S1 removable steering wheel advice please
Discussion
Afternoon all, first off this is not my first ever post on pistonheads (I used to be snazza...but cant seem to get into the damn thing !!! )
I am wondering if I could get some advice from you lovely lot......I have about 8-10k to blow on a weekend 'plaything' .....and an S1 is firmly in my sights!!....I have driven S1s, S2s and exiges on various track days ....and have always loved the drive.....great fun :-)
I have had many fast cars in the past, but all have been what you would call 'comfortable' even my TVR T350 would appear to be well apointed next to an S1 ...but thats the reason I want one as a play car!!
My question is, that I have always found the elise challenging to get into and wondered if having a removeable steering wheel made much differenc ? ...fyg it would live in a heated garage (under a cover) more than likely with the roof off
look forward to your replies
Snaz
I am wondering if I could get some advice from you lovely lot......I have about 8-10k to blow on a weekend 'plaything' .....and an S1 is firmly in my sights!!....I have driven S1s, S2s and exiges on various track days ....and have always loved the drive.....great fun :-)
I have had many fast cars in the past, but all have been what you would call 'comfortable' even my TVR T350 would appear to be well apointed next to an S1 ...but thats the reason I want one as a play car!!
My question is, that I have always found the elise challenging to get into and wondered if having a removeable steering wheel made much differenc ? ...fyg it would live in a heated garage (under a cover) more than likely with the roof off
look forward to your replies
Snaz
I've got a snap-off in my S2, it does make it a bit easier but to be honest not really worth it just for the entry/exit ease only (I mainly got mine for security reasons), but there are no major downsides that I can see, although need to make sure you get one with a working horn (not always the case).
I have a snap off in my S1 and to be honest I never take it off.
I'm 5'8" and let's say rotund and I don't have an issue, it's all in the technique and after the first couple of embarrassing attempts you'll find your own style. The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
I'm 5'8" and let's say rotund and I don't have an issue, it's all in the technique and after the first couple of embarrassing attempts you'll find your own style. The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
s111dpc said:
I have a snap off in my S1 and to be honest I never take it off.
The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
Me neither. On both counts. I use the wheel to hang on to when getting out of the car. Right leg out, lift and swivel bum onto sill, reverse out bum first whilst hanging on to wheel. I only ever take the wheel off as a sort of theft prevention ploy, as my alarm is somewhat temperamental.The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
Like the poster above, I can't do the passenger side. At all.
On a similar note I also use the wheel to get out. It's swivel in seats, legs out then pull myself out using the wheel and seat.
Back to the subject.
Which steering wheel and boss kit does one need for the removable steering wheel with the working horn?
Can I just get a kit from Eliseparts? Again this is for security as I use my Elise as my daily driver and it gets left near the station.
Back to the subject.
Which steering wheel and boss kit does one need for the removable steering wheel with the working horn?
Can I just get a kit from Eliseparts? Again this is for security as I use my Elise as my daily driver and it gets left near the station.
Wildfire said:
On a similar note I also use the wheel to get out. It's swivel in seats, legs out then pull myself out using the wheel and seat.
Back to the subject.
Which steering wheel and boss kit does one need for the removable steering wheel with the working horn?
Can I just get a kit from Eliseparts? Again this is for security as I use my Elise as my daily driver and it gets left near the station.
I bought my stuff from Bell and Colvill, as they 1) had the bits in stock 2) are reasonably close and 3) do a discount for members of certain other Forums. All the kits seem to be pretty much the same though, with maybe the exception of the Elise Shop one, which from memory has oddly spaced dowels, which is good for theft prevention. Although to be fair I don't know how many tea-leaves run around with a snap-off wheel in their pocket!Back to the subject.
Which steering wheel and boss kit does one need for the removable steering wheel with the working horn?
Can I just get a kit from Eliseparts? Again this is for security as I use my Elise as my daily driver and it gets left near the station.
Incredible Sulk said:
s111dpc said:
I have a snap off in my S1 and to be honest I never take it off.
The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
Me neither. On both counts. I use the wheel to hang on to when getting out of the car. Right leg out, lift and swivel bum onto sill, reverse out bum first whilst hanging on to wheel. I only ever take the wheel off as a sort of theft prevention ploy, as my alarm is somewhat temperamental.The passenger side - well that's another matter entirely, Four years in the driver’s seat and I still can't get in and out of the pax side with any form of style.
Go for it.
Like the poster above, I can't do the passenger side. At all.
No Problem with the standard seats , however now i've fitted a fixed Motorsport seat you cannot move the seat back to give clearance, hence you need knees that bend sideways and backwards to enter/exit if you are a similar size 5'7" 12st.
I have fitted an elise parts 40mm adaptor( machined down to 26mm ) and a lifeline GpN bolt-on quick release with a 300mm sparco suede wheel. i've had to make an adaptor to accept the hose wires that disconnects with the boss. I went this way as i felt it was a better solution than the snap off kits
This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
I have fitted an elise parts 40mm adaptor( machined down to 26mm ) and a lifeline GpN bolt-on quick release with a 300mm sparco suede wheel. i've had to make an adaptor to accept the hose wires that disconnects with the boss. I went this way as i felt it was a better solution than the snap off kits
This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
DaveK-S1 said:
i felt it was a better solution than the snap off kits
This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
Hi Dave, what was wrong with the snap off kit?This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
Do people think that the snap off kit would be ok to use everyday (I'm ok with taking my steering wheel in every day).
Also what is the size of the original wheel?
Cheers
Chris
Wildfire said:
DaveK-S1 said:
i felt it was a better solution than the snap off kits
This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
Hi Dave, what was wrong with the snap off kit?This brings the wheel approx 10mm closer as well.
Do people think that the snap off kit would be ok to use everyday (I'm ok with taking my steering wheel in every day).
Also what is the size of the original wheel?
Cheers
Chris
I don't see why you couldn't use a snap-off every day. Mine is pretty well made. The only thing I wouldn't do is to use the lock thingy (that locks the wheel on to the hub) every time I put the wheel on or took it off. It is made from Cheesium, and would break in short order I think. Given that it's just a brass barrel with a key in it, that you stuff into a hole in the hub, you can just ignore it. Mine is in the boot somewhere in case of the unlikely event that I ever felt that I needed to use it.
Wildfire said:
Hmmmm... something to think about. New Stereo or Snap off kit.....
Personally, I think a radio in an S1 is an exercise in futility. I can't hear mine at anything over 30mph, and I have to use earplugs on the motorway.Buy a snap-off kit. You know you want to.................
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