Tickles Lotus Elise S1 111s
Discussion
CallorFold said:
Car looks fantastic, really well sorted and great attention to the little details. I love the idea of having a Lotus sitting in the garage for a proper weekend/sunny day car. Similarly to yourself, I currently own a Clio 197 as my daily driver, great for a hoon too, but not half as special as an Elise - I wonder how the Lotus would stand up as a daily driver for a short commute.
Thanks,Edited by CallorFold on Wednesday 9th September 09:16
Great cars the Clio's, I have had a Trophy and a 200, both a good compromise of driver involvement and day to day usability. The 200 is now gone, my daily is a Toyota Aygo now as I only have a small commute and Mrs Tickle has the family car. It strangely works out cheaper running my two cars with well balanced man maths and car choice. With limited mileage policies on both the Aygo and Elise the insurance and tax is less than the 200.... Note: my man maths does not include upgrade bits & bobs for the Elise!
For a short commute an Elise is fine, I did it for two years in my old S2. There are a few little niggles that you need to accept; leaky roof, with the roof on you need a fair bit of space to open the door to get in/out and boot space is not the biggest but there is always the passenger seat! I also found it not to be as ‘special’ when I wanted to go for a drive on a weekend as I had been putting up with its flaws as a daily all week. This is IMHO of course.
A few years out of a Lotus ownership and my S1 feels very special as a weekend car. This one won’t be getting used to commute in at all, mainly because of not trusting other road users on my commute/rush hour and the general lack of respect these days for other people’s property, particularly in car-parks. I think my days of using my pride and joy as a daily are well and truly over. Not a bad thing really; the weekend car can be a touch more focused and also feel that extra bit ‘special’ when it goes out.
Tickle said:
I also found it not to be as ‘special’ when I wanted to go for a drive on a weekend as I had been putting up with its flaws as a daily all week. This is IMHO of course.
Couldn't agree more with that. My Elise feels absolutely electric and wired when driving it after "normal" stuff-even the ZT, which has a hulking great V8 to haul it down the road. The total lack of inertia and instant response to inputs while flooding you with feedback is just sensational. 
itcaptainslow said:
Tickle said:
I also found it not to be as ‘special’ when I wanted to go for a drive on a weekend as I had been putting up with its flaws as a daily all week. This is IMHO of course.
Couldn't agree more with that. My Elise feels absolutely electric and wired when driving it after "normal" stuff-even the ZT, which has a hulking great V8 to haul it down the road. The total lack of inertia and instant response to inputs while flooding you with feedback is just sensational. Tickle said:
itcaptainslow said:
Tickle said:
I also found it not to be as ‘special’ when I wanted to go for a drive on a weekend as I had been putting up with its flaws as a daily all week. This is IMHO of course.
Couldn't agree more with that. My Elise feels absolutely electric and wired when driving it after "normal" stuff-even the ZT, which has a hulking great V8 to haul it down the road. The total lack of inertia and instant response to inputs while flooding you with feedback is just sensational. Hopefully the weather will turn in a positive way and I can get mine out again soon (especially to celebrate keeping the wheels)-put the battery on charge today so that's the first step! I keep saying this but it WILL turn a wheel again before winter...
itcaptainslow said:
A Caterham Seven is the only thing I think I've driven that raised the same smiles for me-an Atom terrified me and didn't feel as expressive or faithful as the Elise, it was very "point & squirt".
Hopefully the weather will turn in a positive way and I can get mine out again soon (especially to celebrate keeping the wheels)-put the battery on charge today so that's the first step! I keep saying this but it WILL turn a wheel again before winter...
Ha, I felt the same after a go of an Atom, it scared the sHopefully the weather will turn in a positive way and I can get mine out again soon (especially to celebrate keeping the wheels)-put the battery on charge today so that's the first step! I keep saying this but it WILL turn a wheel again before winter...
t out of me and that was on an airfield! Still yet to pop the Caterham cherry.Sure there will be a few dry days before the gritters comes out yet.
