Lotus....111R......britains best kept secret!!!
Discussion
Well after years of trialling different cars from 911's/Cerberas/Boxsters/M6's and finally an AM V8 vantage, I decided to downsize (literally) and buy a Lotus. After much deliberation I went for the 111R..... All I can say is for years I have been missing out on what is without any shadow of a doubt the best drivers car in the world. I have never ever smiled so much at the sheer enthusiasm of a car, it wants to get to the next bend and prove it can go around it more than I do! It is legendary, and I absolutely love it. Not sure if fuel gauge broken but I also seem to be getting over 35mpg while creating this madness. I am sure this is nothing new to you long time Lotus fans but to me, a revelation and I love it. So to all of you, I am thrilled to be part of Team Lotus and look forward to many corners and smiles ahead. 
Yes indeed. What a hoot to drive! Superb little cars.
The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task...
Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. 
There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.
Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task...
Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
John, I think I may have to quote you every time someone whinges about getting in and out - 70 years old eh, they should be ashamed the fat unfit sods 
The 111R is the 189bhp Toyota engine - it's a bit less economical than the Rover, and it does have a brake servo and ABS. I must admit, the brake feel is one of the things I prefer about the Rover engined cars.
OP, are the exhaust and induction standard? 2bular exhaust, Toyota TRD airbox and a reflash to lower the cam change point
The 111R is the 189bhp Toyota engine - it's a bit less economical than the Rover, and it does have a brake servo and ABS. I must admit, the brake feel is one of the things I prefer about the Rover engined cars.
OP, are the exhaust and induction standard? 2bular exhaust, Toyota TRD airbox and a reflash to lower the cam change point
MGJohn said:
Yes indeed. What a hoot to drive! Superb little cars.
The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task... Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.
Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
John, the brakes lacking servo assistance is the whole point-the feel you get through the pedal is astonishing The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task...
Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
Takes a moment of recalibration when you first drive one, but once you realise the brakes are powerful when you apply the correct pressure, you begin to enjoy the feedback streaming through the pedal.
jamprichf1 said:
All I can say is for years I have been missing out on what is without any shadow of a doubt the best drivers car in the world. I have never ever smiled so much at the sheer enthusiasm of a car, it wants to get to the next bend and prove it can go around it more than I do!
Wait till you get it on track!MGJohn said:
Yes indeed. What a hoot to drive! Superb little cars.
The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task... Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.
Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
Thanks for that, loved the colour - was lucky enough to find it with 12k miles on so to be fair its like new and a great dealer in Sytner specialist cars in Warwick - highly recommended! Getting in, fine...gravity takes care of that but even though I consider myself a fit, thin(ish) chap...getting out with roof on, I look like a spider getting out of a matchbox. Mine is the pampered option with servo brakes but to be honest drove both and just loved the Toyota engine.....plus the aircon.....I have been spoilt!The first time I drove my son's S2 Elise ( 1.8 K-Series ) I had a bit of a shock trying to emerge from it with the hood not lowered. He had purchased it and before he could arrange Insurance, asked me to collect it for him under my Insurance. A seventy mile trip. So, pulling up at a filling station as it was low on Petrol, that first exit I had to emerge on all fours much to the mirth of other car drivers filling up. Those massive sills provide much needed strength but my seventy year old joints are nowhere near a flexible as they once were so getting out that first time was quite a task...
Worked out how best to enter and emerge since. Not too bad once that is sorted .. There is only one other negative driving the car for me, the rest is all positive all the way. It is that those massive Brake Discs are not servo-assisted! You have to make a conscious effort to remember that when driving the car after using cars with servo assisted brakes. Forget to do that and that first brake application feels like the brakes have packed up until you quickly adjust your pedal pressure.Fuel consumption is exceptional as you have found. 40mpg not driven for economy.
Yours is a very nice colour too. enjoy..
otolith said:
John, I think I may have to quote you every time someone whinges about getting in and out - 70 years old eh, they should be ashamed the fat unfit sods
The 111R is the 189bhp Toyota engine - it's a bit less economical than the Rover, and it does have a brake servo and ABS. I must admit, the brake feel is one of the things I prefer about the Rover engined cars.
OP, are the exhaust and induction standard? 2bular exhaust, Toyota TRD airbox and a reflash to lower the cam change point
I agree I will be one happy man if I am still jumping in at 70!!!The 111R is the 189bhp Toyota engine - it's a bit less economical than the Rover, and it does have a brake servo and ABS. I must admit, the brake feel is one of the things I prefer about the Rover engined cars.
OP, are the exhaust and induction standard? 2bular exhaust, Toyota TRD airbox and a reflash to lower the cam change point
No modifications, all absolutely standard. Im guessing the airbox,2bular exhaust and lowering cam point worthwhile mods?? Any idea of cost v benefit??
HarryFlatters said:
Lucky fellow
It's top of the list for my next car, the wife likes them, and had given me the green light with the only stipulation being that I can't have a yellow one
Go for it. The only thing I couldn't believe is how close you are to passenger....test drive with a man is quite intimate!!! Great with the wife though ....although better on your own!!!It's top of the list for my next car, the wife likes them, and had given me the green light with the only stipulation being that I can't have a yellow one
'it wants to get to the next bend and prove it can go around it more than I do'
Great quote!
I got bit in 2009, before then I didn't get the Lotus thing, only after dropping my TVR's did I try the Elise variants and land on the SC, I won't be without it, now six years on. I'd like other motors but along side the Elise.
Enjoy your best kept secret.
Great quote!
I got bit in 2009, before then I didn't get the Lotus thing, only after dropping my TVR's did I try the Elise variants and land on the SC, I won't be without it, now six years on. I'd like other motors but along side the Elise.
Enjoy your best kept secret.
jamprichf1 said:
I agree I will be one happy man if I am still jumping in at 70!!!
No modifications, all absolutely standard. Im guessing the airbox,2bular exhaust and lowering cam point worthwhile mods?? Any idea of cost v benefit??
I thought so. I think the exhaust was £500-ish. The airbox and filter you can get for about £80. The reflash is a couple of hundred quid, either the official one from Lotus or one of the third party versions which do much the same thing.No modifications, all absolutely standard. Im guessing the airbox,2bular exhaust and lowering cam point worthwhile mods?? Any idea of cost v benefit??
The airbox and exhaust may make a bit more power, but the main difference is the noise. Depending which exhaust you choose you can get a fruitier sound without too much extra noise. The airbox doesn't make a huge difference in noise until the cam switch happens - I had it fitted when the car was being serviced, and it made me laugh out loud the first time the engine came on cam. The combination of induction and exhaust noise hides a lot of the thrashiness of the engine.
Lowering the cam shift point (typically from 6200rpm to 5700rpm) improves the driveability of the car, you go on cam earlier and don't fall off it so easily if you short-shift - but it also makes the transition smoother, so you get less of a kick when it does it.
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