S1 Lotus Elise 111S
Discussion
Put the roof on for the first time today....makes the Caterhams seem like a folding metal hardtop off an SL 🤣. But overall impressed how it feels like inside with the roof on. Actually quite relaxed.
Whipped all the wheels off today, loads of new arms and bushes but the main wishbones themselves are a bit tired so that's a job over winter.
Brakes have managed to come back to me a bit as well, they need a refresh but they'll do for Brands Hatch in the next couple of weeks.
One thing is it is suspiciously fast.... I know the gearing is short but defo feels punchier than 143bhp...
What a lovely car! I have a Rover Metro with the 160VVC engine in and 800kgs, it’s quite a beast!!
Regarding your suspicion it has a bit more power, if your car is fitted with the 110mm throttle body and a decent intake / exhaust, that 143 engine can make up to 170bhp if it’s healthy. I know this from kit cars using the same engines in the past, KMaps do the “170” remap too used a a control map in race series. Maybe it’s had a tweak in the past!
Regarding your suspicion it has a bit more power, if your car is fitted with the 110mm throttle body and a decent intake / exhaust, that 143 engine can make up to 170bhp if it’s healthy. I know this from kit cars using the same engines in the past, KMaps do the “170” remap too used a a control map in race series. Maybe it’s had a tweak in the past!
Joehow said:
Put the roof on for the first time today....makes the Caterhams seem like a folding metal hardtop off an SL ??. But overall impressed how it feels like inside with the roof on. Actually quite relaxed.
Whipped all the wheels off today, loads of new arms and bushes but the main wishbones themselves are a bit tired so that's a job over winter.
Brakes have managed to come back to me a bit as well, they need a refresh but they'll do for Brands Hatch in the next couple of weeks.
One thing is it is suspiciously fast.... I know the gearing is short but defo feels punchier than 143bhp...
You’ll get used to the roof - it’s only a few minutes effort after a few goes. I actually find it easier than a Caterham roof, at least one that doesn’t stretch enough in winter! I quite like it with the roof on - feels like a mini Le Mans racer to me
albeit louder than with the roof off! Regards it feeling fast, it’s about 700kgs, as you know, and with the short gearing and the sensation of speed you get in an S1, it’s plenty! Similar power to weight as a modern 300bhp hot hatch.
bencollins4 said:
Lovely - the best colour for an S1!
You’ll get used to the roof - it’s only a few minutes effort after a few goes. I actually find it easier than a Caterham roof, at least one that doesn’t stretch enough in winter! I quite like it with the roof on - feels like a mini Le Mans racer to me albeit louder than with the roof off!
Regards it feeling fast, it’s about 700kgs, as you know, and with the short gearing and the sensation of speed you get in an S1, it’s plenty! Similar power to weight as a modern 300bhp hot hatch.
If feels quite a lot quicker than my 310R. I know gearing helps there though but that car was still 200kilos lighter and supposedly had 10bhp more You’ll get used to the roof - it’s only a few minutes effort after a few goes. I actually find it easier than a Caterham roof, at least one that doesn’t stretch enough in winter! I quite like it with the roof on - feels like a mini Le Mans racer to me
albeit louder than with the roof off! Regards it feeling fast, it’s about 700kgs, as you know, and with the short gearing and the sensation of speed you get in an S1, it’s plenty! Similar power to weight as a modern 300bhp hot hatch.
Well not actually managed to do much driving as currently feels like I should be concentrating more on my Ark build and locating various animal species for the journey....
But I've still managed a bit of plagerism in the meantime, I've got a slightly damaged driving light and I'd rather spend the money for a new one on chassis mods so stole Mark Tickles light cover idea!
I've also removed the front plate - god it looks so much better. There will be a sticker going on before anyone moans. Just a shame we have to have one as the plate really ruins the design in my opinion.
I also all being well will see my lovely SL go tomorrow to a nice chap so I'm using some of that money to purchase some new dampers and tyres.
Damper wise I've gone for the NTR40 Fast Road Nitrons
These should hopefully be quite an upgrade on the knackered Konis plus be a little better for the occasional track day.
Tyre wise think I'm gonna go for a Nankang NS2R as I need something that will also work in the wet.
But I've still managed a bit of plagerism in the meantime, I've got a slightly damaged driving light and I'd rather spend the money for a new one on chassis mods so stole Mark Tickles light cover idea!
I've also removed the front plate - god it looks so much better. There will be a sticker going on before anyone moans. Just a shame we have to have one as the plate really ruins the design in my opinion.
I also all being well will see my lovely SL go tomorrow to a nice chap so I'm using some of that money to purchase some new dampers and tyres.