...oh glad you seen sense regarding the wheels too
A Caterham is a must drive, preferably something with K-Series or a lower powered Sigma. The power doesn't then dominate the experience-my personal favourite is a 1.6 K-Series running around 140bhp I think. Rorty, snorting, revvy power together with a tail out everywhere attitude (although I understand geo is a massive factor in how they end up being biased)-but very controllable and an absolute hoot. Not quite as precise or flowing as the Elise, but such an unbelievable laugh-it felt completely natural to provoke a slide and hold it around a corner that in the Elise I'd be aiming for a sharp line and using the mid-engine balance to keep the nose tucked in towards the apex.
I've been tempted numerous times to check out a Seven but I still have unswinging loyalty to the Elise, for now. The Lotus is just such a pretty little thing, and much as I bemoan its limitations, it's a grand tourer compared to the Caterham. Plus-I'm still discovering new things about the Elise-I love the way it gradually reveals it's characteristics and ability, it rewards you digging deeper and working hard as a driver. I wonder if the novelty of going sideways everywhere in the Caterham would wear off.
No, it probably wouldn't
I've been tempted numerous times to check out a Seven but I still have unswinging loyalty to the Elise, for now. The Lotus is just such a pretty little thing, and much as I bemoan its limitations, it's a grand tourer compared to the Caterham. Plus-I'm still discovering new things about the Elise-I love the way it gradually reveals it's characteristics and ability, it rewards you digging deeper and working hard as a driver. I wonder if the novelty of going sideways everywhere in the Caterham would wear off.
No, it probably wouldn't
itcaptainslow said:
A Caterham is a must drive, preferably something with K-Series or a lower powered Sigma. The power doesn't then dominate the experience-my personal favourite is a 1.6 K-Series running around 140bhp I think. Rorty, snorting, revvy power together with a tail out everywhere attitude (although I understand geo is a massive factor in how they end up being biased)-but very controllable and an absolute hoot. Not quite as precise or flowing as the Elise, but such an unbelievable laugh-it felt completely natural to provoke a slide and hold it around a corner that in the Elise I'd be aiming for a sharp line and using the mid-engine balance to keep the nose tucked in towards the apex.
I've been tempted numerous times to check out a Seven but I still have unswinging loyalty to the Elise, for now. The Lotus is just such a pretty little thing, and much as I bemoan its limitations, it's a grand tourer compared to the Caterham. Plus-I'm still discovering new things about the Elise-I love the way it gradually reveals it's characteristics and ability, it rewards you digging deeper and working hard as a driver. I wonder if the novelty of going sideways everywhere in the Caterham would wear off.
No, it probably wouldn't
I remember sitting in a superlight at the motor-show in 1997 and wanted one. No doubt I would love the drive of a well set-up one too. I think the reality of owning one puts me off though, knowing that I would get less chance of using it than the Elise due to its practicality limitations, we use the Elise for weekends away every now and again and the weather can never be trusted!I've been tempted numerous times to check out a Seven but I still have unswinging loyalty to the Elise, for now. The Lotus is just such a pretty little thing, and much as I bemoan its limitations, it's a grand tourer compared to the Caterham. Plus-I'm still discovering new things about the Elise-I love the way it gradually reveals it's characteristics and ability, it rewards you digging deeper and working hard as a driver. I wonder if the novelty of going sideways everywhere in the Caterham would wear off.
No, it probably wouldn't
The S1 seems the best combination of rawness and a touch of practicality. On Sunday I had 'one of the them drives' where everything came together. As you said I still feel I am learning more about it's capabilities that surprise you when you start fine tuning your lines, braking, steering inputs etc.
Feel like going for a drive now!
CallorFold said:
Car looks fantastic, really well sorted and great attention to the little details. I love the idea of having a Lotus sitting in the garage for a proper weekend/sunny day car. Similarly to yourself, I currently own a Clio 197 as my daily driver, great for a hoon too, but not half as special as an Elise - I wonder how the Lotus would stand up as a daily driver for a short commute.
