Sport 135 vs Standard S1
Discussion
Hello, I'm on the hunt for an Elise S1 and my sisters boyfriend kindly bought me a Haynes guide to Elises for my birthday. Looking in the back at the specs it indicates that the Standard S1 performs better than the Sport 135 at all speeds (i.e. 0-60, quarter mile etc) apart from top speed, where there is 4mph difference. Surely these figres are wrong, as I thought the Sport 135 has 17 more BHP than the standard S1...?
Any comments appreciated.
Regards.
Mark.
Any comments appreciated.
Regards.
Mark.
S135s are cracking little cars.... generally, they're the same as the early S1 except for:
111S wheels (wider in rear)
111S front clam and headlight covers
Gas-flowed cylinder head producing ~140bhp
LSS Suspension
Short ratio (111s) gearbox.
Colour coded seats
Special "quicksilver" colour paint (which is identical to New Aluminium as far as I can tell, but is supposed to have a bit more blue in it)
135 decals and detailing
Janspeed sports exhaust (I think)
Clear/moked indicators/repeaters.
Think that's it, anyone else name any further additions?
They're definitely faster through the gears than a Standard S1, and nearly as flexible (not as manic as a S160) Basically as fast as a S160 on track but lighter (early body/boot).
Having said that, a "good" S1 is basically as quick point to point on the road. Bloke over here's got one and I've raced him a bit on trackdays and our cars aremuch of a muchness in terms of pace (I've got a Std S1 with inlet/exhaust mods and magnesium wheels)
111S wheels (wider in rear)
111S front clam and headlight covers
Gas-flowed cylinder head producing ~140bhp
LSS Suspension
Short ratio (111s) gearbox.
Colour coded seats
Special "quicksilver" colour paint (which is identical to New Aluminium as far as I can tell, but is supposed to have a bit more blue in it)
135 decals and detailing
Janspeed sports exhaust (I think)
Clear/moked indicators/repeaters.
Think that's it, anyone else name any further additions?
They're definitely faster through the gears than a Standard S1, and nearly as flexible (not as manic as a S160) Basically as fast as a S160 on track but lighter (early body/boot).
Having said that, a "good" S1 is basically as quick point to point on the road. Bloke over here's got one and I've raced him a bit on trackdays and our cars aremuch of a muchness in terms of pace (I've got a Std S1 with inlet/exhaust mods and magnesium wheels)
From Elises.co.uk:
The Sport 135 was first launched as a limited run of 50 in November 1998, VIN: X 5401 - 5450. It has some engine enhancements to increase the power to a claimed 135bhp (though it is actually close to 145bhp). Other additions include close-ratio gearbox, sports exhaust, drilled brake discs (cast iron), blue tinted metalic silver paint (Quicksilver), dark blue hood, corbeau sport seats, silver roll over bar, racing steering wheel, headlamp covers, driving lights, category 1 alarm and unique Sport 135 body graphics. The catalytic converter is replaced by a through pipe which means the car has to be homologated and this is the main reason for the limited first production run.
The second batch of cars were produced for the 1999 year (VIN: X 6001 - 6035) and had 111S wheels, tyres and spats, black painted fuel filler cap, matt finish alloy gear knob and Sport 135 '99' decals.
The Sport 135 engine upgrade (Lotus Stage II) is also available as an after market option as are all of the other components.
It should be noted that there are at least 5 owners that have had head gasket failures on the original Sport 135 models. Lotus originally stated that the after-market upgrade should only be fitted after the run-in period had been completed. Obviously this was not the case on the original Sport 135 models.
www.elises.co.uk said:
The Sport 135 was first launched as a limited run of 50 in November 1998, VIN: X 5401 - 5450. It has some engine enhancements to increase the power to a claimed 135bhp (though it is actually close to 145bhp). Other additions include close-ratio gearbox, sports exhaust, drilled brake discs (cast iron), blue tinted metalic silver paint (Quicksilver), dark blue hood, corbeau sport seats, silver roll over bar, racing steering wheel, headlamp covers, driving lights, category 1 alarm and unique Sport 135 body graphics. The catalytic converter is replaced by a through pipe which means the car has to be homologated and this is the main reason for the limited first production run.
The second batch of cars were produced for the 1999 year (VIN: X 6001 - 6035) and had 111S wheels, tyres and spats, black painted fuel filler cap, matt finish alloy gear knob and Sport 135 '99' decals.
The Sport 135 engine upgrade (Lotus Stage II) is also available as an after market option as are all of the other components.
It should be noted that there are at least 5 owners that have had head gasket failures on the original Sport 135 models. Lotus originally stated that the after-market upgrade should only be fitted after the run-in period had been completed. Obviously this was not the case on the original Sport 135 models.
Planman350i said:
Hello, I'm on the hunt for an Elise S1 and my sisters boyfriend kindly bought me a Haynes guide to Elises for my birthday.
Errr........can someone tell me where to get one of these please? I have just had a look on the Haynes website and they don't even list Lotus, let alone Elise!!!!
A Haynes for an Elise would be an absolute godsend, it really would.
Can someone shed some light on this please?
Ta!!
The S1 Sport 135 is an excellent package. If I ever went back to S1 ownership it would be a straight fight between a Sport 135 and a Sport 160... before I bought the 160 (again!) 
