Anyone in N.Wales / Cheshire want to convince me?
Discussion
Hi Folks, I'm looking for some help...
I'm toying with the idea of an S1 Elise but am not 100% sure if its what I'm looking for. I've sat in one and been a passenger in one a long time ago but that's as far as its gone so far. It's been on my 'I need one of those' list since I first saw one, it will not be used as a daily driver and I'm not bothered about storage capacity. I know the handling is meant to be about as good as it gets, it's just the performance I'm not sure about.
At the moment, I have a Mazda MX-5 fitted with a Flyin' Miata turbo kit. This develops a dyno-measured 245 BHP which makes for rapid progress in such a small car. I want to know will I be happy with the Elise's performance - I think I've got too used to my current power level! I'm sure the Elise more than makes up for its power defecit in terms of handling however.
If anyone is in the North Wales or Cheshire area and would be kind enough to spare an hour or so of their time to convince me the Elise really is what I want I'd really appreciate it. Of course, I'm more than happy to return the favour showing you what a well-sorted MX-5 is capable of!
Thanks,
Phil.
I'm toying with the idea of an S1 Elise but am not 100% sure if its what I'm looking for. I've sat in one and been a passenger in one a long time ago but that's as far as its gone so far. It's been on my 'I need one of those' list since I first saw one, it will not be used as a daily driver and I'm not bothered about storage capacity. I know the handling is meant to be about as good as it gets, it's just the performance I'm not sure about.
At the moment, I have a Mazda MX-5 fitted with a Flyin' Miata turbo kit. This develops a dyno-measured 245 BHP which makes for rapid progress in such a small car. I want to know will I be happy with the Elise's performance - I think I've got too used to my current power level! I'm sure the Elise more than makes up for its power defecit in terms of handling however.
If anyone is in the North Wales or Cheshire area and would be kind enough to spare an hour or so of their time to convince me the Elise really is what I want I'd really appreciate it. Of course, I'm more than happy to return the favour showing you what a well-sorted MX-5 is capable of!
Thanks,
Phil.
Im in Manchester, and would be happy to help 
i have an s1 111s (see profile for details) and would think mines "quite" powerful from standard.
atleast you'll know what sort of power you can gain from bolt-ons rather than serious modifications.
im free most days, if your interested just drop me a mail
i have an s1 111s (see profile for details) and would think mines "quite" powerful from standard.
atleast you'll know what sort of power you can gain from bolt-ons rather than serious modifications.
im free most days, if your interested just drop me a mail
On a similar (but quite different) thread, Im sadly NOT toying with the idea of getting a McLaren F1, but if someone out there would be prepared to give me an hour or two in either of the two passenger seats, I will gladly give you a spare kidney for the privilege.
Come on, make a poor little orphan happy this year......you know it makes sense.
Come on, make a poor little orphan happy this year......you know it makes sense.
try and pick up a pre-modded Elise 2nd hand - its far cheaper.
The Turbo Technics supercharged demo Elise is for sale - S2 Race Tech with 9K miles, 190bhp/180ft/lb ish, sports suspenions and OZ wheels - £21K I think with full warranty.
Or have a look in the classifeds here, on www.seloc.org - you can sometimes pick up supercharged S1s for £14K
think that would suit you - sub 800Kg with 200bhp is pretty nippy
The Turbo Technics supercharged demo Elise is for sale - S2 Race Tech with 9K miles, 190bhp/180ft/lb ish, sports suspenions and OZ wheels - £21K I think with full warranty.
Or have a look in the classifeds here, on www.seloc.org - you can sometimes pick up supercharged S1s for £14K
think that would suit you - sub 800Kg with 200bhp is pretty nippy
Have you got any torque figures for the MX5 turbo? That's the interesting number really. You should also look at power/weight ratios. Standard Elise 0-60 is around the 6s mark which I guess your 5 should easily be up to by now. In terms of handling a well sorted MX is also pretty near perfect and has a better weight distribution than the Liz. I think you're going to have a pretty tough decision fella!
Cheers,
Rob
ps I owned a 5 a few years back
Cheers,
Rob
ps I owned a 5 a few years back
I have a more or less standard Elise (the usual exhaust and induction mods, but nothing serious) and live in Chorley, Lancs.
If you don't get any better offers, give me a shout, but unfortunately it is likely to be the weekend after next before I could spare you any real time.
Also, it is really the wrong time of the year to try to impress someone in an Elise - damp roads, cold tyres and a lightweight car don't mix very well.
A few personal opinions, for what they are worth: I think you would be impressed by the handling of the Elise next to the MX5 and the steering feel is a revelation. Performance up to about 80mph is fine (particularly since the 'rawness' of the car makes it feel quicker than it really is), but disappointing above 100 where the poor aerodynamics and low power output take their toll. Brakes are fine on my car once warm(early MMC disc type), but not quite so good on later models (standard cast iron discs). Gearchange is diabolical, particularly compared to the MX5's.
Like I said - let me know if you don't get a better offer!
