RE: Lotus Elise S2: PH Carpool

RE: Lotus Elise S2: PH Carpool

Monday 6th March 2017

Lotus Elise S2: PH Carpool

Why a leaky roof and head gasket failure couldn't put this PHer off his Elise



Name: Ben Hanford
Car: Lotus Elise S2 (Touring Pack)
Owned since: 2016
Previously owned: Vauxhall Corsa 1.4, Smart Roadster Brabus 'Xclusive'


Why I bought it:
"The Corsa was one of the worst handling cars imaginable. When I came to change it I wanted to go completely the other way, so I test drove some cars that were noted for good handling, falling in love with a 1999 Elise S1 111S in the process. Sadly, it was way out of my price range, and I settled for the Smart Roadster, vowing that my next car would be an Elise...

"Fast forward to 2015 and after watching the market intensively for months I start booking test drives.

"I still love the S1, particularly in 111S form, but when faced with the prospect of year-round daily driving one and having to allow time for demisting and deicing the inside of the windows every morning I decided the S2 was a more realistic option. The 111S I tried had a misfire during the test drive, which coupled with the Saffron Yellow paint job was enough to put me off even after the dealer rectified it with some new HT leads.

"The example I came to buy had been tastefully modified with an Exige style grille and the Touring Pack, which makes day to day running that much easier - you still have to lean over the seat to wind down the passenger window, but at least it's just a button press!"


What I wish I'd known:
"Having avidly read about them since that first intoxicating taste, I thought I was pretty well prepared for Lotus ownership, and I'd tried to temper the forum scare mongering surrounding head gasket failure and leaky roofs.

"Mine leaked like a sieve from the moment I got it home - the rain was terrible too, which made things worse. Treating the soft top made a huge difference but a factory hard top from eBay ending up being the better fix. It was the wrong colour, of course, but a crafty vinyl wrap later I'm delighted with my targa-style arrangement. Passing similarities to the 20th anniversary edition are purely coincidence, of course...

"Head gasket failure was something I was prepared to face somewhere down the line, and planned to take the opportunity to have the head gas flowed for a bit more oomph. Unfortunately in my case a slow failure was evident within a couple of months, and had probably been there when I bought the car.

"The dealer did a 'sniff test' and swore there was no evidence of failure and said the mayo must be from a previous fix. Naturally I wasn't convinced and took it to an independent garage for verification and they said the same thing.

"It was months later after wiping it out now and then that I took it to a specialist to investigate a misfire and was told it was definitely a slow failure.

"I asked the dealer to have stone chip protection fitted when I bought it and this seems to have done its job really well, but they didn't put any on the sills which are now lightly road rashed after just one year - lesson learned!

"Oh, and in case you didn't know, matt black gets really, really hot! Within a few months of having the hard top vinyl wrapped the headliner dropped right out of the roof and would sit on my head. I realized pretty quickly that when I left the car parked in full sun the matt black vinyl was just soaking up heat and the material had de-bonded. I removed it myself and for now the inside is just plasti-dipped in black. That was meant to be a temporary measure, but I don't even notice it now so I'm in no hurry to get it trimmed."


Things I love:
"Virtually everything to be honest, but the biggest thing is the balance of the thing: I love the seating position - Lotus designed the cockpit for 'Agent Orange', just like fighter planes, so if you're 5'10" like me everything is just right.

"The standard 1.8 K Series delivers a surprising amount of torque in this guise, and although the gear change is a little clunky (I'm getting that fixed at the same time as the head work) the close ratios are sublimely well suited. 0-60 involves just one gear change, and some day I'll hopefully master the art of dropping down to first to use peak torque when overtaking at sub-40mph speeds. After a year of ownership, I can honestly say that I've used every single one of the posted 120hp on more than one occasion.

"I'm lucky to have found a car with an amazing aftermarket exhaust; it's extremely civilized at low revs - quieter than the stainless pipes the Brabus came with - but then thunders joyfully when you give it the beans.

"Oh yes, and at 1.8 litres the engine warms up nice and quick, which is a boon for my short 20-minute commute to work. It means I can be liberal with the throttle once I'm out of the suburbs."


Things I hate:
"Tough one this, as hate is really too strong a word, but I'll be honest: there's no mount for the numberplate - mine was just screwed into the clam with self tapping screws - as you can't get behind the mounting area without removing the clam. They've addressed this on the S3 but a retrofit doesn't look possible.

"The headlights and indicators are very tricky to remove, so replacing a bulb isn't a five-minute job, especially in winter with no garage! They are very minor gripes though, and both things that I'm confident I'll have addressed soon."

Costs:
"This is the tough one! Basic running costs haven't been too bad at all; a full tank of premium rarely costs me over £30 and I'm probably filling up every other week - that being said I only do around 6,500 miles a year. Having had a 2015 Elise S as a courtesy car while mine was at the dealer, it was surprising how much more fuel the later car got through under similar conditions.

"Tyres are surprisingly cheap at around £100 a corner if you fit the Yokohama AD07, which are highly regarded. New HT leads, spark plugs and addressing the engine cover not sealing (which had corroded the leads and the plugs, which was what caused the misfire) cost just over £300 in November and again had probably been an issue since it left the dealer.

"The big one is the head gasket. I'd done enough reading to realise that just having the gasket replaced as cheaply as possible was inviting future issues so I arranged to have the thing done properly. The labour being the big cost I chose to have the head shipped off to Sabre Heads for porting, big valve conversion and sporty cams before being peened, skimmed and shipped back to the garage complete with a Pressure Relief Thermostat to further increase the longevity of the new head gasket. This work might have cost me £1,100 like for like but having planned to upgrade the head at some point I chose to go all in and spent £3,700 on head upgrades, cams, verniers, a larger throttle body, modified intake manifold, remote stat and a few niggling jobs on the steering/suspension (and the headlight bulbs, of course!).

"Adding 50hp cost me £100 year more on insurance via Adrian Flux, with the option of adding another 20 without my premium going up, which just seems like them goading me into fitting an induction kit..."


Where I've been:
"All over Hampshire and Sussex, mostly! With two small kids at home the Lotus is my short term getaway, I can disappear off to Stockbridge to buy some sausages and be home three hours later having covered some properly excellent country B-roads. I'm definitely planning some track time and a Euro trip this year though!"

What next:
"When you've got the bug it bites hard, and I'm well and truly bitten. The next logical upgrade is a Walshy day - in fact I've got the DVD already!

"I have an Emerald ECU lying around which I'm planning to fit when I can afford to get it mapped properly, going the whole hog and putting in a map switch so I can run a 'lean' map for MOTs, commuting and motorway cruising and then a 'sport' map for recreational purposes...

"I also can't shake the feeling that some Team Dynamics wheels would shave a few kilos off that crucial unsprung weight."


Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!

 

 

Author
Discussion

PistonBroker

Original Poster:

2,406 posts

225 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
A great read and nice to know it works for a commute too.

I don't think the numberplate would be a concern for me - an opportunity to put a sticky one on, surely?!

TrivsTom

129 posts

166 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
My boss has a 111r with the 280s supercharger kit from Hangar 111, which I've been lucky enough to drive. Fantastic little car. I know the handles like a go-kart cliche is tired but it really does. Plus Greg at Hangar is a good bloke!
Great car, great read, enjoy it!

Zammy

554 posts

162 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Lovely looking car and a good read, clearly you had reseached well before buying one. One day will defo scratch the S2 itch!

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Article said:
"The big one is the head gasket. I'd done enough reading to realise that just having the gasket replaced as cheaply as possible was inviting future issues so I arranged to have the thing done properly. The labour being the big cost I chose to have the head shipped off to Sabre Heads for porting, big valve conversion and sporty cams before being peened, skimmed and shipped back to the garage complete with a Pressure Relief Thermostat to further increase the longevity of the new head gasket. This work might have cost me £1,100 like for like but having planned to upgrade the head at some point I chose to go all in and spent £3,700 on head upgrades, cams, verniers, a larger throttle body, modified intake manifold, remote stat and a few niggling jobs on the steering/suspension (and the headlight bulbs, of course!).
yikes Mine went once shortly after I got the car and I think I paid £500 to get it fixed combined with a belt change (so about £100 on top of the belt change which was due anyway) and it's been fine for the nine years since.

