111r questions
Discussion
Hi, it’s my birthday this weekend and as a present I’m getting an Elise 111R from Friday until Monday. I’ve got a few questions I’m hoping you lot can help me with as I’m not very familiar with the car. I’ve been talked through all the knobs/buttons/controls and stuff and have had a passenger ride to show me how it performs and handles but I’ve got a few questions that are on my mind!! I used the “Search” function but didn’t manage to turn up much, so apologies if I’m recovering old ground in these parts 
1) Where I live, I am trapped by speed humps, there is no escape. They are the “3 across the road” type. In a “normal” car you can just put wheels either side of a hump and hardly feel it, that kind. Will I have clearance issues with the 111R? Is there a special technique for taking these bumps?
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!
3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters

1) Where I live, I am trapped by speed humps, there is no escape. They are the “3 across the road” type. In a “normal” car you can just put wheels either side of a hump and hardly feel it, that kind. Will I have clearance issues with the 111R? Is there a special technique for taking these bumps?
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!

3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:07
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:08
1. just go slowly over them, shouldnt really have any clearance issues.
2. i doubt very much you will take the roof off this weekend, its freezing/raining! lol, its easy, just pull the 2 tabs together and lift it out of its socket.
3.Unleaded or super if you want but as its only for 3 days just use unleaded.
4. possibly 200-300 to a tank? depends how much you boot it.
2. i doubt very much you will take the roof off this weekend, its freezing/raining! lol, its easy, just pull the 2 tabs together and lift it out of its socket.
3.Unleaded or super if you want but as its only for 3 days just use unleaded.
4. possibly 200-300 to a tank? depends how much you boot it.
thepickle said:
1) Where I live, I am trapped by speed humps, there is no escape. They are the “3 across the road” type. In a “normal” car you can just put wheels either side of a hump and hardly feel it, that kind. Will I have clearance issues with the 111R? Is there a special technique for taking these bumps?
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!
3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!

3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:07
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:08
greysquirrel said:
1. just go slowly over them, shouldnt really have any clearance issues.
2. i doubt very much you will take the roof off this weekend, its freezing/raining! lol, its easy, just pull the 2 tabs together and lift it out of its socket.
3.Unleaded or super if you want but as its only for 3 days just use unleaded.
4. possibly 200-300 to a tank? depends how much you boot it.
spot on 2. i doubt very much you will take the roof off this weekend, its freezing/raining! lol, its easy, just pull the 2 tabs together and lift it out of its socket.
3.Unleaded or super if you want but as its only for 3 days just use unleaded.
4. possibly 200-300 to a tank? depends how much you boot it.
thepickle said:
1) Where I live, I am trapped by speed humps, there is no escape. They are the “3 across the road” type. In a “normal” car you can just put wheels either side of a hump and hardly feel it, that kind. Will I have clearance issues with the 111R? Is there a special technique for taking these bumps?
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!
3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters
2) I’ve sort of been talked through how to remove/refit the roof, but have not seen how to actually physically do it. If anyone could offer a step by step guide or point me in the direction of one that would be appreciated. I’m confident it can’t be that difficult....but obviously I don’t want to get caught looking stupid!

3) Which petrol should I be putting in the 111R?
4) On the fuel topic, how many miles am I likely to get from a full tank on average? With a 50/50 combination of cruising and enthusiastic driving lets say.
Any tips and advice appreciated. Cheers.
Paul
edit - changed r for R pedantry matters
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:07
Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 10th October 23:08
. although if it isnt raining then get the roof off
its fantastic honestly and a doddle to get on and off unclip roll up put in boot. i bet you dont manage 50/50 cruising to enthusiastic driving 
Drive safe and enjoy

Friday
Cloud thick enough for rain at times across parts of western Scotland, but there will be bright spells in the east. It will be cloudy but dry in Northern Ireland. England and Wales should be dry with some sunny spells.
Saturday
Mild but rather cloudy in most areas, with best chance of brightness over Eastern Scotland and Southwest England. Patchy rain likely in Northwest Scotland and perhaps Eastern England.
not too bad forcast
Cloud thick enough for rain at times across parts of western Scotland, but there will be bright spells in the east. It will be cloudy but dry in Northern Ireland. England and Wales should be dry with some sunny spells.
Saturday
Mild but rather cloudy in most areas, with best chance of brightness over Eastern Scotland and Southwest England. Patchy rain likely in Northwest Scotland and perhaps Eastern England.
not too bad forcast

