Investigation into paintwork fault on Lotus S1

[quistii]

I'm investigating a possible problem with paintwork on the Elise S1.

I have a Nautilus Blue Elise S1 (metallic, dark blue/green). It's a 98R with about 36k miles. I don't use it for commuting but use occassionally for motorway driving.

There are so many stone chips it looks as if someone has taken a shotgun to the front of the car. The paint under the dirver's side air intake has also 'run' and looks as if the top layer has come away. (Petrol damage from leaky fuel cap?).

I thought I was just unlucky. Until I met another Nautilus Blue S1 at Bedford almost two weeks ago. It was a 99S, with Armorguard paint protection. And the stone chips were worse than mine. Most of the other 97-99 cars were in much better condition.

Do you have a Nautilus Blue S1 or anoother colour and does it suffer from massive stone ships? I'd be interested to find out.

Neil

[adrianr]

New Aluminium S1, 32K miles, no armourfend. Lower front totally pebbledashed, sills pretty shot up too, amazingly at least one mark on every other panel. A lot of this is self inflicted due to following other things too close on track days, but the paint is pretty soft IMHO. Ho humm.

AdrianR
P.S. Will get a respray one day, when I get old and start to drive slowly

[quistii]

I've been quoted about £1500 for a front clam shell respray or £4000 for a full respray (including about £1500 of craccked fibreglass in the rear panel).

[Felix1]

Hmmm I have a black 111s 79 with 18K on the clock and armourfend, I have often wondered whether they ever did put any on as the front is badly chipped. Would be curious to know what comes of your investigations, if you want help let me know.

Pat