S1 Lotus Elise 111S
Discussion
bigmowley said:
Here is mine getting some exercise up the Sloc hill climb course in the Isle of Man. Same time as my mate in his 488 Ferrari with just over 500BHP less 
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vQs9pzwzRMM&si=sd7...
Good progress! https://youtube.com/watch?v=vQs9pzwzRMM&si=sd7...
Remembered the car was plastic today (yes I know the wishbones etc don't like the salt) and went to see what it was like in sub optimal conditions.
Obviously with very summer bias tyres it's slippy but the balance is unbelievable from the set up the cars got and you can feel everything so it's not scary at all when it's moving about.
Never thought it would be the colder months that had me really bonding with the car.
Obviously with very summer bias tyres it's slippy but the balance is unbelievable from the set up the cars got and you can feel everything so it's not scary at all when it's moving about.
Never thought it would be the colder months that had me really bonding with the car.
I love driving mine in the wet and cold. With no electronic intervention it’s all down to you. Like you say there isn’t much grip but it doesn’t matter as all the messages are there through the wheel and your bum. I literally drive mine on the throttle like the proverbial go-cart. Just ease the front in then steer it out on the throttle. Its sublime. There are absolutely no vices either, no problem on trailing throttle, or if it locks a wheel. Mine has the ATB diff which was the best £700 mod ever but it was great before I fitted the diff as well. The diff just gives it much better drive out of the corners.
bigmowley said:
I love driving mine in the wet and cold. With no electronic intervention it’s all down to you. Like you say there isn’t much grip but it doesn’t matter as all the messages are there through the wheel and your bum. I literally drive mine on the throttle like the proverbial go-cart. Just ease the front in then steer it out on the throttle. Its sublime. There are absolutely no vices either, no problem on trailing throttle, or if it locks a wheel. Mine has the ATB diff which was the best £700 mod ever but it was great before I fitted the diff as well. The diff just gives it much better drive out of the corners.
Yeah I can imagine a diff really helps with drive. Do you get any low speed understeer from that? No low speed understeer at all, the diff doesn’t lock up like a plate diff. The biggest difference in my car was the traction out of tighter corners and the controllability of the oversteer in all situations. Incredibly progressive in both break away and regaining traction. Its simply awesome for donuts
bigmowley said:
No low speed understeer at all, the diff doesn’t lock up like a plate diff. The biggest difference in my car was the traction out of tighter corners and the controllability of the oversteer in all situations. Incredibly progressive in both break away and regaining traction. Its simply awesome for donuts
I'll have to look into it. 
Doing my usual Hellman's finest checks this morning in the expansion tank and noticed a very tiny stress mark in the bottle. We know these do like to fail so pleased I've caught it super early so that'll be a job for Simon at Classic Modern Sports in early Jan.
I've also found a hardtop I think, gentleman is king keeping it for me till 20th.
Decided it's definitely staying now, it's just too pretty to sell.
If you are keeping it and tracking it, I'd have a look at replacing the front tow post. Not that I have any questions about your driving skills, but they rust and then fail during toeing, which results in a large and expensive hole in your front clam and your car still in gravel.
Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Smitters said:
If you are keeping it and tracking it, I'd have a look at replacing the front tow post. Not that I have any questions about your driving skills, but they rust and then fail during toeing, which results in a large and expensive hole in your front clam and your car still in gravel.
Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Funnily enough it's on my list! I agree it worried me Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Joehow said:
Smitters said:
If you are keeping it and tracking it, I'd have a look at replacing the front tow post. Not that I have any questions about your driving skills, but they rust and then fail during toeing, which results in a large and expensive hole in your front clam and your car still in gravel.
Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Funnily enough it's on my list! I agree it worried me Yours, a former yellow S1 owner. With Nitrons. And a Caterham before that...
Second, I always had a suspicion it could be done with the front clam in-situ, with patience and time. Clam off is both risky (from a rusted bolt point of view) and also very much a two man job, whereas I was normally working on cars at unsociable hours. That said, I never quite got there, so can't confirm or deny...
Smitters said:
Firstly, Christ - my spelling... Toeing indeed.
