What is difference between S1 and 111S?

What is difference between S1 and 111S?

Author
Discussion

rjben

Original Poster:

917 posts

283 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Hello Gents,

I've been thinking about getting an elise and would be in the market for an S1 probably 20-30K FLSH 98 car.

Firstly, is 13-14K a reasonable price for one of these?
Secondly, I thought only the S2's had a 111s denomonation? As I understood it some owners call their S1's by the 111s denomonation if they have all the extras. Does anybody know what these extras are ie BHP Exhaust etc.

Thirdly, am I talking through my arse! Sorry, coming from a TVR backround I'm really not familiar with these cars - want the handling but can't afford a T350!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Rob

Bonce

4,339 posts

280 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Ah, you haven't read your Elise History very carefully have you?

The S1 Elise has the type number 111. Over the years, there have been many variations on the original chassis design:

Standard
GT1
Motorsport
111S
Sport 135
Sport 160
Sport 190
340R
Exige

and more recently:
VX220
S2 Standard
S2 Sport 135
S2 Sport 190
S2 111S

These are all fairly major model revisions and don't include special paint job editions like the type 49, type 25, type 72, millenium edition etc.

So in answer to your question, the S1 did have a 111S as a factory model and it included a VVC engine and close ratio gear box along with the normal cosmetic changes like spoiler, new wheels, and other details.

It's not a 111S unless it says so on the V5! Check that you're not being fobbed off by anyone saying "it's got a sports exhaust so it's a 111S". All the information you could possibly want about elises can be found here:

www.elises.co.uk
and here
www.elise-faq.info

Buy one, you won't regret it!

Bonce

> Edited to be a bit more helpful!

>> Edited by Bonce (moderator) on Tuesday 4th March 14:50

rjben

Original Poster:

917 posts

283 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Thank you very much Sir! This is the start of my journey to Lotus ownership - I'll be doing allot more revision before I buy me thinks.

Cheers,

Rob

milesforrest

47 posts

263 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Hi Rob

13-14K is about right, but have a look at a few.

111S is used to identify cars with VVC engines. There was an S1 VVC 111S from about 1999 with 143bhp and close ratio gearbox. It also had 6 spoke wheels instead of 5 and a lip spoiler on the boot. Slightly wider rear wheels (225 as standard). I think the seats were different and there are a few 111S logos. Standard exhaust.

The pros are that it had better acceleration and the engine doesn't run out of torque at high revs as much as the standard engine. The only real downside of the 111S was the lower 5th gear for motorway driving resulted in higher revs. oh and it cost more.

I wait to be corrected, but I don't think is a big difference in the handling of the two types of S1

Miles

rjben

Original Poster:

917 posts

283 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Thanks Miles,

That helps allot. Does anybody have a URL for a FAQ or model guide?

Cheers,

Rob

Bonce

4,339 posts

280 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Sorry, you may not have seen I sneakily edited my post earlier to put some useful URLs in.

rjben

Original Poster:

917 posts

283 months

Tuesday 4th March 2003
quotequote all
Cheers Bonce!