I did 75,000 miles in mine without issues. Starter motor broke once but it was 15 years old and 124,000 miles for the worse, Fab daily driver, had an MR2 for a year but just isn't special. Back to an Elise next month.Edited by CallorFold on Wednesday 9th September 09:16
Tickle said:
Will it be ready next month Phil?
I'm optimistic, lol. Dropping the clams off to be resprayed on Saturday, picking up the new interior while I have the van, so it's cracking on.
All four corners back together, cooling nearly sorted, still not sure whether I'll need a new engine or not but there's a 111s lump kicking around if necessary...
Not actually that much left to do - bodywork and interior, rear brakes need rebuilding, few brackets and bits to sort out, and then putting the exhaust on, coolant, battery and so on - nothing major left.
I keep looking at your photos as inspiration - is such a cool colour in different light, looks a bit brownish in some shots. Can't wait.
pthelazyjourno said:
I'm optimistic, lol.
Dropping the clams off to be resprayed on Saturday, picking up the new interior while I have the van, so it's cracking on.
All four corners back together, cooling nearly sorted, still not sure whether I'll need a new engine or not but there's a 111s lump kicking around if necessary...
Not actually that much left to do - bodywork and interior, rear brakes need rebuilding, few brackets and bits to sort out, and then putting the exhaust on, coolant, battery and so on - nothing major left.
I keep looking at your photos as inspiration - is such a cool colour in different light, looks a bit brownish in some shots. Can't wait.
Glad it's nearing completion, you have done well to get it turned around so quick and of course well done for giving an S1 a new lease of life!Dropping the clams off to be resprayed on Saturday, picking up the new interior while I have the van, so it's cracking on.
All four corners back together, cooling nearly sorted, still not sure whether I'll need a new engine or not but there's a 111s lump kicking around if necessary...
Not actually that much left to do - bodywork and interior, rear brakes need rebuilding, few brackets and bits to sort out, and then putting the exhaust on, coolant, battery and so on - nothing major left.
I keep looking at your photos as inspiration - is such a cool colour in different light, looks a bit brownish in some shots. Can't wait.
Suspension looks great on it, A refresh is on my to-do list. I am running Bilsteins too and its all nice and tight but for piece of mind I want to POR-15 the wishbones and get it looking sparkly!
Keep the blog updated, look forward to seeing the finished results too, oh and cheers for looking at my little Elise for inspiration!
Edited by Tickle on Wednesday 16th September 12:33
Feirny said:
Tickle said:
I have checked the plugs (only about 2 month old) and checked for water in under the plug cover, which there was non of.
Misfire detection unit is the most likely cause, so I have been told anyway.
What's the damage on one of those, and easy to source?Misfire detection unit is the most likely cause, so I have been told anyway.
Had a quick look on SELOC too for the issue and it does point to what I was told (http://arc.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=253813&page=1#pid4454616)
After being off the road for a month the little 111s is back, and it's brilliant!
A bit of maintenance and all important preventative maintenance has been carried out at Phoenix, as always to an excellent standard.
Jobs carried out:
Misfire detection kit removed
New expansion tank and coolant
New coil packs
New leads
New plugs
I had a new Blue and Brown sensor set at home so they got put on too. Finally
A new wiper blade.
The car is driving brilliant again. It's going to get a winter layer of collinite 915 and the hood is having a renovo clean and seal in the next few weeks, but for now I am enjoying the mild, dry Autumn!
Few pics of a local run out I had this morning...
... The Elise now has a beanie for Winter too
A bit of maintenance and all important preventative maintenance has been carried out at Phoenix, as always to an excellent standard.
Jobs carried out:
Misfire detection kit removed
New expansion tank and coolant
New coil packs
New leads
New plugs
I had a new Blue and Brown sensor set at home so they got put on too. Finally
A new wiper blade.
The car is driving brilliant again. It's going to get a winter layer of collinite 915 and the hood is having a renovo clean and seal in the next few weeks, but for now I am enjoying the mild, dry Autumn!
Few pics of a local run out I had this morning...
... The Elise now has a beanie for Winter too
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