Damper wise I've gone for the NTR40 Fast Road Nitrons
These should hopefully be quite an upgrade on the knackered Konis plus be a little better for the occasional track day.
Tyre wise think I'm gonna go for a Nankang NS2R as I need something that will also work in the wet.
Joehow said:
911Spanker said:
The Nitrons are good but I couldn't stand the ride quality on those springs. Way too stiff for me given the s
te roads we have!
Yeah I might go down a tiny bit in lbs but the vastly improved damper overall should help. te roads we have!I ended up going down to 300/375 which are still stiff but work much better and I am much happier.
911Spanker said:
Joehow said:
911Spanker said:
The Nitrons are good but I couldn't stand the ride quality on those springs. Way too stiff for me given the ste roads we have!
Yeah I might go down a tiny bit in lbs but the vastly improved damper overall should help. te roads we have!I ended up going down to 300/375 which are still stiff but work much better and I am much happier.
Joehow said:
911Spanker said:
Joehow said:
911Spanker said:
The Nitrons are good but I couldn't stand the ride quality on those springs. Way too stiff for me given the ste roads we have!
Yeah I might go down a tiny bit in lbs but the vastly improved damper overall should help. te roads we have!I ended up going down to 300/375 which are still stiff but work much better and I am much happier.
Saying that, I think it is a great compromise for road and track.
911Spanker said:
Yep, see what you think. I am a fair bit softer than 400/475 and it's still a bit hard riding.
Saying that, I think it is a great compromise for road and track.
I think I got used to a GT3 with basically cup car suspension on so I'm a bit warped. My Caterham has the 'road suspension' on and I found that got a bit flustered when you cracked on a bit. I think that was as probably poor OEM damper quality though Saying that, I think it is a great compromise for road and track.
Popped down to see the lads at Tyrepoint in Maidstone for new tyres this morning. Plumped for a set of Nankang NS2Rs as I know they're a decent half way road and track tyre.
The old Yokohama tyres had plenty of tread but a 2013 date stamp meant they were ditch finders.. so bad in fact the car was trying to rotate in the wet today on the way there at barely walking pace.
Also ordered a load of new bolts for when the Nitrons turn up.
Finally I'm 6ft and the steering wheels is close to my knees so ordered a 30mm spacer to fit.
The old Yokohama tyres had plenty of tread but a 2013 date stamp meant they were ditch finders.. so bad in fact the car was trying to rotate in the wet today on the way there at barely walking pace.
Also ordered a load of new bolts for when the Nitrons turn up.
Finally I'm 6ft and the steering wheels is close to my knees so ordered a 30mm spacer to fit.
So after reading many horror stories about the footwells rotting in S1s i set about cutting out the nasty rubber underfloor mats to see how much pain I (my wallet) was going to be in.
This is what we found... Annoyingly scratched a little of the Ali with the Stanley knife. So a few marks but nothing like as bad as I have seen.
So I set about cleaning up as best as I could for now - and it hasn't come up too badly considering. I'll be treating it and following the SELOC guide in September as part of a few other bits that need doing.
So what about the tyres?!.... So initial impressions of the NS2Rs is that the car has had a huge step up in grip, particularly at the front end where the 195 for the Nankang is a lot wider than the 195 on the Yokohama. Obviously new rubber helps but the width is noticeable to the eye as well.
Got a bit of a longer drive tomorrow to meet up with some mates and then it's Brands Hatch time on 14th.
Only gripe so far is the exhaust a Janspeed item with silencer is a bit raspy for my liking so may look to swap that out.
This is what we found... Annoyingly scratched a little of the Ali with the Stanley knife. So a few marks but nothing like as bad as I have seen.
So I set about cleaning up as best as I could for now - and it hasn't come up too badly considering. I'll be treating it and following the SELOC guide in September as part of a few other bits that need doing.
So what about the tyres?!.... So initial impressions of the NS2Rs is that the car has had a huge step up in grip, particularly at the front end where the 195 for the Nankang is a lot wider than the 195 on the Yokohama. Obviously new rubber helps but the width is noticeable to the eye as well.
Got a bit of a longer drive tomorrow to meet up with some mates and then it's Brands Hatch time on 14th.
Only gripe so far is the exhaust a Janspeed item with silencer is a bit raspy for my liking so may look to swap that out.
Met up with a few caterham pals tonight... strangely although obviously bigger Elise doesn't seem too big.
Annoyingly a truck dropped something off the bag and it smashed into the front clam on the M25
Car is far from perfect up front but that was a bit sore.
On the journey up also got stuck on the bridge, car does not like sitting in traffic at all!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff