S1 or S2?

Post by **Shug** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:57 pm

PhilA wrote:with the s1 - wasnt the front tyre size set the way it was coz there wasnt the ideal available?
so the handling was abit too biased to the nose?

and the s2 standard was set too safe (to the rear).
and the exige suspension on the s2 is the better bet?

/throws petrol on the fire

Are you trying to start a fight?

Yes - the S1 tyres were picked at the time to give the 'safest' handling with what they had. Interesting that the Lotus specced replacements are now 195 section (with a corresponding widening of the rear) It's a little more complex than syre sizes though - poor roll control of the original Konis didn't help (which I believe was much more to do with the snap oversteer than anything else)

A lot of people (me included) think they went too far with the S2 tyre sizes (probably prompted by too many people throwing S1s into hedges) It makes it understeer like a pig IMHO. And let's be fair - just as many S2's see hedges backwards as S1s, so you can't say it's much more forgiving.....

If you want exige S2 suspension, remember, it has to go on a Toyota S2 - the rear dampers are of different dimensions on the Rover cars.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:02 pm

andy_snap wrote: A more grown-up car with less of a kit-car look.

Obviously, that's a totally personal opinion, but I'm surprised you call the S2 the more grown up design...

IMVHO, the S1 design is the more cohesive and less fussy, wee details like the fake vents and slightly Japanese lights will probably date the S2 far more in my book...

OK, you could call the S1 derivative, but what isn't?

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:23 pm

Having owned quite a few of these cars:

S1 '97.
S1 '98.
S2 '01 (very early racetech S2 - first in scotland IIRC).
S1 '97
S2 Exige '05
S2 135R '03

... I can say that they are all rubbish. Every single car was a total bag of bolts, not worthy of the ludicrous price tag, terrible reliability and awful design. Not to mention what it then costs to keep the stupid things working ...

The cars all look ugly because they don't have the money to spend on talented designers and these days you have to make cars look like a Toyota Corolla or Renault Megane whatever you do (Health & Safety, Euro-facism, NCAP, ...).

What's worse is that the typical elise owner is so far up his own ar$e he can lick his tonsils and thinks he is a driving god driving god's own car.

My advice, buy an MX-5.

/throws liquid sodium into swimming pool ...

had you worried

Buy whichever one you like the look of and can get - they're all fun and there isn't much wrong with any of them that you couldn't fix with some tyre+suspension surgery.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:30 pm

robin wrote: (very early racetech S2 - first in scotland IIRC).

Don't tell me..... Graeme told you that?

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:35 pm

GregR wrote:
robin wrote: (very early racetech S2 - first in scotland IIRC).
Don't tell me..... Graeme told you that?

Not that hard to work out when you're the only Lotus dealer and it's your first S2 ... as it happens I know what happened to Village Motors first (and only?) S2 demonstrator and it has a later chassis number. How many other S2's were registered on an X plate in Scotland? So whilst Graeme no doubt did mention this fact, the chances are he is right!

Robin

r055 · Post by **r055** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:08 pm

I prefer the S1...
having never owned either and have only driven an S1. You might think that my judgement is clouded by that... you might be right...

I prefer the styling of the 111s and the other high spec S1 models to that of the S2...

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:15 pm

myself, i like both

hope to hear from insurance asap.

really wanting to get back into elise ownership (as i am sure my car is a gonner)

just need to know one way or the other

i have my eye on something. hoping its gonna work out

mac · Post by **mac** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:18 pm

PhilA wrote:myself, i like both

hope to hear from insurance asap.

really wanting to get back into elise ownership (as i am sure my car is a gonner)

just need to know one way or the other

i have my eye on something. hoping its gonna work out

And yet my inbox is empty?

Mac

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:20 pm

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:14 pm

If we are talking just looks I much prefer the overall shape of the S2 Elise, although for me the appearance close up is let down by some naff detailing, most notably the visible joins in the front and rear clams, and all the black plastic slats everywhere. One of the reasons I like the appearance of the Exige so much is that it has neither of these. I think the S2 is just starting to date a bit though - my money is on a heavily restyled but mechanically similar S3 Elise some time next year.

Mark

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:51 pm

i read somewhere recently that the elise is having a major change in 2 years time.

lol, wish i could afford a gt3!
was looking lovely!
sounds and goes even better i bet!

Post by ed » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:54 pm

what ya getting instead paul?!

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:55 pm

My ideal car... 111R s2 with Exige style vents and the Exige2 suspension set up..

I like the look of the S2 but the vent details let the car down.

The S1 has a classic sculpted look to it. The S2 is less so, its more edgy, sharpe and unforgiving to the eye.

I also had the choice of buying an S2 or S1. I went for the S1 because it was lighter and more curvy.. ...I like curves..

Boobies make me smile..

Post by **Shug** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:01 pm

John Reid wrote:My ideal car... 111R s2 with Exige style vents and the Exige2 suspension set up..

I like the look of the S2 but the vent details let the car down.

The S1 has a classic sculpted look to it. The S2 is less so, its more edgy, sharpe and unforgiving to the eye.

I also had the choice of buying an S2 or S1. I went for the S1 because it was lighter and more curvy.. ...I like curves..

Boobies make me smile..

Hmmmmmm boobies.....

Thing I think that separates the two (in my eyes only) styling-wise is that the S1 is a bit more bulbous and thuggish looking, when you've got the ride height right. The S2 135 looks a lot better than standard S2s (purely a wheel/trye thing) but to me, they always look a little delecate and fussy.

Horses for courses on that front though.

I'm amazed nobody has stated quoting weights yet... (one of the bigger factors in the performance of the thing in the first place....)

mac · Post by **mac** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:03 pm

I think the S1 looks "suprised" at the front - as if something has been inserted at the rear that it wasn't expected.

The S2 looks meaner ,IMHO, with the screwed up "eyes" and the thinner "lips" of the grill

Mac

Scottish Elises

S1 or S2?

Which do you like better? (and say why!)