RE: Lotus Elise S1 - PH owners speak

[Ozzie Osmond]

Actus Reus said:

Only question is - s1 or s2??

IMO it's the usual answer, "choose your price and then buy on condition". Nonetheless I'd find some comfort from a Toyota engine.

[Actus Reus]

That was my thinking - also, as a 21 year old, I saw a laser blue s2 on Lotus' stand at the Motorshow at the NEC (remember that?) and fell in love with it. I quite like the idea of the relatively peaky power delivery too.

[Moospeed]

First had a go in an Elise whilst at a trackday in a lightweight sportscar with a higher power to weight ratio, a fresh suspension geo and an opinion that the elise would be 'interesting' to see what the fuss was about.

First lap warming up and getting a feel for the drive, it instantly felt really very good. Second lap pushed a bit harder and matched my best time in my own car... whaaaat the ? This elise on paper shouldn't get close... Third lap and a clear two seconds quicker than my own car which I'm used to, has a 3 second advantage in the 0-60, this does not compute!

Later that year px'ed for a Sport 160 and I'm now on my 4th elise derivative. I've tried other cars whilst in fits of upgradeitus but keep coming back to the fact I know it'll be a temporary fix until I need another S1 in my life. Bit of a dilemma really...

[DeuxCentCinq]

Surprised no-one has mentioned the awful gear change on the S1 Elise so far. Sure, the roof is a pain, but it just takes a few weeks to get used to. What I never got used to was the vague but notchy gear shift.
I owned my S1 for 3 years, having driven a Sport 160 and another base model before. They all gave me the same experience. In fact, I spun the 160 (luckily on an airfield trackday) as I changed from 3rd into 2nd instead of 4th. Perhaps I was spoiled, having come directly from an MX-5, and also owning a 205 GTI with a decent set of quickshift gear rods installed, but I just couldn't get on with the Elise. The lever was too long, the throw too short and imprecise. It was stiff if not used for a while, but never became fluid even when warmed up properly. To be honest, it was my main reason for selling the car.

I absolutely loved the handling. Some criticise the way it dips the nose under braking, and appears to rear up under hard acceleration. I loved that. It heightened the sense of what the momentum was trying to do. I loved how early you could get the power on when coming out of a corner, especially compared to the MX-5. I didn't mind squeezing in and out of it, despite not being the lithest of chaps. I loved the steering - the wheel itself is the best one I have ever found on any car, ever. For all of these reasons, I wanted to keep the car.

But then I took it in to my recently opened Lotus dealer for a cambelt service. He asked me if I was thinking of selling, and having missed another gear due to the infernal bloody cable linkage as I drove there, I rashly said I would for the right money. I thought long and hard if I was doing the right thing. After all, I'd wanted one since I saw them new when I was 13. I'd bought a private plate (L111 and my initials) as it had been on another all its life with its previous owner, and I never thought I'd sell. But I don't regret doing so one bit. Perhaps I should have bought a VX-220. Perhaps a Toyota-engined Elise? Nah. I'd always be wondering "what if?". I'm glad I owned one, but glad I sold, and I wouldn't have another.

[itcaptainslow]

Mine has a beautiful, rifle bolt, tight gearshift action. Eliseparts sell a quick shift kit which by the looks of the paperwork was fitted to mine prior to me buying it-I can't recommend it enough.

[RYH64E]

I've gone from a 2000 S1 to a 2015 supercharged Elise S, and for me the 2015 is the better all round package. The extra power is always welcome, but more importantly (for me) the later car is just that bit more civilized, I no longer need to wear ear plugs, it's got air con, and doesn't leak. It just feels more like a proper car and less like a go kart (whether that's a good thing or not).

[HocusPocus]

I am lucky to have owned a 50th anniversary version S1 from new. It has uprated 220bhp race engine, brakes, suspension, exhaust and sticky tyres. It comes out on sunny days for top off fun drives on Manx roads with de restricted zones (no 60 mph speed limit). Needs engine, brakes and tyres well warmed to get best out of it. Lots of grins per mile...even if it is a bit noisy. Not a car I will ever want to sell.

