Scottish Elises

Am not looking at upsetting anyone or cause offence but am wondering just how often HGF really does occur in the K Series, as someone mentioned you only get to hear about it happening not all the times it doesnt, so am interested in finding out the truth!

So if you have ever owned an Elise or Exige which was powered by a K series engine did your car ever suffer from HGF?

People have been owning and driving K series Elises for nigh on 15 years now. Some have had HGF, some have not.

Not sure what you are hoping to deduce from this poll, but it might not be much use

I could say yes to a few engines/manufacturers

my first elise, i suffered what we thought was HGF, but turned out to be low liners and a porous cyclinder head. We ended up redoing the HG 3 times as we didnt fix the original problem.


My current car had HGF symptoms, we wipped the head off, spotted the porous head, bought a new head, had it ported etc, checked the liner heights were ok, and refitted it properly. Its since done 2 years and 19K miles with no issues whatsoever. Its never used coolant, and i never need to check the temp anymore.

Is this not taking it a tad too far!?

HGF is not a disease, you buy P&L, IF it goes, you fix it, cost you the price of a service (if that) and that's it over with, move on.

And for what it's worth i've had 3 K series all with between 30k to 50k on the clock and not one of them had a HGF issue.

Are you trying to de-value my car?

I have never had HGF in a car registered to me since my Opel Ascona in the early 90s.

My old k-series S2 elise didn't get it in 10k miles, and my VHPD s1 exige didn't get it in 7k miles either.
Guess I was unlucky

'HGF' can be a variety of problems that get branded HGF...

Porous heads, liners heights, elastomeric gasket deterioration, head shuffle, etc,etc all get called HGF and if not correctly fixed will recur.

Liner heights issue here.

Parts and labour is a good plan.

Think you've maybe gone a bit far mind, maybe you should make your own poll

"How many people have recommended I buy a K?"
Or put another way, I have a k powered car, it's not for sale

Chris

My S1 135 Sport supposedly had an "HGF" at 9k miles which was long before I bought it. When I sold it some 60k miles later, the engine had been perfect and used no coolant and very little oil.

I now have an S2 exige which is fantastic, but I still miss the more linear through the rev range power delivery of the K. Combined with the close ratio box I have had few more pleasurable driving experiences.

Get a K bought and stop worrying. If it happens, deal with it - it's not the end of the world . Life's too short not to take the chance (if that's what you feel it is).

Yes you will always watch the temp gauge which will vary with the least little thing like turning on the lights or heater fan. It may go haywire but will more likely be a sensor (easy cheap fix) or dodgy earth (no cost fix if DIY). Just stick a bit of black tape over the guage:P

If HGF is something that is always going to worry you buy a newer Elise/Exige with the Toyota engine. I had HG(F) issues with my very cared for, low mileage S2. Fixed it.....then got AA parts & labour (DOH!). Worried about it and temp watched for the next month but you get over it and then start driving it normally again. If you expect HGF and it happens so what
My std S2 whipped Alans Honda'd S1 yesterday lunchtime.....and I had Mr Crozier with me in my car. The Honda didn't stand a chance against my std K Series.
Told you before....get straight to the Exige.....or buy my S2 and I'll get an Exige (Kidding...I love my car too much....HG(F) and all!!)

I'm not trying to upset anyone, there are some real fans of the K series and thats fine, I am merely trying to establish the likelyhood of having problems with a K.

Its on the option list to buy and quite a few people have told me not to worry and that I should consider them, I like to know the facts before I do, so please dont get upset over this, its merely a poll to see the general figures of how many did have problems and how many havent.

This poll will not devalue your car or make it harder to sell or actually make any difference to you, but it will make a difference to me!

an elise/exige is not for you... seriously

- what at all?

I know the fix is relatively straight forward and replacement heads/blocks are cheap, all I am doing is looking at the hassle factor.

Craigs 340R sounded lovely, best Lotus I have heard.

So people chill out, its just a question/poll

Have owned 3 x K powered Elises over a period of 10 years and no engine problems at all. They were all driven hard but warmed through before they were given stick, and all serviced to the correct schedule.
I prefer the character of the K over the Yota but to be honest if you are as concerned as you obviously are by the prospect of buying a K , don't do it as your ownership experience will be too fraught by the prospect of hgf.

I guess some people get a bit protective over their cars/engines....a bit like dogs....
If you did a poll on a neds forum something along the lines 'I am thinking of buying a pitbull but I hear they eat kids.....what's your opinion? Anyone had bad experience with the rozzers cos your dog ate a child etc etc
Pitbulls scare me....but not now that I am having a large glass of red....can you tell?
I quite like the poll TBH. But maybe expect some over protective owners to stick up for their cars I guess.

andyc wrote: My std S2 whipped Alans Honda'd S1 yesterday lunchtime.....and I had Mr Crozier with me in my car. The Honda didn't stand a chance against my std K Series.

Fit planet you on Clegg, i need to take you on a run again. I actually think the car is underpowered at the moment but thats another story.

Kevin, you worry too much..... and another thing, Honda Engines are reliable but the kits are made by blokes in sheds

Alan