Oh give me the power!
Discussion
Spinning grid
Loads of elises performance mods to do, gets expensive though
PTP offer a good conversion to either 140 or 160 bhp - this is a tried a tested route
The ITG carbon fibre kit is good - but very hard to measure against other kits - eg rolling roads hard to compare for induction.
ITG £350
Hurricane (roughly the same deal but not CF) £150 - roughly equal performance -
raceline do a kit too.
At best - i would say this is a couple of BHP however to increase the mid range revs (4000 +) and frees the engine a little.
Other things are a sports exhaust, de cat, manifold.
look at www.racespeed.com
Loads of elises performance mods to do, gets expensive though
PTP offer a good conversion to either 140 or 160 bhp - this is a tried a tested route
The ITG carbon fibre kit is good - but very hard to measure against other kits - eg rolling roads hard to compare for induction.
ITG £350
Hurricane (roughly the same deal but not CF) £150 - roughly equal performance -
raceline do a kit too.
At best - i would say this is a couple of BHP however to increase the mid range revs (4000 +) and frees the engine a little.
Other things are a sports exhaust, de cat, manifold.
look at www.racespeed.com
For track work, I prefer something that can pull at least a couple of g in the corners, and that has acceleration to match. My most frequent track foray nowadays is the Bedford Autodrome driving day, where you get to play in a Formula Palmer Audi.
I'm becoming more and more a fan of splitting my cars into out and out racecars for when I want to go fast, and extremely well appointed powerful saloons for when I want to go anywhere other than a track.
I'll hopefully try a CTR soon, but my expectations have been ratcheted down a lot following my time with a cooper S.
I'm becoming more and more a fan of splitting my cars into out and out racecars for when I want to go fast, and extremely well appointed powerful saloons for when I want to go anywhere other than a track.
I'll hopefully try a CTR soon, but my expectations have been ratcheted down a lot following my time with a cooper S.
I gather some of you have chatted before !
CTR in my opinion is the best of the hot hatches available. I am lucky enough to test drive different cars as part of my job. My recent experience at Oulton Park, driving the full Honda (sport) range from CTR to the Jumbo NSX. Out of the bunch the CTR was superior marginally over the S2000.(wet conditions)
However picking a car, for me, is a very personnel thing. I have worked hard to eventually purchase my dream car, yes not the fastest in a straight line(but certainly not slow)and on bends its awesome. I have had in the past my fair share of front wheel drive hot hatches, but my love for a car built around practicality but with a stonking engine is no longer for me. Plus they always seem to attract the local theives !! but thats just my view.
As I am an owner of a standard Elise with the only eng mod being a sports exhaust what will I need to do to push the car to acheive between 135 - 140bhp. Your tips have been great but expensive, more funds could sway me but a £5000 layout before the festive period would leave me a lonely man !
CTR in my opinion is the best of the hot hatches available. I am lucky enough to test drive different cars as part of my job. My recent experience at Oulton Park, driving the full Honda (sport) range from CTR to the Jumbo NSX. Out of the bunch the CTR was superior marginally over the S2000.(wet conditions)
However picking a car, for me, is a very personnel thing. I have worked hard to eventually purchase my dream car, yes not the fastest in a straight line(but certainly not slow)and on bends its awesome. I have had in the past my fair share of front wheel drive hot hatches, but my love for a car built around practicality but with a stonking engine is no longer for me. Plus they always seem to attract the local theives !! but thats just my view.
As I am an owner of a standard Elise with the only eng mod being a sports exhaust what will I need to do to push the car to acheive between 135 - 140bhp. Your tips have been great but expensive, more funds could sway me but a £5000 layout before the festive period would leave me a lonely man !
adeewuff said: - not bad for something you can pop down to Ikea in huh?
I went to Ikea in the Elise....managed to get 2 storage units, saucepan set, assorted utensils and 2 rugs in the car!
Admittedly the roof was left at home, the storage units (1.6m x 0.5m x 0.3 flat pack) sat on the passenger seat sticking out and everything else in the boot. Not bad I think.
Then drove 200 miles to deliver them to a friends house.
Spinning-v-Grid said: I gather some of you have chatted before !
CTR in my opinion is the best of the hot hatches available. I am lucky enough to test drive different cars as part of my job. My recent experience at Oulton Park, driving the full Honda (sport) range from CTR to the Jumbo NSX. Out of the bunch the CTR was superior marginally over the S2000.(wet conditions)
However picking a car, for me, is a very personnel thing. I have worked hard to eventually purchase my dream car, yes not the fastest in a straight line(but certainly not slow)and on bends its awesome. I have had in the past my fair share of front wheel drive hot hatches, but my love for a car built around practicality but with a stonking engine is no longer for me. Plus they always seem to attract the local theives !! but thats just my view.
As I am an owner of a standard Elise with the only eng mod being a sports exhaust what will I need to do to push the car to acheive between 135 - 140bhp. Your tips have been great but expensive, more funds could sway me but a £5000 layout before the festive period would leave me a lonely man !
You could try one of the 'bolt on kits' if 135-140 is your requirement. Several out there from PTP, Bell & Colvill, Lotus to name some. All, I think are less than the £5k you mentioned.
PTP approx £2k (IIRC).
Probably one of the benefits of an all inclusive kit is that its relatively simple and will work straight out the box, but it does appear expensive when compared to these chaps who do a lot of connected mods to all aspects of the engine and get 180-200 with some degree of reliabilty.
northernboy said: For track work, I prefer something that can pull at least a couple of g in the corners, and that has acceleration to match. My most frequent track foray nowadays is the Bedford Autodrome driving day, where you get to play in a Formula Palmer Audi.
I'm becoming more and more a fan of splitting my cars into out and out racecars for when I want to go fast, and extremely well appointed powerful saloons for when I want to go anywhere other than a track.
I'll hopefully try a CTR soon, but my expectations have been ratcheted down a lot following my time with a cooper S.
I know that feeling actually, there is never going to be a perfect compromise between the road and track whatever anyone says. Any solution is a compromise so just don't compromise anything. The only solution is if you have a powerful saloon towing a trailer with something on the lighter side of half a ton fitted with slicks sitting on it. Those XTR2/Megabusas are starting to look rather good....
I'd like to do the day you mentioned, but with having to prepare to move to a different country to contend with I feel I don't have time on my side! Maybe some time in the future.
I can strongly recommend the Bedford Autodrome days. It's about the only place where they really get you to push as hard as you can.
Unfortunately, this last time out, I pushed a bit too hard. I left the track in the Clio flat out in fifth, and ended up launching it about 4 foot in the air. I then did the same in the exige, but that one dug in rather than flying.
Spun the Palmer too, but fortunately, didn't leave the track (it was on my out lap, and a black flag would have been a real downer).
Unfortunately, this last time out, I pushed a bit too hard. I left the track in the Clio flat out in fifth, and ended up launching it about 4 foot in the air. I then did the same in the exige, but that one dug in rather than flying.
Spun the Palmer too, but fortunately, didn't leave the track (it was on my out lap, and a black flag would have been a real downer).
So yes maybe some of my comments have been a little unfair but I don't mean them to be nasty - usually a fair amount of sarcasm - but never any genuine nastiness there.
I read your profile simply to try to understand the apparent hatred that you have for the Elise, and in reading that I cannot understand why on one hand you say you really liked the car (in your profile) and on the other every single comment you make on this forum is intensely negative towards the same car. Frankly as an enthusiast of the car then this is very tiring, especially as much of the criticism is very unbalanced and doesn't really stand up to examination.
The Elise is not (as you know) about top speed, and then we all know that, however at every single opportunity you berate it as if it is about top speed.
The Elise is not (as you know) about practicality, but again criticism, after criticism, after criticism . . .
If you expect, on a Lotus forum, to receive unconditional support and applause for this attitude and no criticism then you are somewhat nieve, or you are a troll, or you don't realise that your constant belittling of a very accomplished car is at the very least tiring, I honestly don't know which . . .
On the 'getting personal' front, I'm referring directly to comments you yourself wrote, that's not getting personal, you want to take things further than that then that's up to you, however that, frankly, speaks worlds about your attitude.
Fd
I have a bit of sympathy for adeewuff's point of view here. Until early last year I had a Mk2 MR2 which I loved :waitingtogetshotdownforsayingthisonamotoringforum:
Seriously, it felt tight (not too embarrasing on the track, people take MGF's FFS), almost fast enough, nice inside (if you like black leather) comfortable on very long drives (did 100,000 miles in mine in 2.5 years) and it had loads of storage space (took 2 people and kit skiing apart from the skis!) Came as close as possible to being the perfect compomise, and I loved driving it for every one of those 100k miles. Of course Toyota took the boot off for the replacement, so now it's 'kin useless!
The unfortunate thing was that it ended its life after an unexpected swap ends
while following a stream of traffic in what can only be described as a sedate pase. Up until then, I had been reasonably impressed with its ability to catch a minor slide, but this shouldn't be happening at low speeds while pootling along - easy way to ene up in hospital - I know. It must surely be possible to set up a sports car to need encouraging into oversteer without compromising the cornering ability. Otherwise, it is just an accident waiting to happen, even for drivers with far more ability than myself.
I know that we all have to accept compromises, but it is 2002, surely we should be able to push for what we really want!
Seriously, it felt tight (not too embarrasing on the track, people take MGF's FFS), almost fast enough, nice inside (if you like black leather) comfortable on very long drives (did 100,000 miles in mine in 2.5 years) and it had loads of storage space (took 2 people and kit skiing apart from the skis!) Came as close as possible to being the perfect compomise, and I loved driving it for every one of those 100k miles. Of course Toyota took the boot off for the replacement, so now it's 'kin useless!
The unfortunate thing was that it ended its life after an unexpected swap ends
while following a stream of traffic in what can only be described as a sedate pase. Up until then, I had been reasonably impressed with its ability to catch a minor slide, but this shouldn't be happening at low speeds while pootling along - easy way to ene up in hospital - I know. It must surely be possible to set up a sports car to need encouraging into oversteer without compromising the cornering ability. Otherwise, it is just an accident waiting to happen, even for drivers with far more ability than myself. I know that we all have to accept compromises, but it is 2002, surely we should be able to push for what we really want!
www.palmersport.com
It's not cheap (a bit over 500 pounds a time), and I might not be happy paying that myself. I've always done it at someone else's expense
It's not cheap (a bit over 500 pounds a time), and I might not be happy paying that myself. I've always done it at someone else's expense
for certain entertainments! I've got to agree with fergusd on this.
The relentless criticism from adeewuff is tiring if you've been reading the same posts from him for a year. Of course we are pro Elise, its an Elise forum.
As for the fact that adeewuff's posts are apparently sarcastic, sarcasm doesn't come over too well in posts.
I'm sorry for adeewuff that he didn't enjoy his Elise experience, here he is in the minority on this, most people here love theirs and understand the Elises limitations. If they don't like the limitations they do something about it.
Such negative post about anything, eg. the weather would be equally tiring. Original and constructive posts has to be the goal.
My 2p
Steve
The relentless criticism from adeewuff is tiring if you've been reading the same posts from him for a year. Of course we are pro Elise, its an Elise forum.
As for the fact that adeewuff's posts are apparently sarcastic, sarcasm doesn't come over too well in posts.
I'm sorry for adeewuff that he didn't enjoy his Elise experience, here he is in the minority on this, most people here love theirs and understand the Elises limitations. If they don't like the limitations they do something about it.
Such negative post about anything, eg. the weather would be equally tiring. Original and constructive posts has to be the goal.
My 2p
Steve
Oh, I agree that there's a lot more to a car than 0-60, but if you DO want to talk about acceleration away from the lights, then sub 6 is necessary (in my own opinion of course) for you to start classifying something as fast in that particular discipline.
That's the point at which you'll be pretty much sure to beat any standard FWD car, and means you are not too far behind things like 911s.
Part of the reason I perhaps insist on a bit more oomph than most is that I also ride a Fireblade. Every car I've owned has obviously accelerated poorly relative to that, and I get impatient when the difference is more than about a factor of two.
