What versions have what bhp?

[Shug]

Standard S1 120bhp, yeah, no straight line hero. But if you want that sort of car, any elise isn't going to bake your noodle. Bear in mind the whizzy VVTLi doesn't have much more torque than a 120bhp K - it just has that 2nd cam & revs.

Plenty of people do work on the engines and then go back and think why? It doesn't make it a different car and unless you add ITRO 100hp to a standard K you still get outdragged at KH by the turbo sheds - if you learn to drive, you'll eat them in the corners though. FWIW - I run ~ 180bhp in an S1 and it's not quick in a straight line at KH compared to some things, it needs driven properly in the corners to pass as many cars as I do...

To get a scary rush on pure acceleration you need to look at supercharged Yotas or the Honda/Audi engine swaps. Simple as that.

Elise isn't about straight lines. I know it's often said, but they are all about the twisties. If straight line grunt is a real factor, it's not the right car for your old boy...

[drb5]

Again, i agree. Certainly being out in Ken's on Sat, showed me that isn't going to set the tarmac alight, but we'd both be scared about buying one with 120hp and feeling a bit let down. IE the more power it has stock, the safer in the knowledge we're getting more what we set out to get.

He doesn't want to feel like he needs to modify it to get it to go and although the 120hp models are more than adequate with the weight and balance, we know it can handle more.

[Shug]

Coolio - perhaps best to try test driving some 111S and 111R models to see what engine you prefer. At the end of the day, for an everyday car, the Yotas will be a bit more sorted (Elaine came out of an Audi into hers, but hasn't really had any hardships so far), but you'll get a helluva lot of car for your money, going for a late 111S.

[hiscot]

I hope this is an appropriate place to ask if anyone else has a 'YOTA engine with a badly worn cams....Sadly, for me, my Toyota engined 111r gave up the ghost at Brands' with bend valves on one cylinder. When the top came off the cams were badly worn. I am now awaiting new valves and cams.....Having gone for the Toyota under the impression that it was bullet proof engineering, this is a disappointing out come after only 19000 miles, of which about 1000 on track.
thread from seloc posted to day !

[drb5]

I certainly don't mind you asking Hiscot...if anything, i may contribute to my questions.

I know you can always get a good or bad engine, but it may have something to do with how it's generally driven, especially on track?

Coolio - perhaps best to try test driving some 111S and 111R models to see what engine you prefer. At the end of the day, for an everyday car, the Yotas will be a bit more sorted (Elaine came out of an Audi into hers, but hasn't really had any hardships so far), but you'll get a helluva lot of car for your money, going for a late 111S.

Yer, he really should. I don't figure there would be much difference in feel between the power, but it's always worth knowing for sure.

[campbell]

Not sure if you would factor this into calculations too, but Robin posted recently about being able to buy a properly built K-series direct from PTP for around £1k-£1.3k. So either pick up an S1 that's had an HGF and the penniless owner can't afford to sort it AKA a bargain, or keep the cash in the war fund for a full engine swap when the time is right.

At the end of the day, there are probably no "bad" Elise variants * so other than feeling short-changed by a "stock" 118/120bhp version (all of which ARE light enough not to feel underpowered up to 70mph on the Queen's Highway however), you just have to pick "a good un". Seems like you've done / are doing your homework, and that's what matters!

I was out in my S1 today, down to Melrose and back on A7 and some backroads, and never got above the speed limit. It was still a sublime drive, because in the main I didn't need to slow down for many corners. And I could overtake whatever I needed to - safely. THAT'S what Elise motoring was, is and should still be about For anything else, there's Mastercard (TM) ...

Campbell

* - at the risk of a flaming, the genuinely limited edition and mildly quirky Sport 160 probably has the narrowest appeal but that's a story told on many other threads...just do a search

[woody]

Surely the series 1's aren't THAT much lighter though?

I'd heard all the jokes about an S2 / VX being heavier, but when i was pushing them about the other week you really can tell the difference.

depressingly

Yeah, you really don't want an S2 SC Honda



What about a Europa? They are about £20K now. 200bhp out of the box, 225 with the remap Lotus produced post launch and tunable if you so wish. Should have nice torquey turbo power and the engine is well proven. It's easier to get into (might be an issue), they have the luxuries as standard ( twin airbags if your Dad's bothered about that sort of thing) and you should get a newer car again for your money.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/571219.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/415473.htm

[campbell]

What a great idea!

[Shug]

And they start at 225 and go up to 245bhp IIRC.

[Lazydonkey]

Yup as shug says 245bhp (and the same again in lb/ft torque) is easily available with a remap and a zaust change.

Or you could get silly and throw more money at it and get 290bhp

I really like the europa

[hiscot]

i still think a light s1 with 170 +bhp makes a very nice road car, and get the g/box right and they are very quick all the way to max mph, the right box unlocks the power, std box is dreadfull imo
on the other hand a well driven std s1 in the right hands can also be very quick, do a search for gordon on here there is a very good video ( croft i think ) showing a std s1 peddled very well ( sorry i cannot find the link )

[Shug]

Cadwell, yup was standard (although dynoed at over 140bhp with his careful work - de-flashing manifold, lagging pipes, etc) Gordon was mentally quick though. I didn't get the impression we were talking about a car for track work though - more something that'll give you the scary lunge on the road. Maybe I got it wrong...

[woody]

And they start at 225 and go up to 245bhp IIRC.

You don't

http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/showroom ... mance.html

[Shug]

And they start at 225 and go up to 245bhp IIRC.

You don't

http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/showroom ... mance.html

Bloody hell... No wonder they don't sell then...

[drb5]

Both the Elise and Exige have proven themselves, as holding onto their value...the Europa hasn't yet. It's certainly worth a look, but with the amount of choice you get when searching for the other two, it makes it a bit easier to get what you want.


There's no way i could convince my dad to do engine swops etc on a car he's spent 10k+ on. He likes keeping things standard and i see his point now, after myself being through all the modding and things going wrong before. Myself....i might have done the S1 thing, but it would need to be cheap enough to have a fully rebuilt and uprated engine sitting there ready to move, with a nice SC and better box. But i doubt all that will happen.