Advise Sought !

[maserati3200gt]

Hi There.

We need some help from your community please !

My Fiance was taken out in the Lotus Exige yesterday and had a great time.

We are looking for a good track car that will spend 50% on tracks and 50% on the road.(3rd car so to speak)

Lotus seems to fit the bill , the question is that for 10K to 15k what is the best Lotus Model to go for and why ? e.g Easy to service models and keeping service costs down, power upgrades etc?

We dont know a lot about these cars but the car we experienced yesterday was stunning but sadly not in our price range so can anyone suggest an alernative ?

Thanks for taking the time to reply to this post

Peter & Julie

[bogie]

The Series 1 Sport 160 is a great track car - sports suspension and 160bhp ish as std...quite rare and hold their value well though. 2nd to that Id get a sorted S1 111S - this has a close ratio box, VVC 143bhp (easy to get 160bhp with bolt ons) etc...just needs the suspension sorting really

Id go for either of the above - wouldnt go for std 120bhp models, unless you can find one thats had a few bob spent on it in upgrades, as you will only end up spending the money yourself.

[maserati3200gt]

Thanks Mark,
What would you say I should expect to pay for either of those models ?

[ayjay]

peter... if u had said this a couple of months back, you could have bought the elise s1 111s from glenn butt,,, instead i ended up with it and i didn't even want one at the time! grrrrr

there is a spice yellow S1 111S that is in the pistonheads classifieds as of today.... the spec is absolutely bang-on for your requirements....

forget about the S160 if you want an easy life... the S1 111S with the VVC engine is about as unburstable as you will get without moving to non-K-series engines.

avoid the S2 coz with the 3200GT you don't need the refinement.

defintely an S1 111S... if you want to go for a spin in mine,,, let me know... i'm lymington based.

alex

[maserati3200gt]

Hi Alex,
I may take you up on your offer
could be up that way very soon.

We had a great experience yesterday on a trackday and the exige seems a great car from what we experienced and the respect that it receives is there to be seen.

Im gonna do some home work tonight and then look at buying in the next week .

Thanks for your advise Alex.
Will email you shortly to arrange a time to meet up (if you are around on the days that I am in your part of the Woods.)

Pete
P.S seen you are after the NSX - Had a lift in one yesterday ! What a Brilliant Track car ! When you buy one Alex you must take it on the track.
Truly a great car.
Spun only once yesterday and even that felt safe !

>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Wednesday 9th February 22:21

[malbon]

Thanks Alex.

Spice Yellow is mine.

I have given first refusal to a fellow midlander who is seeing it on saturday. Its a very well sorted car with EVERYTHING done that you'd expect to do yourself.

Needs to go this weekend really or early next week if possible - otherwise it stays - and gets riced ! so offers after saturday please

[dss123]

I think the guys are right so far.

Another vote for the S1 111S.

Do bear in mind one thing though. If you are looking at extensive mods in the search for power - there is a limit to how far you can push the VVC mech.

160 BHP seems ok - beyond that you are looking at having to junk the VVC mech.

In a nutshell, if you are looking for good performance / reliability out of the box then the 111S is hard to beat - don't rule out the sport 135 though.

If you are looking for a bit of an on going project - take a look at the standard S1 as a starting point.
Plenty around that have some nice upgrades and would make ideal track cars.

Love the 111s though - particularly with Lotus sports suspension (LSS)!

Dunc

[D4V KC]

Have to agree with what's been said already, i had a S1 111s for 2.5 years and it was the dogs dangles. Tracked it too! Ran rings round many at the Bookatrack Goodwood trackday last July. I think it's a good all round track/fast road car. Standard suspension was fine for me. But Lotus Sport suspension would no dought improve an already fantastic car. Close ratio box works very well with the VVC engine. Only reason i got a Series 2 111s is i only run one car and wanted a little more refinement and comfort, but it's still a fantastic motor. Probably beat your 3200 off the lights to 60 too! It's brisk.

For 15K, i reckion you'll get a mint 111s with low mileage and full history. That's what i sold mine for last month with 16K miles, on a 2000 plate FLSH! Braided brake hoses, upgraded pads, Sports exhaust, Induction kit. Very good little motor. Buy one!

[nick_houghton]

my s1 111s on ebay at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4526784801&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

[chris_n]

You could always ditch the 3200 and get an Exige - I did and no regrets so far!

[maserati3200gt]

3200 due to go Chris soon as I have the Gransport arriving.

May look at Exige if price is right though.

[tricky 100]

S1 sport 160 is the natural choice , plenty of horsepower in standard form , better interior , better looking exterior , better suspension, bigger wheels.
S1 111 is a nice car but you ll end up spending to bring it up to the same spec, and it still won t look as nice. Just my opinion of course

[maserati3200gt]

Thanks to all you guys for taking the time to advise us.
We are looking at a couple of cars next week with a deffinate view to buying the Lotus.
Perhaps then I can make some good times on the track !
(unlike my 3200gt !)

Pete