Morning,
Most important of all get some driver training it's really slippery out there at the moment these real wheel drive light car's are very lively it the wet and slippery conditions you don't want to bend it?
Try either Car limit's or I'd recommend
http://www.grouplotus.com/media/car/oth/Driver%20T...
Unless your used to these thing's I'd say it's essential
Boggy
Nice birthday present.
Speed bumps should be okay - if in doubt drive very slowly and make sure a wheel goes over them rather than to the side. Speed bumps are not a problem. Make sure if you're parking with the front of the car against a curb, you dont hit the curb - license plate is low and I've ripped mine off twice in supermarket parking bays ;o)
Get the roof off if you can - makes a huge difference to the car - take advantage of it. Only takes a couple of minutes to pop back on if the weather turns on you.
Drive safely and enjoy it.
Speed bumps should be okay - if in doubt drive very slowly and make sure a wheel goes over them rather than to the side. Speed bumps are not a problem. Make sure if you're parking with the front of the car against a curb, you dont hit the curb - license plate is low and I've ripped mine off twice in supermarket parking bays ;o)
Get the roof off if you can - makes a huge difference to the car - take advantage of it. Only takes a couple of minutes to pop back on if the weather turns on you.
Drive safely and enjoy it.
Thanks for the replies. I won’t have the roof off eh?!?! I’ll have it off at every opportunity
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
I take the point about driver training. I’ve driven an S1 on track before with an instructor and I was encouraged to find the limits so I’m not a total newb. I’ve driven a few other things before as well including a Caterham where the idea was to cane it and exceed the limits to understand how rwd handles, so like I say, I at least have some limited experience. Although I’m certainly not planning any heroics driving on the road this weekend...
The reason I say 50/50 is because I’m a bit apprehensive about this fruity cam, high revving business and keeping it on the boil during road driving. I’ll just have to see how I get on with it. I’m really getting paranoid about these speed bumps. So is it wheels either side or drive up the hump? I'll just have to try it and see. That's good about the plate being low...acts as a kind of warning if things are getting a bit tight down there!
Thanks again
Paul
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
I take the point about driver training. I’ve driven an S1 on track before with an instructor and I was encouraged to find the limits so I’m not a total newb. I’ve driven a few other things before as well including a Caterham where the idea was to cane it and exceed the limits to understand how rwd handles, so like I say, I at least have some limited experience. Although I’m certainly not planning any heroics driving on the road this weekend...
The reason I say 50/50 is because I’m a bit apprehensive about this fruity cam, high revving business and keeping it on the boil during road driving. I’ll just have to see how I get on with it. I’m really getting paranoid about these speed bumps. So is it wheels either side or drive up the hump? I'll just have to try it and see. That's good about the plate being low...acts as a kind of warning if things are getting a bit tight down there!Thanks again
Paul
I scraped the front clam of my Elise on a speed bump the other day. It's left a nice hole in the bottom of one of the winglets. Can't see it unless you're looking up at the car from below but it's still annoying.
What's the best way to patch it up? The hole is about 1cm across I guess.
What's the best way to patch it up? The hole is about 1cm across I guess.
You've got to take the roof off!!!
If it's the same as my 2004 spec Elise's roof:
Removal:
1) Open the passenger door or wind down the window.
2) Reach under thedark black beam across the top of the window space (end of the roof) and find the too nodules that stick out - one at either end pointing downwards. Slide these to the side and push the side of the black beam closest to you up.
3) Roll the roof across the car like a scroll.
4) Open driver's door or wind the window down
5) Remove black beam on the driver's side as in step 2. The whole roof should lift off rolled up like a scroll.
6) remove slats.
Removal should take a matter of seconds once you're used to it.
Fitting:
1) Open the passenger door or wind down the window.
2) Put plastic slats in place
3) Rest the beam down where it goes. Each side of the beam has two horizontal stalks - an upper one and a lower one. The upper ones fits in the upper slot. Get both securely in the slots. Now apply pressure holding them in the slots and swivel the black beam round so that the lower stalks go in the slots. They'll click into place. The roof should now be flush with the car. If it's not, take the beam off and repeat.
4) unroll roof
4) fit the beam on the other side as in step 2.
The roof fits in the boot. I never managed to get it behind the seats - it's such a close call though!
HTH
If it's the same as my 2004 spec Elise's roof:
Removal:
1) Open the passenger door or wind down the window.
2) Reach under thedark black beam across the top of the window space (end of the roof) and find the too nodules that stick out - one at either end pointing downwards. Slide these to the side and push the side of the black beam closest to you up.
3) Roll the roof across the car like a scroll.
4) Open driver's door or wind the window down
5) Remove black beam on the driver's side as in step 2. The whole roof should lift off rolled up like a scroll.
6) remove slats.
Removal should take a matter of seconds once you're used to it.
Fitting:
1) Open the passenger door or wind down the window.
2) Put plastic slats in place
3) Rest the beam down where it goes. Each side of the beam has two horizontal stalks - an upper one and a lower one. The upper ones fits in the upper slot. Get both securely in the slots. Now apply pressure holding them in the slots and swivel the black beam round so that the lower stalks go in the slots. They'll click into place. The roof should now be flush with the car. If it's not, take the beam off and repeat.
4) unroll roof
4) fit the beam on the other side as in step 2.
The roof fits in the boot. I never managed to get it behind the seats - it's such a close call though!
HTH
Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 11th October 10:09
thepickle said:
Thanks for the replies. I won’t have the roof off eh?!?! I’ll have it off at every opportunity
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
Have you met Beachbum?
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions! There are a few things that may change your mind. cold air doing over 100mph across the middle of your forehead with a wind chill of about -200 could influence your decision or even more potent - A nagging WAG.
Nnnnngggggg..aaarrrggggg ... i c e c r e a m h e a d ...
Gooby said:
thepickle said:
Thanks for the replies. I won’t have the roof off eh?!?! I’ll have it off at every opportunity
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
Have you met Beachbum?
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions! There are a few things that may change your mind. cold air doing over 100mph across the middle of your forehead with a wind chill of about -200 could influence your decision or even more potent - A nagging WAG.
Nnnnngggggg..aaarrrggggg ... i c e c r e a m h e a d ...

RobM77 said:
Gooby said:
thepickle said:
Thanks for the replies. I won’t have the roof off eh?!?! I’ll have it off at every opportunity
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
Have you met Beachbum?
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions! There are a few things that may change your mind. cold air doing over 100mph across the middle of your forehead with a wind chill of about -200 could influence your decision or even more potent - A nagging WAG.
Nnnnngggggg..aaarrrggggg ... i c e c r e a m h e a d ...

Gooby said:
RobM77 said:
Gooby said:
thepickle said:
Thanks for the replies. I won’t have the roof off eh?!?! I’ll have it off at every opportunity
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions!
Have you met Beachbum?
I laugh in the face of chilly conditions! There are a few things that may change your mind. cold air doing over 100mph across the middle of your forehead with a wind chill of about -200 could influence your decision or even more potent - A nagging WAG.
Nnnnngggggg..aaarrrggggg ... i c e c r e a m h e a d ...


RobM77, thanks for that, really useful. One thing though, there’ll be none of this “winding down” of windows
, it has the Touring Pack I think, it’s definitely got electric windows anyway. Gooby, any complaining passengers will be asked to vacate the car or STFU 
Is it not the done thing to wear a woolly hat with the roof off then? That was the plan you see, but I don’t want to be letting the side down or anything 
, it has the Touring Pack I think, it’s definitely got electric windows anyway. Gooby, any complaining passengers will be asked to vacate the car or STFU 
Is it not the done thing to wear a woolly hat with the roof off then? That was the plan you see, but I don’t want to be letting the side down or anything 
So, a quick update. Picked up the 111R at lunchtime, was pretty nervous actually, but I needn’t have been, got used to it quite quickly considering it’s a bit of a mad car really. The first thing that struck me was how light it feels on the front end, but I suppose it would as there’s no weight there! This felt a bit strange on the motorway, but just a case of getting used to it I guess. I didn’t have any problems with the roof, dead simple really, I lasted 1.5 hours before I had it off. It was warm though, I was driving all afternoon roof off just in a t-shirt, no hats either! I had no problems with the local speed bumps, just took them nice and slow and it cleared them no trouble. The rush at the top end when it goes into warp drive mode is addictive!! I’ve only really been “pushing on” on straights so far, but wow, love it. Trouble is, you need a fair bit of space to use all the performance, so has been frustrating in that sense, but I’m off out early in the morning to find some deserted roads so should have more opportunity to stretch its legs a bit. I went to see my old man at his office and gave him a ride up the road (nsl)...Jeeeeesus! was the response
Took my Mum out as well, typical mutterings under her breath about speed limits!
I think she secretly loves it though. I passed a load of kids around school kicking out time, and I could hear “Wooow! Look at that Lotus!” “Awww I love the colour” “Cool car!” so that was a nice moment, seems to get a lot of positive attention in general. I went over the Cat and Fiddle this afternoon, everywhere I went before was dry and warm, then I get to the foot of the Cat and it was greasy all the way up and the clouds were really low, so not really ideal, but still, not a bad way to spend the afternoon!
Cheers
Paul

Took my Mum out as well, typical mutterings under her breath about speed limits!
I think she secretly loves it though. I passed a load of kids around school kicking out time, and I could hear “Wooow! Look at that Lotus!” “Awww I love the colour” “Cool car!” so that was a nice moment, seems to get a lot of positive attention in general. I went over the Cat and Fiddle this afternoon, everywhere I went before was dry and warm, then I get to the foot of the Cat and it was greasy all the way up and the clouds were really low, so not really ideal, but still, not a bad way to spend the afternoon!Cheers
Paul

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