Me and my cars - Elise, Caterham and Integra R
Discussion
I was going to write a small piece on the cars that I currently own, however having been on Pistonheads for a number of years, thought I would post up my thoughts here as well. It’s a bit of a ramble but gives some thoughts on the experiences I have had with my Integra Type R, Caterham Superlight 1.6K and S1 Elise Sport 160. The aim of this is not really to show them off in the form of pictures but as I am a keen driver, more to give a flavour for living with and driving these admittedly quite special cars.
The key attributes that I look for in a car are steering feel, handling balance and an ability to put a smile on my face on the road without feeling like I need to get into licence-losing speeds for a car to come alive. I am very much in the camp that finds most modern cars too sanitised, competent and dare I say it, boring. So in the order in which they have been purchased:
UKDM Honda Integra R:
Having previously owned and driven a number of French hot hatches, back in 2009 I fancied a bit of a change. Whilst still front wheel drive, I was very much drawn to the Honda’s racecar vibe. It is the first Japanese car I have run for any period of time and even to this day I really appreciate the level of engineering in this car - its build quality very different, though no less impressive than the usual German machinery. It is less about perceived quality in the weight of the doors and materials used but more to do with precision engineering and total reliability.
Shutting the somewhat tinny sounding door brings you back a couple of decades when you look at the dashboard. It is very much 1980s Japan with shiny plastics and, in your line of sight, a somewhat cheap looking digital clock set at the top of the dashboard just below the base of the windscreen.
What hits you immediately is the standard fit Recaro seats which are definitely meant for the more slim hipped! Once on the move, the car’s strong structural rigidity makes itself felt. It is a feeling somewhat difficult to explain but it just feels “tough” – the lack of flex yet lightweight (1101Kg) makes it feel, I presume, like a little Touring car.
The pedals are superbly positioned and allow easy heel and toe changes. Likewise, the gearchange is light yet very mechanical, allowing you to change gear as quick as you can move your hand. Of course, everyone knows about the VTEC engine and whilst most will have an opinion on its nature, I certainly do not find it lacking in torque at road speeds. The car’s very short gearing does push you up the rev band which makes low speed driving relatively easy. The car in my opinion is not caught napping when simply mooching about. You do, however need to be totally comfortable changing gear at any speed, usually with a quick blip on a down change if you are to make the best of the engine. In particular, I do find at motorway speeds, a drop to forth or even third is not only good fun but also required to allow a quick burst of acceleration.
However, the engine is not the star of the show. That accolade goes to the Torsen diff which not only gives the car a simply uncanny ability to corner quickly but when you push some forces through the diff, makes the steering come alive in your hands. The ITR is very much a car that is almost half asleep going in a straight line, irrespective of speed. It lacks the feel and buzz of the other two at a 30mph bumble through town. What it needs and where its character changes, is for you to push the car harder through a few turns. Get the diff working, ideally with a bit of left-foot braking to wind up the diff and it demonstrates simply stunning traction, stability and partly due to the lightweight, agility.
So yes, it is a supremely competent driver’s car but also one that can crack 40mpg on a run, is totally reliable and is as practical as a Civic. Is there anything this side of a GT3 which feels as special and focused? The fact that these cars can be picked up for less than £3k makes them an absolute bargain if engineering excellence and a race car feel are your thing…
Caterham Superlight:
Ever since I started reading car magazines aged about 7, there was one car which caught my imagination like no other. A car that seemingly offered the purest, most undiluted driving experience, one which won every group test and one which was always a “5 star” car. Yes, the Caterham 7.
When I had the ability to purchase my first “expensive” car, there was little doubt what I would go for and duly paid a visit to Caterham South where I picked up a Caterham Classic. That was over 10 years ago and that was car was sold a few years back and replaced with this, a pretty much standard 2002 1.6K Superlight. Some will say it is too slow for the track, others will say it is the best Seven ever. All I know is that after having driven over 30k miles in Caterhams and having been lucky to have driven quite a few different variants, I love this one more than the rest.
For me, this particular car seems to have hit the absolute sweet spot of genuine on road usability with the thrill that only a sub-500Kg car can provide. It is a package where all the dynamic elements gel and where no one seems to dominate the driving experience. Of course it is quick (anything sub five to 60 is in my book), however it is not so quick that you need to hold back too much on the road. It really is a car you can work pretty hard and yet still keep on this said of the law. My driving is mostly on the road and this car provides just he right amount of everything. In particular, its skinny 175 section rears and LSD endow it with a wonderfully mobile rear end. It really is a car which you can play with the balance with through any particular corner.
