Discussion
Hi guys,
I have recently sold a very high spec VX HPC Caterham 7. The engine produced 240bhp, all work carried out by QED motorsport ! As you can imagine, it was a very rapid car! However, it was never used on track as the work was carried out so well and the engine had so much torque it was perfect road car and embarrassed many other marques.
However, as said i sold it to clear some equity and now i am thinking of getting an Elise. But which one?
S1 111s ??
S1 160
or
S2
Any other model i don't know about?!
I look forward to your advice.
many thanks.
I have recently sold a very high spec VX HPC Caterham 7. The engine produced 240bhp, all work carried out by QED motorsport ! As you can imagine, it was a very rapid car! However, it was never used on track as the work was carried out so well and the engine had so much torque it was perfect road car and embarrassed many other marques.
However, as said i sold it to clear some equity and now i am thinking of getting an Elise. But which one?
S1 111s ??
S1 160
or
S2
Any other model i don't know about?!
I look forward to your advice.
many thanks.
I love the question because the answers is in yourself. I asked it myself for weeks, before to decide only myself even with a lot of advices.
It depends
- on your use (track (111r of S1 160) of road),
- the confort you expect (type caterham (more as S1 or "normal" S2 111S),
- your expected performance (low torq of high rev power 111R),
- your budget
- and your willingness to moded the car.
The best answer is TRY them in good condition and let us know your opinion. I am sure the group will "correct" you if you are going in the wrong direction.
Waiting for more info,..:-)
Ben
"My choice is probably not your choice"
It depends
- on your use (track (111r of S1 160) of road),
- the confort you expect (type caterham (more as S1 or "normal" S2 111S),
- your expected performance (low torq of high rev power 111R),
- your budget
- and your willingness to moded the car.
The best answer is TRY them in good condition and let us know your opinion. I am sure the group will "correct" you if you are going in the wrong direction.
Waiting for more info,..:-)
Ben
"My choice is probably not your choice"
I agree with Cuzza,
Sounds like your gonna need something pretty "hardcore" if you want to get somewhere near that Caterham experience.
If, as you say, your Caterham was well sorted, then make sure you look for an equally well sorted Liz - particularly if you go for one of the high power derivatives. They tend to need to be driven hard (ie, tracked) in order to get the best out of them. The 111s or Sport 135 tend to be better suited to fast road use out of the box.
My advise depends on if you are into tuning or not. If not, then a 111s or Sport 135 will most likely fit the bill, although performance will inevitably fall a long way short of your Caterham.
If you are into a bit of tuning (and it sounds like you are) then a well looked after standard S1, perhaps with some suspension mods, would be a good starting point. The money saved over an S2 could help start you well down the tuning route.
Taking this approach you can modify the car to best suit your needs / wants. From simple bolt-on mods to full engine swaps. Plenty of guys on here with some pretty lary S1s who no doubt would be happy to offer loads of advise.
Hope it helps
Dunc
Sounds like your gonna need something pretty "hardcore" if you want to get somewhere near that Caterham experience.
If, as you say, your Caterham was well sorted, then make sure you look for an equally well sorted Liz - particularly if you go for one of the high power derivatives. They tend to need to be driven hard (ie, tracked) in order to get the best out of them. The 111s or Sport 135 tend to be better suited to fast road use out of the box.
My advise depends on if you are into tuning or not. If not, then a 111s or Sport 135 will most likely fit the bill, although performance will inevitably fall a long way short of your Caterham.
If you are into a bit of tuning (and it sounds like you are) then a well looked after standard S1, perhaps with some suspension mods, would be a good starting point. The money saved over an S2 could help start you well down the tuning route.
Taking this approach you can modify the car to best suit your needs / wants. From simple bolt-on mods to full engine swaps. Plenty of guys on here with some pretty lary S1s who no doubt would be happy to offer loads of advise.
Hope it helps
Dunc
This time last year I went from a MK1 111s to a Caterham Superlight.
Although similar in concept, the designs are decades apart and the feel totally different. Although my Elise had more power (143 bhp) than my 7 (133 bhp), it had no way near the kick or sheer face on tarmac feedback that the 7 gives me - it was just sooooo much more civilised (although I have to admit that the steering was much nicer).
A Mk1 will be closer to feel to your 7 than the more civilised Mk2. I would be tempted by a sport 160 or 190 (if you can find one), or take a standard Mk1 and spend some time money making it into a trackday beast.
Whatever you do, you will have a car that is fantastic, if not as extreme, as your 7.
Happy hunting.
Although similar in concept, the designs are decades apart and the feel totally different. Although my Elise had more power (143 bhp) than my 7 (133 bhp), it had no way near the kick or sheer face on tarmac feedback that the 7 gives me - it was just sooooo much more civilised (although I have to admit that the steering was much nicer).
A Mk1 will be closer to feel to your 7 than the more civilised Mk2. I would be tempted by a sport 160 or 190 (if you can find one), or take a standard Mk1 and spend some time money making it into a trackday beast.
Whatever you do, you will have a car that is fantastic, if not as extreme, as your 7.
Happy hunting.
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