S1 Vs S2................. In 10 Years!!
Discussion
Was talking to a mate about this the other day..
Most people at the moment seem to prefer the S2 because of its modern looks, and some prefer the S1 for its slightly better performance..
But in 10 years time, when the S2 is not so modern, which one do you think will be the most desirable as a classic Lotus.. The modern looking S2, of the origional S1??
Most people at the moment seem to prefer the S2 because of its modern looks, and some prefer the S1 for its slightly better performance..
But in 10 years time, when the S2 is not so modern, which one do you think will be the most desirable as a classic Lotus.. The modern looking S2, of the origional S1??
The S1 will be the more valuable and the Sport160 the most sort after and hence most valuable of the lot.
I think the S2 is already looking past its sell by date (although the S2 Exige still looks great).
I just love the 'pretty' little S1 (there's quite a lot of Dino 246 in there) and the S1 Exige is the best of the lot - the pepperami of the family
I think the S2 is already looking past its sell by date (although the S2 Exige still looks great).
I just love the 'pretty' little S1 (there's quite a lot of Dino 246 in there) and the S1 Exige is the best of the lot - the pepperami of the family
TIPPER said:
the S1 Exige is the best of the lot - the pepperami of the family
Heh, that's my take on it. I reckon in years to come that'll be the classic version and will be oft replicad (Exige-bodied elises). Think in years to come there'll be a healthy trade in genuine Exige VIN numbers. They're disappearing fast too with so many being honda-converted... I could never do that to mine, I'm going to put an Exige body on an Elise for Hondapower... don't think I could bear to do it to a genuine S1 Exige.Chadders said:
some prefer the S1 for its slightly better performance..
I thought the standard 120bhp S2 was faster than the standard 118bhp S1 around the Hethel test track when they brought it out? The explanation given by Lotus was that the car runs lower with stiffer springs and more finely judged damping. I don't want to open a can of worms here, but I thought that was generally accepted. Additionally, I don't think it's about looks as you suggest. Most people choose the S1 because it is lighter and more immediate, and the S2 because it is more refined and better to use everyday.However, the S1 will be the classic IMHO. I don't have the figures to hand, but fewer must have been sold, and it's far more significant in the history books. I'd say the most cherished examples will be the original S1 with the lightweight discs and the sport 160.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 20th November 11:15
Rob, don't know if you know about Lotus "press-speak" but it's a rule that every new model is exactly 2.77 seconds faster around Hethel than the model that preceded it. In fact by the time the Exige S was released, lap times were sufficiently low to actually cause a rip inside the space-time continuum and most of Norfolk is now in extreme danger of being sucked into a worm-hole!
It's generally accepted that S2s have lower grip and less punch-per-horsepower than the equivalent S1 models, although this can usually be equalised somewhat by playing around with tyre widths, suspension geo etc, but S2s generally carry a 30-40kg weight penalty over the S1 so you're always starting with the handicap.
what it'll come down to is the S1 is always going to be the purer experience as it was designed as a track-toy they'd sell a few hundred of to enthusiasts and nutters.... by the time the S2 came up for design, they knew that most Elise owners were putting on many more road-miles than the "to and from the track" that the S1 was designed around, so the handling was made a bit safer and more attention was paid to practicalities.
I'd love S2 Elises, would own one in an instant and it would be my favourite car..... if the S1 didn't exist
It's generally accepted that S2s have lower grip and less punch-per-horsepower than the equivalent S1 models, although this can usually be equalised somewhat by playing around with tyre widths, suspension geo etc, but S2s generally carry a 30-40kg weight penalty over the S1 so you're always starting with the handicap.
what it'll come down to is the S1 is always going to be the purer experience as it was designed as a track-toy they'd sell a few hundred of to enthusiasts and nutters.... by the time the S2 came up for design, they knew that most Elise owners were putting on many more road-miles than the "to and from the track" that the S1 was designed around, so the handling was made a bit safer and more attention was paid to practicalities.
I'd love S2 Elises, would own one in an instant and it would be my favourite car..... if the S1 didn't exist
Esprit said:
Rob, don't know if you know about Lotus "press-speak" but it's a rule that every new model is exactly 2.77 seconds faster around Hethel than the model that preceded it. In fact by the time the Exige S was released, lap times were sufficiently low to actually cause a rip inside the space-time continuum and most of Norfolk is now in extreme danger of being sucked into a worm-hole!
It's generally accepted that S2s have lower grip and less punch-per-horsepower than the equivalent S1 models, although this can usually be equalised somewhat by playing around with tyre widths, suspension geo etc, but S2s generally carry a 30-40kg weight penalty over the S1 so you're always starting with the handicap.
what it'll come down to is the S1 is always going to be the purer experience as it was designed as a track-toy they'd sell a few hundred of to enthusiasts and nutters.... by the time the S2 came up for design, they knew that most Elise owners were putting on many more road-miles than the "to and from the track" that the S1 was designed around, so the handling was made a bit safer and more attention was paid to practicalities.
I'd love S2 Elises, would own one in an instant and it would be my favourite car..... if the S1 didn't exist
It's generally accepted that S2s have lower grip and less punch-per-horsepower than the equivalent S1 models, although this can usually be equalised somewhat by playing around with tyre widths, suspension geo etc, but S2s generally carry a 30-40kg weight penalty over the S1 so you're always starting with the handicap.
what it'll come down to is the S1 is always going to be the purer experience as it was designed as a track-toy they'd sell a few hundred of to enthusiasts and nutters.... by the time the S2 came up for design, they knew that most Elise owners were putting on many more road-miles than the "to and from the track" that the S1 was designed around, so the handling was made a bit safer and more attention was paid to practicalities.
I'd love S2 Elises, would own one in an instant and it would be my favourite car..... if the S1 didn't exist
It may just be Lotus propaganda then Soon after the launch of the S2 I drove and rode as a passenger in one back to back with a nearly new S1, and the S2 seemed to have better body control and finer judged handling. I had no reason at all to doubt that the S2 had the edge in performance, and to be quite honest, I'll still believe that until proved otherwise. That's just my opinion though. I'm not gonna pretend that's my reason for buying an S2 though The main reason I bought the S2 was because I wanted to use the Elise every day all year round (I had a Caterham for weekends after all), and the S2 was more suited to everyday use - in fact I went the whole hog and bought a 111S with the sound deadening and hard top etc!I agree with Rob, in my opinion the original S1 from '96 through to mid '98 in a solid colour, with the alloy engine lid, MMC Discs, lighter Rear Clam & with the canvas boot bag etc, etc has to be the wanted one being the purist of them all, and ideally, without a radio of any sort !
I feel the quicksilver factory Sport 135 will go down as the best driving of all the S1's, although quite heavy by comparason. The Sport 160 will always be seen by the 'general public' as the ultimate S1 as it was perhaps the most extreme factory Elise that rolled out of Hethel.
I feel the quicksilver factory Sport 135 will go down as the best driving of all the S1's, although quite heavy by comparason. The Sport 160 will always be seen by the 'general public' as the ultimate S1 as it was perhaps the most extreme factory Elise that rolled out of Hethel.
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