Tuning fun: Elise S or Cayman S?
Tuning fun: Elise S or Cayman S?
Author
Discussion

dann0

Original Poster:

1 posts

177 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
I've just sold my Porsche 997 turbo frown

There's a kid friendly Range Rover Sport now in the driveway...but I'm looking towards a two car strategy! Here in Oz I could pick up a second hand Cayman S for around $50K or an Elise S for a bit less.

What does everyone think will provide the most fun given I want to dump say another $10-20K into the car to tune it up a little? I like them both to be honest, I like the Elise's swagger a bit better than the Cayman's but also think the Cayman is one of the greats...if not a little slower than the turbo...

Krikkit

27,939 posts

212 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Elise can have a variety of engine swaps to boost performance. Cayman needs quite a big chunk of cash to soup up, turbo I suppose.

ZX10R NIN

30,647 posts

156 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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dann0 said:
I've just sold my Porsche 997 turbo frown

There's a kid friendly Range Rover Sport now in the driveway...but I'm looking towards a two car strategy! Here in Oz I could pick up a second hand Cayman S for around $50K or an Elise S for a bit less.

What does everyone think will provide the most fun given I want to dump say another $10-20K into the car to tune it up a little? I like them both to be honest, I like the Elise's swagger a bit better than the Cayman's but also think the Cayman is one of the greats...if not a little slower than the turbo...
If you're into tuning then why not look at a 911? I have nothing against the Caymen it's a great steer but for tuning purposes you have to outlay some serious $$ to get it going now if you start with a 3.8S or Turbo you have a better starting point IMO

The Elise is bad ass ripe for tuning but I think I'd edge towards the Porsche because it's just that bit nicer.



kambites

71,659 posts

252 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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The Elise will be more "fun" but the Porsche is a better all-rounder if you want to be able to use it for GTish trips as well.

Neither car is easy to tune for more power. Can you not buy an Exige V6 for the ~70k you have in total?

juansolo

3,012 posts

309 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Realistically, if you're wanting to tune an older Cayman you'll need to do the following: sump mods and PAS pump pulley swap before you start. LSD (Quaife used to do a ATB for the 6 speed transaxle IIRC) and some money on sorting the suspension to take it and not understeer like a bd. The only tuning options worth doing is the turbo form Parr or an engine swap to the 3.8. Both are big money. Or for more money, a full engine re-build to race specs.

Or stick a K20A in an Elise (kits/people out there who'll do that) and have a blast. Though the car is likely to fall apart around you, but that's just part of Lotus ownership and nothing to do with the conversion.

Claudia Skies

1,098 posts

147 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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kambites said:
Neither car is easy to tune for more power. Can you not buy an Exige V6 for the ~70k you have in total?
Agreed. Both of those head straight to engine-swap territory and I would avoid. Better to buy a car or version with the power you want and just enjoy it!

kambites

71,659 posts

252 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Ah which model of "Elise S" are we talking about? The current supercharged car or the older naturally aspirated one?

A supercharged K20A engine swap should be in budget for the Elise which would give around 300bhp. Well worth it if you're upgrading from ~140bhp, not quite so worth it if you already have 220ish. smile