Hello everyone - just joined the forum and thought id introduce myself.

I just ordered myself a new elise S club racer - my first lotus.

I do a lot of trackdays and road trips so have wanted a lotus for years now. I was looking at an exige S but the 3yr warranty and servicing and getting a brand new car was too much to resist! I don't think focused cars like the club racer will be around for much longer so wanted one while I still have the chance!

It is mostly for trackdays and as a weekend toy so I added no options, no comfort pack, only option was soft top (I don't want to add weight to a CR!)

I have chosen toxic green - it was a toss up between this, solar hello and Daytona blue but I think toxic green will be less common and suits the car perfectly. Solar yellow was £1200 so couldn't stomach that for solid paint!

The car is getting built in September so I should hopefully have it by October.

I really hope to get some use out if it before the winter!

Thanks

Ken

Congratulations on the new car and welcome to TLF and Lotus ownership

Thanks a lot

I actually fancied an exige v6 cup he dealer has In The show room but at £65k for a track car was a bit too much!

Hi Ken, welcome from another Sunderland lad, you must have been to lotus Newcastle looking at the solar yellow cup car, awsome beast, I am trying to resist it myself,

I have been sat in JCTs Elise Scr demo car tonight at NYLOCs monthly meet and it is a very impressive car, lighter and more "chuckable" than the V6 and very little difference in performance, I think Buddsy is right when he says this is a slightly overshadowed car and not to be dismissed with such good deals to be had. I was told I could have 2 years 0%, 3 years warranty and free sevicing..............bargain imho.

Thanks for the welcome. What lotus do you have? It's rRe I see them round out way!

Yeah I got mine from lotus newcastle. They seem very helpful and friendly and did a great deal on the car and it's always nice to buy local.

Are you going to their trackday in September?

Welcome to TLF,

Toxic green S club racer will be a super rare and stunning sight! Completely agree that the Elise is currently underrated and over looked by many. Absolutely loved mine. The most fun you can have on 4 wheels!

Also agree that now is the time to buy a pure, simple manual sports car. It's all digital auto hybrids from here on.

Thanks. I hope the toxic green is rare but I hope it's not OTT. I haven't seen one in the flesh so I'm taking a bit of a chance! I'm sure it will be a sight though that's for sure.

Yes, what you say was a huge factor in me buying this car. I think it's the last of the breed really. -

The rumours and press photos. Of the 2015> elsie terrified me so I thought I better get one now before it all changes, gets too heavy and over complicated.

It's a car I've always wanted since 1996 and really glad they still make it with the same ethos.

I always seem to want cars which aren't in production any more (megane R26R for example) and regret not buying one when they were new and I think the elsie CR would fall into that category so I thought I better just do it!

Loving that selection and colour! Welcome to the forum. We look forward to checking out pictures and news on what you and your new baby are up to!

 

Anything you need please don't hesitate to ask a moderator.

Hi Ken, a great choice IMO.  I'm loving mine.  As you are skipping the Comfort Pack it is irrelevant, but some may like to know that the S CR can be "unofficially" ordered with the Comfort but retain the Sports suspension. (As mine.)

 

As you are weight-conscious, I guess you are aware that the dealer fit Sport intake and exhaust (Power Pack) saves some weight as well as supposedly giving a little more oomph. (Certainly sounds better.) The forged wheels drop weight a little more too. I have fitted the Odyssey lightweight battery as well. I hope to get round to posting my notes re that and related matters soon. One thing now: recently the car was locked and immobilised for just over 4 days.  The charge dropped only to 85% and on the starter the engine burst into life.  (There are other matters on which I have been in comms with Lotus.  Not entirely clear yet.  But fine for general use.)

 

I switched to my Elise S CR from an Exige S (Race) and, noting I have the Sport suspension, I would not switch back. (Suspension is adjustable and Lotus specify the road and track settings.) Of course ultimately the Exige S is faster, and obviously so on the track, but in practical and cost/benefit terms the S CR is the better package for general use IMO.  (The Exige S Cup is another matter of course.)

 

Look forward to your experience.

Welcome to TLF Ken.

 

Car sounds great. Can't wait to see the photos.

 

Any questions or issues with using the forums, feel free to ask one of us mods. We're here to help.

Thanks for the welcomes and advice

Mdavies - I didn't realise you could retain the sports suspension. It's actually something I enquirer about but was told it couldn't be done. I think they just assumed that and mustn't. Have contacted the factory.

How adjustable is the suspension? Is it for height and damping? How quick/easy is it to do?

I will be switching between road/track setting regularly so hopefully is quick to set up.

As for the wheels and battery; I'm going to he the smaller battery eventually. As mine doesn't have the comfort pack I. Was told it comes with a smaller battery anyway but as you say an odyssey or varley red top type can be fitted.

I need to clarify exactly what battery comes with my car - pointless having a huge battery with no AC or stereo etc fitted so hope they haven't fitted a large capacity one.

The wheels I originally decided to keep standard and get a set of dedicated track wheels from rim stock as I usually do on my cars but having realised the standard front is 5.5" I might get the forged wheels and use them for road and track. The 5.5" limits tyre choice and I would like to evenually go to 195 tyre on the road

As it's such an extreme car anyway it may be pointless having 2 sets of wheels when I can just use one set for all occasions.

What are the 175 tyres like on the road?

Is it worth keeping to a 5.5" for the road?

Congratulations Ken, hope you enjoy it. The toxic green looks great in the sun and really suits the CR.

The sports suspension can be specified but it isn't adjustable only the ARB is.

The Battery will be standard size as Lotus don't offer the lightweight battery in production anymore.

The standard front cast wheels are actually the same width as the production forged wheels. So the other option is the Motorsport forged wheel which is wider and used on the Elise CUP R with AO48 tyres.

Edit - just to to add for info. the front wheels are actually 6" wide not 5.5" with the Motorsport ones 6.5"

Edited July 25, 201410 yr by JAWS

So the standard wheels are definitely 6" the same as the upgraded forged ones?

Thanks for that

The only info I could find said they were 5.5". Did they change that recently or something?

That means I will have the option to change to 195 on the road wheels in the future if I feel it is required

All I need to decide now is whether to have 2 sets of wheels for road and for track or just one really nice set to do both!

The supercharged wheels have always been 6" from memory.

This link might help you:

http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?MAK=1&MDL=11&TBL=5748&SMA=0&SMO=0&SC=1&ST=a120g0048f

AC is not at all necessary on an Elise either, I lived without it on my Elise for 5 years it was no problem at all.

 

I can only remember missing it once - on a busy motorway in Italy in 34 degree heat.

 

Totally in keeping with the spirit of the CR to leave that option unchecked!

I couldn't see the point in the AC 99% of the time I'm diving it the roof will be off anyway!

The supercharged wheels have always been 6" from memory.

This link might help you:

http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?MAK=1&MDL=11&TBL=5748&SMA=0&SMO=0&SC=1&ST=a120g0048f

I phoned the dealers and he said the standard wheels should be 6" but is going to check on monday

 

 

the wheels i think the 5.5'' wheels are on the 1.6 CR and the S gets type 4 wheels on this link.

 

http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?TBL=5881&MAK=1&MDL=22&SMA=0&SMO=0&ST=a120g0048f&SC=1

 

i will see what they say next week.

 

i actually like the look of them so will save myself £1200 and stick with them i think

Edited July 25, 201410 yr by SCRken

Ken, just logged on today, sorry for delayed reply.  I have sent you a detailed reply by message to your points as far as I can help.

 

Jaws, re the sport suspension - mine definitely is adjustable!  Height by ring at the top and a numbered rotating wheel for damper setting at the bottom.  Fore and aft.  A special insert in the handbook gives details and the recommended road and track settings.

 

A few were built with Sport dampers plus Comfort at the end of 2013.  Before realising that the demonstrator I eventually bought had Sport already, I was quoted a very reasonable extra amount by Lotus to build a new one like that.  But I did not want it after trying the demo as I thought the "standard" I tried was quite firm enough!  So I have never actually tried the standard suspension but I am very happy with mine and would not want it softer. (Although scope to reduce it by the adjustment. Road setting is not the minimum.)

 

Based on coming from my Exige S + Race, in road damper setting it is clearly less firm than the Exige, but not hugely so. Definitely a "sports" setting.  In comms with Lotus, they recommended the standard suspension if primarily for road use.

 

As to Ken by message, I have done a fair bit of investigation re the Odyssey battery and will write it up here asap.  Usable but not simply a direct replacement.  Still some aspects to explore.

Mel, going on your description I believe your suspension is a unique adjustable suspension put on approx. 8 UK Elise S during 2013. What colour are your dampers, blue or yellow?

As stated - the production sport spring and dampers are not adjustable. Although the CR sport suspension uses the adjustable ARB.

Ken, I agree that the standard cast wheels do look good and to be honest aren't significantly heavier than the current forged option. Probably 5kgs or so more per set.

Edited July 26, 201410 yr by JAWS

If the forged wheels were 5kg lighter I would definitely but them!

I think the stated 1.4kg saving is vs the 1.6 CR wheels and them Y spoke wheels definitely look heavier to me sorbet gains for me could potentially be greater.

I wonder if lotus would be able to tell me the specifications/weights each wheel?

If you're worried about 5kgs of unsprung weight, you don't want to know how much a tank of fuel weighs taking the engine cover off will save you a couple of kilos, plus the lightweight battery and passenger seat are big savings. There are lighter forged wheels out there, so it maybe worth seeing what the Motorsport teams use.

Mel, going on your description I believe your suspension is a unique adjustable suspension put on approx. 8 UK Elise S during 2013. What colour are your dampers, blue or yellow?

As stated - the production sport spring and dampers are not adjustable. Although the CR sport suspension uses the adjustable ARB.

 

 

Jimbo,  Only 8 made? Wow, really?!  Surely they make up a special edition?  When nothing better to do I shall enquire about Lotus issuing a special sticker!  Certainly you have written a line for my advert at selling time - thanks!

 

To business. Hoping to use your expertise, I have taken a proper wheels-off look at my dampers.  Photos and all which, if you need, I will put up via Photobucket.  But hopefully the following will suffice.

 

Re colour: neither blue nor yellow.  Both front and rear, the main bodies are light grey with the Bilstein name marked in blue bands.  The bump stop at the bottom is red and the knurled numbered adjuster below it is blue. There is a height adjuster ring and a locking ring on the threaded  section at the top.

 

The front damper has a yellow external gas cylinder connected by a pipe to the upper (fixed) part of the damper body; the cylinder is screwed to the chassis rail.  At the rear the damper is mounted so that if there is an external cylinder the connecting pipe is at the rear and a cylinder could be concealed on the other side of the wheel arch liner. I could not see one.

 

At the front the ident is clearly visible. Two lines: Top F4 - BM3 - G622 - T0;     Below: 02 - 006809 - 00 - AB

 

At the rear I had to use a mirror and photo in stages as the ident is at the back. I am unsure about a last digit on lower line.

Top: F4 - BM3 - G624 - T0;      Below: 02 - 006812 - 00 - ?

 

Note to Administrator: This thread may be thought to contain quite a lot of useful information. It is presently in the Introductions section.  Would it be an idea to move/copy it to the Elise Chat area?

It was from memory and thinking back now they were predominantly grey with blue writing rather than all blue. They should be look similar to this?....http://shop.teslamotors.com/products/adjustable-suspension-kit

It was from memory and thinking back now they were predominantly grey with blue writing rather than all blue. They should be look similar to this?....http://shop.teslamotors.com/products/adjustable-suspension-kit

 

That's the ones!!  $6,000 - £3,500.  Another line for my advert!  (When, no plans, but I am monitoring Zenos progress.)

 

Be glad to hear how you know - if you are happy to say of course.

Saw a couple of toxic green CRs at the factory tour last week. Looks great!