S2 111s gear ratios

[jb111s]

I've got a late 02 s2 111s which I am more than pleased with. I recently borrowed an 03 s2 111s (slightly newer version with electric windows, soft top padding) & found it to have a bit more top end grunt than mine. I was doing 100+ quite easily in 4th gear at around 4000 rpm, slowly going up & forgetting I had another gear to go.

Was this just my imagination or did Lotus change the gear ratios ? If so being very dim with everything mechanical, how much would it cost to convert mine to do the same ?

[hbaumhardt]

Doubt it. I have an 02 111S and Shangani has an 03 111S and we both change gear at excaclty the same time in a neck n neck straight line drag (on track). Could be as simple as a dirty air filter or something ....

Edit: On the S2 111S 4th should take you to around 125 mph by the change up light (e.g. Bedford back straight).

Edited by hbaumhardt on Tuesday 13th June 22:47

[jb111s]

Thanks for that, maybe it is my imagination! Must admit the memories a bit hazy but I definitely remember doing 100+ in 4th and it being quite calm (lowish revs), I'm fairly sure to get to 100+ in mine the revs are quite high even in 5th (around 4-5k), which is why it struck me as odd. Had the exact same upgraded exhaust as mine as well so was pretty much identical spec.

Could this be a bit of an iffy air filter ? If so how do I tell ?

[hbaumhardt]

Or you may infact have a the standard Elise close ratio gearbox fitted. No I dont know how to tell unles you note down the in gear change up speeds. Re airfilter have a look in the manual, its got pictures and everything.

[shangani]

Ditto what Hans said. At 100 mph in 4th you will be doing around 5500 rpm.Bear in mind that the VVC engine has a rev limiter set around 1000 rpm higher than the standard engine and really starts to smooth out and deliver the goods above 4000 rpm. My car on the motorway feels better at 70 odd in 4th than it does in 5th.

Burns more fuel though.

[hbaumhardt]

"burns more fuel though", lol, but I'm still worried about burning 50% more fuel you are for the same track time and distance ...

[shangani]

Maybe I should check whether my throttle opens all the way.

[sp60]

shangani said:

Bear in mind that the VVC engine has a rev limiter set around 1000 rpm higher than the standard engine and really starts to smooth out and deliver the goods above 4000 rpm.

Didn't think the difference was quite so much.
Seem to remember from the manual that standard is 6500 and 111S is about 6800.
Either way, mine seems to have quite 'lazy' higher gears...but then my rev counter and speedo are completely out!