That's the point at which you'll be pretty much sure to beat any standard FWD car, and means you are not too far behind things like 911s.
Part of the reason I perhaps insist on a bit more oomph than most is that I also ride a Fireblade. Every car I've owned has obviously accelerated poorly relative to that, and I get impatient when the difference is more than about a factor of two.
Cars and Bikes = Chalk and Cheese
You cant compare the standing start accelleration of the two. A bike that could smoke an Enzo or a McLaren F1 to 60 can be had for less than 10 grand.
Unless your willing to spend insane cash on cars, 0-60 in bike times cant be a reasonable consideration.
If 0-6 in sub 6 seonds is a buying criteria for you, then great, there are plenty of cars out there that can do it.
If your after sub 4 seconds, thats where it starts to get tricky - unless its a hypercar or a trackday special.
You cant compare the standing start accelleration of the two. A bike that could smoke an Enzo or a McLaren F1 to 60 can be had for less than 10 grand.
Unless your willing to spend insane cash on cars, 0-60 in bike times cant be a reasonable consideration.
If 0-6 in sub 6 seonds is a buying criteria for you, then great, there are plenty of cars out there that can do it.
If your after sub 4 seconds, thats where it starts to get tricky - unless its a hypercar or a trackday special.
Don't often do the green light drag thing in the car, but yes, I do do it sometimes.
If I'm on the dirt bike, so I can't really put in a decent spurt, I tend to hoik the front wheel right into the air instead. On the blade, I'll often accelerate as hard as I possibly can, even when there's no-one else around. The acceleration feels good, and it's a challenge, juggling wheelspin and wheelying.
I just find these things fun. Much like hurtling down a mountain with skis on my feet, or drinking until I am sick, or looking at naked women.
There'll doubtless come a time when the things I enjoy now, seem less fun, or are banned, so I'm taking my pleasures where I can get them.
If I'm on the dirt bike, so I can't really put in a decent spurt, I tend to hoik the front wheel right into the air instead. On the blade, I'll often accelerate as hard as I possibly can, even when there's no-one else around. The acceleration feels good, and it's a challenge, juggling wheelspin and wheelying.
I just find these things fun. Much like hurtling down a mountain with skis on my feet, or drinking until I am sick, or looking at naked women.
There'll doubtless come a time when the things I enjoy now, seem less fun, or are banned, so I'm taking my pleasures where I can get them.
daydreamer said:
The unfortunate thing was that it ended its life after an unexpected swap ends
I know that we all have to accept compromises, but it is 2002, surely we should be able to push for what we really want!
It certainly has to be said that many people (for example) crash Elises by spinning them at <30mph in the wet, almost always coming off some kind of bend/roundabout, etc . . . it's always 'unexpected' but there's usually a reason, whether the driver knows what that reason was is another matter . . . I'm not sure how you program drivers of cars like this to understand the things that can bite without them experiencing it for themselves.
I span my elise 180degrees coming off a wet/slippy roundabout in the middle of winter, the tyres were cold, the weather was cold and I had what are generally accepted to be bad wet weather tyres on the car (Pirellis). Having said all that it was me that caused the car to spin, for the conditoins I was driving quite quickly, 1/2 way round the corner I realised this (dumb) and lifter the throttle very slightly, and hence the classic Elise spin . . . In the same situation now I would grit my teeth and change no control input to the car, and it would more than likely get round the corner no problem.
I tried to catch the spin, but this was my first attempt at catching a 'real' spin . . . not just a little bit of tail out . . .
Having done numerous wet track and airfield days I have now spun the car perhaps 30+ times, and I understand now that some spins are recoverable and some not with my level of skill. The one thing I have learned is that unless you are very lucky you won't recover a spin on a public road without hitting something . . . there's not enough room.
Anyway, these cars (well Elises anyway) are malicious if you make a mistake, even a very small one . . . however I have learned that if you can learn more about how the car works you will understand how not to provoke it, for me that's part of owning the car, and part of the skillset required to drive it safely. I used to be nervous on wet roads in the Elise, now I'm not nervours, I just drive a little more carefully . . . and that's not the same as slowly !
Fd
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff