RE: Lotus Elise S1 - PH owners speak
Discussion
RYH64E said:
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).
When I drove an S2 (Toyota engine 'S' model) after my S1 it felt much more like a normal car, which I disliked. Servo assisted brakes was the biggest bug bear. Ironic as I would have bought a 111R if I could have to start with. 
I`m a Car Dealer. I had one T730RSF brand new in 1999 in Norfolk Mustard.Not a bad car and fine handling but just not quick enough in a straight line. I kept it for 18 months then traded it in for a brand new Boxster S. Kenny Dunn , then working at Glenvarigill, Edinburgh did me a great deal. Never, ever regretted selling it. Had a brand new VX220 in 2002 (just to re sell) - far better car imo
Edited by cosimpson on Tuesday 24th November 21:42
SidewaysSi said:
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.
Full suspension rebuild would be on my list.- 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
Mine was a nearly standard 118hp 8 years ago, they only mod being a Brooke Kensington rear box.
In no particular order..
Head with with bigger valves
52mm throttle body
421 manifold
Alloy rad with aux fan
Remote thermostat
S2 Bilstein kit
CR box
Quick shift kit
Refurbished steering rack
Get all the wishbones off, new wheel bearings and all bushes
Engine mounts
Over the years it's also changed colour, had a retrim, new hood, new wheels..
It's just about the way I want it now
cosimpson said:
I`m a Car Dealer. I had one T730RSF brand new in 1999 in Norfolk Mustard.Not a bad car and fine handling but just not quick enough in a straight line. I kept it for 18 months then traded it in for a brand new Boxster S. Kenny Dunn , then working at Glenvarigill, Edinburgh did me a great deal. Never, ever regretted selling it. Had a brand new VX220 in 2002 (just to re sell) - far better car imo
Was that an NA VX220 or a Turbo? Why did you think it was a better car? cosimpson said:
I`m a Car Dealer. I had one T730RSF brand new in 1999 in Norfolk Mustard.Not a bad car and fine handling but just not quick enough in a straight line. I kept it for 18 months then traded it in for a brand new Boxster S. Kenny Dunn , then working at Glenvarigill, Edinburgh did me a great deal. Never, ever regretted selling it. Had a brand new VX220 in 2002 (just to re sell) - far better car imo
sounds to me like you never took it near a twisty road or on a track...Edited by cosimpson on Tuesday 24th November 21:42
otolith said:
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.Or owning another car-which has the side effect of making the Elise feel even more remarkable when you drive it.
https://www.facebook.com/A.Filsinger
Joining in. If you're bored of praise for the S1, skip over this.
had mine for just over a year. It's a plain old 118BHP S1 from 2000, 70k on the clock, that needed a little TLC when I bought it. Thought I'd do a little bit to keep on top of it, and bring it up to how it should be...
New Bilstein springs and dampers, new gear linkage, resprayed all the grilles, refitted lamps and replaced corroded bits, replaced toe links, replaced ball joints, bushes, bearings, new rear discs and pads, had wishbones blasted and re-passivated, replaced seats with probax, added removable steering wheel, serviced it, and generally treated it to some TLC.
Having had a bog standard 996 before this, which was as good as everyone says, I find the Lotus more fun at lots lower speeds. Even punting down a country lane at 60 can be exhilarating, whereas the 996 would need "more" to give you the feeling.
Every drive makes me grin. Will be trying to keep it for a long, long time.
had mine for just over a year. It's a plain old 118BHP S1 from 2000, 70k on the clock, that needed a little TLC when I bought it. Thought I'd do a little bit to keep on top of it, and bring it up to how it should be...
New Bilstein springs and dampers, new gear linkage, resprayed all the grilles, refitted lamps and replaced corroded bits, replaced toe links, replaced ball joints, bushes, bearings, new rear discs and pads, had wishbones blasted and re-passivated, replaced seats with probax, added removable steering wheel, serviced it, and generally treated it to some TLC.
Having had a bog standard 996 before this, which was as good as everyone says, I find the Lotus more fun at lots lower speeds. Even punting down a country lane at 60 can be exhilarating, whereas the 996 would need "more" to give you the feeling.
Every drive makes me grin. Will be trying to keep it for a long, long time.
Here's my second Elise a mostly standard Elise Sport 160. Only 23k on the clock from new.
Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]
Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]Teamnj said:
Here's my second Elise a mostly standard Elise Sport 160. Only 23k on the clock from new.
Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]
Got to be worth £20k if you do sell. I was offered nearly £19k for my 43k miler a few months back but I puled out. Sport 160s are wanted!Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]Teamnj said:
Here's my second Elise a mostly standard Elise Sport 160. Only 23k on the clock from new.
Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]
That is lovely!!!Only a few upgrades are (trying to keep it s standard as possible):
Hurriance Induction
Genuine Carbon Fibre Door Cards, door handles surrounds, dash Inserts, Instrument Binnacle.
Aluminium heater controls, indicator stalks, etc.
Upgraded Sound system
Took it to Le Mans a couple of years ago for my stag do, wonderful car.... although new house, new baby and general lack of use is tempting me to sell it. Although I am very keen, it feels like too much of a pristine example to track and get best use out of it.
Need to either sell it or use it - however, as values are on the up, it's getting a better return than money in the bank and stops the wife from buying a new kitchen.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/gjZ7CXZw[/url][url]More praise from here.
This is mine, a '98 car in New Aluminium. It's had pretty much a full rebuild and about 30kg removed. It's got a high-compression Honda K20 with lumpy cams making 250bhp.
I have no plans to ever sell it, as I can't think of anything I'd replace it with that does so many things so well...
This is mine, a '98 car in New Aluminium. It's had pretty much a full rebuild and about 30kg removed. It's got a high-compression Honda K20 with lumpy cams making 250bhp.
I have no plans to ever sell it, as I can't think of anything I'd replace it with that does so many things so well...
573 said:
More praise from here.
This is mine, a '98 car in New Aluminium. It's had pretty much a full rebuild and about 30kg removed. It's got a high-compression Honda K20 with lumpy cams making 250bhp.
I have no plans to ever sell it, as I can't think of anything I'd replace it with that does so many things so well...
Very nice. This is mine, a '98 car in New Aluminium. It's had pretty much a full rebuild and about 30kg removed. It's got a high-compression Honda K20 with lumpy cams making 250bhp.
I have no plans to ever sell it, as I can't think of anything I'd replace it with that does so many things so well...
Had wanted one since they first came out, bought mine as an impulse buy in 2009 expecting to only keep it a few months and its been my daily driver for 6 or so years now! Have more or less fully rebuilt it over the last two years and though it's looking very scruffy on the outside just now, it just doesnt matter. I've honestly no idea what I would replace it with and I never get tired of it.
This past summer I've had it as far south as monaco, and as far north as john o groats. Was planning on running it past 100k by the end of the year but unfortunately I'll probably need an extra month or two!
This past summer I've had it as far south as monaco, and as far north as john o groats. Was planning on running it past 100k by the end of the year but unfortunately I'll probably need an extra month or two!
james_gt3rs said:
SidewaysSi said:
Got to be worth £20k if you do sell. I was offered nearly £19k for my 43k miler a few months back but I puled out. Sport 160s are wanted!
Silly money! You could buy a Honda S1 for that.Of course some people hate them, but a) what did they think they were buying and b) didn't they take a test drive?!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff