12-14k to spend... high-end s1 or cheap s2?
Discussion
I was looking to see if this question has already been asked until I discovered the search page on this site is worse than useless
the title says it all really, I'm considering either an S1 111s or an low end S2 and wanted your opinions and expereinces.
My personal arguments either way are:
prefer the classic look of the front end of the s1
prefer the look of the rear end of the s2
s1 interior is too plastic and seats a bit plain
s2 comes with skinny uber-understeer front wheels
s2 slightly more practicle?
s1 slightly better mpg?
this is what I've gathered from reading around but your pros/cons of living with the cars could make all the difference! At the mo I'm leaning towards the s1.... maybe mellenium edition... but this has changed 3 times this month!
cheers
the title says it all really, I'm considering either an S1 111s or an low end S2 and wanted your opinions and expereinces.
My personal arguments either way are:
prefer the classic look of the front end of the s1
prefer the look of the rear end of the s2
s1 interior is too plastic and seats a bit plain
s2 comes with skinny uber-understeer front wheels
s2 slightly more practicle?
s1 slightly better mpg?
this is what I've gathered from reading around but your pros/cons of living with the cars could make all the difference! At the mo I'm leaning towards the s1.... maybe mellenium edition... but this has changed 3 times this month!
cheers
Milks said:
s2 comes with skinny uber-understeer front wheels
They're thinner to reduce the chance of aquaplaning, and run a stickier compound tyre to make up for it in the dry. Lotus didn't have the budget to do this on the S1. Regarding the understeer, the chassis setup on the S2 is different to the S1. The S2 chassis is a bit stiffer, it sits a cm or two lower, and the spring rates are higher (similar to the sports suspension option on the S1 actually). Somewhere like Plans Motorsport can modify your car to handle how you like (i.e. dfferent geo, suspension and/or wheels), but unless your name's Clarkson you shouldn't have a problem with understeer - I've had my 111S (supposedly the worst culprit) up to and over the limit on track in the wet and dry and not had an issue with understeer at all.
I'm not saying one car is better than the other (the S1 is lighter for starters), but I'm just pointing out some facts
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 5th September 12:59
Seems about right..... oh and my S1 was more durable than my S2 !
Buyers market - make some silly offers and let the price decide
Buyers market - make some silly offers and let the price decide
Milks said:
I was looking to see if this question has already been asked until I discovered the search page on this site is worse than useless
the title says it all really, I'm considering either an S1 111s or an low end S2 and wanted your opinions and expereinces.
My personal arguments either way are:
prefer the classic look of the front end of the s1
prefer the look of the rear end of the s2
s1 interior is too plastic and seats a bit plain
s2 comes with skinny uber-understeer front wheels
s2 slightly more practicle?
s1 slightly better mpg?
this is what I've gathered from reading around but your pros/cons of living with the cars could make all the difference! At the mo I'm leaning towards the s1.... maybe mellenium edition... but this has changed 3 times this month!
cheers
the title says it all really, I'm considering either an S1 111s or an low end S2 and wanted your opinions and expereinces.
My personal arguments either way are:
prefer the classic look of the front end of the s1
prefer the look of the rear end of the s2
s1 interior is too plastic and seats a bit plain
s2 comes with skinny uber-understeer front wheels
s2 slightly more practicle?
s1 slightly better mpg?
this is what I've gathered from reading around but your pros/cons of living with the cars could make all the difference! At the mo I'm leaning towards the s1.... maybe mellenium edition... but this has changed 3 times this month!
cheers
My S1 was already uprated with S2 springs before i got it so i can't really compare with the standard suspension. The S2 suspension is more durable though, slightly firmer amd makes the car sit around 10mm lower. It is very hard around town but you won't have a problem on longer journeys.
Milks said:
good stuff, thanks for the tips.
I'll be insuring myself on a limited mileage policy so its strictly a weekend car.
What about the suspension? I've seen quite a few s1's either with nitrons or s2 suspension, is the standard suspension too hard for long journeys?
The standard Konis didn't last very well. My car was very low miles when I bought it but just the age of the shocks/springs had taken their toll and they were pretty much u/s. They also clonked and banged around (as they did from new..).I'll be insuring myself on a limited mileage policy so its strictly a weekend car.
What about the suspension? I've seen quite a few s1's either with nitrons or s2 suspension, is the standard suspension too hard for long journeys?
I replaced mine with the S2 Bilsteins and they are superb. Handling is the same as it was before (ie superb) and yet the ride is better and fair less bangs and crashes over bumps.
The S2 roof is easier to remove and refit, the boot is slightly bigger (helpfull if you intend to do any touring), the seats are more comfortable, its slightly easier to get in and out with the roof up. It also has a small parcel shelf which I find very usefull. Then there is the suspension, it would seem that if you had a S1 you would want it to have S2 suspension. Certainly the S1 I have been out in a few times seems to bang and crash over the slightest bumps.
Chris
Chris
S2 is much more developed car, Vauxhall paid Lotus lots of money to develop the VX220 and Lotus ploughed much of the development back in to improving the Elise. I would buy as new as possible for your budget and IMHO there is little between 120,140 or 160bhp in normal driving terms, all feel similar to drive.
Bennno
Bennno
I think you'll find the S1 tub is stiffer - S2 reduced the height of the sills for easier access - hence Lotus have returned to the S1 tub for the 211.
Regards the understeer, though thinner rims are no doubt better in the wet, (and that's a nice reason for Lotus to say they fitted them), in reality they were fitted when Lotus realised that the car was being sold to a far wider market than they had originally envisaged and used the rims to dial in a bit of safe understeer to keep numpties on the road! They made a wider rim available as an option for those who wanted a bit of the bite back again!
Regardless of all that though, there's little doubt that the S2 is a more suitable daily drive.
Having had both with no question I'd say get an S2.
And with £14k you can get a very decent one.
Or get an S1 Sport 160 as has been said.... if you like a car that won't tickover, has huge flatspots in the power deliver and you live your life in the area where it works, ie between 6500 and 6700 rpm! but never drop below it
And with £14k you can get a very decent one.
Or get an S1 Sport 160 as has been said.... if you like a car that won't tickover, has huge flatspots in the power deliver and you live your life in the area where it works, ie between 6500 and 6700 rpm! but never drop below it
bertie said:
Having had both with no question I'd say get an S2.
And with £14k you can get a very decent one.
Or get an S1 Sport 160 as has been said.... if you like a car that won't tickover, has huge flatspots in the power deliver and you live your life in the area where it works, ie between 6500 and 6700 rpm! but never drop below it
Hey! I'll have you know that mine worked fine at anything above 3000 and really came alive at 5000. And sometimes, it would tick over if it was in a good mood!And with £14k you can get a very decent one.
Or get an S1 Sport 160 as has been said.... if you like a car that won't tickover, has huge flatspots in the power deliver and you live your life in the area where it works, ie between 6500 and 6700 rpm! but never drop below it
What makes an s2 more an everyday car aside the bigger boot, easier access, better suspension, more comfortable seats? ...oh 
The funny thing is I'm still tending towards having my pick of s1 111s' over a small choice of s2's, my budget will probably be closer to 12k once the new kitchen has gone in and most s2 at that price are silver or ice blue.
See my current car has been off the road for most of the year so i'm already through the pain barrier for inconvenience, even a nova would be ace right now!
The funny thing is I'm still tending towards having my pick of s1 111s' over a small choice of s2's, my budget will probably be closer to 12k once the new kitchen has gone in and most s2 at that price are silver or ice blue.
See my current car has been off the road for most of the year so i'm already through the pain barrier for inconvenience, even a nova would be ace right now!
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