S1 v's S2

[marcfair]

I would apreciate any comments on ownership between the S1 & S2 as i'm looking to buy a S1 in feb/march time and dunno whether to hang on for an S2 if it's a great improvement on the S1 i.e better comfort, build quality etc..
i'm probably going to do about 12K miles a year

[fergusd]

The S2 is perhaps a little more forgiving in terms of handling, a little quieter and a little better manufactured, however . . .

I've owned a 2000W S1 since new, done 35Kmiles in just over 2 years, all fun miles, all hard driven, no easy commuting and I've had no serious problems, and only a couple of minor classic S1 problems. With the use the car has had I've worn out a few parts, but no more than I'd expect.

IMHO either car is very capable, the later S1's are probably better screwed together than the very earliest S2's . . .

I recon you'd be pleased with either car . . .

Fd

[Felix7]

Has maybe done a Golf IMHO (more creature comforts and heavier), that said the S2 does handle better for drivers new to rear wheel drive cars. The S1 will stop better (wider front rubber) but the S2 is better built generally, although to those I have spoken with the S1 is better rated as a track day tool and the S2 for getting their on the public roads. Also depends on budget too I suppose. As always horses for courses (+ I like the more retro look of the S1 from the front especially).

[GCCK]

A message via a friend of a friend who was a development engineer at Lotus - but I listened:-
don't go for an early S1 - development by owners.
Importantly, don't go for a late S1 either - apparently all the development resource was sucked out of Elise to deliver the VX220. Early S2's had their own problems (few). I went for a 99 S1 - deliriously happy!

[joust]

fergusd said: The S2 is perhaps a little more forgiving in terms of handling

See "bash my lotus" www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=15&h=&t=21480 that turned out to be a SII on Bridgestones - read and learn....

*Any* S1 that you consider - esp. if you are buying know - should have Advans rather than P0's or something else on.

I've owned a 2000W S1 since new, done 35Kmiles in just over 2 years, all fun miles, all hard driven, no easy commuting and I've had no serious problems, and only a couple of minor classic S1 problems. With the use the car has had I've worn out a few parts, but no more than I'd expect.

That's the great thing about S1's now - if you get a "decent" one then all the know issues are now sorted - there isn't much left really that can go wrong.

Over the last 3 years my S1's only needed normal servicing plus a few "consumables" (new light lenses [now got armourfend on all of them]/ oil / bushes etc. etc.)

I recon you'd be pleased with either car . . .

For me it's all about the looks. I doubt if I would ever buy an SII - to me it looks like a 5 year old has hacked a lump of clay with a blunt plastic knife and they took that and made it into a full size car....

J