Lotus Elise S Cup
Discussion
Hello everyone, I've never had a readers cars thread on Pistonheads before but I've often used other forums to document ownership journeys:
MK5 R32 Golf
W205 C63 Estate
Audi A2 Colour Storm
I've had a fairly long history with cars over the years, some highlights being fairly active in the WV water cooled community for a number of years, G40/G60 converted MK1 Golfs, VR6 converted MK2 Golf, Golf Rallye (I should never have sold it, they're worth a lot now by comparison), E46 M3, S4 Estate, Z4,
I've not had a car for fun and pampering for a little while and have been window shopping for a bit. Looking at the usual sorts of things like Aston's (can't afford the V12!), Porsche's (can't afford a GT4/GTS!) but not really settling on anything until I came across this. I've enjoyed motorsport and track days in particular for a few years now in a supercharged R53 Mini and wanted something that felt like an event to drive on every occasion. Little did I realise that just getting in would be an event all of it's own! 😅
So, a bit about the car... (Dealer pics)
This was also a lovely touch from Hilton & Moss, a nice print for the office!
It's a 2015 Lotus Elise S Cup. 18k miles and an early variant of the run out Cup cars, coming with the big aero kit which you see on the lower areas around the car. One of the things which drew me to the car is that it will generate 60+kg of downforce at 100mph. It's a car that weights only 930kg (without me!) so the aero being fully functional should be fun on track! I believe there are only 28 of these in the UK as they were quite quickly replaced with the Cup 220, which no longer featured the 'big' aero kit (although they still have most of it).
Toxic Green is the colour. I love it, but the wife is convinced that I'm in full mid life crisis mode now.
It has a 1.8 supercharged engine (it's actually a Toyota Prius engine sans supercharger, but lets not focus on that!) which makes 217bhp and while not big numbers, with it being so light it will still do 0-60 in 4.2s. Which is the same my C63 with more than double the power would achieve! I can confirm it's enough!
Collection day was less fun with torrential rain mid last week and about 130miles to cover. It was a fantastic drive despite that though. Raw, loud but very very connected. However, that left it filthy and I was away with work for a couple of days straight away...
Right, time to get cracking. Que Bilt Hamber Auto foam!
That was followed by a good deep clean on each of the forged wheels with the wheel woolies to get right behind the spokes. Contact wash with CarPro Reset before being dried off with a nice big drying towel. At this point rain paused play for the first time today!
Short light showers seem to be the order of the day, so back out to dry off again before treating all trim & tyres with SiRAMIK Tyre & Trim dressing. I've had this for a while now and it gives a great matt finish which lasting quite well on Tyres too. I used this on the aero kit too and it came up lovely.
Next it was Bilt Hamber Traceless on the glass inside and out before turning attention to the paint.
I've had Kamikazi Overcoat 6.0 for a while and only tried it out on my wife's car, so I thought to get a little protection on while it still lives outside this would be a nice quick product to get on while we had a decent break in the weather. Nice and easy to apply and I think it's come up just as nice as when I left the showroom straight into a downpour! The included nozzle was terrible though and I could just not get on with it and it's inconsistent spray. Once switched to another I had there was no issue with application.
Very happy with these initial results, although it's probably not going anywhere now this weekend as the weather is too unpredictable (sorry for a bit of dried water on the discs, I'd have liked to take it for a short spin to clean them off but don't want to throw anything back up it!
Future plans. Apart from adjusting the exhaust to the left by a few mm, much more cleaning! I'd like to have the wheels off, give them some deeper cleaning and a ceramic coating at some point. I'd also like to do some machine polishing to bring the paint up to it's best. I've only ever done this a little on an Audi A2 I had as a show car a few years ago and it's something I'd be keen to learn. Other than that, just enjoy some nice drives and a few track days a year and perhaps an AIM dash and a few more carbon parts to 'add lightness'!
If you've read this far, thanks. Let me know if there is something specific I could cover or answer - I'm off to find a track day to book!
MK5 R32 Golf
W205 C63 Estate
Audi A2 Colour Storm
I've had a fairly long history with cars over the years, some highlights being fairly active in the WV water cooled community for a number of years, G40/G60 converted MK1 Golfs, VR6 converted MK2 Golf, Golf Rallye (I should never have sold it, they're worth a lot now by comparison), E46 M3, S4 Estate, Z4,
I've not had a car for fun and pampering for a little while and have been window shopping for a bit. Looking at the usual sorts of things like Aston's (can't afford the V12!), Porsche's (can't afford a GT4/GTS!) but not really settling on anything until I came across this. I've enjoyed motorsport and track days in particular for a few years now in a supercharged R53 Mini and wanted something that felt like an event to drive on every occasion. Little did I realise that just getting in would be an event all of it's own! 😅
So, a bit about the car... (Dealer pics)
This was also a lovely touch from Hilton & Moss, a nice print for the office!
