Ordering another 111R!
Discussion
If I were to order another 111R, these are the changes I would make….
I have the touring pack and there is no way I would be without it. I also did some trim work, I had the instrument binnacle trimmed like the exige and the alloy indicator stalks cos the standard ones are ugly.
Anyway, if I were to do it again I would also have the exige suspension and wheels put on. It gives you more choice with the tyres and the harder suspension is IMO better. Also straight for the level 1 exhaust.
I would probably go for a HID conversion on the headlights. I have not got around to fitting the brighter bulbs yet but the standard main beam is puny. Turn on full beam and it is fantastic. Main beam is like using a couple of candles!
What would you change?
I have the touring pack and there is no way I would be without it. I also did some trim work, I had the instrument binnacle trimmed like the exige and the alloy indicator stalks cos the standard ones are ugly.
Anyway, if I were to do it again I would also have the exige suspension and wheels put on. It gives you more choice with the tyres and the harder suspension is IMO better. Also straight for the level 1 exhaust.
I would probably go for a HID conversion on the headlights. I have not got around to fitting the brighter bulbs yet but the standard main beam is puny. Turn on full beam and it is fantastic. Main beam is like using a couple of candles!
What would you change?
Hi Guy's
Re : Exige upgrade's, be careful here unless your going to be pushing it to the limit's all the time I'd say the R suspension is better for everyday driving
I've driven both and the R feel's more road useable. I'd also make some changes when I buy my next R, White with green stripe's hard top, touring pack, sport's exhaust, and I'd have to have some extra mod's on the engine 
Boggy
Re : Exige upgrade's, be careful here unless your going to be pushing it to the limit's all the time I'd say the R suspension is better for everyday driving
I've driven both and the R feel's more road useable. I'd also make some changes when I buy my next R, White with green stripe's hard top, touring pack, sport's exhaust, and I'd have to have some extra mod's on the engine Boggy
Mine now has the ITG induction kit and Stage 1 exhaust and is brill. I will probebly change the brakes next. I've spoken to Lotus the Exige suspension and wheels including tyres and ohlins is £2500. There is a four pot front brake upgrade coming out in April although I think I might go for EBC and pads.
Like the idea of a turbo as I'm now running near 200bhp anyhow.
Like the idea of a turbo as I'm now running near 200bhp anyhow.
beachbum said:
Make it lighter, Carbon Fibre shell, carbon fibre seats.
For you, the best way to lighten your car is with the addition of large amounts of carbon fiber. you have the personal build of a piece of string with a couple of knots. The best way to lighten my car is for me to loose some lard.!
S Works said:
This thread's interesting lads - with the amounts you're considering chucking at your 111r's has anyone considered "doing a DanH" and taking the step up to a Noble?
Interesting idea, I have no doubt that a Noble is a great car and I could have baught a pristine second hand model for what I paid but I look at it this way.
There is nothing that handles like the elise (exept an Exige). Running costs are miniscule. there is a service every 12k miles and (so I have been told!) you can get 40 to the gallon. They are reasonably easy to get spares for. A complete set of tyres from the main dealer is £450 and servicing is reasonable and available. All this and the only thing that will touch it for speed is a 911 tubby and you can kiss that goodbye in the corners. (Obviously down to the quality of the driver!)
Cos the running costs are so small we can buy the odd mod here and there! And the odd mod here and there and you have a major road car.
There are enough elises so we can always be sure of a meet up and the spares are available easily and cheaply, but there are not so many that you keep on seeing them (Boxter, TT). Saying that I saw 2 Nobles on my way home from work today....
At christmas I was stuck in traffic behind a noble in London. People were stepping out into the road to take pictures of my car, not the noble!
Gooby there is a thread running on SELOC about Elise annual running costs. The results might surprise you.
My S1 has cost me about £2k since Christmas.
At the end of the day a lightweight sports car will get through consumables a lot faster than a normal road car and if you track it a lot you can count on the costs being higher and coming your way more often.
I agree though that compared with a Noble the costs are a lot smaller and if you use independents you can reduce these even further.
£ for £ the Elise is fantastic value for money but you will get stung if you get one thinking you can run it for peanuts.
My S1 has cost me about £2k since Christmas.
At the end of the day a lightweight sports car will get through consumables a lot faster than a normal road car and if you track it a lot you can count on the costs being higher and coming your way more often.
I agree though that compared with a Noble the costs are a lot smaller and if you use independents you can reduce these even further.
£ for £ the Elise is fantastic value for money but you will get stung if you get one thinking you can run it for peanuts.
The Noble is the only other Car out there that I would consider if Elise/Exiges werent available. However they are so no contest in my opinion. Cost was a major part in deciding on the 111R, as were its running costs. Being able to do 0-60 in 3.6secs does have its appeal though in the Noble.
As I posted earlier in this thread, weight reduction is one of my primary goals and Carbon Fibre body work seems one of the easiest ways to achieve this, if not the least expensive.
I've searched the Net for prices on Carbon Fibre panels and found nothing for the 111R. So without contacting retailers direct, does anyone know the cost of these.
As I posted earlier in this thread, weight reduction is one of my primary goals and Carbon Fibre body work seems one of the easiest ways to achieve this, if not the least expensive.
I've searched the Net for prices on Carbon Fibre panels and found nothing for the 111R. So without contacting retailers direct, does anyone know the cost of these.
beachbum said:
The Noble is the only other Car out there that I would consider if Elise/Exiges werent available. However they are so no contest in my opinion. Cost was a major part in deciding on the 111R, as were its running costs. Being able to do 0-60 in 3.6secs does have its appeal though in the Noble.
As I posted earlier in this thread, weight reduction is one of my primary goals and Carbon Fibre body work seems one of the easiest ways to achieve this, if not the least expensive.
I've searched the Net for prices on Carbon Fibre panels and found nothing for the 111R. So without contacting retailers direct, does anyone know the cost of these.
Agree on the Noble. I test drove a GTO3R and was very impressed. You can pick up low mileage GTO3's for low £30K's but they are a lot more expensive to run, which is why I am looking at the S2 Exige instead.
As for the carbon panels I havent heard of anyone who does these but you would be better off posting on SELOC to see if anyone has any information.
Good to read your thoughts fellas - thanks for indulging me.
I tend to agree on the running costs comments above (both in support and notes of caution from davey), £ for £ there's nothing to match the Elise (in any guise I don't believe) for all round value and driver thrills.
I do love the idea of a Noble though, and if I could convince myself to afford one I'd jump at it. Having said that, the 111r and Exige S2 are such damn fine cars!!
Good thread, hopefully will get to meet sometime so we can banter more and one of you nice chaps can take me out for a thrap in a 111r!
I tend to agree on the running costs comments above (both in support and notes of caution from davey), £ for £ there's nothing to match the Elise (in any guise I don't believe) for all round value and driver thrills.
I do love the idea of a Noble though, and if I could convince myself to afford one I'd jump at it. Having said that, the 111r and Exige S2 are such damn fine cars!!
Good thread, hopefully will get to meet sometime so we can banter more and one of you nice chaps can take me out for a thrap in a 111r!
boggy said:
Hi Guy's
This Car look's stunning
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=37498&s=12
Boggy
If you like that you will love mine! I fell in love with the type 23 but it is not available as a 111R so I had the stripes measured on a '23 and stripes to these dimentions put on my Elise. Electric blue with white stripes.
S Works said:
Good to read your thoughts fellas - thanks for indulging me.
I tend to agree on the running costs comments above (both in support and notes of caution from davey), £ for £ there's nothing to match the Elise (in any guise I don't believe) for all round value and driver thrills.
I do love the idea of a Noble though, and if I could convince myself to afford one I'd jump at it. Having said that, the 111r and Exige S2 are such damn fine cars!!
Good thread, hopefully will get to meet sometime so we can banter more and one of you nice chaps can take me out for a thrap in a 111r!
If your going to Donington feel free to drop by and try while your in the area!
www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=10042
Full Details
mustard said:
Good to read your thoughts fellas - thanks for indulging me.
I tend to agree on the running costs comments above (both in support and notes of caution from davey), £ for £ there's nothing to match the Elise (in any guise I don't believe) for all round value and driver thrills.
I do love the idea of a Noble though, and if I could convince myself to afford one I'd jump at it. Having said that, the 111r and Exige S2 are such damn fine cars!!
Good thread, hopefully will get to meet sometime so we can banter more and one of you nice chaps can take me out for a thrap in a 111r!
If your going to Donington feel free to drop by and try while your in the area!
www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=10042
Full Details
Mustard you have email.
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