Newcastle Elise servicing/ tyres query

[LeeTee]

Looking for recommendations on servicing in the Newcastle area for an S1 Elise which requires a cambelt change.

Also any thoughts on tyres, are Yokohama Advan's worth the extra over Toyo T1R's for all year round road use? Any others I should consider?

[ad260S]

Lotus Newcastle now have their service centre up and running, for tyres you could try kumho I have them on the exige and as an all round tyre they are very good

[clarkmagpie]

I had toyo's on mine for 2 years, no issues at all.
Have them on the griff as well.
I've just put a set of vredestein ultrac sessantas on the rs6.
So will see how they perform.
They look great though and a funky tread pattern.

Edited by clarkmagpie on Sunday 16th February 12:39

[LeeTee]

Thanks fo the replies - I have been recommended SPS Automotive at Consett for servicing - any experience of them?

I also have Toyo's on my TVR and they have performed well on the road but I wondered if the softer side wall would suit the hsndling of the Elise.

Will do a bit of research on the Kumho's - thanks for the suggestion.

[djroadboy]

Hi Lee,

Not in Consett anymore. Down in Rowlands Gill now.

Everyone has their own particular favourite so you'll get differing opinions. Adrian above, for example, was a die hard Formula One fan and they could do no wrong till Lotus Newcastle opened up, now they're the bees knees.

I would suggest getting quotes from F1, Lotus Newcastle and SPS before making up your mind.

Cheers

Dan

p.s. No decent Kumho tyre is available in S1 sizes. I would suggest if you're happy with T1Rs (run at a slightly higher pressure to negate the soft sidewall then stick with them. AD08s are a very good tyre but very expensive compared to the Toyo and won't last as long.

Edited by djroadboy on Monday 17th February 11:06

[ad260S]

Yes I used F1 and had no complaints at all, the guys in the workshop were fantastic but now they are no longer a lotus dealer and I like my Exige looked after by Lotus. I used an independent once before (not SPS) and they forgot to torque some bolts up so nearly wrecked my elise, so I would rather pay a little more to get the dealer to do it.

[TC5]

Aren't F1 still a Lotus service agent?

[djroadboy]

They're not an official Lotus service agent but all the same staff work there with all the years and years of experience of Lotus cars between them.

Seems a strange idea to stop using such a place that you've never had any issues with and start using a place where the staff have no experience of Lotus cars at all just because they're "Official".

Dan

[Hemingway]

Another recommendation for Dan. He has looked after my Lotus from when I bought it completely standard some 9/10 years ago. It's a completely different car now, but still use Dan and is scheduled with him for more work at the end of the month.

[ad260S]

djroadboy said:

They're not an official Lotus service agent but all the same staff work there with all the years and years of experience of Lotus cars between them.

Seems a strange idea to stop using such a place that you've never had any issues with and start using a place where the staff have no experience of Lotus cars at all just because they're "Official".

Dan

My money, my choice

[djroadboy]

Absolutely! Everyone has a choice. That's the nice thing about it.

Dan

[SeanyD]

My experiences:

Newcastle Lotus, I've yet to use them but seem to be very enthusiastic in the brand, organising events, very friendly, can't comment on the servicing side personally, but have heard good reports from others.

F1, years and years of experience servicing Lotus cars, the sales side seems to have dried up, but the service side seems okay. Very professional, very thorough, but also very very expensive.

Dan/SPS, very friendly, very knowledgeable, good pricing. Clearly a one-man-band, but if you're willing to accept any limitations that come with that. Has helped me out on more than one occasion now, and is now who I choose to use.

[TC5]

Just for Info
According to Lotus cars website F1 newcastle are still a service agent

[Stonefly]

SeanyD said:

My experiences:

Newcastle Lotus, I've yet to use them but seem to be very enthusiastic in the brand, organising events, very friendly, can't comment on the servicing side personally, but have heard good reports from others.

I've used their workshop a few times now, most recently for an engine change.
They kept me up to date at every step of the way and were very professional, enthusiastic and courteous at all times.
I'd thoroughly recommend them and their work.

I can't however comment on others mentioned here as I haven't had the pleasure of their service.