Just bought S2 111S!!! Woo-hoo!!! Hints and tips please?
Discussion
Hey All!
Just just bought a 52 plate 111S in titanium grey! I'm sooooo excited!
Anyone got any hints and tips? Things to look out for, etc?
I hear it's vital to warm up the k-series before having a good blast. How much regular driving, ticking over constitutes a warm-up?
I'm busting to get it now (coming on Sat hopefully). Looking forward to seeing some of you guys out of the winding tarmac of our green and pleasant land!
Just just bought a 52 plate 111S in titanium grey! I'm sooooo excited!
Anyone got any hints and tips? Things to look out for, etc?
I hear it's vital to warm up the k-series before having a good blast. How much regular driving, ticking over constitutes a warm-up?
I'm busting to get it now (coming on Sat hopefully). Looking forward to seeing some of you guys out of the winding tarmac of our green and pleasant land!
Welcome to the fray! 
Great car - you have hours of fun ahead of you. Think of all those drives for no paticular reason. Strange how the nearest place to sell the paper on a sunday is a 50 mile round trip - or at least that what I say to my wife after a sunday mornig blat.
As for warming up - you definitely need to wait till the temperature on the gauge stabilises. You don't want to wind a cold engine. Also, the rev limiter will cut in earlier if you rev hard when cold.
Cheers and enjoy.
Great car - you have hours of fun ahead of you. Think of all those drives for no paticular reason. Strange how the nearest place to sell the paper on a sunday is a 50 mile round trip - or at least that what I say to my wife after a sunday mornig blat.
As for warming up - you definitely need to wait till the temperature on the gauge stabilises. You don't want to wind a cold engine. Also, the rev limiter will cut in earlier if you rev hard when cold.
Cheers and enjoy.
hell yeah - top work sir!!!
What to look out for? Your girlfriend/wife getting annoyed with you because you took 3 hours to 'nip down the shops for some milk' on a sunday morning.
On a serious note - warm up is perhaps 10 minutes, 85c on the water gauge (ish), and - more importantly - when the engine 'feels' ready. Don't just cane it if it hits 85...!
First step; don't kill yourself. It is a fast car and inject confidence in you. Make sure that confidence doesn't come too quickly (don't wish that to sound patronising at all - just be very wary!).
Second step; get pictures posted on here
Third step; drive the fecker before the weather turns
Actually, turn steps three and two around.
What to look out for? Your girlfriend/wife getting annoyed with you because you took 3 hours to 'nip down the shops for some milk' on a sunday morning.
On a serious note - warm up is perhaps 10 minutes, 85c on the water gauge (ish), and - more importantly - when the engine 'feels' ready. Don't just cane it if it hits 85...!
First step; don't kill yourself. It is a fast car and inject confidence in you. Make sure that confidence doesn't come too quickly (don't wish that to sound patronising at all - just be very wary!).
Second step; get pictures posted on here
Third step; drive the fecker before the weather turns
Actually, turn steps three and two around.
Yes don't thrash it until it's fully warmed through - it wont thank you for being ragged when cold.
Wait until the temp is at 88 (or whatever you car runs at warm), wait a few minutes more for the oil temp to catch up and then you're away.
Watch the front clam on kerbs. Don't use excess power in the wet in on corners.
>> Edited by MJK 24 on Thursday 22 September 15:22
Wait until the temp is at 88 (or whatever you car runs at warm), wait a few minutes more for the oil temp to catch up and then you're away.
Watch the front clam on kerbs. Don't use excess power in the wet in on corners.
>> Edited by MJK 24 on Thursday 22 September 15:22
Under no circumstances cane it in the wet. It is a completely different beast to when its nice and dry.
Enjoy it.
Dont expect to beat every other car in a staright line
Do expect to keep up with 911 Turbos and anything else for that matter on a twisty road.
Enjoy it
You have just joined one of the friendliest car communities out there. Wave/flash lights at all other Lotus's, at the very least.
Get to a Walshy day, fast. Have not done one myself, but everyone who has comments on how much more they understand the car afterwards.
Enjoy it.
Dont expect to beat every other car in a staright line
Do expect to keep up with 911 Turbos and anything else for that matter on a twisty road.
Enjoy it
You have just joined one of the friendliest car communities out there. Wave/flash lights at all other Lotus's, at the very least.
Get to a Walshy day, fast. Have not done one myself, but everyone who has comments on how much more they understand the car afterwards.
once the water is warm - 88 or so, then drive for another 10 mins to allow the oil to get up to temp...when the water is at 88, the oil is still <50 (not even registering on my guage) ...takes another 10miles or so.
other than that take it easy in the wet and get on a www.1stlotus.com training day ASAP before winter !
other than that take it easy in the wet and get on a www.1stlotus.com training day ASAP before winter !
Echo all the above, be very, very careful especially on wet roads, adverse cambers, coming off roundabouts.
With all due respect the cars in your profile are of a very different ilk to the Elise and much less likely to get you into trouble.
I came from a history of FWD's (Mini Coopers) and it's easy to get carried away very quickly as you build up confidence. When the car catches you out (and it will) it is sh!tyerpants scary. I've been lucky and learned from a couple of
moments to treat it with a great deal of respect.
