RE: Lotus Elise Sport 135: PH Fleet
Discussion
Ironic indeed... I sold my S1 to fund my first house purchase, so whilst it lived on a driveway in my ownership, it was not MY driveway, rather my parents. A fun 12 months of S1 ownership including a few roadtrips and trackdays, but I was turning 24 and wanted to buy a house.
The tide is turning 12 years on... I nearly picked up an S2 135R 6 months back but missed the opportunity, so hold out for another... all in good time. (just hope prices don't continue to climb too rapidly - sold mine for £7k... ouch!)
The tide is turning 12 years on... I nearly picked up an S2 135R 6 months back but missed the opportunity, so hold out for another... all in good time. (just hope prices don't continue to climb too rapidly - sold mine for £7k... ouch!)
KurtB said:
I have to say the Singer is a thing of pure (unattainable) beauty! My S1 Exige followed an Elise 111S, which in turn was proceeded by a 1969 Europa. There's just something about Lotus DNA! I've had the Exige since 2011 and genuinely believe I'll never part with it.
wow! lucky boy...
highway said:
What did the op end up doing with regard to engine tuning? It was mentioned in an earlier update but left hanging...
It's still something I want to get done, but definitely not a priority at the moment with plenty of house-related expenditure to soak up the disposable income! At the moment i've been trying to shed some weight from it and add some grip - more on that in due course. I’m likely to go the DVA route next year. Only the port and cams option which apparently realises a real 150bhp ish.
I like my standard S1 as is. It has MMC’s and its an early car. It does run out of puff at 5k ish and I’d like to address that. However I don’t want to lose the standard idle and behaviour in traffic. I remember having a 1.6 205 gti. The 1.9 felt night and day a faster car despite there being 15bhp between them.
I’ve drove a standard MGF vs the VVC car when they were new. Couldn’t feel any difference. Similarly tried a new 997 S vs base 3.6 997. Nothing in it on the road.
My nagging doubt is spending the the money on the Elise and not really being able to tell the difference...
I like my standard S1 as is. It has MMC’s and its an early car. It does run out of puff at 5k ish and I’d like to address that. However I don’t want to lose the standard idle and behaviour in traffic. I remember having a 1.6 205 gti. The 1.9 felt night and day a faster car despite there being 15bhp between them.
I’ve drove a standard MGF vs the VVC car when they were new. Couldn’t feel any difference. Similarly tried a new 997 S vs base 3.6 997. Nothing in it on the road.
My nagging doubt is spending the the money on the Elise and not really being able to tell the difference...
SidewaysSi said:
I love my Elise S1 Sport 160 and can never see myself selling. I have driven hundreds of cars but nothing (incurring newer and faster Loti) gives me such joy on road and track.
Slideable, driftable and so adjustable on track. Great sound from the Larini too and has more communication than pretty much anything ever made.
My car has Nitron dampers, upgraded brakes, quick shift, Larini CS, carbon induction etc and it is a great car.
I had a Cayman GT4 but ended up selling it as the Lotus blew it away for fun on road.
Next year's upgrades are an ultra close ratio straight cut gearbox, LSD, Tillet B6 seats and some harnesses. Then it is done. For me, the perfect useable road racer.
Very nice! And getting quite valuable now too. Slideable, driftable and so adjustable on track. Great sound from the Larini too and has more communication than pretty much anything ever made.
My car has Nitron dampers, upgraded brakes, quick shift, Larini CS, carbon induction etc and it is a great car.
I had a Cayman GT4 but ended up selling it as the Lotus blew it away for fun on road.
Next year's upgrades are an ultra close ratio straight cut gearbox, LSD, Tillet B6 seats and some harnesses. Then it is done. For me, the perfect useable road racer.
highway said:
I’m likely to go the DVA route next year. Only the port and cams option which apparently realises a real 150bhp ish.
