit of a leap in handling dynamics - TVR to Elise!
Regards, Neil
My late 2001 has had no issues with leaks or ingress during the last 12 and bit years of ownership, although I do confess to not using the roof much. The only time it ever lets in water is when I drive below 50mph in the rain, so I try to avoid doing that.
Happy Hunting, that's a bit of a leap in handling dynamics - TVR to Elise!
Regards, Neil
Thanks Neil, that's clarified that the roof won't leak like my mate's S1 did.
The Chimaera was surprisingly very very good in the dry in terms of handling. The engine sat very very far back and it had a lsd and a quick rack. In the wet however.... wheelspinning in 3rd at 30mph and understeering (probably due to crap tyres) if your entry speed was a little high.My previous car before that was an Alfa Spider which was very grippy and I've had a mk1 MR2 in the past and want to get back to that sort of level of handling again.
Just seen the perfect Elise for me in the ph classifieds - 111s, in red and with a tan interior and low mileage. Just a pity the insurance cheque hasn't come through yet and I'm on a ship offshore Angola until the end of the month.
The Chimaera was surprisingly very very good in the dry in terms of handling. The engine sat very very far back and it had a lsd and a quick rack. In the wet however.... wheelspinning in 3rd at 30mph and understeering (probably due to crap tyres) if your entry speed was a little high.My previous car before that was an Alfa Spider which was very grippy and I've had a mk1 MR2 in the past and want to get back to that sort of level of handling again.
Just seen the perfect Elise for me in the ph classifieds - 111s, in red and with a tan interior and low mileage. Just a pity the insurance cheque hasn't come through yet and I'm on a ship offshore Angola until the end of the month.
It's certainly good to have air conditioning if you're going to keep it outside - it's very hard to avoid condensation with such a small cabin without it. If you have a (dry) garage, it's less important because you can leave the car with the roof off to let it dry out.
In my experience, they will all leak a bit if you get heavy rain and a very strong wind coming from the rear three-quarters. The water gets driven up the side windows and through the weak point in the seal at the top of the A-pillar. The cups to catch the drips help, but some still gets blown in occasionally. That's pretty rare though - I think mine has leaked twice in seven years of daily use, and they were only a few drips each time. The unavoidable way water gets inside is when you get in and out in torrential rain. It's no worse than other cars in that respect, but the cabin is so small that you need a smaller amount of moisture to cause condensation issues.
In my experience, they will all leak a bit if you get heavy rain and a very strong wind coming from the rear three-quarters. The water gets driven up the side windows and through the weak point in the seal at the top of the A-pillar. The cups to catch the drips help, but some still gets blown in occasionally. That's pretty rare though - I think mine has leaked twice in seven years of daily use, and they were only a few drips each time. The unavoidable way water gets inside is when you get in and out in torrential rain. It's no worse than other cars in that respect, but the cabin is so small that you need a smaller amount of moisture to cause condensation issues.
Edited by kambites on Friday 5th September 08:26
Thanks folks. I don't expect an absolutely bone dry car after a downpour (previous / current cars include alfa spider, MG B roadster, TVR Chimaera) and even the wife's saab convertible leaks if the wind comes from the right direction. Just heard that the S1 hood was pretty poor in both ease of use and waterproofing and it looked like the S2 hood in its earlier guise was the same shape.
Glad it's not! The hunt continues....
Glad it's not! The hunt continues....
kambites said:
I've got a hardtop and don't bother to use it. I can't detect any difference in temperature, refinement or waterproofness, the only advantage it seemed to offer was that it looks better. Besides, it's nice to be able to take the roof off in the winter. 
Once again, what Kambites says.The only thing you need to decide the colour of is the woolly hat!
Never seen the need for a hardtop, once it's on, you can't whip the roof off when you need to, and if you leave at home you need somewhere to store it and it then begs the question, 'what's the point?'.
As you will have noticed the UK weather bears no correlation to seasons, and it will rain in summer and be glorious in winter. Keep your options open, spend the money on a selection of hats and stick with the soft top....and remember the default position is OFF!!
Regards, Neil
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