Basically be gentle and measured with your inputs, build up confidence and you will get a huge amount of pleasure.
Welcome to the nuthouse
and your new obsession
Tim
With all due respect the cars in your profile are of a very different ilk to the Elise and much less likely to get you into trouble.
I came from a history of FWD's (Mini Coopers) and it's easy to get carried away very quickly as you build up confidence. When the car catches you out (and it will) it is sh!tyerpants scary. I've been lucky and learned from a couple of
moments to treat it with a great deal of respect. Basically be gentle and measured with your inputs, build up confidence and you will get a huge amount of pleasure.
Welcome to the nuthouse
and your new obsession Tim
If it doesn't have them already, start considering a Hurricane induction system and Sports zorst to improve the soundtrack - after that you'll have upgrade-itis!
Oh, the first time you go out in the rain, apart from treating it with mucho respect, don't worry if you're sitting in traffic and you see steam rise off the front clam - as the radiator's almost horizontal, the rain water evapourates off of it as soon as the temp gauge gets to about 90 - it's a bit alarming the first time you see it happen!
>> Edited by kevin ritson on Friday 23 September 14:10
Oh, the first time you go out in the rain, apart from treating it with mucho respect, don't worry if you're sitting in traffic and you see steam rise off the front clam - as the radiator's almost horizontal, the rain water evapourates off of it as soon as the temp gauge gets to about 90 - it's a bit alarming the first time you see it happen!
>> Edited by kevin ritson on Friday 23 September 14:10
Apart from giving the car respect remember that other drivers in most cases can't, or don't, see you because of the acceleration, or the fact it's such a wee car. So when overtaking on a dual-carriageway just be ready for a micra to indicate and pull out in front of you doing just 60.
And on roundabouts and junctions you won't be able to look right very well with a car obstructing your view (you won't be high enough to see through their windows see).
Just watch the front end when parking and keep hold of the wheel cause drains and pot-holes (that YOU REALLY WANNA AVOID, REALLY) can pull the car about. Oh and watch the crosswinds on bridges and turbulance from lorries cause it don't weigh much.
And the brakes are wooden before you really get used to them so give yourself a little more room than usual when behind traffic.
Other than that you have the best car in the world. Sweet, sweet car.
And on roundabouts and junctions you won't be able to look right very well with a car obstructing your view (you won't be high enough to see through their windows see).
Just watch the front end when parking and keep hold of the wheel cause drains and pot-holes (that YOU REALLY WANNA AVOID, REALLY) can pull the car about. Oh and watch the crosswinds on bridges and turbulance from lorries cause it don't weigh much.
And the brakes are wooden before you really get used to them so give yourself a little more room than usual when behind traffic.
Other than that you have the best car in the world. Sweet, sweet car.
yep - too right....it will warm up quicker if you drive it...most wear occurs when its cold, so quicker it gets warm the better...sitting on the drive ticking over isnt too good...just drive gently (like running in say under 1/2 revs) until the water is up to temp, then take it easy for another 10 mins or so for the oil :up
Well done on your choice - I have the same car. You are going to have fun. The advice on this post has been excellent - some very sound points here.
You are moving to rear wheel drive in a car that accelerates much quicker than any of your previous cars. There is fun to be had, but you need to learn the limits of the car slowly - preferably on an airfield. The S2 is more progressive than the S1 - some folks think too much so, but gives you warning before anything drastic takes place.
However, a few provisos - in the wet you will have a tendency to be going faster than you think. Essentially you do not want to go nuts in the wet - caution flooring it in second gear exiting a roundabout in the wet. More than a few elises have become part of the hedgerow on the opposite side of the roundabout.
There is no ABS (the brakes are great with excellent feel on the 111s - probably better feel than the 111r), but you can't just mash the pedal to the floor - you will lock up wheels if you do. With good technique the car stops on a dime.
It sounds like I am being critical, but I am not - it is all part of the character of this great handling and fun little car. It is just that despite engine size and power, it is a seriously quick little car - at least as quick to 70-80mph as my previous BMW M3. Things just tend to happen a litte faster. Like all of us you will end up "learning the car". And what fun you are going to have doing it.
Cheers and enjoy every minute.
You are moving to rear wheel drive in a car that accelerates much quicker than any of your previous cars. There is fun to be had, but you need to learn the limits of the car slowly - preferably on an airfield. The S2 is more progressive than the S1 - some folks think too much so, but gives you warning before anything drastic takes place.
However, a few provisos - in the wet you will have a tendency to be going faster than you think. Essentially you do not want to go nuts in the wet - caution flooring it in second gear exiting a roundabout in the wet. More than a few elises have become part of the hedgerow on the opposite side of the roundabout.
There is no ABS (the brakes are great with excellent feel on the 111s - probably better feel than the 111r), but you can't just mash the pedal to the floor - you will lock up wheels if you do. With good technique the car stops on a dime.
It sounds like I am being critical, but I am not - it is all part of the character of this great handling and fun little car. It is just that despite engine size and power, it is a seriously quick little car - at least as quick to 70-80mph as my previous BMW M3. Things just tend to happen a litte faster. Like all of us you will end up "learning the car". And what fun you are going to have doing it.
Cheers and enjoy every minute.
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