Second, I always had a suspicion it could be done with the front clam in-situ, with patience and time. Clam off is both risky (from a rusted bolt point of view) and also very much a two man job, whereas I was normally working on cars at unsociable hours. That said, I never quite got there, so can't confirm or deny...
It is clam off I think to do properly. I have actually tested it's integrity (I pulled the car with my other car) but I'd still like to replace it Second, I always had a suspicion it could be done with the front clam in-situ, with patience and time. Clam off is both risky (from a rusted bolt point of view) and also very much a two man job, whereas I was normally working on cars at unsociable hours. That said, I never quite got there, so can't confirm or deny...
Joehow said:
Smitters said:
Firstly, Christ - my spelling... Toeing indeed.
Second, I always had a suspicion it could be done with the front clam in-situ, with patience and time. Clam off is both risky (from a rusted bolt point of view) and also very much a two man job, whereas I was normally working on cars at unsociable hours. That said, I never quite got there, so can't confirm or deny...
It is clam off I think to do properly. I have actually tested it's integrity (I pulled the car with my other car) but I'd still like to replace it Second, I always had a suspicion it could be done with the front clam in-situ, with patience and time. Clam off is both risky (from a rusted bolt point of view) and also very much a two man job, whereas I was normally working on cars at unsociable hours. That said, I never quite got there, so can't confirm or deny...
Smitters said:
True, but I always view these instructions with a pinch of salt. I replaced a Megane cat on the drive in situ and that's supposed to be a driveshaft out job, and replacing the battery on an S1 Elise is supposed to mean removing all sorts of stuff, but you can loosen things and wiggle things, so I'm an eternal optimist. I also managed to replace my Saab doorlock without removing the glass and mechanisms this weekend, because I took it apart within the door. Headphones, calming music and the kids in a different place all help...
Ha I love that! 
Finally managed to get hold of a hardtop... It's erm green but given my car has green leather and the soft top is green I think I'll live with it.
Coming from a R129 I thought no other hardtop could be more hard work but my god I was wrong what a faffy thing it is getting that on.
The main reason for it is for a couple of big road trips I've got this year and for the odd track day.
Cars not been used much as I found the start of what could become a crack in the expansion tank...so it's off to Simon to be fixed.
Joehow said:
Finally managed to get hold of a hardtop... It's erm green but given my car has green leather and the soft top is green I think I'll live with it.
Coming from a R129 I thought no other hardtop could be more hard work but my god I was wrong what a faffy thing it is getting that on.
The main reason for it is for a couple of big road trips I've got this year and for the odd track day.
Cars not been used much as I found the start of what could become a crack in the expansion tank...so it's off to Simon to be fixed.
After a month of not driving it due to Christmas and work etc I managed to sneak out this morning to test the hard top.
I was genuinely quite amazed at just how much quieter it's made the car for cruising on the motorway (exactly why I bought it for road trips). It does make it feel even more like a mini group C car inside as well.... I can see why people love S1 Exiges for that feeling so much.
Only downside I found was the car misted up more at first when I got it out the garage into the cold. But the blower soon cleared it.
Having not driven the car for a while one thing that truly flooded back was just how special it feels to drive. Outside of my GT3 nothing comes close, the h point between all the controls are absolute perfection and it feels such a special place to be.
The dampers have really settled in now, those Nitrons really are witchcraft.. a huge thanks to Jack at Clubsport Garage again for sorting those out at such a good price and with such efficiency.
New expansion tank next week and then roll on the miles ahead of the Black Forest in May.
I was genuinely quite amazed at just how much quieter it's made the car for cruising on the motorway (exactly why I bought it for road trips). It does make it feel even more like a mini group C car inside as well.... I can see why people love S1 Exiges for that feeling so much.
Only downside I found was the car misted up more at first when I got it out the garage into the cold. But the blower soon cleared it.
Having not driven the car for a while one thing that truly flooded back was just how special it feels to drive. Outside of my GT3 nothing comes close, the h point between all the controls are absolute perfection and it feels such a special place to be.
The dampers have really settled in now, those Nitrons really are witchcraft.. a huge thanks to Jack at Clubsport Garage again for sorting those out at such a good price and with such efficiency.
New expansion tank next week and then roll on the miles ahead of the Black Forest in May.
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