It's a 2015 Lotus Elise S Cup. 18k miles and an early variant of the run out Cup cars, coming with the big aero kit which you see on the lower areas around the car. One of the things which drew me to the car is that it will generate 60+kg of downforce at 100mph. It's a car that weights only 930kg (without me!) so the aero being fully functional should be fun on track! I believe there are only 28 of these in the UK as they were quite quickly replaced with the Cup 220, which no longer featured the 'big' aero kit (although they still have most of it).
Toxic Green is the colour. I love it, but the wife is convinced that I'm in full mid life crisis mode now.
It has a 1.8 supercharged engine (it's actually a Toyota Prius engine sans supercharger, but lets not focus on that!) which makes 217bhp and while not big numbers, with it being so light it will still do 0-60 in 4.2s. Which is the same my C63 with more than double the power would achieve! I can confirm it's enough!
Collection day was less fun with torrential rain mid last week and about 130miles to cover. It was a fantastic drive despite that though. Raw, loud but very very connected. However, that left it filthy and I was away with work for a couple of days straight away...
Right, time to get cracking. Que Bilt Hamber Auto foam!
That was followed by a good deep clean on each of the forged wheels with the wheel woolies to get right behind the spokes. Contact wash with CarPro Reset before being dried off with a nice big drying towel. At this point rain paused play for the first time today!
Short light showers seem to be the order of the day, so back out to dry off again before treating all trim & tyres with SiRAMIK Tyre & Trim dressing. I've had this for a while now and it gives a great matt finish which lasting quite well on Tyres too. I used this on the aero kit too and it came up lovely.
Next it was Bilt Hamber Traceless on the glass inside and out before turning attention to the paint.
I've had Kamikazi Overcoat 6.0 for a while and only tried it out on my wife's car, so I thought to get a little protection on while it still lives outside this would be a nice quick product to get on while we had a decent break in the weather. Nice and easy to apply and I think it's come up just as nice as when I left the showroom straight into a downpour! The included nozzle was terrible though and I could just not get on with it and it's inconsistent spray. Once switched to another I had there was no issue with application.
Very happy with these initial results, although it's probably not going anywhere now this weekend as the weather is too unpredictable (sorry for a bit of dried water on the discs, I'd have liked to take it for a short spin to clean them off but don't want to throw anything back up it!
Future plans. Apart from adjusting the exhaust to the left by a few mm, much more cleaning! I'd like to have the wheels off, give them some deeper cleaning and a ceramic coating at some point. I'd also like to do some machine polishing to bring the paint up to it's best. I've only ever done this a little on an Audi A2 I had as a show car a few years ago and it's something I'd be keen to learn. Other than that, just enjoy some nice drives and a few track days a year and perhaps an AIM dash and a few more carbon parts to 'add lightness'!
If you've read this far, thanks. Let me know if there is something specific I could cover or answer - I'm off to find a track day to book!
Thanks all. A Caterham was top of my list before I spotted this and I was actively looking. I'll still need to scratch that itch at some point.
I don't believe it was a demonstrator, it was a question I asked the supplying dealer specifically and looking at the service history it looks like it was sold in early 2015 and serviced at another dealership to B&C. I have the certificate of provenance and I think there are 12 in this colour/spec out of the 28, so a couple of others out there.
I don't believe it was a demonstrator, it was a question I asked the supplying dealer specifically and looking at the service history it looks like it was sold in early 2015 and serviced at another dealership to B&C. I have the certificate of provenance and I think there are 12 in this colour/spec out of the 28, so a couple of others out there.
That’s really nice!!
I was tempted by something similar for a few months to be a replacement for (don’t laugh) my MX5. I love the whole OTT look of the big aero kit and the stripped out, hardcore nature. You get SO much car for the money with an Elise.
In the end I was over ruled by “management” and just last month got one of the last 220 Sports in Orange.
For us, it was probably a wise decision as there are other OTT things in the garage and most of our Elise time will be buzzing around the back roads with the roof off. I do need a louder exhaust tho.
I was tempted by something similar for a few months to be a replacement for (don’t laugh) my MX5. I love the whole OTT look of the big aero kit and the stripped out, hardcore nature. You get SO much car for the money with an Elise.
In the end I was over ruled by “management” and just last month got one of the last 220 Sports in Orange.
For us, it was probably a wise decision as there are other OTT things in the garage and most of our Elise time will be buzzing around the back roads with the roof off. I do need a louder exhaust tho.
renmure said:
That s really nice!!
I was tempted by something similar for a few months to be a replacement for (don t laugh) my MX5. I love the whole OTT look of the big aero kit and the stripped out, hardcore nature. You get SO much car for the money with an Elise.
In the end I was over ruled by management and just last month got one of the last 220 Sports in Orange.
For us, it was probably a wise decision as there are other OTT things in the garage and most of our Elise time will be buzzing around the back roads with the roof off. I do need a louder exhaust tho.
I can highly recommend the 2Bular system - I’ve got one including manifold and sports cat on my 220. Beautifully made, sounds great yet it’s not anti-social and settles when cruising.I was tempted by something similar for a few months to be a replacement for (don t laugh) my MX5. I love the whole OTT look of the big aero kit and the stripped out, hardcore nature. You get SO much car for the money with an Elise.
In the end I was over ruled by management and just last month got one of the last 220 Sports in Orange.
For us, it was probably a wise decision as there are other OTT things in the garage and most of our Elise time will be buzzing around the back roads with the roof off. I do need a louder exhaust tho.
Not too much to report so far, I ve been working the last 7 days on call so unable to get out in this glorious weather! The car hasn t moved since my last clean but it s picked up some dust etc so a good clean was in order prior to a drive out to the Peak District shortly.
The beading has been good from the Kamakazi Overcoat 6.0 though.
I was out early this morning to get cracking and started with Bilt Hamber touchless.
Followed by a quick contact wash - having to work quickly to keep the car from drying out in the early sun.
I decided to get the Blo-Air GT out for drying. In with the earplugs (a real must for protection) and in no time at all it was fully dried. Really useful, especially so around the engine cover, rear lights and the aero kit in particular.
Tyres were dressed again with SiRAMIK tyre and trim. A little goes so far and it dries to a lovely deep matt finish. Glass was cleaned again with Bilt Hamber Trace-Less. Then I bought out the Zaino Z8 Grand Finale. I forgot how much I like the smell! Really easy on and off as the heat was starting to build by this point, lovely slickness added and it really helps bring out the metallic flecks in the paint.
One thing I wouldn t mind some advice on is the matt wing mirrors. I love the contrast, but I m unsure how best to protect them or dress them as there is no clear coat as best as I can tell. Any advice is welcomed.
A couple of finished pics
I can t wait to get out there now!
In other ownership news, I won a number plate at DVLA auction. I m just awaiting the paper work to come through before it goes on.
I m looking to book on a Lotus on Track evening session at Donington in August. I may fit a harness bar and purchase some 6 point harnesses by then, but part of my plans are to turn my garage back to a full garage (half is a utility at the minute). I ve done some measuring up and the Lotus will easily fit inside a carcoon when not in use. I m not sure the wife feels the same way but I ve got a few tricks up my sleeve!
Thanks again for reading if you got this far.
The beading has been good from the Kamakazi Overcoat 6.0 though.
I was out early this morning to get cracking and started with Bilt Hamber touchless.
Followed by a quick contact wash - having to work quickly to keep the car from drying out in the early sun.
I decided to get the Blo-Air GT out for drying. In with the earplugs (a real must for protection) and in no time at all it was fully dried. Really useful, especially so around the engine cover, rear lights and the aero kit in particular.
Tyres were dressed again with SiRAMIK tyre and trim. A little goes so far and it dries to a lovely deep matt finish. Glass was cleaned again with Bilt Hamber Trace-Less. Then I bought out the Zaino Z8 Grand Finale. I forgot how much I like the smell! Really easy on and off as the heat was starting to build by this point, lovely slickness added and it really helps bring out the metallic flecks in the paint.
One thing I wouldn t mind some advice on is the matt wing mirrors. I love the contrast, but I m unsure how best to protect them or dress them as there is no clear coat as best as I can tell. Any advice is welcomed.
A couple of finished pics
I can t wait to get out there now!
In other ownership news, I won a number plate at DVLA auction. I m just awaiting the paper work to come through before it goes on.
I m looking to book on a Lotus on Track evening session at Donington in August. I may fit a harness bar and purchase some 6 point harnesses by then, but part of my plans are to turn my garage back to a full garage (half is a utility at the minute). I ve done some measuring up and the Lotus will easily fit inside a carcoon when not in use. I m not sure the wife feels the same way but I ve got a few tricks up my sleeve!
Thanks again for reading if you got this far.
Edited by Muska on Wednesday 27th May 11:23
Krikkit said:
Fantastic car in a wonderful colour-scheme! I'm still shocked at how few of these they sold.
Just a minor nerd point, 2ZR-FE never made it into the Prius as it's not the Atkinson cycle engine (that was the -FAE), but it was in lovely humdrum stuff like the Auris and Corolla
Thank you for the correction! It can’t be a bad thing that the power plant wasn’t shared with the Prius. I’m not sure the alternatives are much better! Just a minor nerd point, 2ZR-FE never made it into the Prius as it's not the Atkinson cycle engine (that was the -FAE), but it was in lovely humdrum stuff like the Auris and Corolla
Gareth, I’ve not had cause to drive in the dark yet. I’m guessing the headlamps are not the Elise’s strong point?!
Message Board | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff