1996 Series 1 Elise - Pre hibernation clean
Discussion
After a chequered history of dull diesel hatchbacks, in March I decided to finally buy the Lotus Elise I'd wanted for donkeys years.
I was initially after a standard 111S or Sport 160 however having missed out on 4 cars, through either being outbid at stupid money or simply being too slow, I decided to go for this standard, 36,000 mile 118bhp car.
Mods so far have been subtle and include an induction, Larini decat and back box and a short-shift kit. There's a few niggles to fix in the spring such as a wobbly passenger window and some paint issues here and there, but I have to say that I'm absolutely loving it - great little toy.
Few pics from today and the summer gone:
s
All comments welcome!
I was initially after a standard 111S or Sport 160 however having missed out on 4 cars, through either being outbid at stupid money or simply being too slow, I decided to go for this standard, 36,000 mile 118bhp car.
Mods so far have been subtle and include an induction, Larini decat and back box and a short-shift kit. There's a few niggles to fix in the spring such as a wobbly passenger window and some paint issues here and there, but I have to say that I'm absolutely loving it - great little toy.
Few pics from today and the summer gone:
sAll comments welcome!
Edited by Petrol_fumes on Sunday 4th December 14:40
Edited by Petrol_fumes on Sunday 4th December 14:41
Congratulations, your S1 looks lovely! What springs/shocks are you running? The ride hight looks a lot better then many S1's I've seen.
I bought this S1 below in 2010 after wanting one for ages as well, however I struggle to keep it in hibernation! I'm still waiting for the novelty to wear off - it's so addictive...
The Short Shift kit you have fitted does wonder for the driving experience, I found it turned a pretty average 'box into one that's precise and positive.
Pre Hibernation:
After a Sunday Hoon (today):
I think I prefer it dirty
Maybe this should turn into an S1 appreciation thread...
I bought this S1 below in 2010 after wanting one for ages as well, however I struggle to keep it in hibernation! I'm still waiting for the novelty to wear off - it's so addictive...
The Short Shift kit you have fitted does wonder for the driving experience, I found it turned a pretty average 'box into one that's precise and positive.
Pre Hibernation:
After a Sunday Hoon (today):
I think I prefer it dirty
Maybe this should turn into an S1 appreciation thread...
Love a bit of S1 appreciation! cheating a bit as mine's got a roof but chopped in my 111R for #447 in March. Best thing I've ever done. This was after a quick thrash down to Snetterton. Why clean it when you can drive it? Brace of awesome-looking Elises above, guys. Would love to have a Sport 160 to accompany the shed. Maybe one day...
Thanks for the comments guys. The Elise looks great in that grey and the Exige... giggidy - perhaps one day.
I'm running Gaz Golds - had them fitted at the car Geo'd when i picked it up back in March. Took a while to get the right settings for the road - it's a fine balance between shaking your teeth out and just too soft, but overall very happy with them.
It's only going away for the winter as it lives on a drive and worried about it rotting in the cold and rain and I don't particularly want it around when it snows... perhaps i'm being too precious!
I'm running Gaz Golds - had them fitted at the car Geo'd when i picked it up back in March. Took a while to get the right settings for the road - it's a fine balance between shaking your teeth out and just too soft, but overall very happy with them.
It's only going away for the winter as it lives on a drive and worried about it rotting in the cold and rain and I don't particularly want it around when it snows... perhaps i'm being too precious!
Petrol_fumes said:
Thanks for the comments guys. The Elise looks great in that grey and the Exige... giggidy - perhaps one day.
I'm running Gaz Golds - had them fitted at the car Geo'd when i picked it up back in March. Took a while to get the right settings for the road - it's a fine balance between shaking your teeth out and just too soft, but overall very happy with them.
It's only going away for the winter as it lives on a drive and worried about it rotting in the cold and rain and I don't particularly want it around when it snows... perhaps i'm being too precious!
I was considering Gaz Golds, but went the S2 Bilstein route and mounted them to lowering brackets to get the ride height I was after.I'm running Gaz Golds - had them fitted at the car Geo'd when i picked it up back in March. Took a while to get the right settings for the road - it's a fine balance between shaking your teeth out and just too soft, but overall very happy with them.
It's only going away for the winter as it lives on a drive and worried about it rotting in the cold and rain and I don't particularly want it around when it snows... perhaps i'm being too precious!
Elise's love snow, but it requireed a new level of commitment to drive it to work everyday!
RatLad said:
YES!!
Automotive Porn.
I'm still working my way up to an S1 Exige.
Original 190 VHPD? Any more pics?
Thanks so much! It's running VHPD with 190 conversion. Not a huge number of mods but 2-way Nitrons, de-cat, sports exhaust, 82deg thermostat, Lotus Power splitter and diffuser are the main ones. I've got an Emerald ECU to go on over the winter. Done a trouble-free 5,000 miles in it since March and loved every second!Automotive Porn.
I'm still working my way up to an S1 Exige.
Original 190 VHPD? Any more pics?
Just gone back onto its original registration.
Posing with my dad's Aston. Looks a bit chavvy by comparison...
My first trackday with it.
RatLad said:
Thank you for the pics Chevron, much appreciated.
Hold on to that one, they are getting very hard to find especially with the original 'K Series (that colour is perfect as well).
One day it would be good to feel the difference between my 180 bhp 111S and a VHPD Exige.
No problem, always happy to show it off, especially as I've got a very tired set of A048s on at the moment so it's not getting much exercise in this weather. Hold on to that one, they are getting very hard to find especially with the original 'K Series (that colour is perfect as well).
One day it would be good to feel the difference between my 180 bhp 111S and a VHPD Exige.
I'm intending to hang onto it as long as it's financially viable to do so. The previous owner had it 10 years so I think another period of long ownership is just what it needs. Performance-wise your 111S will be similar I'd imagine - in fact probably easier to drive quickly. I haven't driven one but my passengering experiences in other K-engined cars suggests that the VHPD's main advantage is that it pulls so hard from 6-8,000rpm. If you're pressing on and keeping the revs up, it just flies. When I'm out early morning in the Dales by myself I never feel the need for anything faster but it will complain a lot chuntering through town at low revs and I sometimes feel a bit awkward subjecting passengers to such a non-stop racket. I do just find the grumbly idle so addictive though - I think it's masochistically described as "character". Whatever, the stench of unburned fuel, the flames out the back and the sheer anger at high revs is compelling.
TNUC said:
Nice paint job, get a Honda in it!!
Could not disagree more, an original S1 Exige will be worth silly money soon.Plus, this quote from Chevron pretty much says it all:
' do just find the grumbly idle so addictive though - I think it's masochistically described as "character". Whatever, the stench of unburned fuel, the flames out the back and the sheer anger at high revs is compelling. '
mwstewart said:
I thought I recognised the plate. It sure is a great example, Tom.
Hey buddy - it's being put to storage in our home town over the next couple of weeks - we should meet up at some point over xmas, would love to take a look at that beast you're building!As for the Honda... I'd love to in theory, but I think it's staying as is - I spent so long finding one that hadn't been messed with too much it'd be a shame to change that.
BIg power will come from a stable mate over the next couple of years me thinks...
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