RE: Lotus Elise Sport 135: PH Fleet
Discussion
angelicupstarts said:
Miss my series 1 Elise
I had a one of fifty special edition ... That meant it had gold wheels and green body ...but it was still numbered 1 out of fifty ..
Funny .
But the thing I hated the most in the wet , the water was blasted straight up the bonnet and onto the window ...and wipers were not quite as good as I would of liked ...
Apart from that it was one of the greatest cars I've owned ....miss it
A bottle of rain-x type stuff would have sorted that for you - its a great shape windscreen for shedding drops!I had a one of fifty special edition ... That meant it had gold wheels and green body ...but it was still numbered 1 out of fifty ..
Funny .
But the thing I hated the most in the wet , the water was blasted straight up the bonnet and onto the window ...and wipers were not quite as good as I would of liked ...
Apart from that it was one of the greatest cars I've owned ....miss it
Owned 3 Elise's and still want to come back for more!!! 
By far one of the best - and cheapest cars to run I have ever owned.
Yes they can be tricky in the wet, but only if you do not respect what you are driving and what it's strengths and weaknesses are. It is actually pretty good in the wet but to put it simply, the safety buffer between the rear wheels losing grip and the car spinning is a lot narrower than most RWD's. Understand that and you will be fine
By far one of the best - and cheapest cars to run I have ever owned.
Yes they can be tricky in the wet, but only if you do not respect what you are driving and what it's strengths and weaknesses are. It is actually pretty good in the wet but to put it simply, the safety buffer between the rear wheels losing grip and the car spinning is a lot narrower than most RWD's. Understand that and you will be fine
Bought my S1 new in 1998 and have had very little trouble ..... just the usual servicing and a new clutch master cylinder due to a period of misuse as a result of ill health.
I absolutely ADORE it and would NEVER sell it.
There just isn't anything out there with the same mix of qualities. Sure you have to be a little circumspect in the wet ..... but then it is a mid engined car ... and its extremely light. I have experienced the odd occasion when the rear has stepped out when dropping a cog and pulling out a little too quickly to overtake. Easily corrected though.
In the dry they are just sublime. You will have a big grin on your face most of the time.
I'm surprised in the context of wet weather driving that nobody has mentioned the effect that a good soaking has on the composite discs of the really early S1s like mine. Essentially they don't work!
Just ask any owner of an early Elise with ally discs about the first drive down the road after you have washed the car. You have anything but a smile when you first apply the middle pedal. They do soon come back to you though.
I remember one outing to a Lotus gathering at Cadwell Park. Glorious clear sunny day ... but on the trip home across the Pennines big black clouds gathered and the heavens opened BIG time. There was an accident on the M62. The traffic was at a standstill for ever then crawling forward. It was a monsoon. The car's tub just filled with water ..... about 3" deep as I recall .... and the brakes were a nightmare ..... but you had to laugh! In the dry these brakes are fabulous though .... really effective and progressive.
If you're thinking about buying an S1 ....... stop thinking ..... just buy one. They will not be this cheap forever.
Oh ..... and get a set of Yokohama AD07s (195 front 225 rear)...... they are bloody brilliant!
I absolutely ADORE it and would NEVER sell it.
There just isn't anything out there with the same mix of qualities. Sure you have to be a little circumspect in the wet ..... but then it is a mid engined car ... and its extremely light. I have experienced the odd occasion when the rear has stepped out when dropping a cog and pulling out a little too quickly to overtake. Easily corrected though.
In the dry they are just sublime. You will have a big grin on your face most of the time.
I'm surprised in the context of wet weather driving that nobody has mentioned the effect that a good soaking has on the composite discs of the really early S1s like mine. Essentially they don't work!
Just ask any owner of an early Elise with ally discs about the first drive down the road after you have washed the car. You have anything but a smile when you first apply the middle pedal. They do soon come back to you though.
I remember one outing to a Lotus gathering at Cadwell Park. Glorious clear sunny day ... but on the trip home across the Pennines big black clouds gathered and the heavens opened BIG time. There was an accident on the M62. The traffic was at a standstill for ever then crawling forward. It was a monsoon. The car's tub just filled with water ..... about 3" deep as I recall .... and the brakes were a nightmare ..... but you had to laugh! In the dry these brakes are fabulous though .... really effective and progressive.
If you're thinking about buying an S1 ....... stop thinking ..... just buy one. They will not be this cheap forever.
Oh ..... and get a set of Yokohama AD07s (195 front 225 rear)...... they are bloody brilliant!
Edited by I WISH on Thursday 23 January 14:50
I WISH said:
Bought my S1 new in 1998 and have had very little trouble ..... just the usual servicing and a new clutch master cylinder due to a period of misuse as a result of ill health.
I absolutely ADORE it and would NEVER sell it.
original owner since '98. one of very few now i suspect. Jealous!I absolutely ADORE it and would NEVER sell it.
Edited by I WISH on Thursday 23 January 14:50
Me too...an original owner of my 111S S1 since September 1999, will never part with it.... Inspite of being offered some really silly money. The S1 Elise is fast becoming a modern classic, bag one quickly, there is a big market in Japan, so tey are becoming rare, only 25 for sale on Pistonheads classified this month compared to around 70 for sale a year ago!
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