"i Don't Know Why You'd Need More Than A Standard 120Bhp K

[chrislane]

A phrase i have used more than once over the last couple of years. But a chat with Mark at Stratstones at the weekend made me wonder just how close to the standard 120bhp mine really was. So i took it along to a local rolling road this morning. I have no idea how accurate these are, but none the less it seems to be generating more power than i thought it was. Its only taken three years of ownership to realise it!

 

rolling road.pdf

[Dr H]

What's the 106 in brackets? If that's the wheel power at the rollers then I'd say it's spot on. People reckon between 10-15%, losses on the Elise so if you pick the middle at 12.5% losses that's just about 120HP.

 

If the 106 is wheel power I'm sure how they estimate 146 form that a power loss of about 27% which is too much for the Elise

[Alex B]

impressive, some possible previously carried out work on the engine?

[jonnyfox]

^^^^ what Leigh said. If you take it to the States they reckon about 25% :-)

http://www.mk5cortinaestate.co.uk/calculator4.php

[chrislane]

Well thats my bonfire well and truly pissed on!!!!! ;-)

[jonnyfox]

Well thats my bonfire well and truly pissed on!!!!! ;-)

Not really Chris you certainly own a very fine car :-)

[chrislane]

Going up for sale in the very near future Jonny if there is room to squeeze one more into your collection ;-)

[Martin R]

12.5% is a reasonable figure to use. Possibly slightly conservative but near enough. The differences in rolling etc means its only a guide anyway

[Dr H]

Id say you should be happy with that result. Looks like you car is very healthy!

 

RRs are a bit of a black art. I've had mine on 4 different ones and got a very different figure each time.

[Dennis]

A decent rr operator can make them show whatever they want (especially if they have just released you of some £'s for an air filter or similar)

 

The important bit is is your car running ok (as stated above)

 

Now to your question, 120 in such a light car was good 15 years ago but now hot superminis have to have 200 bhp (ok they are a bit Lordy these days) but 120 does make it a little breathless once it is going.

 

My 1999 118 k is up to 150 and it is good to have those slightly longer legs but a little more would be better but I would not want to risk it going pop on a standard bottom end etc.

[Martin R]

Get some 160 EU3 pistons in it. Should be good for 180 then.

[Saint Matt]

A decent rr operator can make them show whatever they want (especially if they have just released you of some £'s for an air filter or similar)

 

The important bit is is your car running ok (as stated above)

 

Now to your question, 120 in such a light car was good 15 years ago but now hot superminis have to have 200 bhp (ok they are a bit Lordy these days) but 120 does make it a little breathless once it is going.

 

My 1999 118 k is up to 150 and it is good to have those slightly longer legs but a little more would be better but I would not want to risk it going pop on a standard bottom end etc.

I agree with this, don't want to sound like a chavvy kid but coming from Hondas with 200-250bhp the Elise does feel a little slow in a straight line, and mine is the 156bhp K It's still great fun but needs more poke IMO!

[MilesH]

A decent rr operator can make them show whatever they want (especially if they have just released you of some £'s for an air filter or similar)

 

The important bit is is your car running ok (as stated above)

 

Now to your question, 120 in such a light car was good 15 years ago but now hot superminis have to have 200 bhp (ok they are a bit Lordy these days) but 120 does make it a little breathless once it is going.

 

My 1999 118 k is up to 150 and it is good to have those slightly longer legs but a little more would be better but I would not want to risk it going pop on a standard bottom end etc.

 

Reminds me of the last time I went to get my Honda Elise mapped at a known specilaist. He said, do you want a headline bhp figure to brag about to your mates or do you want a car mapped properly!

 

I'd be happy with that result Chris, looks like all is running well

[jonnyfox]

^^^ very true Miles, mine is mapped in the same way. Headline figures could have me 240+ at the fly but/and having seen 2zz's with similar mods and more power none have the peak torque I have.

[Eric]

For everyday driving, you don't really need any more than that.

 

But what about weekends? Aaah well, that's a different matter entirely, with horse power being inversely proportional to wallet contents but directly proportional to grin factor.