Perfect when paired with sensible car for the bad weather as Lotus is not suited to wet. Overall great performance sports car which thrives on narrow twisty roads.....fun on track days too. Modern machinery may well be faster and more efficient, but not many are as rewarding to drive.

[USA64]

The car chooses the owner; it's not always clear why.

[Fishy Dave]

I have no doubt that a light, normally aspirated S1 is a lovely machine. Sadly I picked the wrong example, an Audi engined S1. That heavy, powerful engine was not suited to the car and spoilt it's handling to the point that I grew to hate the thing and sold it at great loss after a year. It was only marginally more practical than the Caterham, of the two I would pick a Caterham again.

[D.no]

I had an S1 from new back in '98 and did over 40k miles in it.

Maybe mine wasn't set up correctly, or maybe I'm a ham-fisted baffoon, but I found the handling to be very very prescriptive. Fantastic to a point, just don't try to drift one. I used to get the most enjoyment from driving in that magic zone between grip and crash. That zone was very small in my S1. God only knows how I never had any visits to the scenery in it, though I did get lots of practise at high speed reversing!

I also suspect tyre technology has progressed significantly since '98, but I was once overtaken by a Nissan Micra in torrential rain on my return from Wales, such was the S1's incredible tendency to aquaplane!

The S1 wasn't a keeper for me then, but I have since rekindled the affair with Lotus and am happy to report that this relationship may last a bit longer.

[T0MMY]

Any more opinions from people who have gone between 7s and Elises? I'm constantly toying with the idea of replacing my BEC (MNR Vortx) with an Elise, mainly for a bit more all year round practicality for winter trackdays, but I'm not sure how it would compare.

Given the choice between an early sub-£10k Elise (so k-series engined) or a decent bike engined kitcar...what would PH choose? The BEC is clearly much lighter and much faster in a straight line but would the Elise match it for handling, driver involvement and fun?

[suffolk009]

Have lusted after an S1 for years. If I get lucky and a green or orange or purple 160 comes up at the right time, then great.

If not I'll probably buy a Cat D fixer-upper. Do the usual stuff; seats, suspension, engine, gearbox, wheels and then paint it something subtly loud.

[lestiq]

What a cracking looking car you have there Iain! Those speedline wheels look the business! I already started searching the classified, none look anywhere near as nice : )

[itcaptainslow]

lestiq said:

What a cracking looking car you have there Iain! Those speedline wheels look the business! I already started searching the classified, none look anywhere near as nice : )

Cheers! I've toyed with the idea of selling it a couple of times, as it doesn't get used much, but it's not really costing much to keep and I do love it.

The replacement would have to be an Evora I think maybe in a couple of years when the prices of the 400's have dropped a little.

[SidewaysSi]

T0MMY said:

Any more opinions from people who have gone between 7s and Elises? I'm constantly toying with the idea of replacing my BEC (MNR Vortx) with an Elise, mainly for a bit more all year round practicality for winter trackdays, but I'm not sure how it would compare.

Given the choice between an early sub-£10k Elise (so k-series engined) or a decent bike engined kitcar...what would PH choose? The BEC is clearly much lighter and much faster in a straight line but would the Elise match it for handling, driver involvement and fun?

Yes they are as much fun. But sub £10k is a bit of an ask as I think you need to modify an Elise to match a Seven. With prices of Elise S1s starting around £9k you may struggle. For £15-20k total spend you can get something as much fun as a Caterham. But it won't be a bog standard car.

[SidewaysSi]

D.no said:

I had an S1 from new back in '98 and did over 40k miles in it.

Maybe mine wasn't set up correctly, or maybe I'm a ham-fisted baffoon, but I found the handling to be very very prescriptive. Fantastic to a point, just don't try to drift one. I used to get the most enjoyment from driving in that magic zone between grip and crash. That zone was very small in my S1. God only knows how I never had any visits to the scenery in it, though I did get lots of practise at high speed reversing!

