Elise S2 - Steering and Polishing

[StevieBee]

I'm a week in to having this little beauty all to myself and loving it so far.



My first foray in to Lotus so apologies if these questions have been asked before....

Firstly, I've noticed that the steering seems to go a little 'light' or 'numb' at speed in a straight line. All of that lovely connectivity you get in corners and bends tends to disappear on a straight. All of the suspension was changed and upgraded late last year and there's no play in the wheels when static so is this just an Elise thing or should I be investigating something. It's not alarming or anything... just different to what I was expecting.

Secondly.... is there anything worth knowing on polishing a fibreglass car. There seems to be some mixed opinions out there!

[kambites]

StevieBee said:

Firstly, I've noticed that the steering seems to go a little 'light' or 'numb' at speed in a straight line. All of that lovely connectivity you get in corners and bends tends to disappear on a straight. All of the suspension was changed and upgraded late last year and there's no play in the wheels when static so is this just an Elise thing or should I be investigating something. It's not alarming or anything... just different to what I was expecting.

What tyres do you have and what geometry settings did you have put on the car when you had the suspension done? Both make an enormous difference to the way the car drives. The Elise does have very light steering in a straight line but it tends to fidget and hence require constant corrections, pretty much the opposite of "numb"; it should chatter to you just as much in a straight line as it does in the corners.

No idea about polishing, I don't do washing cars let alone polishing.

Edited by kambites on Friday 23 July 11:38

[StevieBee]

kambites said:

StevieBee said:

Firstly, I've noticed that the steering seems to go a little 'light' or 'numb' at speed in a straight line. All of that lovely connectivity you get in corners and bends tends to disappear on a straight. All of the suspension was changed and upgraded late last year and there's no play in the wheels when static so is this just an Elise thing or should I be investigating something. It's not alarming or anything... just different to what I was expecting.

What tyres do you have and what geometry settings did you have put on the car when you had the suspension done? Both make an enormous difference to the way the car drives. The Elise does have very light steering in a straight line but it tends to fidget and hence require constant corrections, pretty much the opposite of "numb"; it should chatter to you just as much in a straight line as it does in the corners.

Thanks Kambites.

The previous owner sorted the suspension so I'd have to have a delve to find out. Though what you've described is a more accurate description than what I wrote. Thinking about it 'numb' isn't the right word so likely it's a normal thing.

[lj04]

Check the tyre age and pressures. I tend to have F23 R26. Maybe a front splitter as you say it's at speed.

[giveitfish]

They can feel a bit odd at speed. You learn to relax your grip and let the wheel make its own small movements while the car goes along happily in a straight line.

It’s all very geo dependent though.

[Bobo W]

Great colour

Go to SELOC, there's a whole page of threads with people way too interested in cleaning their cars there