I like my standard S1 as is. It has MMC’s and its an early car. It does run out of puff at 5k ish and I’d like to address that. However I don’t want to lose the standard idle and behaviour in traffic. I remember having a 1.6 205 gti. The 1.9 felt night and day a faster car despite there being 15bhp between them.
I’ve drove a standard MGF vs the VVC car when they were new. Couldn’t feel any difference. Similarly tried a new 997 S vs base 3.6 997. Nothing in it on the road.
My nagging doubt is spending the the money on the Elise and not really being able to tell the difference...
That is always the risk. I understand cams and verniers will release around 160 from mine for around £1k. Which I am informed, by someone who should know, will be appreciable from the 130-140 my car will currently be producing. Key for me is a bit of extra poke from the K-Series without increasing the fragility. I like my standard S1 as is. It has MMC’s and its an early car. It does run out of puff at 5k ish and I’d like to address that. However I don’t want to lose the standard idle and behaviour in traffic. I remember having a 1.6 205 gti. The 1.9 felt night and day a faster car despite there being 15bhp between them.
I’ve drove a standard MGF vs the VVC car when they were new. Couldn’t feel any difference. Similarly tried a new 997 S vs base 3.6 997. Nothing in it on the road.
My nagging doubt is spending the the money on the Elise and not really being able to tell the difference...
Danny Milner said:
That is always the risk. I understand cams and verniers will release around 160 from mine for around £1k. Which I am informed, by someone who should know, will be appreciable from the 130-140 my car will currently be producing. Key for me is a bit of extra poke from the K-Series without increasing the fragility.
if it also becomes more responsive and free at the top end then money well spent in my book.In terms of low maintenance, you can get them to about 210bhp and they will last. It's when you're knocking on the door of 230bhp that they suddenly become grenades. We were really pushing the envelope at 260+ and it was an expensive learning curve!
Overall though, they just need warming up and maintenance. I would not call them fragile in road spec at all as long as you are disciplined.
Overall though, they just need warming up and maintenance. I would not call them fragile in road spec at all as long as you are disciplined.
Danny Milner said:
SidewaysSi said:
I love my Elise S1 Sport 160 and can never see myself selling. I have driven hundreds of cars but nothing (incurring newer and faster Loti) gives me such joy on road and track.
Slideable, driftable and so adjustable on track. Great sound from the Larini too and has more communication than pretty much anything ever made.
My car has Nitron dampers, upgraded brakes, quick shift, Larini CS, carbon induction etc and it is a great car.
I had a Cayman GT4 but ended up selling it as the Lotus blew it away for fun on road.
Next year's upgrades are an ultra close ratio straight cut gearbox, LSD, Tillet B6 seats and some harnesses. Then it is done. For me, the perfect useable road racer.
Very nice! And getting quite valuable now too. Slideable, driftable and so adjustable on track. Great sound from the Larini too and has more communication than pretty much anything ever made.
My car has Nitron dampers, upgraded brakes, quick shift, Larini CS, carbon induction etc and it is a great car.
I had a Cayman GT4 but ended up selling it as the Lotus blew it away for fun on road.
Next year's upgrades are an ultra close ratio straight cut gearbox, LSD, Tillet B6 seats and some harnesses. Then it is done. For me, the perfect useable road racer.
Hello Danny,
What a great article, there can be no higher praise than to compare the Elise S1 to a Singer Porsche!
Rob Dickenson who set up Singer actually worked in my studio at Lotus as a student back in the 90's, I hope that working for Lotus inspired him in his future endeavours!
I'm so pleased you're enjoying your car so much after all these years, my silver 160 Sport looks almost the same as yours,
Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Julian Thomson
What a great article, there can be no higher praise than to compare the Elise S1 to a Singer Porsche!
Rob Dickenson who set up Singer actually worked in my studio at Lotus as a student back in the 90's, I hope that working for Lotus inspired him in his future endeavours!
I'm so pleased you're enjoying your car so much after all these years, my silver 160 Sport looks almost the same as yours,
Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Julian Thomson
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