It becomes second nature to push it in, get a little understeer then counter it with a few degrees of oversteer by simply toying with the throttle. All this is available at very much road speeds which for me is the sheer joy of this car. No car I have driven provides such an easy ability to move around underneath you and it is simply sublime.
The usual Seven attributes are all present and correct as well. These include a simply brilliant driving position – with the harnesses done up tightly such that you can only move your limbs, you wear these cars like no other. I also find the Tillet seats supremely comfortable – for a simple piece of plastic, they provide outstanding comfort and in between the high side and transmission tunnel, it is as snug and comfortable as anything out there.
Braking performance is stunning particularly with the AP Racing big brake package as is its steering feel, accuracy and sharpness. It lacks the delicacy and ultimate precision of the Elise in this respect, however counters with more weight. Pedals are adjustable but heel and toe changes quickly become second nature and with the lightning change of the 6 speed ‘box, you soon change gear for the hell of it.
Whilst the car has only 138bhp, it is the ridiculously short gearing (less than 17mph/1000 rpm in top) which goes a very long way to make this car as quick as it is. Coupled with the same chassis as any other Superlight variant and narrow tyres, driving this car gives me a hit I have not tired of in over 3 years of ownership.
Elise Sport 160:
November 2012 and with the frustration of the Caterham having been packed away for another winter (unlike some, my Seven does not get used when the roads have been gritted), I was after a new car to give me the same driving hit. So with £20k ish to burn, I was effectively after a "Caterham with a roof". Something which would prove more practical but which would still give me the same high as the Seven.
After driving many cars including air cooled 911s, E46 M3s, S2 Elises, Porsche 968s etc, I eventually went for a very lovely Elise S1 S160 on the basis that it had by far the best steering feel and due to the lowest mass, the sharpest handling of the lot. A visit to a Lotus dealer allowed me the opportunity to compare a S1 and S2 Elise and even on a shortish drive, it was pretty clear that for me, the S1 was the more appealing package. Also, having read all the press when the Elise was launched in 1996, it was the achievement of a lifetime ambition to finally get into an S1.
The standout dynamic attribute of this car is steering feel. The Seven is brilliant in this respect, however the Elise shades it quite comfortably and I adore it for that. It combines light weight with a level of precision which is sublime. My car was supplied with Gaz Gold dampers which I felt ruined the ride, so these along with uprated toe links were replaced with Nitron 1 way 40mm (450/525) dampers which has improved this car considerably. Its ride is still very firm and no doubt quite different to an Elise as it rolls out of the factory. However, the trade-off is simply stunning handling. There is negligible roll and with the mid-engined layout, it slices through corners. Many people site the Seven and Elise as rivals and in some respects they are, however they drive very differently. Where the Seven dances through a corner and you are playing with grip levels front and back, the Elise simply grips and goes. It may sound boring, however it does so with so much speed and feel, it flicks through corner and allows you to really lean on it. With 225 section rears, it has a lot more grip than the Caterham though will signal its limits with a smudge of understeer. There are people braver than me who will no doubt be happy to oversteer an Elise on the road, however for me it is a step too far. On track, the car will allow very predictable power oversteer. The Elise had a bit of a reputation to spin when it was launched, however with decent tyres (Yokohama Advan) and a proper geo, they are fairly benign. Even on track, I get very little lift-off oversteer.
The brakes are non-servoed and provide great feel, if not the ultimate stopping ability of the Seven’s AP setup. I have read much about poor Lotus gearboxes over the years, however from the point of view of shift quality, it is not an issue with this car at all. It is however hampered by quite tall gearing with fifth really being more an overdrive gear and requiring you to be able to use the ‘box to make quick progress on a motorway for instance.
After over a year with this car, it really is a bit of a cross over between true lightweights and more practical cars such as the Z4 and Boxster. Depending on how focused you want your car, the Elise can be made to be anything you want it to be, such is the level of specialist help out there. I think I may need some race seats, harnesses, sports exhaust as well as a sprinkling of DVA magic soon…Whilst all these upgrades are a heck of a lot cheaper than they would be for a 911, I still better get saving…
The key attributes that I look for in a car are steering feel, handling balance and an ability to put a smile on my face on the road without feeling like I need to get into licence-losing speeds for a car to come alive. I am very much in the camp that finds most modern cars too sanitised, competent and dare I say it, boring. So in the order in which they have been purchased:
UKDM Honda Integra R:
Having previously owned and driven a number of French hot hatches, back in 2009 I fancied a bit of a change. Whilst still front wheel drive, I was very much drawn to the Honda’s racecar vibe. It is the first Japanese car I have run for any period of time and even to this day I really appreciate the level of engineering in this car - its build quality very different, though no less impressive than the usual German machinery. It is less about perceived quality in the weight of the doors and materials used but more to do with precision engineering and total reliability.
