135R Advice

[Yee haa!]

After 2 years of waiting/driving and much deliberating i've finally done it - picking up a lovely Silver 135R in a weeks time I've driven fast cars but this thing is absolutely bonkers! An '03 with 12,000m on. I can't wait. It's going to be a long week... Anyone out there got any advice / things to look out for when i pick it up? Now for the inevitable questions...

1. Can anyone recommend a good car/dust cover (it's going to live in the garage when the sun isn't playing)
2. Should the cobra alarm have an immobiliser stick as well as the 2 key fobs (I seem to remember a previous cobra alarm having this)
3. Driver training days? I live in cheshire....thoughts please.. I don't want it to swap ends on me....
4. For interest's sake, and this is not to say I haven't done any research - I'm aware of HGF issues on the earlier cars, the cost of those fantastic tyres...., being a limited edition how many were made on the production run?


thanks for the time people

Yee haa!

[shangani]

Welcome to pistonheads. Loads of grins ahead of you - as well as 50 mile trips to buy milk or the paper! 135R is a great car - especially if you plan to do trackdays. Good choice.

1) Re covers etc, try www.eliseparts.com

2) The alarm just has the fob with 2 buttons - on & off with the big button. Immobiliser automatically comes on.

3) A way from Cheshire, but the best training I have had was from Andy Walsh - www.carlimits.com - but that is off the M11 near the M25.

4) Tyres £650 a set, 5000miles out of rears (roughly) a little more from the fronts. HGF - still a problem with the 135R, but actually not that expensive to fix. Tips: Don't thrash the car till it is warm - water temp at 88 + another 5-10 min for the oil to heat up. Also, after a hard thrash, leave the car idling for 2-3 min. Get a remote thermostat fitted - see eliseparts.

Enjoy! Cheers
Andrew

PS - careful in the wet, the yoko 048's have great grip when warm in the dry, iffy grip when cold, not great in the wet and quite invigorating in standing water. (read that as b*tt clenching)

>> Edited by shangani on Sunday 30th April 15:13

[gooby]

Yee haa! said:

After 2 years of waiting/driving and much deliberating i've finally done it - picking up a lovely Silver 135R in a weeks time I've driven fast cars but this thing is absolutely bonkers! An '03 with 12,000m on. I can't wait. It's going to be a long week... Anyone out there got any advice / things to look out for when i pick it up? Now for the inevitable questions... 1. Can anyone recommend a good car/dust cover (it's going to live in the garage when the sun isn't playing) 2. Should the cobra alarm have an immobiliser stick as well as the 2 key fobs (I seem to remember a previous cobra alarm having this) 3. Driver training days? I live in cheshire....thoughts please.. I don't want it to swap ends on me.... 4. For interest's sake, and this is not to say I haven't done any research - I'm aware of HGF issues on the earlier cars, the cost of those fantastic tyres...., being a limited edition how many were made on the production run? thanks for the time people Yee haa!

Congrats, the 135r is an awesome car! Is it from Dirk Diglers (Dick Lovett/ Swindon) Tinkerbell was looking at it a few weeks back.

[swiss tone]

Yee haa! said:

After 2 years of waiting/driving and much deliberating i've finally done it - picking up a lovely Silver 135R in a weeks time I've driven fast cars but this thing is absolutely bonkers! An '03 with 12,000m on. I can't wait. It's going to be a long week... Anyone out there got any advice / things to look out for when i pick it up? Now for the inevitable questions... 1. Can anyone recommend a good car/dust cover (it's going to live in the garage when the sun isn't playing) 2. Should the cobra alarm have an immobiliser stick as well as the 2 key fobs (I seem to remember a previous cobra alarm having this) 3. Driver training days? I live in cheshire....thoughts please.. I don't want it to swap ends on me.... 4. For interest's sake, and this is not to say I haven't done any research - I'm aware of HGF issues on the earlier cars, the cost of those fantastic tyres...., being a limited edition how many were made on the production run? thanks for the time people Yee haa!

Yee Haa! indeed....and welcome to the fold, I too own one of these prize motor's (oh dear the motor trade talk is coming out!!) only 5 weeks under my belt and have already done almost 2000 miles in it.

I ditto Shanger's reply, have to as he's my part-time neighbour , oh and to add to it no 4. part (C) as far as I'm aware it's 50 Silver Mica, 50 Blue Mica (me) and I think 50 Yellow Mica, although not sure about the latter but 100% on the Silver and Blue though.

Defo do a driver training day, worth every penny even if you do consider yourself a good driver.

Keep an eye out on here for info, meet up's and general chit chat. Most on here are a good laugh and friendly esp. the BoLoC's lot although I tend to keep myself to myself, I've had plently of help from this lot.

Ta Ta

Charlie.

[darkwingduck]

Fantastic car. Only problem I've had was a fractured radiator (but they all do that...) Treat her well and she'll be nice back!

[Yee haa!]

Fantastic. Thanks for the advice guys. It's not from dirks, it's coming from a small independant a little more northern than that. I can't wait for next week the car is just that little bit raw and different than others i've tried...the wait is just killing me

>> Edited by Yee haa! on Monday 1st May 02:16

[TIPPER]

Welcome Wee Haa!
What a great name for an Elise driver!
I'm told the 135 is an awesome car so I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the 135 actually produces about 143/145 horses with a decent torque curve - Lotus played it down as they had the 111S coming very soon after the 135s were produced.