Out Of The Box

[Chalkey]

Just spotted that on pistonheads scatty!

 

A screaming supercharged 'S' is the only way to go!!

[Alex B]

Dean, I want scatty's.... Or a 111s/r the 120bhp k is a wonderful engine but hasn't got enough top end grunt, and after having a bit of a think about it a different car is the easiest option.

[DeanB]

So long as it's another Lotus that's fine!

 

You should have no trouble selling yours, it's lovely.

 

Btw the last thing I need is more horsepower! Want, yes. Need, no.

[scatty]

Btw the last thing I need is more horsepower! Want, yes. Need, no.

 

Can you imagine .. Good grief!!!

 

You'd need to start wearing a helmet and a fireproof race suit just to go to Hassop for breaky..... Oh and give us a 10 minute start...

 

 

 

[chrislane]

I might have known you'd sneak a photo of it parked up in burton onto the pistonheads ad scatty ;-)

[KurtB]

Scatty so long as you get another Lotus that's ok!

 

What Dean said! Don't you leave MLOC Scatty, you add too much to go. I like your car, just wish I had £16,999.00 more than I have...

[Jonathan E]

Thanks for the replies, getting back on thread. None of the following is intended to piss anyone off, they are just my personal preferences.

I have no interest in Exiges, S1 or S2 for no reason other than I prefer Elises.

My ownership to date, and my opinion, remember this is Mloc, we are allowed to have personal opinions,unlike some other forums!

 

S1 standard, loved it, just because it was so different to anything else available, it was my first Lotus car and something I'd promised myself after seeing the Esprit at the Earls Court motor show in 19whatever.

 

S1Sport 160, I did the odd track day back then, and it was probably as good as it gets from that point of view, but as a daily driver it was just a little too hardcore, I often wonder where it is now, and kick myself for selling it for the price I did.

 

S1standard, back to the original, never unhappy with it and did my first European road trip with it.... Johnny foreigner just loves Lotus cars!

 

S2 ST, If I'm honest I actually prefer the styling of the S2 to that of the S1, and when I saw my first S2 at Nick Whale I just had to have one, just always felt that little bit underpowered, although that could be due to the fact that it was less raw than the S1

 

S2 111s, Did nearly 6000k miles in Europe in this car, mechanically sound and great performance, but the problems it gave me in regards to paint and other issues very nearly finished the love affair with Lotus, and still makes me squirm uncomfortably when I hear the term "S2 111s"

 

S2 111r, Well, that Japanese engine was a revelation. It seemed so much smoother than the "K" I was used to and the second cam(not lowered) was addictive, but somehow the extra horses never really did overcome the extra weight, and if I'm honest I missed the mid range torque I had to sell mine due to job/financial difficulties, otherwise I would probably still own it now....or probably not....I don't know!

 

S1, back in the saddle, I've owned it for three years now, done loads of stuff to it myself including a full suspension refresh all mainly due to the help of fellow Lotus owners and in particular our very own guru Martin R who has always helped out when I've got stuck. Its my fun car, all the previous were daily drivers and the sense of occasion when I get to drive it, which is often( Rich bk ) and mostly around Wales finest roads, is still something that makes me smile like a kid on Christmas Day.

 

We are not getting any younger, we're certainly not the oldest S1 owners out there, but a recent trip to Belgium and the low countries got me thinking about creature comforts, hence my original post. Any other suggestions or comments are welcome.

[russelld]

Apart from a converted car ( obviously not out of the box ) the only option you have not tried is the Supercharged Toyota S2, but you won't get one for £15k

 

Have you considered a Europa S or SE ?

[Jonathan E]

Just read that last post back and it sounds like I'm slagging all my previous cars off, which is obviously not the case, as I've loved them all. Not really interested in Europa's as part of the thrill of the Elise is the roof off, wind in your hair experience, I almost never have the roof on, but the wind in the hair experience is becoming more difficult to achieve as the years take a toll on my fast balding pate.

I think I'd probably go with a S2 111s as and when I change, although that's not so easy to achieve as I seem to remember that there were a whole raft of versions? Anyone care to refresh my memory? I want leather seats and nice carpet but no leccy windows or central locking....were they the early ones?

[erk]

I've had mine since you had your ice blue s2. Am I the odd one in that I have had the same car for 11 years? I still couldn't see me selling up unless I needed the ££. Why not have a go in mine back to back with yours to compare?

[Martin R]

Jon, a couple of thoughts. The roads in Belgium are crap. Im also glad you have seen the light regarding an S2. It makes it slightly more useable for a mature MLOC member. Its the only conncession i will make to age though at the moment.

[Jonathan E]

@ Erk, yea your weird Doesn't owe you anything does it! and if I'm honest that ice blue S2 was probably the best screwed together Elise I've owned...I think we were the founders of the Shropshire Elise owners club

I have spent the last two days driving 8 different Elises, two were a crock of shit, two (after a good old haggle) were a bit more than I was prepared to pay, one was a SC toyota which I can't afford but I've only ever driven a demo car so wanted to give it a proper run out, fantastic car, really solid and bloody quick, but felt just a bit too heavy somehow, and after driving it for a few miles I remembered how much I didn't like the servoed brakes. Which leaves 3 that fitted the bill, all S2 111s's, all really well looked after examples, one private and two at dealers, ended up going back to the first dealer car to strike a deal.

Having agreed a very favourable part ex for my S1we agreed to pick up the new car a week on Saturday. We drove home this evening with the roof off, the sun shining, and took the long route home to enjoy some of the Peak districts finest tarmac.

Picked up the phone when I got home and told the salesman the deal was off!

Its 14 years old, its not the fastest, its fan sticks, its window seals are rusty, its not the easiest to get in and out of and the roof leaks like a sieve, but, on the right day, on the right road, there is nothing that gets near to it, all the above included. Its a pretty original S1 with one previous owner apart from me and it looks like its got under my skin( Got a few years to go on Erk!)

@ Martin, yes at some point an S2 will be our Lotus, but just for the time being I'll stick with the S1( with your continued help hopefully ) they are all bloody good cars but some seem to get a hold on you!

[Martin R]

Jon, tart the bits that annoy you then. A couple of waist seals would be a good start. Get the plasters ready

[Jonathan E]

Ha! Did replace the rusty ones with woollies jobs but never really been happy with them, more tarting to come I suspect!

[richbk]

hey jon.

pleased you kept the S1, its an itch i need to scratch some time.

the bond esprits got me into lotus, but the s1 is the car i read about as a 17 yr old and wanted to own,

in fact if you do decide to swop at some point, call or pm me before you trade, as i reckon your yellow s1

would make a fine addition to my s2 exige....

 

are you coming to chatsworth this year?.

think its time for another shropshire or barmouth run too ?:

 

richbk