Advice on buying an Elise S2

[andygtt]

HI

I am now getting pretty serious about getting an S2 Elise, the problem is I am not that up to speed with the models etc.

The cars that are in my price bracket seem to be 02's and I think I need something at the upper end of the power scale as it is replacing an M3 so I would like something as close as I can get.... like the M3 it will get used everyday and for business as well.

My limited understanding was that the 111 had 160bhp (is this correct?) so I have been looking at these but I have also come across a couple of cars modified by DVA which I am quite interested in (150-160bhp).... but will these cars be as good a bet and reliable as a 111? they seem to have other worthwhile mods.

What do you guys recomend?

[RobM77]

andygtt said:

HI

I am now getting pretty serious about getting an S2 Elise, the problem is I am not that up to speed with the models etc.

The cars that are in my price bracket seem to be 02's and I think I need something at the upper end of the power scale as it is replacing an M3 so I would like something as close as I can get.... like the M3 it will get used everyday and for business as well.

My limited understanding was that the 111 had 160bhp (is this correct?) so I have been looking at these but I have also come across a couple of cars modified by DVA which I am quite interested in (150-160bhp).... but will these cars be as good a bet and reliable as a 111? they seem to have other worthwhile mods.

What do you guys recomend?

The 111S had a VVC engine, so lots of torque throughout the rev range, whereas a modified fixed cam car is going to be more peaky in its delivery. If it's an everyday car, I'd go for a car that's designed and tuned as a whole package by the factory to be honest (for driveability, mpg, NVH, etc etc). The 111S makes a good everyday car as it has extra sound deadening and carpets etc - I use mine everyday and don't have a single complaint, other than the noise on the motorway after an hour or two. The 111S came out in 2002, so you should be able to find some examples out there.

Oh, and don't believe what you hear about them understeering. If you drive in the correct manner, you'll get adjustable neutrality throughout a bend whether it's wet or dry. If you want to drive in any other way (for instance, like you might drive a BMW), wider front tyres are available.

Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 19th December 09:51

[Tam]

Although be careful - a 111 isn't the same thing as a 111S.

[rfoster]

The S2 111S gives 156 bhp with from its VVC engine, whilst the standard S2 has just 120 bhp, which for most people is still quick enough. However as mentioned the fixed cam model is extremely tuneable, my car for example is at 165.5bhp (6,600 rpm) care of a PTP kit (upgraded head / camshafts, 52mm tb / ITG induction kit) and some DVA fettling (cam timing and Emerald ECU). Very little difference between my car and a standard one under normal driving, but when you get past 4,500 rpm where the power levels off in the standard car mine keeps going right up into the 6,000's.

Sadly mine will be for sale in the spring, as I'll be needing a car with more seats by August (happy days!) and will be sad to see it go but I won't be able to afford to run 2 cars any more.

[kevin ritson]

RobM77 said:

Oh, and don't believe what you hear about them understeering. If you drive in the correct manner, you'll get adjustable neutrality throughout a bend whether it's wet or dry. If you want to drive in any other way (for instance, like you might drive a BMW), wider front tyres are available.

With a decent geo and a set of Yoko AD07s, the car is very adjustable and progressive

[RobM77]

kevin ritson said:

RobM77 said:

Oh, and don't believe what you hear about them understeering. If you drive in the correct manner, you'll get adjustable neutrality throughout a bend whether it's wet or dry. If you want to drive in any other way (for instance, like you might drive a BMW), wider front tyres are available.

With a decent geo and a set of Yoko AD07s, the car is very adjustable and progressive

My point was that it also is with the standard setup, though as you say, I'm sure a different geo would release this even more

[kambites]

There was a car badged a "111" - it had the same engine as the 111S but none of the extra luxuries. They're pretty rare though.

[miro]

111s Is the best 'all round' elise S2 for an only car (theyre all good realy)

[RobM77]

miro said:

111s Is the best 'all round' elise S2 for an only car (theyre all good realy)

I certainly love mine. I did consider a 111R with a touring pack (which is also a great everyday car), but I didn't like the servo brakes, and to some extent the extra mass the car had. That is purely personal taste, as I know plenty of people who prefer either car - it's entirely subjective.

[luckyb]

RobM77 said:

miro said:

111s Is the best 'all round' elise S2 for an only car (theyre all good realy)

I certainly love mine. I did consider a 111R with a touring pack (which is also a great everyday car), but I didn't like the servo brakes, and to some extent the extra mass the car had. That is purely personal taste, as I know plenty of people who prefer either car - it's entirely subjective.

What extra mass does a 111r have over a 111s? I thought it was just a different version of the same engine!

[RobM77]

luckyb said:

RobM77 said:

miro said:

111s Is the best 'all round' elise S2 for an only car (theyre all good realy)

I certainly love mine. I did consider a 111R with a touring pack (which is also a great everyday car), but I didn't like the servo brakes, and to some extent the extra mass the car had. That is purely personal taste, as I know plenty of people who prefer either car - it's entirely subjective.

What extra mass does a 111r have over a 111s? I thought it was just a different version of the same engine!

111R is the Toyota engine (2004 onwards) and the 111S is the K series VVC (2002 - 2005).

Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 20th December 15:37

[miro]

And the Elise S is the other Toyota powered Elise and that is a diff engine to the R not the same one with a few extra bits. I like it though been for a spin today and loved every minute

[Lawrence5]

A DVA 160 will feel faster than 111s as it has the close ratio box and a few kilos lighter. Odd 111s has one fitted, but a 111s model will be more insurance friendly than a modified car.....


Also consider a 135R.......

[grumpy]

kambites said:

There was a car badged a "111" - it had the same engine as the 111S but none of the extra luxuries. They're pretty rare though.

Strange, as I understood it the 111 was a standard Elise, non VVC, with extras like carpets, central locking etc, least wise the one I looked at was.

[kambites]

grumpy said:

kambites said:

There was a car badged a "111" - it had the same engine as the 111S but none of the extra luxuries. They're pretty rare though.

Strange, as I understood it the 111 was a standard Elise, non VVC, with extras like carpets, central locking etc, least wise the one I looked at was.

The Lotus code name for the Elise family was M111 I think but they never badged the cars with that. I might be wrong about the car badges "111", I'm only going on the basis of what I've seen advertised.