Getting an S2, what can I expect?
Discussion
Hi Guys, I'm diving into the world of the Lotus Elise on friday. Picking up an S2 Sports Tourer (02 plate) and got to drive it back to Birmingham from London, hopefully the snow will have gone!
What sort of things can I expect / anticipate when driving it back? Any rattles or little quirks that I needn't worry about? How does it stick to the road?
Any useful little tips would be great! Thanks!
What sort of things can I expect / anticipate when driving it back? Any rattles or little quirks that I needn't worry about? How does it stick to the road?
Any useful little tips would be great! Thanks!
Take it very easy with your right foot in the current weather conditions. Not massively powerful cars but being so light its easy to get the back end to step out (have a look at Doug Ward's profile pic)
Shouldnt have too many squeeks and rattles but dont worry if you do.
As for insurance there is tons of suggestions in the archives with contact numbers. I'm with Esteem who are good if your over 30 and they will insure you for trackdays at £26 a time too.
Enjoy the car and make sure you put up some pics.
Shouldnt have too many squeeks and rattles but dont worry if you do.
As for insurance there is tons of suggestions in the archives with contact numbers. I'm with Esteem who are good if your over 30 and they will insure you for trackdays at £26 a time too.
Enjoy the car and make sure you put up some pics.
'GETTING AN S2, WHAT CAN I EXPECT?'
The tail out in this Weather!
Expect it to rattle and creek a bit, but not as bad as the S1, i had a 111s 2000 model. Now that was noisey, gear box whine, crashed over bad surfaces. Squeaked and rattled a lot. But then again it's all part of the charm of a back to basics sports car. The S2 still gives some transmission noise but is altogther more solid sounding when your driving it. Also, if you park the car with wet brakes they will stick on overnight. It free's up when you pull away but don't panic when you here the noise it makes, they all do it! Though not as bad with aftermarket brake pads on. I've got a 04 model year 111s S2 now and i'm very pleased with it. I do hope your gonna get the sports exhaust and induction kit to make it sound like a sports car and not a Rover 418i
As for insurance: I'm with Competition Cars as they include 4 track days in your fully comp insurance per year. The phone numbers 01159415255 speak to Steve Hallam and mention my registration, he may give me a discount come renewal!
Happy motoring!
The tail out in this Weather!
Expect it to rattle and creek a bit, but not as bad as the S1, i had a 111s 2000 model. Now that was noisey, gear box whine, crashed over bad surfaces. Squeaked and rattled a lot. But then again it's all part of the charm of a back to basics sports car. The S2 still gives some transmission noise but is altogther more solid sounding when your driving it. Also, if you park the car with wet brakes they will stick on overnight. It free's up when you pull away but don't panic when you here the noise it makes, they all do it! Though not as bad with aftermarket brake pads on. I've got a 04 model year 111s S2 now and i'm very pleased with it. I do hope your gonna get the sports exhaust and induction kit to make it sound like a sports car and not a Rover 418i
As for insurance: I'm with Competition Cars as they include 4 track days in your fully comp insurance per year. The phone numbers 01159415255 speak to Steve Hallam and mention my registration, he may give me a discount come renewal!
Happy motoring!
I'm only a young driver (23) I ensure my S2 and used to ensure my S1 and Cerbera with Tesco.com. Very good prices I have found. Older people I know tend to use either esteeme insurance (they have a link page through the Lotus website) or Direct line.
By way of noises, the most unnearving noise I found when picking up my S2 recently was the gear box whine and chattering on backing off in 3rd 4th and 5th. This is due to a straight cut gearbox and is symptomatic to the s2 and not the s1. Unfortunately rattles and squeaks are fairly common, especially on older/higher mileage Lotus, after all it is a Lotus.
Do check for head gasket problems if you are buying a K-series.
Hope that is of some use.
Alex
By way of noises, the most unnearving noise I found when picking up my S2 recently was the gear box whine and chattering on backing off in 3rd 4th and 5th. This is due to a straight cut gearbox and is symptomatic to the s2 and not the s1. Unfortunately rattles and squeaks are fairly common, especially on older/higher mileage Lotus, after all it is a Lotus.
Do check for head gasket problems if you are buying a K-series.
Hope that is of some use.
Alex
andyjjj said:
What sort of things can I expect / anticipate when driving it back? Any rattles or little quirks that I needn't worry about? How does it stick to the road?
Any useful little tips would be great! Thanks!
Diving in eh? Have you had a test drive of it mate? Sounds like you really are in at the deep end.
Like the others say, take it steady while you get used to it and do not pin it unless you're on a dry road with all 4 wheels pointing in the same direction at this time of the year. The secret is gentle and progressive application of all inputs and you'll be enthralled by your new toy.
Regarding Tesco, when I was looking around last (July last yr) I found better quotes with Admiral/Elephant and Adrian Flux without the added expense of investing in a Tracker.
Also some of the other oft-mentioned companies supposedly offering various good deals gave me absolutely incredulous quotes. Just shows, insurance is a great business to be in if you're on the insuring side!
Worth shopping around with Elise insurance for sure. I think I got about 20 quotes last time round!
>> Edited by S Works on Wednesday 23 February 13:52
I've just renewed this week on my S2 111S. Renewel with Tesco was £648. Adrian Flux did quote £573, but they want £25 for any policy alteration. So when I've had a courtesy car or a days test drive in a new Elise which I have to put on my own insurance, it would cost me. Tescos do it FOC, and in the 3 years I've been with them they have been superb, so I've stuck with them.
Yeah I also insure my S2 with Tesco, seemed to be the best on cost after a day of calling countless companies.
Like A14EX D I’m also only 23 and most insurance companies bang the price straight up. I got Nick Whale to fit my Tracker when I picked up the car.
As for owning an S2 mine is great and I'm sure yours will be too. Just take it easy in this weather because there not very forgiving and your back end will be straight out.
Like A14EX D I’m also only 23 and most insurance companies bang the price straight up. I got Nick Whale to fit my Tracker when I picked up the car.
As for owning an S2 mine is great and I'm sure yours will be too. Just take it easy in this weather because there not very forgiving and your back end will be straight out.
David,
Yes they did require a tracker, which I tend to put on my cars anyway. Didn't require one on the TVR odly, although it did have one. I did a bit of shopping around on the Tracker and I only get the Monitor package (I think that there are 3) and by using my trade contacts I managed to get it down to £200 ish for the Tracker and £100 first year, not the end of the world! If they ask for one, Tesco require proof of installment within the first two weeks, otherwise they threaten to cancel the policy. I know this because I dragged my feet a little on my first elise.
Yes they did require a tracker, which I tend to put on my cars anyway. Didn't require one on the TVR odly, although it did have one. I did a bit of shopping around on the Tracker and I only get the Monitor package (I think that there are 3) and by using my trade contacts I managed to get it down to £200 ish for the Tracker and £100 first year, not the end of the world! If they ask for one, Tesco require proof of installment within the first two weeks, otherwise they threaten to cancel the policy. I know this because I dragged my feet a little on my first elise.
I've just been through the insurance circus for my 2002 S2 111S. I'm 28, have 0 NCB (not had my own policy for a while), will be using the car everyday and parking it on the drive, I had some crazy numbers!!!! However, AutoTorque, Chris Knott and Elephant gave the best quotes (yes quotes are all over 1k :-P)...
I tried these, 1st three were cheapest, next bunch of 4 have SELOC deals or specialise in sports cars and the like, the rest are just run of the mill mainstream places (one of whom asked if the car had 5 seats :-D) in no particular order.
Chris Knott 0800 917 2274
Auto Torque 0161 278 5226
Elephant 0870 0401 140
Footman James 0121 561 4196
Adrian Flux 08700 777 888
Egger Lawson / CCI 0115 941 5255
Lotus / AON / Esteem (Official) 01483 706 051
Tesco 0845 300 4400
Direct Line 0845 246 8701
Priviledge 0845 246 0275
Liverpool Victoria 01202 292 333
Admiral 0800 600 800
Bell Direct / Admiral 0800 140 180
More Than / Hastings 0800 072 4186
Quoteline Direct 0870 442 9049
Norwich Union Direct 0800 092 9564
Chris Knott were the cheapest, but they couldn't do any Track cover, so I went with AutoTorque. Ironically, the underwriter on my policy is Norwich Union, but a direct quote from them was over a grand more :-D
As for driving, like everyone says, take it very easy and don't get over-confident too soon, it will bite back... Ironically, I've found myself sticking to speed limits much more often since picking up my car last Saturday :-o
Also don't lock yourself out like I did last night :-) I left my brain at home yesterday!
HTH
I tried these, 1st three were cheapest, next bunch of 4 have SELOC deals or specialise in sports cars and the like, the rest are just run of the mill mainstream places (one of whom asked if the car had 5 seats :-D) in no particular order.
Chris Knott 0800 917 2274
Auto Torque 0161 278 5226
Elephant 0870 0401 140
Footman James 0121 561 4196
Adrian Flux 08700 777 888
Egger Lawson / CCI 0115 941 5255
Lotus / AON / Esteem (Official) 01483 706 051
Tesco 0845 300 4400
Direct Line 0845 246 8701
Priviledge 0845 246 0275
Liverpool Victoria 01202 292 333
Admiral 0800 600 800
Bell Direct / Admiral 0800 140 180
More Than / Hastings 0800 072 4186
Quoteline Direct 0870 442 9049
Norwich Union Direct 0800 092 9564
Chris Knott were the cheapest, but they couldn't do any Track cover, so I went with AutoTorque. Ironically, the underwriter on my policy is Norwich Union, but a direct quote from them was over a grand more :-D
As for driving, like everyone says, take it very easy and don't get over-confident too soon, it will bite back... Ironically, I've found myself sticking to speed limits much more often since picking up my car last Saturday :-o
Also don't lock yourself out like I did last night :-) I left my brain at home yesterday!
HTH
Eeedjits - anyone tried calling Norwich Union yet and asking them to quote you happy?
NU
Numptie: Hello, Norwich Union Car Insurance blahblahblah
: Quote Me Happy
NU Numptie: Excuse me sir?
: Quote Me Happy
NU Numptie: Excuse me sir?
: Oh, sorry, it's a 2 seater and it's black...
Quote Me Happy
NU Numptie: I'm sorry sir I'm going to need to take some more information.
: ENGAGED TONE
NU Numptie: 
: 
NU
Numptie: Hello, Norwich Union Car Insurance blahblahblah : Quote Me Happy NU
Numptie: Excuse me sir? : Quote Me Happy NU
Numptie: Excuse me sir? : Oh, sorry, it's a 2 seater and it's black... Quote Me Happy
NU
Numptie: I'm sorry sir I'm going to need to take some more information. : ENGAGED TONE NU
Numptie: : 
Not sure if anyone is aware of this option or not, or whether it is unique to Liverpool Victoiria.
I have insured both my cars with LV, one is a Zafira and the wife drives it with me as named driver and the 111R is with me as primary and wife as named. They do a single policy which covers all of this and because it covers both cars, it works out substantially cheaper than 2 seperate policies.
I save about £400.
I have insured both my cars with LV, one is a Zafira and the wife drives it with me as named driver and the 111R is with me as primary and wife as named. They do a single policy which covers all of this and because it covers both cars, it works out substantially cheaper than 2 seperate policies.
I save about £400.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff