Are K-series motors reliable?
Discussion
I've read a lot of scare stories about these but the 1 in my wife's Freelander seems fine after 5 years, 60,000 miles & a lot of 100mph autobahn work (I live in Germany) so as I'm considering buying an Elise (having fancied 1 for years) are these motors genuinely a problem in Lotus' products?
Also Is the VVC engine any more/less reliable than the simple 16 valver? Up to which BHP can they both be tuned without significantly reducing their reliability? Are the Toyota engined cars worth the extra, in terms of reliability? Finally, these Honda/VW engined cars, are they worth the effort?
Sorry if you people get a lot of this type of threads, did a search, couldn't find anything & the buyers guide thread doesn't seem to answer my questions. I'm happy to be re-directed though.
Ideally I want a Mk 1 with about 160 bhp & the Mk 2 style suspension. I think I want the uprated gear linkage too. Any other must haves?
Thanks for your input.
Also Is the VVC engine any more/less reliable than the simple 16 valver? Up to which BHP can they both be tuned without significantly reducing their reliability? Are the Toyota engined cars worth the extra, in terms of reliability? Finally, these Honda/VW engined cars, are they worth the effort?
Sorry if you people get a lot of this type of threads, did a search, couldn't find anything & the buyers guide thread doesn't seem to answer my questions. I'm happy to be re-directed though.
Ideally I want a Mk 1 with about 160 bhp & the Mk 2 style suspension. I think I want the uprated gear linkage too. Any other must haves?
Thanks for your input.
If you've run one in a Freelander without problems, then you've answered the question - it's probably the one car that runs the engine at its most stressed.
They are very reliable units - the Elise is the car that shrugged off the old acronym Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. Several people on SELOC have run S1s way past the 100K mile mark - even Lotus' own Dave Minter ran his for 130-odd thousand miles and he doesn't exactly hang about, either!
They are very reliable units - the Elise is the car that shrugged off the old acronym Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. Several people on SELOC have run S1s way past the 100K mile mark - even Lotus' own Dave Minter ran his for 130-odd thousand miles and he doesn't exactly hang about, either!
Don't rag a K from cold and it should prove a reliable engine.
Look after it and it'll look after you. With regards the yota units: try before you buy, the power delivery means its a bit of a marmite engine. Audi conversions: lots of torque so great on the road. Honda: screaming VTEC and go like scalded cats on track.
Any of the K varients can be comfortably tuned to about 160bhp at reasonable cost and more importantly keeping the engine reliable. Getting much more starts to get expensive.
Look after it and it'll look after you. With regards the yota units: try before you buy, the power delivery means its a bit of a marmite engine. Audi conversions: lots of torque so great on the road. Honda: screaming VTEC and go like scalded cats on track.
Any of the K varients can be comfortably tuned to about 160bhp at reasonable cost and more importantly keeping the engine reliable. Getting much more starts to get expensive.
1) Theres s
tloads on the search function, it must be playing up.
2) Ignore the Toyota snobs who have never driven a K series car.
3) Buy on condition NOT age or mileage, look for lots of receipts by a loving owner.
4) The K series gearchange is appallingly bad, so linkage and shortshift are good cheap upgrades.
5) Buy an S1, it's a classic.
6) If the engine gets HGF look at £750-odd to repair.
7) I think you can get about 175bhp out of the standard ecu.
8) Buy one, you won't regret it!
tloads on the search function, it must be playing up.2) Ignore the Toyota snobs who have never driven a K series car.
3) Buy on condition NOT age or mileage, look for lots of receipts by a loving owner.
4) The K series gearchange is appallingly bad, so linkage and shortshift are good cheap upgrades.
5) Buy an S1, it's a classic.
6) If the engine gets HGF look at £750-odd to repair.
7) I think you can get about 175bhp out of the standard ecu.
8) Buy one, you won't regret it!
I test drove a 2002 Opel Sportster a while back, the basic 2.2 engined version. It felt a bit soft on the suspension & a tad slow - or was that just me?
Also it was LHD & the pedals seemed very offset to the middle, uncomfortably so in fact. Anybody know if this is true for LHD Elises as well?
Also it was LHD & the pedals seemed very offset to the middle, uncomfortably so in fact. Anybody know if this is true for LHD Elises as well?
Done 20k in my Elise with a VVC, hasn't missed a beat. Drove 40k with my mgf with a vvc, no problems whatsoever.
Always wait until warmed up properly before booting it & you'll be fine. If worst case does happen then it is a relatively cheap and easy fix. What other sports car can you get where a replacement engine will cost you less than a grand fitted ?
Always wait until warmed up properly before booting it & you'll be fine. If worst case does happen then it is a relatively cheap and easy fix. What other sports car can you get where a replacement engine will cost you less than a grand fitted ?
All Elise chassis cars are great fun to drive, including the VXs, so whatever you get will be good.
In Elise terms I have spent time in toyota engined cars and used to own a K series Elise. In my view the toyota engine is much better, nicer delivery but the thing that makes it is the gearbox which is just leagues ahead of the K series. So of the two I would go with a toyota car, but its more expensive.
Having said all of the above, the best engine is the vauxhall turbo! If its a choice between a k series and a vx turbo, it would be the vx every time!
In Elise terms I have spent time in toyota engined cars and used to own a K series Elise. In my view the toyota engine is much better, nicer delivery but the thing that makes it is the gearbox which is just leagues ahead of the K series. So of the two I would go with a toyota car, but its more expensive.
Having said all of the above, the best engine is the vauxhall turbo! If its a choice between a k series and a vx turbo, it would be the vx every time!
