Newbie question

[Andy wright]

As the title suggests , a newbie query. I have just bought an S2 Elise , 2007 with the Toyota 1ZZ power unit in ‘ touring spec’. That means electric windows, a radio and , err, not sure what else. Anyway, that is not the subject of the query. The car is blue with a cream interior. The latter I don’t plan to keep. In fact , already bought some equivalent second hand door cards in black and am looking hard at a pair of Corbeau LE seats . So, first part of my query centres on those Corbeau seats. Anyone on here have them or at least used them and have a view on them and the second is a vague idea of what, if anything, a pair of cream seats with matching door cards is actually worth ? 

 

[Oakman]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the online club, good to see you're pretty local to me, I'm down near Bakewell. 

Not totally S2 related but I have an S1 Elise that I bought secondhand Corbeau seats for, they were Elise Sport ones and look identical to the LE ones.  I had Corbeau retrim them as their covers were shot. 

To the point, they are more comfortable and supportive than the standard S1 leather seats, due to a little extra padding and the fact the seat squabs - under thigh area are slightly more raised/supportive, plus you don't slide around in them as I had them done in fabric & Alcantara.  You do sit a touch higher in them than S1 standard seats.  It was also a bit of a requirement as my wife is not tall and struggled to get a safe/comfy driving position in the leather seats, the lack of grip of the leather didn't help.

Some photos here. 

Regarding value of your cream originals, would be worth checking the usual suspect Ebay to see what used Elise seats go for.  Very likely someone would want the full cream interior.  It looks very nice but not that practical I never thought, glad my car was Black interior with Nautilus paint - Cream looks very classy on those cars but a devil to keep clean looking. 

Edited to say:  Just looked on Ebay, there's a pair of Cream Elise seats plus doorcards, doesn't say which model, not S1's for sure.  Listed at just over £1,240 ! 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356112499482?fits=Car+Make%3ALotus|Model%3AElise&_skw=lotus+elise+seats&itmmeta=01JCXDS4D9M9Q5JGHPK3WH3R4N&hash=item52e9f5831a:g:xXEAAOSwIEhm~oIa&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmbWsR2n2r941xlMJ0KU9HnvsGZLrRDKviqKHtolDd02zWgYM46Its35dZUqwxlrCGJUiaHlkoTu7iupNOCaZc0lND0jFTzNAZf8oAX5WeY4sOD1rtRn01BVwftTdVQFXpqdZ9hJLO2rKvlFoP%2FPAF%2Ba8r9BQwDJH2mXwrx3L1e5gJ4u8wH9puxp%2FmbcFn7OWh%2FwN0ZdR%2BB%2F8FLuXZ2sRkk0RJyVC%2BRzzGTQZX3fM8wauXP%2FqP3zbVUFAXSGpxl%2B4yNC1X4CtniJXEAqVn2RwJ6w8%2BWQpGi0rywflWMt0Fnag%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBM3sbkredk

Paul

 

Edited November 17, 2024 by Oakman

[Andy wright]

Thank you for your very helpful reply. Your Corbeau seats look really nice and your comments about the relative comfort extremely valuable. As for £1200 for a pair of cream seats , people do need to get real . I know I am new to Lotus stuff, but I have been around cars for 50 years, and have for the first time encountered the Lotus parts Tax. I used to own a Lancia Integrale Evo,: they had the Lancia parts tax but it was not in the same league . 

[Oakman]

You're most welcome Andy, and so right about the relative 'car tax' as applied to various motors 😄.  Crazy asking price on there. 

My superficially wrecked Corbeaus were £80 from Ebay, hence my decision to go back to Corbeau for the re covering, plus they have the official Elise script they could use 😉.  I wanted a grey Alcantara and they did two types of black fabric, a waffle type pattern and just a standard sort of stipple look, I went for the waffle  one.  I've found the Alcantara much better than the leather, more grippy, the seats are very comfy plus warmer on a cold day and more supportive, a slight raise in seating position for me was a small price to pay, I'm under 6ft so no problems with visibility. 