If you don't get any better offers, give me a shout, but unfortunately it is likely to be the weekend after next before I could spare you any real time.
Also, it is really the wrong time of the year to try to impress someone in an Elise - damp roads, cold tyres and a lightweight car don't mix very well.
A few personal opinions, for what they are worth: I think you would be impressed by the handling of the Elise next to the MX5 and the steering feel is a revelation. Performance up to about 80mph is fine (particularly since the 'rawness' of the car makes it feel quicker than it really is), but disappointing above 100 where the poor aerodynamics and low power output take their toll. Brakes are fine on my car once warm(early MMC disc type), but not quite so good on later models (standard cast iron discs). Gearchange is diabolical, particularly compared to the MX5's.
Like I said - let me know if you don't get a better offer!
dragstar said:
actually Rob, i wanted to ask, what are the dunlops like?
Dunlops are a fantastic tyre. Much better than the Bridgestones. Took a while to run in though and you have to experiment with pressure but once there you're set. Great grip all around, superb in the wet and the 185 takes the understeer factor out slightly.
Cheers,
Rob
Encouraging reading so far, thanks folks.
B19GRR - We had a national dyno day earlier in the year at John Nobles. Click the link below for my plot:
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/238069/9
I made 211 lb/ft on that run although I'm up from there slightly now after some more tuning. From memory the MX weighs in at about 1100 kgs against what, 800 for the Elise? 0-60 is on average about 5.2 seconds depending on how good a launch you get. I have more fun 30-90 though ;-)
Full details of my car are at www.cardomain.com/id/pjlarge
With regard to Martin_S's comments, I'm happy with performance up to 80/90 mph, that's quick enough I think anyway. From experience with the Mazda, you're very small compared to other cars and can feel a bit vunerable sometimes.
So far I'm thinking S1 in Azure blue. Thanks again for the advice, keep it coming!
Phil.
B19GRR - We had a national dyno day earlier in the year at John Nobles. Click the link below for my plot:
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/238069/9
I made 211 lb/ft on that run although I'm up from there slightly now after some more tuning. From memory the MX weighs in at about 1100 kgs against what, 800 for the Elise? 0-60 is on average about 5.2 seconds depending on how good a launch you get. I have more fun 30-90 though ;-)
Full details of my car are at www.cardomain.com/id/pjlarge
With regard to Martin_S's comments, I'm happy with performance up to 80/90 mph, that's quick enough I think anyway. From experience with the Mazda, you're very small compared to other cars and can feel a bit vunerable sometimes.
So far I'm thinking S1 in Azure blue. Thanks again for the advice, keep it coming!
Phil.
Here's Lotus' official specs on the S1:
www.lotuscars.co.uk/template.cfm?name=lotcarsmodels_elisetechinfo
So the Liz comes in at 755kg. Can never remember which units to use for calculating the power/weight though. bhp/lb kW/kg bhp/kg?!!!
www.lotuscars.co.uk/template.cfm?name=lotcarsmodels_elisetechinfo
So the Liz comes in at 755kg. Can never remember which units to use for calculating the power/weight though. bhp/lb kW/kg bhp/kg?!!!
[quote=PJLarge]So far I'm thinking S1 in Azure blue. Thanks again for the advice, keep it coming!
[quote]
Lovely colour and suits the car well, it's a real pain with the stone chips as they show up very well, having light grey primer!
Have you thopught of a Sport 160 - a bit more of a track car and possibly moire in keeping with the MX5 without having to mod it. Not sure they came in Azure Blue but the look lovely in black
[quote]
Lovely colour and suits the car well, it's a real pain with the stone chips as they show up very well, having light grey primer!
Have you thopught of a Sport 160 - a bit more of a track car and possibly moire in keeping with the MX5 without having to mod it. Not sure they came in Azure Blue but the look lovely in black
It all depends how and where you use it...
The gearbox starts to become a potential weak point above 250hp - I've killed one box after an over-enthusiastic day at Curborough. Fortunately it let go less than 2 mins from home. I don't have a problem with traction unless you're giving it some serious stick. At Curborough the last time I went I actually turned the boost down to 6psi from its usual 14 and it was an easier drive and better times due to not lighting the back tyres up.
Wet days can be a bit entertaining although I can set the boost to be controlled by throttle position - i.e it will develop a max of 6 psi unless wide open, then the whole 240 odd horsepower are let loose. Running it this way it's perfectly manageable in the wet, just like a substantially quicker factory car.
Phil.
The gearbox starts to become a potential weak point above 250hp - I've killed one box after an over-enthusiastic day at Curborough. Fortunately it let go less than 2 mins from home. I don't have a problem with traction unless you're giving it some serious stick. At Curborough the last time I went I actually turned the boost down to 6psi from its usual 14 and it was an easier drive and better times due to not lighting the back tyres up.
Wet days can be a bit entertaining although I can set the boost to be controlled by throttle position - i.e it will develop a max of 6 psi unless wide open, then the whole 240 odd horsepower are let loose. Running it this way it's perfectly manageable in the wet, just like a substantially quicker factory car.
Phil.
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