The K-series VVC is a lovely engine, I actually preferred it to the 111R engine because I didn't get on with the power delivery of the 'yota. I didn't much like the power delivery of the VX220t either, although it is savagely quick.
The K-series head gasket problems can largely be avoided if you look after it properly (ie don't rag it when cold and check the coolant regularly). The VVC mechanism makes the engine sound like a diesel at idle though and mine makes some other decidedly odd noises at times, so if you like a sweet sounding engine you're better off looking elsewhere.
The K-series head gasket problems can largely be avoided if you look after it properly (ie don't rag it when cold and check the coolant regularly). The VVC mechanism makes the engine sound like a diesel at idle though and mine makes some other decidedly odd noises at times, so if you like a sweet sounding engine you're better off looking elsewhere.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 28th February 08:44
german tony said:
I've read a lot of scare stories about these but the 1 in my wife's Freelander seems fine after 5 years, 60,000 miles & a lot of 100mph autobahn work (I live in Germany) so as I'm considering buying an Elise (having fancied 1 for years) are these motors genuinely a problem in Lotus' products?
Also Is the VVC engine any more/less reliable than the simple 16 valver? Up to which BHP can they both be tuned without significantly reducing their reliability? Are the Toyota engined cars worth the extra, in terms of reliability? Finally, these Honda/VW engined cars, are they worth the effort?
Sorry if you people get a lot of this type of threads, did a search, couldn't find anything & the buyers guide thread doesn't seem to answer my questions. I'm happy to be re-directed though.
Ideally I want a Mk 1 with about 160 bhp & the Mk 2 style suspension. I think I want the uprated gear linkage too. Any other must haves?
Thanks for your input.
Now you know it makes sense, although I do feel a sense of keeping up with the "Joneses" here. Also Is the VVC engine any more/less reliable than the simple 16 valver? Up to which BHP can they both be tuned without significantly reducing their reliability? Are the Toyota engined cars worth the extra, in terms of reliability? Finally, these Honda/VW engined cars, are they worth the effort?
Sorry if you people get a lot of this type of threads, did a search, couldn't find anything & the buyers guide thread doesn't seem to answer my questions. I'm happy to be re-directed though.
Ideally I want a Mk 1 with about 160 bhp & the Mk 2 style suspension. I think I want the uprated gear linkage too. Any other must haves?
Thanks for your input.
The only additional must have is it must be Norfolk Yellow
However I've got a red Aston Datsun in the garage going cheap if you want one!!!!!!!!!!!. Much better for all those kilometers cruising on the autobahn.
Stampede S690
Hollywood Wheels said:
1) Theres stloads on the search function, it must be playing up.
2) Ignore the Toyota snobs who have never driven a K series car.
3) Buy on condition NOT age or mileage, look for lots of receipts by a loving owner.
4) The K series gearchange is appallingly bad, so linkage and shortshift are good cheap upgrades.
5) Buy an S1, it's a classic.
6) If the engine gets HGF look at £750-odd to repair.
7) I think you can get about 175bhp out of the standard ecu.
8) Buy one, you won't regret it!
£750 for HGF repair ??? Dont know where you got that from, I had it repaired when I first got my Elise at our local Lotus dealer for around £450 all in. Since taken out a warranty which covers it.tloads on the search function, it must be playing up.2) Ignore the Toyota snobs who have never driven a K series car.
3) Buy on condition NOT age or mileage, look for lots of receipts by a loving owner.
4) The K series gearchange is appallingly bad, so linkage and shortshift are good cheap upgrades.
5) Buy an S1, it's a classic.
6) If the engine gets HGF look at £750-odd to repair.
7) I think you can get about 175bhp out of the standard ecu.
8) Buy one, you won't regret it!
To the O/P That was 18 month ago and no further signs of HGF, just warm it up properly and look after it, and I've given it some serious beans at times
kambites said:
The K-series VVC is a lovely engine, I actually preferred it to the 111R engine because I didn't get on with the power delivery of the 'yota. I didn't much like the power delivery of the VX220t either, although it is savagely quick.
The K-series head gasket problems can largely be avoided if you look after it properly (ie don't rag it when cold and check the coolant regularly). The VVC mechanism makes the engine sound like a diesel at idle though and mine makes some other decidedly odd noises at times, so if you like a sweet sounding engine you're better off looking elsewhere.
Agree 100%. I like the yota lump but I just don't like high revving engines. The VVC has enough uumph, fantastic torque and brilliant fuel consumption. Sadly it does sound like a diesel when idle. This is easily forgotten when adding a good induction kit & sports exhaust & pressing the loud pedal.The K-series head gasket problems can largely be avoided if you look after it properly (ie don't rag it when cold and check the coolant regularly). The VVC mechanism makes the engine sound like a diesel at idle though and mine makes some other decidedly odd noises at times, so if you like a sweet sounding engine you're better off looking elsewhere.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 28th February 08:44
Where's the VVC appreciation thread gone ?
@ Stampede
Aston Datsun? I recognise that car...so yes, keeping up with the Joneses. Although it's a odd way of spelling it. Just so you know, I have every intention of badgering you to let me test drive both it & the yellow peril soon 'cos I'll be over for an MOT & some beer after Easter.
Ring you before that though, love to the wife.
Back to the plot - LHD Elises/Opel Speedsters - any about in the UK?
Aston Datsun? I recognise that car...so yes, keeping up with the Joneses. Although it's a odd way of spelling it. Just so you know, I have every intention of badgering you to let me test drive both it & the yellow peril soon 'cos I'll be over for an MOT & some beer after Easter.
Ring you before that though, love to the wife.
Back to the plot - LHD Elises/Opel Speedsters - any about in the UK?
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