Late S1 or Early S2?
Discussion
Guys,
Facinating forum.
After years of admiring the Elise I'm stealing myself to take the plunge. My experience of RWD cars is previous ownership of BMW 525 and a 3.2 911. I've tried the Elise (S1) on a wet Jonathan Palmer day and loved it.
My dilemma is that I much prefer the look of the S1 but reading the posts it sounds like I only need to climb in to get it to oversteer! On the other hand the S2 is made to sound like the understeer is so bad that modest entry into any corner puts you straight into the hedge!
What's the truth here? The S1 I tried in the wet didn't seem too twitchy, especially after the Caterham.
Once you have the right tyres are these problems only apparent if you're really pushing? I wouldn't do that in the wet anyway.
Is there anything else that should come into the S1 v S2 decision?
Facinating forum.
After years of admiring the Elise I'm stealing myself to take the plunge. My experience of RWD cars is previous ownership of BMW 525 and a 3.2 911. I've tried the Elise (S1) on a wet Jonathan Palmer day and loved it.
My dilemma is that I much prefer the look of the S1 but reading the posts it sounds like I only need to climb in to get it to oversteer! On the other hand the S2 is made to sound like the understeer is so bad that modest entry into any corner puts you straight into the hedge!
What's the truth here? The S1 I tried in the wet didn't seem too twitchy, especially after the Caterham.
Once you have the right tyres are these problems only apparent if you're really pushing? I wouldn't do that in the wet anyway.
Is there anything else that should come into the S1 v S2 decision?
People go on and on about S1 oversteer and S2 understeer like it's the end of the world.
If I were you I'd drive both and decide yourself.
I have an S1 and unless I make an effort to cause oversteer, it doesn't oversteer, I can make it understeer too, quite easily . . .
IMHO the 'problems' are primarily caused by the driver, although the cars do have slightly different characteristics, often not understood by said driver, hence it's a 'problem' when the driver ends up in a ditch, not understanding what happened, at this point, of course, it's the car that's at fault.
Either car can be extremey rewarding or extremely unforgiving, depending on how you drive it.
Fd
If I were you I'd drive both and decide yourself.
I have an S1 and unless I make an effort to cause oversteer, it doesn't oversteer, I can make it understeer too, quite easily . . .
IMHO the 'problems' are primarily caused by the driver, although the cars do have slightly different characteristics, often not understood by said driver, hence it's a 'problem' when the driver ends up in a ditch, not understanding what happened, at this point, of course, it's the car that's at fault.
Either car can be extremey rewarding or extremely unforgiving, depending on how you drive it.
Fd
In my opinion I don't see why Lotus would make the way the S2 handle worse, especially given the money spent improving the car. Looks are obviously subjective (I used to prefer the S1 but the S2 grows on you like some sort of parasite!) and IMHO the build quality is better on the S2.
If you like driving on the track though, I'd agree that the only way to tell is to drive both and see which you prefer.
>> Edited by onedsla on Tuesday 24th December 21:11
damn my spelling mistakes!!!
>> Edited by onedsla on Tuesday 24th December 21:12
If you like driving on the track though, I'd agree that the only way to tell is to drive both and see which you prefer.
>> Edited by onedsla on Tuesday 24th December 21:11
damn my spelling mistakes!!!
>> Edited by onedsla on Tuesday 24th December 21:12
I agree with Fegus - have driven most variations of both cars on/off track. Have an S2 myself as I needed a new car to do lots of miles in.
In either car its probably 90% down to the way you drive it.
If 'handling' is defined as speed around a track then a std S2 is quicker out of the box than a std S1...however not many cars are std...and to be able to demonstrate this you have to be able to drive like Gavin Kershaw :-)
Get whichever one you like best
bogie
In either car its probably 90% down to the way you drive it.
If 'handling' is defined as speed around a track then a std S2 is quicker out of the box than a std S1...however not many cars are std...and to be able to demonstrate this you have to be able to drive like Gavin Kershaw :-)
Get whichever one you like best
bogie
Steve
for a wealth of Elise info try the following before making your decision:
www.elises.co.uk
www.elisefaq.com
www.british-cars.co.uk (Lotus/Elise BBS - check archives for tons of info)
Feel free to come and join the South East Lotus Owners Club (whether you live in the SE or not!) at www.seloc.org
where you can chat to owners of both etc...and maybe come along to an event and get a go in both cars etc
cheers
bogie
for a wealth of Elise info try the following before making your decision:
www.elises.co.uk
www.elisefaq.com
www.british-cars.co.uk (Lotus/Elise BBS - check archives for tons of info)
Feel free to come and join the South East Lotus Owners Club (whether you live in the SE or not!) at www.seloc.org
where you can chat to owners of both etc...and maybe come along to an event and get a go in both cars etc
cheers
bogie
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff