Too Cat or not too Cat that is the question.......

[D4V KC]

I put a De-Cat pipe on my Elise 111s S1 yesterday. Today i led a run of 6 cars down to Liphook for a Pistonheads Xmas lunch, general concensous was "Sounds fantastic!" Apparantly if people got seperated in traffic on the way down they just followed the noise!

I've noticed a definate pickup in the mid-range torque. Goes very quick 40-90. As the CL55 AMG will tell you that tried to pull away from me on the dual carridgeway from a Farnham roundabout. (he pulled over at 90 and behaved himself, obviouly he had another 90 to go though)!

But have any of you been pulled and fined for not having your Cat fitted? Was told today it could cost me a grand! Your thoughts, as ever, appreciated.

[Mrs Fish]

D4V KC said:

Was told today it could cost me a grand! Your thoughts, as ever, appreciated.

that is the maximum fine we believe

[Bonce]

I've not heard of any Elise owners being fined for this. I ran my Elise decatted for 3.5 years with no problems.

[340ragtop]

I would have thought your reg plate would be the most likely reason you'd get pulled.

cheers

[D4V KC]

Bonce said:

I've not heard of any Elise owners being fined for this. I ran my Elise decatted for 3.5 years with no problems.

Well, i'll have to see how it goes with the De-Cat i guess. But i love the noise, and can't believe the mid range difference! Cheers Bonce

340ragtop said:

I would have thought your reg plate would be the most likely reason you'd get pulled. cheers

My Neighbour was a police traffic officer and he said they'd have to be pretty anal to nick me for the plate.
However he's moved house now so couldn't ask about the De-Cat.
I've had the plate like that for nearly 3 years and not had "a chat" about it yet with a uniform. So, touch wood, (ooer) we'll see how it goes.

[simon_wade]

Hi. Live on the south coast and just bought a Lotus Elise Sport 160. I was hoping to attend the Liphook meeting but unfortunately had already arranged to do something else. Do you know if you'll be meeting up again over Xmas or into the new year?

[cinqster]

David,

What exhaust are you using? I've decatted my standard S1 (which still has the original box) and I've noticed very little change in performance or sound?

[D4V KC]

simon_wade said:

Hi. Live on the south coast and just bought a Lotus Elise Sport 160. I was hoping to attend the Liphook meeting but unfortunately had already arranged to do something else. Do you know if you'll be meeting up again over Xmas or into the new year?

Hi Simon, shame you missed it, we had a bit of a 'spirited' drive there and a good roast! I'm gonna do one around the end of January /beginning of febuary as i'm in Germany for a couple of week next month. Please keep an eye open on the Events page and i'll post it up soon. May even e-mail you if you have it in your profile.

cinqster said:

David, What exhaust are you using? I've decatted my standard S1 (which still has the original box) and I've noticed very little change in performance or sound?

Hi Cinqster, I've got a Brook Kensington Sports exhaust (www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/ppartl5.htm) and K&N 57i fitted and it's mental! I may have gone too far as it's so noisey! Very deep woffle on the over run, followed by a roar under acceleration. Genuine mid-range increase, which is nice. I've got the 111s S1, so maybe the VVC engine and effectively a straight through system work well together. The fact it was so cold on Sunday on the run probably helped with all that cold damp air being sucked into the engine! Also Cinqster, let me know your email address we bumped into you at V.W.and Boxhill, D4V KC

[beechy]

How much dose it cost and dose anyone know what noise difference there is on a standard S2. Also whats the deal with MOT, do you just ask the garage to put the cat back on for the test?

[D4V KC]

beechy said:

How much dose it cost and dose anyone know what noise difference there is on a standard S2. Also whats the deal with MOT, do you just ask the garage to put the cat back on for the test?

Check the weblink i put in my thread.
www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/ppartl5.htm
You'll need the Janspeed zaust for your S2. But as i'm sure you'll find, lots of people like specific makes and model of zaust for the Elise. But i've heard the Janspeed on a S2 135R and it sounded nice. He had done nothing to the induction and the CAT was still on the car so can't really say how it could have sounded. Was promiseing!

For your MOT, unless you 'know someone' you wont get through with the cat removed, so you'll have to re-fit it. Though i have heard claims from random individuals that the elise can scrape through omissions without the cat? Anyone know? I think it's unlikely.

I took my cat out myself, it's fairly easy if you have a couple of wheel ramps and you obviously have a few bolts to undo to take the rear section of the floor off. But it's not difficult! If you get the MOT man to do it he'll charge you an hours labour! Good luck.