Edited by kambites on Monday 6th March 14:29

SpudLink

5,669 posts

191 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Lovely car. I really like the roof you've fitted.

Main article said:
The next logical upgrade is a Walshy day - in fact I've got the DVD already!
I did one with Lotus-on-Track for £40, and it was excellent. However I think it would be worth paying extra for a day when there are fewer cars.


RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Interestingly mine never leaked. I had a 2004 spec S2 111S, also on a 53 reg. I still rate it as the best road car I've ever driven and I loved every mile in it - wonderful car smile

Touffaye

18 posts

218 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Great post. And nice to see you are taking care of your Elise properly.

I used to have an 05 reg S2 111S ten years ago and loved every bit of it. I was lucky I did not have a leaky roof or head gasket issue (I guess it had a lot to do with the fact that the car was barely two years old back then). Overall a great car to drive and very cheap to run when everything works fine. That being said, I definitely agree with the gear change being clunky and the car being slightly under-powered so working on the engine and re-map to boost the power is definitely a good idea. Add to that a good exhaust and a full Hurricane induction kit (an absolute pain to fit by the way) and you have the car Lotus should have produced from the start. Get yourself a new soft top for some open air fun!

steveb8189

473 posts

190 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Great read and I envy your choice of car

Editor - do speech marks only need to appear at the beginning of paragraphs nowadays?

2 GKC

1,884 posts

104 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Lovely looking car that. Not sure first gear would ever be needed for overtaking. Amused me your comment about the indicators being difficult to remove. I had an 02 111S and the indicators used to fall out all the time.

I could never get away from the fact it's a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing, with not much grunt above 60. Lovely on the right day and road though

Leggy

1,018 posts

221 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
2 GKC said:
Lovely looking car that. Not sure first gear would ever be needed for overtaking. Amused me your comment about the indicators being difficult to remove. I had an 02 111S and the indicators used to fall out all the time.

I could never get away from the fact it's a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing, with not much grunt above 60. Lovely on the right day and road though
Good read. Once under your skin there isn't much to compare against. I'd recommend supercharging, then you won't need to drop into first!

mr shoddy

107 posts

123 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Great read and lovely car but dropping down into 1st gear for overtakes? really?

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
loved mine, just had to get rid due to the impracticality of a lotus when a wife and a dog won't fit.

Moved out of London since miss it everyday, although the cobra helps the pangs!

Sion111R

308 posts

91 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
I bought my standard S1 in 2007. We've been to Spain (Pyrenees), France (Milau) and every decent road in North Wales. I have also driven it hard at track days and been on a pilgrimage to the 'Ring. Fantastic memories. But it was the traffic jams on the motorways in Belgium, and the resulting engine temperatures, which finally saw off the head gasket. But it got me home. I chose the "cheap" straight gasket fix, changing the water pump at the same time and have never looked back.
Last year I impulsively bought a supercharged S2 111R. I know it sounds ridiculous - but she was just too nice to leave in the showroom. I blame the salesman, he gave me the keys and told me to go for a drive......I can't really afford her and I told "The Boss" at the time that I would be selling my S1 to pay down part of the loan.....
But I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
The S2 is seriously quick, much faster than the S1. It's more comfortable, the suspension smooths out potholes, it has air conditioning, a radio you can actually hear some of the time and it doesn't rattle and crash over holes. Did I say it's hilariously, addictively fast?!
But It's the S1 which is most under my skin. And its brilliant on track days.
Thanks for reading this. Only marginally relevant to the thread, but helpful for my wellbeing as I try to find the right words (and courage) to persuade my wife that I "need" two Lotus. Photo of both.

giveitfish

4,030 posts

213 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Great Carpool. Pleased to see yet another who had a Smart Roadster as the gateway drug - seems more common than you'd think!

