Tickles Lotus Elise S1 111s

[Tickle]

Rocket. said:

Great pics as usual of my favourite S1 Elise, keep them coming.

Thanks

[Tickle]

Stuck the PH Name stickers I got from the group buy, pleased they actually stuck!



Then had an impromptu drive, these hot nights won't last

Edited by Tickle on Friday 6th July 19:23

[MikeGoodwin]

Christ it's a good looking motor.

[anonymous-user]

Tickle said:

Fantastic picture of a gorgeous car. I still miss mine.

[Tickle]

MikeGoodwin said:

Christ it's a good looking motor.

Cheers Mike

[Tickle]

cb1965 said:

Fantastic picture of a gorgeous car. I still miss mine.

Cheers.

They are getting more rare, especially with so many being exported to warmer climates.

Going to keep hold of this Elise until I can't bend enough to get in!

[Tickle]

Not wanting to sound ungrateful for the Summer we had, but August into September was pretty se! The Elise has had no proper use, albeit a bumble to the garage for its MOT which it passed fine, which I am grateful for

I would of loved to of taken the car back to Hethel for the Lotus 70th Birthday event, but Norfolk is too much of a trek for me. The 111s has a very close box that is quite unpleasant on the motorway after a few mile, especially with the Janspeed SS blaring away. With limited time for me at the moment with work, weather and family constraints I thought a better use would be to just get out and drive, on my own and on my favourite roads.

Finally! A break in the rain and a spontaneous day off work and I was out for a sunrise dash to the mountains. Car and weather were spot on, scenery wasn't bad too. There really isn't a car that I could think of swapping this little Elise for, for what it gets used for anyway.









Maybe I will get another few blasts out this year; however, with colder, wet roads and my favourite place to drive due to be permanently damp for the next 5 months or so this may of been my last.

...Also with the birth of Baby Tickle #2 due in December I'm not sure what usage the Elise will get next year, if any. I may end up SORN'ing it and do a few little jobs that I want to do but have not got round to doing. Will see though, I did promise myself a Highlands trip for my 40th next year

[ECG1000]

Really enjoyed reading that from start to finish! Yours has made me want an S1 Elise.
The only thing I'm unsure on is the enamel Union Jack badges, especially the one above the exhaust tips - a bit overkill for me. Otherwise your car is stunning! Everything just looks so "right" about it.

If you haven't planned to yet, head over to the North Yorkshire Moors. Some cracking roads over that way!
I drove from Leeds through the Dales to Richmond at the start of the summer and didn't think too much to the roads there, even Buttertubs. They all just seemed a bit too tight and blind... It was in my (recently sold) Caterham, so I wonder if being sat so low had something to do with it - not being able to see over crests etc?
Having said that, there were a couple of good stretches just outside Aysgarth.

I've always wanted to sample what Wales has to offer though. If you are keen to meet up and have a drive out that way at some point, I'd really appreciate it.

Looking forward to the next update!

[Tickle]

ECG1000 said:

Really enjoyed reading that from start to finish! Yours has made me want an S1 Elise.
The only thing I'm unsure on is the enamel Union Jack badges, especially the one above the exhaust tips - a bit overkill for me. Otherwise your car is stunning! Everything just looks so "right" about it.

If you haven't planned to yet, head over to the North Yorkshire Moors. Some cracking roads over that way!
I drove from Leeds through the Dales to Richmond at the start of the summer and didn't think too much to the roads there, even Buttertubs. They all just seemed a bit too tight and blind... It was in my (recently sold) Caterham, so I wonder if being sat so low had something to do with it - not being able to see over crests etc?
Having said that, there were a couple of good stretches just outside Aysgarth.

I've always wanted to sample what Wales has to offer though. If you are keen to meet up and have a drive out that way at some point, I'd really appreciate it.

Looking forward to the next update!

Cheers, thanks.

Not sure what drove me to put the enamel badges on, I think there may have been a thread on SELOC at the time and I fancied the look. I am quite fond of them, even though the company was Malaysian owned in 2000 I like to think of it as a British car, including the ‘trusty’ VVC k-series!