Shutting the somewhat tinny sounding door brings you back a couple of decades when you look at the dashboard. It is very much 1980s Japan with shiny plastics and, in your line of sight, a somewhat cheap looking digital clock set at the top of the dashboard just below the base of the windscreen.
What hits you immediately is the standard fit Recaro seats which are definitely meant for the more slim hipped! Once on the move, the car’s strong structural rigidity makes itself felt. It is a feeling somewhat difficult to explain but it just feels “tough” – the lack of flex yet lightweight (1101Kg) makes it feel, I presume, like a little Touring car.
The pedals are superbly positioned and allow easy heel and toe changes. Likewise, the gearchange is light yet very mechanical, allowing you to change gear as quick as you can move your hand. Of course, everyone knows about the VTEC engine and whilst most will have an opinion on its nature, I certainly do not find it lacking in torque at road speeds. The car’s very short gearing does push you up the rev band which makes low speed driving relatively easy. The car in my opinion is not caught napping when simply mooching about. You do, however need to be totally comfortable changing gear at any speed, usually with a quick blip on a down change if you are to make the best of the engine. In particular, I do find at motorway speeds, a drop to forth or even third is not only good fun but also required to allow a quick burst of acceleration.
However, the engine is not the star of the show. That accolade goes to the Torsen diff which not only gives the car a simply uncanny ability to corner quickly but when you push some forces through the diff, makes the steering come alive in your hands. The ITR is very much a car that is almost half asleep going in a straight line, irrespective of speed. It lacks the feel and buzz of the other two at a 30mph bumble through town. What it needs and where its character changes, is for you to push the car harder through a few turns. Get the diff working, ideally with a bit of left-foot braking to wind up the diff and it demonstrates simply stunning traction, stability and partly due to the lightweight, agility.
So yes, it is a supremely competent driver’s car but also one that can crack 40mpg on a run, is totally reliable and is as practical as a Civic. Is there anything this side of a GT3 which feels as special and focused? The fact that these cars can be picked up for less than £3k makes them an absolute bargain if engineering excellence and a race car feel are your thing…
Caterham Superlight:
Ever since I started reading car magazines aged about 7, there was one car which caught my imagination like no other. A car that seemingly offered the purest, most undiluted driving experience, one which won every group test and one which was always a “5 star” car. Yes, the Caterham 7.
When I had the ability to purchase my first “expensive” car, there was little doubt what I would go for and duly paid a visit to Caterham South where I picked up a Caterham Classic. That was over 10 years ago and that was car was sold a few years back and replaced with this, a pretty much standard 2002 1.6K Superlight. Some will say it is too slow for the track, others will say it is the best Seven ever. All I know is that after having driven over 30k miles in Caterhams and having been lucky to have driven quite a few different variants, I love this one more than the rest.
For me, this particular car seems to have hit the absolute sweet spot of genuine on road usability with the thrill that only a sub-500Kg car can provide. It is a package where all the dynamic elements gel and where no one seems to dominate the driving experience. Of course it is quick (anything sub five to 60 is in my book), however it is not so quick that you need to hold back too much on the road. It really is a car you can work pretty hard and yet still keep on this said of the law. My driving is mostly on the road and this car provides just he right amount of everything. In particular, its skinny 175 section rears and LSD endow it with a wonderfully mobile rear end. It really is a car which you can play with the balance with through any particular corner.
It becomes second nature to push it in, get a little understeer then counter it with a few degrees of oversteer by simply toying with the throttle. All this is available at very much road speeds which for me is the sheer joy of this car. No car I have driven provides such an easy ability to move around underneath you and it is simply sublime.
The usual Seven attributes are all present and correct as well. These include a simply brilliant driving position – with the harnesses done up tightly such that you can only move your limbs, you wear these cars like no other. I also find the Tillet seats supremely comfortable – for a simple piece of plastic, they provide outstanding comfort and in between the high side and transmission tunnel, it is as snug and comfortable as anything out there.
Braking performance is stunning particularly with the AP Racing big brake package as is its steering feel, accuracy and sharpness. It lacks the delicacy and ultimate precision of the Elise in this respect, however counters with more weight. Pedals are adjustable but heel and toe changes quickly become second nature and with the lightning change of the 6 speed ‘box, you soon change gear for the hell of it.
Whilst the car has only 138bhp, it is the ridiculously short gearing (less than 17mph/1000 rpm in top) which goes a very long way to make this car as quick as it is. Coupled with the same chassis as any other Superlight variant and narrow tyres, driving this car gives me a hit I have not tired of in over 3 years of ownership.