Good luck and look forward to seeing you out in the motor whenever us MLOCers next go out.  Trips out in the Peaks and from Ashbourne are a regular event, especially in the better weather. 

[Oakman]

Hope it’s not a bore - I found the pics of the seats as bought.  They look better in the murky eBay pic than they were !  He said they’d been in a track day car.  Very manky, but the shells were ok.  
 
I got Corbeau to put the lumber pumps in both of them. They were the early LE seats,  

[Lithopsian]

I've got these seats.  As described, a bit more padding than the OEM leather, at least when new.  Mine had red inserts which faded badly, and then needed replacing completely.  To be fair, they were over 20 years old, but hadn't done massive mileage or been abused.

The foam in the scrim material will be shot by now, the foam in the main seat padding seems to have lasted better and mine is still original.  With fresh inserts that can just be velcroed on, they should be pretty good.  They don't look that bad, in the photo, tbh.

[Guido]

I’ve nothing to add Andy except welcome to the gang! 👍

[Andy wright]

Wow. Very helpful stuff . Thank you . And yes I will be keen to join in on a run out in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire Peak District. It will make a change from cycling around it which is what I usually do a few times each week. As for seats , I plan to contact GSM seats tomorrow  it w and see if they have a Corbeau LE demonstrator that I can try.  . Oh, also seen some very neat carbon fibre interior trim upgrades. God, these cars can be Barclaycard destroying .😀

[LRS7]

1 hour ago, Andy wright said:

Wow. Very helpful stuff . Thank you . And yes I will be keen to join in on a run out in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire Peak District. It will make a change from cycling around it which is what I usually do a few times each week. As for seats , I plan to contact GSM seats tomorrow  it w and see if they have a Corbeau LE demonstrator that I can try.  . Oh, also seen some very neat carbon fibre interior trim upgrades. God, these cars can be Barclaycard destroying .😀

Definitely give Gareth a call @ GSM he has an array of seats you can try, I’ve had a few of him over the years and hes very accommodating. always good to put your arse in the seat before you buy 😂

Edited November 17, 2024 by LRS7

[Andy wright]

Agreed on the arse test . 😀

[DeanB]

Andy why don't you give Jon Seal Sportscars a call - I think he has some second hand Tillett seats for sale. They are supposedly the best you can buy - very comfortable and supportive, sit you low in the car and very light. Also carbon I think.

[Andy wright]

Thanks I had looked at Tillet but the cost of a pair is a bit too daunting. However, I will investigate your suggestion. 

[Andy wright]

Thank you for your very helpful reply. Your Corbeau seats look really nice and your comments about the relative comfort extremely valuable. As for £1200 for a pair of cream seats , people do need to get real . I know I am new to Lotus stuff, but I have been around cars for 50 years, and have for the first time encountered the Lotus parts Tax. I used to own a Lancia Integrale Evo,: they had the Lancia parts tax but it was not in the same league . 

[Andy wright]

And whilst the seat quest is paused pending a visit to GSM next week, I thought I would have a go at sorting the rather dull and grubby engine cover vents . I thought they were held on by just two screws each , which of course they are. What I had  not spotted was  the double sided tape that Lotus had used in addition to the screws. The black vents were stuck to the cover like chewing gum to the cat. Which means that the engine cover had to come off. And it did. Anyway, vents removed , cleaned , given a dose of Gtechnic G4 trim restorer, engine cover cleaned to within an inch of its life, and the hinge bolts replaced with stainless steel studs ( the engine cover will come off again in the future , more than once ) So a simple, almost trivial 30min job took nearly 4 hours. And is the car any faster ? Nope. Is it any lighter ? Nope . But I can rest in my bed tonight secure in the knowledge that I have a really clean engine cover. 

[winthattt]

I had the Le Pro seats, not much more and they have harness slots which everyone want!  As mention, more padding so you do sit a bit higher. They are also quite narrow. I’m pretty skinny and they were perfect for me and great on track days. If you are of normal proportions they may be tight definitely try!