RE: PH Carpool: Lotus Elise S1 Sport 135
Discussion
james280779 said:
So am I being completely ignorant and I am sure someone will tell me I am.
Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
There is a massive difference & all I can say is drive one to find out why.Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
james280779 said:
So am I being completely ignorant and I am sure someone will tell me I am.
Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
It's like saying an Alfa GTV is a cheaper version of a Ferrari.Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
james280779 said:
So am I being completely ignorant and I am sure someone will tell me I am.
Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
While the MGTF is good, its just not even close to being in the same league, the Elise has many compramises and you have to want to drive it,Its mid 8k for an early S1 which runs a K-series 135bhp engine. The same engine that’s in a MGTF? The MGTF is also a fantastic handling car and have a much higher spec. I paid 2k for my wives 2002 MGTF four years ago and have had many years trouble free motoring, in fact aside from a new battery and a regular service it has never needed anything. I know it’s a Lotus but is the extra cost really worth it? I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
Might be a very viable option for those that cannot afford an Elise
While speed is not what the Elise is about, it used to make me laugh when I was told my Elise was not fast, especially when the same people would be screaming when entering NSL on a B road. For me the Elise opened my eyes to light weight cars, and the joy of steering that you never seam to turn, you just think about the bend that's it.
Bing o said:
It's like saying an Alfa GTV is a cheaper version of a Ferrari.
More like comparing James' TVR S with the granada the power plant was extracted from. Or the Atom with a Civic Type R etc etc
Having owned an MGF and my ex having had an MGTF, they are fun little summer cars, but they share nothing in common other than source of power, and even that feels totally different by virtue of the weight difference.
otolith said:
james280779 said:
I admit they are great looking little cars but no prettier than a top of the range TF.
If you are only interested in how pretty it is, and you like the TF, buy the TF.The MG is around 1100kg - an S1 Elise is more like 750kg.
My first contribution to PH .
Very interesting to read other peoples thoughts and general opinions on the S1 135 Elise. I was lucky to buy mine nearly 2 years ago now, registration T12 HOT ( not my choice or reg , came with the car ).
The second 135 I considered , should have bought the first one but you know what everyone says , take it from me this saying is not always true.Very rare for two early 135's to come up for sale and very lucky I was.
I did own a yellow 1996 S1 reg ???? POT ( Sold to a father and son in St Helens ,where are you now ) , was and still am looking for a 1996 S1 but read an article on a 111S which was being compared to a 135 which attracted my attention so started the search which resulted in the purchase of T12 HOT from London.
On the drive home I could not stop smiling , the low down torque on back roads and mid range torque / power on motorways was instant.
I as everyone else who has never driven a 135 did not believe that the little difference between a standard 118 bhp and 135 bhp would make so much difference but it does .
I have since driven an S1 111S and although the gearbox felt tighter and more precise than my 135 ( mine needs adjustment ) this particular 111s did not appear to have the torque or was as sharp as my 135 but was still very impressive.
I was considering a step up to an S1 Exige as someone else has done who has contributed to this blog but am a little concerned about the sudden and sharp increases in asking prices for the S1 Exige , it would also seem that the dealers have spotted the potential in these cars.
Reading the previous article ( 2012 ) from the person who sold his 135 to purchase an Exige he was not impressed over all by the delivery of the extra power from the Exige or the general day to day drive compared with the 135.
Can anyone else give their personal experience of owning / driving both the S1 135 and the S1 Exige as I'm still considering buying a low mileage, low number of owners and well documented serviced S1 Exige if anyone has one for sale, I will not be selling my 135 but will be selling my 1973 Elan Sprint to purchase the Exige.
Greg.
Very interesting to read other peoples thoughts and general opinions on the S1 135 Elise. I was lucky to buy mine nearly 2 years ago now, registration T12 HOT ( not my choice or reg , came with the car ).
The second 135 I considered , should have bought the first one but you know what everyone says , take it from me this saying is not always true.Very rare for two early 135's to come up for sale and very lucky I was.
I did own a yellow 1996 S1 reg ???? POT ( Sold to a father and son in St Helens ,where are you now ) , was and still am looking for a 1996 S1 but read an article on a 111S which was being compared to a 135 which attracted my attention so started the search which resulted in the purchase of T12 HOT from London.
On the drive home I could not stop smiling , the low down torque on back roads and mid range torque / power on motorways was instant.
I as everyone else who has never driven a 135 did not believe that the little difference between a standard 118 bhp and 135 bhp would make so much difference but it does .
I have since driven an S1 111S and although the gearbox felt tighter and more precise than my 135 ( mine needs adjustment ) this particular 111s did not appear to have the torque or was as sharp as my 135 but was still very impressive.
I was considering a step up to an S1 Exige as someone else has done who has contributed to this blog but am a little concerned about the sudden and sharp increases in asking prices for the S1 Exige , it would also seem that the dealers have spotted the potential in these cars.
Reading the previous article ( 2012 ) from the person who sold his 135 to purchase an Exige he was not impressed over all by the delivery of the extra power from the Exige or the general day to day drive compared with the 135.
Can anyone else give their personal experience of owning / driving both the S1 135 and the S1 Exige as I'm still considering buying a low mileage, low number of owners and well documented serviced S1 Exige if anyone has one for sale, I will not be selling my 135 but will be selling my 1973 Elan Sprint to purchase the Exige.
Greg.
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