S2 Elise - but which one?

[shirt]

otolith said:

It's a matter of opinion, but personally I think that if you do get the R it's worth having the Lotus motorsport remap or third party equivalent to lower the cam change point a little. You lose a bit of drama at the change point in return for it getting on cam a little earlier and staying on cam if you shift a little shorter.

I also like my 2bular exhaust and TRD intake, but you do trade some refinement for a more exciting noise.

which 2bular did you opt for?

agree with the change point, that's on my to do list but at £500ish theres other mods to be done first.

what's consensus on TRD vs something like the hurricane intake?


OP - i have an R and its the only elise i've ever driven. abs and servo brakes weren't what i would have wanted but i'm in the federalised market so no choice really. whilst the power delivery needs tweaking an the gearchange can be poor [i'm getting elise parts engine mount inserts as first stage cure] i think i'd find a lower powered car somewhat lacking.

[kambites]

shirt said:

i think i'd find a lower powered car somewhat lacking.

Bear in mine that whilst the 111S is 30bhp down on the 111R, it's also nearly 100kg lighter so the difference in power to weight ratio is only about 15bhp/tonne. Yes, the 111R is a quicker car but the margin at road speeds isn't as big as the raw power figures would suggest.

[otolith]

shirt said:

which 2bular did you opt for?

8x22. Would have liked one of the louder ones for the tone, but couldn't live with the volume.

[otolith]

david000 said:

I'd say the Toyota 1.8 'S' for handling balance. Sublime.

For me the R would make a good track car but less good as a road car. However I use mine as a daily driver so as a Sunday car an R would be fine.

I can't see any reason for the Toyota S to handle differently to the R, it's all the same mechanicals apart from engine and gearbox and just as heavy? Given the similarities of torque curves up to where the S limiter cuts in, couldn't one just short-shift Mon-Fri?

[un1eash]

Drive as many as you can and decide yourself. I was all set on a 111R until I test drove one back to back with a 111S. Didn't take me long to decide the 111S was the car for me.

[braddersm3]

Had a sport 135 for 5 years and loved it,after having a 111r for a couple of months.Horses for courses but the 135 felt to me like an elise should,much underrated car.

[andy_s]

111S was the sweet spot for me, probably the last of the totally analogue sports cars.

[lee111s]

andy_s said:

111S was the sweet spot for me, probably the last of the totally analogue sports cars.

[simpo555]

Don't think you can go wrong with either. My R was a fantastic car. Loved every minute. Don't get too hooked up on which is the 'perfect car'. Just go for it. Don't forget, an R will be more recent. Whichever car you get you'll have great fun. The sun will be with us soon. Condition, history and price are the main factors. Then Options. Then colour.

[kambites]

simpo555 said:

Don't forget, an R will be more recent.

Not necessarily true (unless you mean an actual R rather than a 111R). The 111R and 111S were produced alongside each other for a while.

[guyh]

Depending on budget I'd consider a 135R or a 111S, I'd probably go 111S with some upgrades to brakes, suspension and wheels

[kambites]

guyh said:

Depending on budget I'd consider a 135R or a 111S, I'd probably go 111S with some upgrades to brakes, suspension and wheels

You have to spend quite a lot to get wheels significantly lighter than the standard 111S ones. Or were you referring to wider fronts?

[guyh]

kambites said:

You have to spend quite a lot to get wheels significantly lighter than the standard 111S ones. Or were you referring to wider fronts?

Yes, wider fronts