I also suspect tyre technology has progressed significantly since '98, but I was once overtaken by a Nissan Micra in torrential rain on my return from Wales, such was the S1's incredible tendency to aquaplane!

The S1 wasn't a keeper for me then, but I have since rekindled the affair with Lotus and am happy to report that this relationship may last a bit longer.

As has been said before, it's all about having the correct geo and tyres. I can easily drift my S1 Sport 160. It's very benign to be honest.

[otolith]

itcaptainslow said:

Perhaps an American author more used to large V8 saloons than flighty British sports cars. The Elise needs the occasional compromise on the owner's part in order to access the brilliance. Fortunately, the compromises are easily offset by only buying two bags of shopping at the supermarket and a pilates class.

Or owning another car-which has the side effect of making the Elise feel even more remarkable when you drive it.

The author is a kid.

https://www.facebook.com/A.Filsinger

[suffolk009]

SidewaysSi said:

T0MMY said:

Any more opinions from people who have gone between 7s and Elises? I'm constantly toying with the idea of replacing my BEC (MNR Vortx) with an Elise, mainly for a bit more all year round practicality for winter trackdays, but I'm not sure how it would compare.

Given the choice between an early sub-£10k Elise (so k-series engined) or a decent bike engined kitcar...what would PH choose? The BEC is clearly much lighter and much faster in a straight line but would the Elise match it for handling, driver involvement and fun?

Yes they are as much fun. But sub £10k is a bit of an ask as I think you need to modify an Elise to match a Seven. With prices of Elise S1s starting around £9k you may struggle. For £15-20k total spend you can get something as much fun as a Caterham. But it won't be a bog standard car.

I've had three 7s in the past (x-flow, superlight, R500/K) - but I'm 10 years older now and don't fancy the masochism. So the Elise appeals, that and I've always wanted one.

So SidewaysSi what would you change on an S1 in the mythical £20k budget?

[SidewaysSi]

suffolk009 said:

SidewaysSi said:

T0MMY said:

Any more opinions from people who have gone between 7s and Elises? I'm constantly toying with the idea of replacing my BEC (MNR Vortx) with an Elise, mainly for a bit more all year round practicality for winter trackdays, but I'm not sure how it would compare.

Given the choice between an early sub-£10k Elise (so k-series engined) or a decent bike engined kitcar...what would PH choose? The BEC is clearly much lighter and much faster in a straight line but would the Elise match it for handling, driver involvement and fun?

Yes they are as much fun. But sub £10k is a bit of an ask as I think you need to modify an Elise to match a Seven. With prices of Elise S1s starting around £9k you may struggle. For £15-20k total spend you can get something as much fun as a Caterham. But it won't be a bog standard car.

I've had three 7s in the past (x-flow, superlight, R500/K) - but I'm 10 years older now and don't fancy the masochism. So the Elise appeals, that and I've always wanted one.

So SidewaysSi what would you change on an S1 in the mythical £20k budget?

Good question! I have a Sport 160 which has the following:

- Nitron NTR 40mm dampers (about £1200 fitted with a geo)
- EP Ali belled discs and RS42 pads with fluid and braided brake lines (£700 ish)
- Quick steering rack (£400)
- Upgraded toe links (£200)
- Upgraded radiator (£500)
- Quick gearchange (£100)

To add:

- 2ubular sports exhaust and hurricane induction (£700)
- Sports seats and harnesses with harness bar (approx £1000)

That lot will get you a great fun car. On top of that you can go for some DVA work to the engine (£ up to you but £2k ish for something interesting) and a CR 'box with LSD (very roughly (£1000).

Then IMO you will have a really brilliant car. Saying you use a base car (Elise S1 K series approx 118 bhp) worth £10k, you have very probably the most fun and focused useable sports car for sub £20k. Very able on track yet can do the weekly shop.

Edited by SidewaysSi on Tuesday 24th November 18:36

Edited by SidewaysSi on Tuesday 24th November 18:40

[otolith]

20k might just stretch to an S1 plus Honda conversion, but that would require a cheap S1 which you would probably want to freshen up.