I drove the Dales about this time las year, Ingleton > Ribblehead > Hawes > Buttertubs. I enjoyed it; however, I prefer N Wales by some margin. The roads didn’t seem to flow as well and are not as well sighted (as you say though, that may be because your arse is 2” from the deck!) Maybe it was unfamiliarity or there are better roads I didn’t explore, happy to be corrected on that as I’m always keen to learn new places to drive. N Wales and the Dales are a similar distance from me, although the new Mersey-Gateway bridge gets me into North Wales in about 25mins now! I have not drove the North Yorkshire Moors in the Elise, I have driven there for work, up-to near RAF Fylingdales but it was in some sort of generic hire-car and in the middle of winter. North Yorkshire Moors are a bit further for me and N Wales is so convenient and good.

Happy to meet-up, not sure if it will be this year though, looking outside as I type it looks pretty grim… it’s probably twice as bad towards Ffestiniog too! Would have been great if you still had the Caterham, what has replaced it?

[MRobbins1987]

Tickle said:

Stuck the PH Name stickers I got from the group buy, pleased they actually stuck!



Then had an impromptu drive, these hot nights won't last

Edited by Tickle on Friday 6th July 19:23

Such a pretty little car, photos are superb. North Wales really is superb for a good drive.

[Tickle]

Car will be SORN'd next week and that's it for another year.

Tank was brimmed yesterday, tyres pumped-up, Unibond 360 dehumidifier in the footwell and a final wash and seal. Will update the thread with any jobs that get done over winter. The first one will be swap the stone guards, still undecided on black or clear I also want to renew the washers and associated fastenings to S/S on the mud guards.

Current situation, residing under a cover.

[Eyersey1234]

Looks a nice car Tickles, how long have you owned it? Sorry if this has already been answered I haven't read the whole thread.

[Tickle]

Eyersey1234 said:

Looks a nice car Tickles, how long have you owned it? Sorry if this has already been answered I haven't read the whole thread.

Thanks, coming up for 4 years now. As it doesn't get used daily the driving experience hasn't wore off.

[TR4man]

Eyersey1234 said:

Looks a nice car Tickles, how long have you owned it? Sorry if this has already been answered I haven't read the whole thread.

Have a read of the whole thread, you won't be disappointed.

[ECG1000]

That's a shame you've SORNed it, but I can completely understand why. Hope you keep us updated with any changes you make over the winter.
Oh...... and black stone guards for sure! It'll make a nice contrast.

[Mark Benson]

Tickle said:

ECG1000 said:

Really enjoyed reading that from start to finish! Yours has made me want an S1 Elise.
The only thing I'm unsure on is the enamel Union Jack badges, especially the one above the exhaust tips - a bit overkill for me. Otherwise your car is stunning! Everything just looks so "right" about it.

If you haven't planned to yet, head over to the North Yorkshire Moors. Some cracking roads over that way!
I drove from Leeds through the Dales to Richmond at the start of the summer and didn't think too much to the roads there, even Buttertubs. They all just seemed a bit too tight and blind... It was in my (recently sold) Caterham, so I wonder if being sat so low had something to do with it - not being able to see over crests etc?
Having said that, there were a couple of good stretches just outside Aysgarth.

I've always wanted to sample what Wales has to offer though. If you are keen to meet up and have a drive out that way at some point, I'd really appreciate it.

Looking forward to the next update!

Cheers, thanks.

Not sure what drove me to put the enamel badges on, I think there may have been a thread on SELOC at the time and I fancied the look. I am quite fond of them, even though the company was Malaysian owned in 2000 I like to think of it as a British car, including the ‘trusty’ VVC k-series!

I drove the Dales about this time las year, Ingleton > Ribblehead > Hawes > Buttertubs. I enjoyed it; however, I prefer N Wales by some margin. The roads didn’t seem to flow as well and are not as well sighted (as you say though, that may be because your arse is 2” from the deck!) Maybe it was unfamiliarity or there are better roads I didn’t explore, happy to be corrected on that as I’m always keen to learn new places to drive. N Wales and the Dales are a similar distance from me, although the new Mersey-Gateway bridge gets me into North Wales in about 25mins now! I have not drove the North Yorkshire Moors in the Elise, I have driven there for work, up-to near RAF Fylingdales but it was in some sort of generic hire-car and in the middle of winter. North Yorkshire Moors are a bit further for me and N Wales is so convenient and good.

Happy to meet-up, not sure if it will be this year though, looking outside as I type it looks pretty grim… it’s probably twice as bad towards Ffestiniog too! Would have been great if you still had the Caterham, what has replaced it?

There are some cracking routes in Teesdale and Weardale, just north of the 'traditional' Dales and where tourists are a lot less likely to visit and to me, the roads seem a bit better sighted (more moorland with fewer walls obscuring the view). There are also a lot fewer settlements so less traffic overall. As a local (I live just outside Richmond) the best hooning roads are all north of Barnard Castle, towards Hadrian's Wall. I almost never go into the Dales and seldom up to the NY Moors anymore, there are so many places further north to explore.

Worth a trip if you've never been, ask on the North East section of the forum and there are a few locals who can give you some cracking routes (I'm happy to be a guide too, though I'm still exploring myself).

[Tickle]

ECG1000 said:

That's a shame you've SORNed it, but I can completely understand why. Hope you keep us updated with any changes you make over the winter.
Oh...... and black stone guards for sure! It'll make a nice contrast.

I have a busy few months ahead, a new baby due in December being the main reason. I think that golden opportunity of; a dry day, no grit on the road and my wife saying "why don't you go out in your car for the morning, I will be fine with the kids" all coinciding are slim to none!

thought you might say go with the black ones

[Tickle]

Mark Benson said:

There are some cracking routes in Teesdale and Weardale, just north of the 'traditional' Dales and where tourists are a lot less likely to visit and to me, the roads seem a bit better sighted (more moorland with fewer walls obscuring the view). There are also a lot fewer settlements so less traffic overall. As a local (I live just outside Richmond) the best hooning roads are all north of Barnard Castle, towards Hadrian's Wall. I almost never go into the Dales and seldom up to the NY Moors anymore, there are so many places further north to explore.

Worth a trip if you've never been, ask on the North East section of the forum and there are a few locals who can give you some cracking routes (I'm happy to be a guide too, though I'm still exploring myself).

Thanks, I have just had a quick google maps/streetview of some of the areas you mention, very good. One of the places I have wanted to go was Penrith towards Alston with a stop off at the Hartside Cafe (pre-fire), also the Tan Hill Inn one Summers night. Summer seems a long time off today!

[Tickle]

I've not updated this thread for a while, seeing as I have a bit of time to myself tonight I thought I'd do a small update

The car was SORN'd over winter and now, thankfully it's back on the road. I wasn't sure if I would get chance to use it much this year with the birth of our second baby and associated free time constraints. Not that I am moaning, as we have two fantastic children.

I planned to do a few cosmetic changes over winter but to be honest, I never had the time really. The car had a good clean and winter storage prep so not much was needed to get back out in it, apart from fluid check and set the tyre pressures back lower.

As I won't be using the car as much as I would like for a while, I have no immediate plans for upgrades, I'm just grateful I have it in the garage in tip-top condition, ready to have an opportunistic drive.

One thing I did manage to do was to replace the roof support decals. Most S1 owners will know, Lotus made the original stickers out of old bus tickets! They don't last, especially once a bit of moisture passes through the soft top. As mentioned earlier in the thread, most OEM parts that have proved to not have the best life span have been modified by better design and materials; decals are no exception.

Before, side-by-side with the replacement decals. These have been made by another S1 owner who makes replacement decals, albeit better quality!



These won't ever really be seen as, the roof is never on when I use it and when it is the fabric covers the roof. Anyway, it's the little things that make the difference.



I have also managed a few of them last minute opportunistic drives, it's great to just get out and drive!

Edited by Tickle on Friday 10th May 20:56

[Ocsltd]

I've missed these updates over Winter! Cracking car, cracking thread....