CABC

5,529 posts

100 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Sion111R said:
I bought my standard S1 in 2007. We've been to Spain (Pyrenees), France (Milau) and every decent road in North Wales. I have also driven it hard at track days and been on a pilgrimage to the 'Ring. Fantastic memories. But it was the traffic jams on the motorways in Belgium, and the resulting engine temperatures, which finally saw off the head gasket. But it got me home. I chose the "cheap" straight gasket fix, changing the water pump at the same time and have never looked back.
Last year I impulsively bought a supercharged S2 111R. I know it sounds ridiculous - but she was just too nice to leave in the showroom. I blame the salesman, he gave me the keys and told me to go for a drive......I can't really afford her and I told "The Boss" at the time that I would be selling my S1 to pay down part of the loan.....
But I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
The S2 is seriously quick, much faster than the S1. It's more comfortable, the suspension smooths out potholes, it has air conditioning, a radio you can actually hear some of the time and it doesn't rattle and crash over holes. Did I say it's hilariously, addictively fast?!
But It's the S1 which is most under my skin. And its brilliant on track days.
Thanks for reading this. Only marginally relevant to the thread, but helpful for my wellbeing as I try to find the right words (and courage) to persuade my wife that I "need" two Lotus. Photo of both.
Top man.
Top wife!
Presume she appreciates they're not depreciating.

stavr0ss

196 posts

127 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
I feel compelled to point out that while on paper it would appear that first gear is the most appropriate for a 30mph overtake, I haven't once attempted it so far!

Thanks for all the kind comments - and to mr S1&S2 double down a round of applause! (At least until you're forced to part with one!)

Happy to report that my first track time yesterday at Sunday service resulted in no spins despite the rain. See you at the next one!

fisherking77

2 posts

180 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
Interesting read - thank you.
Eerily similar story to my own: I also bought a S2 in 2016, had it tuned by Roger at Sabre (headwork, cam, verniers, Emerald) and took it to the Emerald Rolling Road for programming smile
What are your plans on sorting the gear shift? - I just bought new bushes for the rear pivots but haven't installed them yet. I also need to find out how to adjust the linkages at the gear lever. Not that the gear shift is really bad but it could use a little improvement.
As you're in Southern England I will take the opportunity to recommend Analogue Automotive in Petersfield - they did good work on my car this past summer.

Best regards,
Soeren

cal93

61 posts

101 months

Monday 6th March 2017
quotequote all
OP - this is your 3rd ever car AND your daily driver? Well played that man.

Always loved Lotus and the Elise/Exige S2. Tempted to scratch the itch whilst I'm young and I can but at the moment I'm just too into my VXR's and the hot hatch thing - it even sounds mad typing that.

herebebeasties

666 posts

218 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
cal93 said:
OP - this is your 3rd ever car AND your daily driver? Well played that man.

Always loved Lotus and the Elise/Exige S2. Tempted to scratch the itch whilst I'm young and I can but at the moment I'm just too into my VXR's and the hot hatch thing - it even sounds mad typing that.
Get a two seater while you still can!

My K-series S2 Elise was my second ever car and my daily driver. My third ever car (which also used to be my daily driver) is an S2 SC. Although the SC is undoubtedly a "better" car, it doesn't quite have the delicacy of the earlier car and I've never quite loved it as much. I guess partly it was less of an emotional purchase, too. It's *much* better at overtaking slow traffic on B-roads, though. Buying my first Elise was one of the better decisions I've ever made. Peanuts to run compared to other sports cars and guaranteed to make you smile every time you go anywhere near it. :-)




Do it! Do it!

Edited by herebebeasties on Tuesday 7th March 00:38

sege

552 posts

221 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
Lovely looking car OP, great colour and great photos also smile
Surely if it's now pumping out 170bhp it must be transformed? Interesting that there wasn't more comment about that. Now it looks great, goes hard with a tuned K-series..perfect smile
I'm around 6 months into 111R SR ownership. CDL has just gone. But it's my dream car finally achieved. I'm so happy with it I can't really find the words.

Kudos to the guy with both an S1 and S2. The biggest problem with buying an Elise is settling on which model to choose. I'd love an S1 of any description, I'd love an Exige, I'd love a K-series S2 or 111S also...I'd even love an 'S3' S. Of course I'd love a 340R or 2-eleven also....Can't think of many other cars where there is no duffer in its history, only really personal preference on which is best for you. And so many variations too!