Elise Sport 160:
November 2012 and with the frustration of the Caterham having been packed away for another winter (unlike some, my Seven does not get used when the roads have been gritted), I was after a new car to give me the same driving hit. So with £20k ish to burn, I was effectively after a "Caterham with a roof". Something which would prove more practical but which would still give me the same high as the Seven.
After driving many cars including air cooled 911s, E46 M3s, S2 Elises, Porsche 968s etc, I eventually went for a very lovely Elise S1 S160 on the basis that it had by far the best steering feel and due to the lowest mass, the sharpest handling of the lot. A visit to a Lotus dealer allowed me the opportunity to compare a S1 and S2 Elise and even on a shortish drive, it was pretty clear that for me, the S1 was the more appealing package. Also, having read all the press when the Elise was launched in 1996, it was the achievement of a lifetime ambition to finally get into an S1.
The standout dynamic attribute of this car is steering feel. The Seven is brilliant in this respect, however the Elise shades it quite comfortably and I adore it for that. It combines light weight with a level of precision which is sublime. My car was supplied with Gaz Gold dampers which I felt ruined the ride, so these along with uprated toe links were replaced with Nitron 1 way 40mm (450/525) dampers which has improved this car considerably. Its ride is still very firm and no doubt quite different to an Elise as it rolls out of the factory. However, the trade-off is simply stunning handling. There is negligible roll and with the mid-engined layout, it slices through corners. Many people site the Seven and Elise as rivals and in some respects they are, however they drive very differently. Where the Seven dances through a corner and you are playing with grip levels front and back, the Elise simply grips and goes. It may sound boring, however it does so with so much speed and feel, it flicks through corner and allows you to really lean on it. With 225 section rears, it has a lot more grip than the Caterham though will signal its limits with a smudge of understeer. There are people braver than me who will no doubt be happy to oversteer an Elise on the road, however for me it is a step too far. On track, the car will allow very predictable power oversteer. The Elise had a bit of a reputation to spin when it was launched, however with decent tyres (Yokohama Advan) and a proper geo, they are fairly benign. Even on track, I get very little lift-off oversteer.
The brakes are non-servoed and provide great feel, if not the ultimate stopping ability of the Seven’s AP setup. I have read much about poor Lotus gearboxes over the years, however from the point of view of shift quality, it is not an issue with this car at all. It is however hampered by quite tall gearing with fifth really being more an overdrive gear and requiring you to be able to use the ‘box to make quick progress on a motorway for instance.
After over a year with this car, it really is a bit of a cross over between true lightweights and more practical cars such as the Z4 and Boxster. Depending on how focused you want your car, the Elise can be made to be anything you want it to be, such is the level of specialist help out there. I think I may need some race seats, harnesses, sports exhaust as well as a sprinkling of DVA magic soon…Whilst all these upgrades are a heck of a lot cheaper than they would be for a 911, I still better get saving…
A very Chapman'esq collection,
Ive done the Integra and elise itch just need to tick the Caterham one in the future!
Your S160's geo sits so well, lovely looking car on what must be a rare colour for the S160?
Hopefully I will be back in elise ownership soon, seeing your garage dosn't help me!
Ive done the Integra and elise itch just need to tick the Caterham one in the future!
Your S160's geo sits so well, lovely looking car on what must be a rare colour for the S160?
Hopefully I will be back in elise ownership soon, seeing your garage dosn't help me!
Thanks all. Will try and get more pics up soon, possibly this weekend. The Elise was set up by Back on Track and running a 110/120 ride height I believe.
As for additions to the garage, I was thinking something like a W124 Merc as I do need something more practical. May need to swap the Honda as I can't justify 4 cars living in London!
As for additions to the garage, I was thinking something like a W124 Merc as I do need something more practical. May need to swap the Honda as I can't justify 4 cars living in London!
Thanks again for the kind comments. I like my cars hardcore and buy the best I can, focusing mainly on history and provenance rather than colour. Most of the 160 Elises are Black, Scandal Green or Titanium and initially I was not sold on the red, however it has certainly grown on me over time and when polished and in the sun, looks pretty special 
james_gt3rs said:
Are those the standard wheels for that model Elise? Looks much nicer than most S1s that I see.
They are the standard "Victory" Technomagnesio alloys found on the 160 model. My car is totally standard except the Nitron suspension and ProAlloy radiator. It sorely needs a sports exhaust though as it is too quiet for my liking. Some race seats and harnesses may also come its way in the not too distant future as the standard S1 seats are pretty uncomfortable. I also quite like it with the roof on and have never taken it off 
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