Lotus; where to start
Discussion
You're probably best off getting some wider wheels so you can fit something like A048s. You can get Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s for about £500 for the full set. They're a little heavier than the OEM wheels but not unreasonably so considering the extra width. Be wary of what you're buying though, the Toyota powered cars had a different hub offset so most wheels sold for an "S2 Elise" wont fit. I think the SELOC tech wiki has a page telling you exactly what you do need.
If you're going to be using it primarily as a track car, you'll probably end up replacing the springs and dampers too. The standard setup is rather soft for track use.
If you're going to be using it primarily as a track car, you'll probably end up replacing the springs and dampers too. The standard setup is rather soft for track use.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 23 December 07:27
Best option is to have a try of a couple. 30k is a healthy budget which gives you access to just about the whole range.
With your budget in mind I would be looking at something like a Club racer Elise S or and Exige S. None of these cars a lightning quick as such compared to a lot of modern sports cars but the superchagred cars are the quickest and more than enough for most situations and quicker down a B road than anything else this side of an Atom.
If you didnt want to spend all the money you could seek out a tidy K series car at no more than about 15k. I would be going for a 135 or 135R which I always think have underquoted power outputs as they always feel quicker than a 111S.
My favorites having spent a decent amount of time with the majority of the range are the standard 122 sport tourer or 135 variants and the 134 BHP Toyota Elise. The SC cars are great with a bigger budget though. Buy the best condition lowest mileage one you can find and you are unlikely to loose any money on it.
With your budget in mind I would be looking at something like a Club racer Elise S or and Exige S. None of these cars a lightning quick as such compared to a lot of modern sports cars but the superchagred cars are the quickest and more than enough for most situations and quicker down a B road than anything else this side of an Atom.
If you didnt want to spend all the money you could seek out a tidy K series car at no more than about 15k. I would be going for a 135 or 135R which I always think have underquoted power outputs as they always feel quicker than a 111S.
My favorites having spent a decent amount of time with the majority of the range are the standard 122 sport tourer or 135 variants and the 134 BHP Toyota Elise. The SC cars are great with a bigger budget though. Buy the best condition lowest mileage one you can find and you are unlikely to loose any money on it.
I personally would rather have a tidier/nicer driving 118bhp car than a 160BHP bag of nails. I'm not really into big power cars as such. Ironically my own car now has a 160 engine having had the 122 one go pop. Its a handy amount of extra power but it didnt cost a lot to do and I'd be wary of throwing a lot of money at tuning one when you can just stick an MG VVC engine in for not much and get results that are far better than the head porting/cams on the stock engine.
Cheers
I'm in a bit of a dilemma,
had Lotus and Caterham 7 back in the days...
When the Elise came out I tried one at Brian Stanners F1 in Newcastle and couldn't see any advantage over my Caterham.
Since then Caterham gone, had a succesion of TVR (2x Chimaera and 1x Wedge) and enjoy the power/torque.
But I still have an itch to scratch with an Elise. I tried one static a while back at Harewood and TBH at 61 it wasn't the easiest to get in or out, but that itch won't go away. Just concerned that the 118bhp may be a bit of a disappointment.
It would be an everydayish car and occasional hillclimb
I'm in a bit of a dilemma,
had Lotus and Caterham 7 back in the days...
When the Elise came out I tried one at Brian Stanners F1 in Newcastle and couldn't see any advantage over my Caterham.
Since then Caterham gone, had a succesion of TVR (2x Chimaera and 1x Wedge) and enjoy the power/torque.
But I still have an itch to scratch with an Elise. I tried one static a while back at Harewood and TBH at 61 it wasn't the easiest to get in or out, but that itch won't go away. Just concerned that the 118bhp may be a bit of a disappointment.
It would be an everydayish car and occasional hillclimb
Yes its fair comment really only the V6 Exige S and Evora S are proper straight line quick cars. Kind of not the point of a Lotus really. The K series cars are nearly 100kg lighter than for example an S2 Exige and you can tell in the handling. For road driving the tourers have totally exploitable power. The SC cars you might find yourself going a bit too quick at times if anything!
Thats always been my problem, loved the look since the s1 exige but although the handling is truly sublime (they dance across the tarmac like little else) but I want power and handling!
I dont think Id have bought one unless it was tweaked to satisfy my thirst for power
Last track day it would hold anything in the twisties and under braking but then would leave things standing in a straight line. I drove a 240hp exige s on track previously and although the cornering was great, it couldnt keep with my Clio track car on the straights 
I dont think Id have bought one unless it was tweaked to satisfy my thirst for power
Last track day it would hold anything in the twisties and under braking but then would leave things standing in a straight line. I drove a 240hp exige s on track previously and although the cornering was great, it couldnt keep with my Clio track car on the straights Must admit, my thoughts on the matter are mirrored in the posts above.
Coming from a very well sorted 400bhp Hot Hatch to an Elise to satisfy an itch I've had since i put up a poster of the Motorsports Elise on my wall....
I love the packaging, handling and aesthetics of both S1 and S2 Elises, but seriously concerned about the power side of things, due to my forging a path into the higher output hot hatches.
I'm tempted to get an S2 111S K-Series thats either been fettled by DVA or take it to DVA for some cams, Larini Clubsport exhaust and intake.
Saying that the S1 Sport 160s are rather nice... But not really suited to daily drivers.
111R would certainly be 'future proof' for me, as i'd lump on a Lotus charger when the power got samely....
I understand that in normal conditions there is very little to separate the 111S and 111R on the road due to the differing power delivery. I do go on track, but not more than 4-6 times a year.
I find it very difficult to decide which i'm path to take.... But i know i want either a black or dark grey one!
Coming from a very well sorted 400bhp Hot Hatch to an Elise to satisfy an itch I've had since i put up a poster of the Motorsports Elise on my wall....
I love the packaging, handling and aesthetics of both S1 and S2 Elises, but seriously concerned about the power side of things, due to my forging a path into the higher output hot hatches.
I'm tempted to get an S2 111S K-Series thats either been fettled by DVA or take it to DVA for some cams, Larini Clubsport exhaust and intake.
Saying that the S1 Sport 160s are rather nice... But not really suited to daily drivers.
111R would certainly be 'future proof' for me, as i'd lump on a Lotus charger when the power got samely....
I understand that in normal conditions there is very little to separate the 111S and 111R on the road due to the differing power delivery. I do go on track, but not more than 4-6 times a year.
I find it very difficult to decide which i'm path to take.... But i know i want either a black or dark grey one!
Edited by Havoc856 on Saturday 27th December 20:41
Black is the fastest colour...
Mine is running around 420hp and 450lb/ft which means it will out drag a GTR over Flugplatz with ease and leave a 911 turbo on the autobahn with the speedo needle pointing to my feet past 150mph (both done within a week of ownership). I couldn't have bought one without the firepower.
Mine is running around 420hp and 450lb/ft which means it will out drag a GTR over Flugplatz with ease and leave a 911 turbo on the autobahn with the speedo needle pointing to my feet past 150mph (both done within a week of ownership). I couldn't have bought one without the firepower.
If you've come from a 420bhp car I would put your wallet away and steer clear of NA tuning. It's diminishing returns from the offset. It's not eyewateringly expensive on the k series but the gains are relatively modest if you have been playing with turbocharged cars previously. The 111R Plus sc kit would be the way to go. The kit is excellent value and will give proper noticeable results.
fridaypassion said:
If you've come from a 420bhp car I would put your wallet away and steer clear of NA tuning. It's diminishing returns from the offset. It's not eyewateringly expensive on the k series but the gains are relatively modest if you have been playing with turbocharged cars previously. The 111R Plus sc kit would be the way to go. The kit is excellent value and will give proper noticeable results.
Could you please explain what is this kit and do you have a link to where it can be purchased.Many thanks for all the replies guys. It would seem I need to do a little genning up on all things Elise/Exige to have a better understanding of all the variations you guys have suggested.
Somebody recommended a 135; would the 160 not be a better buy? It's just the price seemed similar when I did a brief search.
Is there a basic guide anywhere along the lines of:
A basic Elise = blah blah blah
111S = Basic Elise + x,y,z
135 = 11S + ...
Once again a great response from you guys and any further recommendations gratefully received
nightSpirit said:
What hatch did you own with 400hp? I used to own a 447hp Toyota Starlet many moons ago....I still miss that thing to this day, so much potential wasted when I stripped it down.
I still have it, i'm looking at the 111S/R next June and it'll (The hatch) be retired to the family. Ford Focus RS '09 with SCC Stage 4 and a whole plethora of chassis work. Edited by Havoc856 on Saturday 27th December 20:33
Richie200 said:
Could you please explain what is this kit and do you have a link to where it can be purchased.
Many thanks for all the replies guys. It would seem I need to do a little genning up on all things Elise/Exige to have a better understanding of all the variations you guys have suggested.
Somebody recommended a 135; would the 160 not be a better buy? It's just the price seemed similar when I did a brief search.
Is there a basic guide anywhere along the lines of:
A basic Elise = blah blah blah
111S = Basic Elise + x,y,z
135 = 11S + ...
Once again a great response from you guys and any further recommendations gratefully received
FridayPassion, i +1 the above - thanks. Many thanks for all the replies guys. It would seem I need to do a little genning up on all things Elise/Exige to have a better understanding of all the variations you guys have suggested.
Somebody recommended a 135; would the 160 not be a better buy? It's just the price seemed similar when I did a brief search.
Is there a basic guide anywhere along the lines of:
A basic Elise = blah blah blah
111S = Basic Elise + x,y,z
135 = 11S + ...
Once again a great response from you guys and any further recommendations gratefully received
From what i had explained to me:
Lotus Elise S2 - 118bhp Rover K
Lotus Elise S2 111 - 160bhp Rover K VVC
Lotus Elise S2 111S - 160bhp Rover K VVC - HVACS introduced (Interior has two fan holes above the fan controls)
Lotus Elise S2 135R - 135bhp Rover K with porting/polishing and throttle body changed. Also fitted with Exige suspension/tyres
Lotus Elise 111R - 189bhp Toyota VVC engine
Lotus Elise S - 134bhp Toyota VVC engine - Replaces 111S name
Lotus Elise R - 189bhp Toyota VVC engine - Replaces 111R name
Lotus Elise SC - 220bhp Toyota SC engine
Lotus Elise CR - 189bhp Toyota VVC engine - no radio, A/C etc.
Cars 2006 onwards have Probax seats.
There is some confusing overflap during of production of 111S/S and 111R/R!
You get two roof types, long and short. Long has tails, short stops in front of the roll cage cover.
You can get the kit fitted by Hangar111, http://www.hangar111.com/shop/115-lotus-elise-111r... and comes in around £5000.
SELOC model history:
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Elise_model_history
Contains all the revisions and changes over the lifetime of the Elise.
ETA: VERY happy to be corrected by the guys on here.
Edited by Havoc856 on Saturday 27th December 20:40
fridaypassion said:
Thats the hangar 111 kit I think they resell the Komotec kit but I'm not 100% sure on that
Upon further inspection - you're correct!!Lotus Part Numbers for the Lotus blower:
SUPERCHARGER KIT
Supercharger Kit ’05 MY EURO Manual Throttle to fit Elise/Exige
Part No: LOTAC05463
Supercharger Kit ‘06/’07 MY EURO Electronic Throttle to fit Elise/Exige
Part No: LOTAC05464
Supercharger Kit ’08 MY EURO Electronic Throttle to fit Elise/Exige
Part No: LOTAC05465
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