Vs. the standard car the 135 is better in almost all respects.
Wheels = better
Suspension = better
Interior = better
Engine = better
Anything else?
Vs. the standard car the 135 is better in almost all respects.
Wheels = better
Suspension = better
Interior = better
Engine = better
Anything else?
Edited by S Works on Tuesday 15th August 14:26
I had a Sport135 for a year and it was fantastic. Seats are ALOT more comfortable than a standard elise, but not leather.
There are loads of S1's with 135 heads to bring up the power, but they don't have all the other extra bits, so don't command any premium. An original Sport135 however is always pretty easy to sell on at a decent price... I bought mine from a main dealer for £15.5k (a few years ago) and sold it back to a main dealer 14 months later for £13k (he really wanted a special edition) pretty good depn in my books with no hassle selling it.
There is a Sport135 website somewhere - but I can't find it at the moment!
Rich
There are loads of S1's with 135 heads to bring up the power, but they don't have all the other extra bits, so don't command any premium. An original Sport135 however is always pretty easy to sell on at a decent price... I bought mine from a main dealer for £15.5k (a few years ago) and sold it back to a main dealer 14 months later for £13k (he really wanted a special edition) pretty good depn in my books with no hassle selling it.
There is a Sport135 website somewhere - but I can't find it at the moment!
Rich
Lotus Elise S1 135.
The write up's of many who have not owned or ever driven a genuine original 50 off S1 135's are a little miss leading .
On paper there is little difference between an original S1 , S1 135 and a S1 111's .
I have owned several of all the 3 models the most disappointing was the 1 owner , 15,000 miler , massively serviced and spec'd 111's S1 , bought at an inflated price because of the spec and condition to replace my 135 , luckily I had not sold my 135 and decided very quickly after buying the 111's that it was not as good a car as the 135.
Anyone lucky enough to drive an original S1 135 will notice the fantastic spread of torque from stand still to to flat out and I don't mean foot flat to the floor from start to finish . Sat at 30, 40 or 50 etc MPH in top , just press the accelerator and it just goes where as the 111's to preform similarly you would have to drop at least one gear.
The early S1 MMC is what it is , fantastic !
An S1 MMC or a later S1 with a 135 cylinder head conversion is not comparable to a genuine S1 135 , don't let anyone tell you otherwise .
The write up's of many who have not owned or ever driven a genuine original 50 off S1 135's are a little miss leading .
On paper there is little difference between an original S1 , S1 135 and a S1 111's .
I have owned several of all the 3 models the most disappointing was the 1 owner , 15,000 miler , massively serviced and spec'd 111's S1 , bought at an inflated price because of the spec and condition to replace my 135 , luckily I had not sold my 135 and decided very quickly after buying the 111's that it was not as good a car as the 135.
Anyone lucky enough to drive an original S1 135 will notice the fantastic spread of torque from stand still to to flat out and I don't mean foot flat to the floor from start to finish . Sat at 30, 40 or 50 etc MPH in top , just press the accelerator and it just goes where as the 111's to preform similarly you would have to drop at least one gear.
The early S1 MMC is what it is , fantastic !
An S1 MMC or a later S1 with a 135 cylinder head conversion is not comparable to a genuine S1 135 , don't let anyone tell you otherwise .
Lotus Elise S1 135.
The write up's of many who have not owned or ever driven a genuine original 50 off S1 135's are a little miss leading .
On paper there is little difference between an original S1 , S1 135 and a S1 111's .
I have owned several of all the 3 models the most disappointing was the 1 owner , 15,000 miler , massively serviced and spec'd 111's S1 , bought at an inflated price because of the spec and condition to replace my 135 , luckily I had not sold my 135 and decided very quickly after buying the 111's that it was not as good a car as the 135.
Anyone lucky enough to drive an original S1 135 will notice the fantastic spread of torque from stand still to to flat out and I don't mean foot flat to the floor from start to finish . Sat at 30, 40 or 50 etc MPH in top , just press the accelerator and it just goes where as the 111's to preform similarly you would have to drop at least one gear.
The early S1 MMC is what it is , fantastic !
An S1 MMC or a later S1 with a 135 cylinder head conversion is not comparable to a genuine S1 135 , don't let anyone tell you otherwise .
The write up's of many who have not owned or ever driven a genuine original 50 off S1 135's are a little miss leading .
On paper there is little difference between an original S1 , S1 135 and a S1 111's .
I have owned several of all the 3 models the most disappointing was the 1 owner , 15,000 miler , massively serviced and spec'd 111's S1 , bought at an inflated price because of the spec and condition to replace my 135 , luckily I had not sold my 135 and decided very quickly after buying the 111's that it was not as good a car as the 135.
Anyone lucky enough to drive an original S1 135 will notice the fantastic spread of torque from stand still to to flat out and I don't mean foot flat to the floor from start to finish . Sat at 30, 40 or 50 etc MPH in top , just press the accelerator and it just goes where as the 111's to preform similarly you would have to drop at least one gear.
The early S1 MMC is what it is , fantastic !
An S1 MMC or a later S1 with a 135 cylinder head conversion is not comparable to a genuine S1 135 , don't let anyone tell you otherwise .
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