LINCOLNSHIRESLUPOGTI

MattyB If I had not had such rubbish experiences with Rover products in the past I would have bought a S1 sport 160 as they are for me the best example of what the Elise is about. I thoroughly understand why you miss your old car so much, every journey would have been an occasion of motorsport-esque experience. The S2 is just a little bit more civilised and loses some of the occasion that the S160 has. I still miss the Lupo but I am starting to enjoy the Lotus for what is all about. A while ago I did a road trip to Wales and spent 2 days around the "Evo triangle" driving it many times chasing my mate in an Exige and another in an old 911. We really got to work the cars hard and it made me realise how capable the car is. 2 weekends ago I was at the Nurburgring and took the Elise out for a couple of laps, again making me realise how the car just feels at home on any road (apart from some of the odd cambers and bumps)! Now the Elise is making the right kind of noises it adds to the experience, just need to get it lowered and then it will be how I want it for now. I said this with the Lupo but I really cannot see me selling this car through choice...unless I can suddenly afford a 360 CS one day. Not heard anything about the old Gti since it went up for sale at a garage in Leicester a few months ago. Was hoping it would get spotted or be at E38 but not heard anything. It will have needed an MOT by now so wonder if it is off the road as it would not pass on the map it had on...needed the MOT map. I hope it is still alive, was totally mint when I sold it a year ago.

Been enjoying the car a fair bit lately. Reason I was not at E38 was that I was at the Nurburgring lapping the Lotus (and getting taken out in the ring taxi, a 480bhp RS4 and a Boxster). Update on how Lotus life is going. 1. All badges removed except "LOTUS" letters from the rear. 2. Factory fitted Exige seats. 3. Lotus stage 2 exhaust (lots of popping and banging). 4. 3/4 sized from number plate. 5. ITG panel filter, intake trumpet/silencer removed and the VSV solenoid disabled (leaves intake flap open all the time). We have awesome induction without the heatsoak that induction kits cause. 6. 14 coats of Zymol (lol). Still deciding on some suspension and whether to have itb's or a charger when warranty runs out next year. Some recent pictures. Mock up of how I want it sat with new suspension And yes...I do still do cleaning!

Seconded. I have an aftermarket exhaust on my car that is supplied by Lotus themselves. Many other manufacturers offer optional exhausts too (check out the Remus ones for the VXR range for example) and I am pretty sure OEM's are not all breaking the law. I would not be paying the fine without seeing the law in writing first.

Gti's wear very well so to have such noticable wear at a relatively low mileage would indicate a high level of neglect to me. At this point I would be running away. Someone who not only does not have service history (doesnt have to be VW but surely a history of old receipts for oil etc) and then has a poor respray done shouts out as a cheapskate. I wonder how well the car has been maintained? Complete no brainer for me, go see the silver car. The owner is a member on here and has been for some while. Pretty sure the car is very well cared for and certainly seems a good option to me. Think it is on coilovers too...the best Gti mod for sure.

Remember to put a new hub nut on. They have a portion at the end of the thread that cuts when you fit the nut. It is the method of "self locking" for the nut so if you re-use an old nut there is a chance it will come lose. I know as this happened to me and I had to point it out to VW!!! You may have already noticed this if you have examined the hub nut.

If you struggle with traction as much as you say then surely any more 'power' is pointless. Clearly the chassis is already overwhelmed or the car is set up terribly, with geometry, damping and weight distribution all wrong. My Lupo Gti had 167bhp and could put it down pretty much all the time unless I was agressive in first gear. Spend some money and time getting the weight distribution, spring rates and damping rates and maybe the geometry set up well and make full use of the power you already have... Edited to add ...and improving the handling will make you have lots more fun than spending lots of money getting more power from the engine. Better handling is also less likely to affect reliability than squeezing more from the engine.

Wow oh wow. That looks absolutally immaculate...especially considering that it is in regular use so credit to you Tom for keeping it so nice. As nice as the BBS were (and I know everyone likes them) I prefer the Compo's on your car, something about them and the black paint but they just look so right.

Andi, Matt, thankyou for the feedback on harnesses. I tried a Cup 255 with them and thought they may be a little restrictive which has held off any decision to get them yet. I could just reach the radio and heater with them tight but not passenger window switch...more importantly though I would struggle to see when at tight junctions, when parking and also I would have to undo them everytime I needed to reverse. I think you may both be right in that they may be too much for the road, I would want to remove the standard belts too so it would be all or nothing then. I only really fancy Nitrons to lower the ride height a bit. I specified full Exige suspension and geometry (so it is already really hard riding) but it still seems a little high, especially at the front. Ohlins are too expensive and Lotus adjustable suspension has only 10mm of height adjustment so I figured Nitrons might be a good compromise. I know I shouldn't have but I already looked in to some ITB's Andi. Not really anything available which is a shame as they would suit the engine with its high revving, low inertia characteristics. Apparantly 'the best' cylinder head of any road car with amazing flow characteristics all done by yamaha so some 'bodies would be very nice and likely give good power gains and the usual amazing 'noise' (ever heard a sport 190)? I think for the first time ever I am thinking about forced induction, proven (cars running with lots of miles on the kits) aftermarket charger kit that takes power to about 260bhp and is about £3500 all fitted and running. Not as nice sounding as 'bodies but based on the supercharged Elise I drove there is going to still be some whooshing.

8000 miles worth mate. Been to Wales and done Snowdonia and the Evo triangle which was amazing fun. Off to 'Ring next month too. Few more modifications since last time too. Small front number plate, front plastic arch trims removed, ITG filter, de-snorkelled intake and the VSV intake flap de-activated (these 3 modifications give intake noise similar to a Lupo with a BMC). Oh and 12 coats of Zymol too! Still toying with 4 point harnesses (might make it too fussy and put me off using it so much) and some Nitron coilovers and a full geometry set-up (might prevent me getting on my drive).

Fuel supply and return lines could get torn maybe? Rear brake pipes? From what I remember from my old Gti the above were pretty recessed within the profile of the floor stamping but there might be a risk they could get damaged.

Agreed. I will accept that these look very nice on cars that are not a TT. +1 Andi.

I think they don't work on any car with an upper door frame. Cars with frameless doors pull it off slightly better but they still look pretty lame. IMO of course, each to their own and all. Has anyone picked up the trend here though? Anything named after the car it came from seems to look 'gash' on another car...Lexus lights, M3 mirrors, Cosworth whale tails, Lamborghini doors. Only exception seems to be wheels.

Outer circle road Macdonalds on Saturday night. I was in the Elise parked up eating something off their menu referred to as "food".

Generally looks all wrong, there is not a single modification to this car that is better than it would have been standard!!! Bonnet looks set wrong as the gap near the rear of the wing is too large. Front end lloks a different colour too, wonder if it has had a front knock? Rear spoiler doesnt fit tight to the boot either. Complete mess and exactly what I would expect from the Saxoa and Corsa groups...not a VW group car.

Probably a little late now but only just read the thread. Lupo Do I really need to justify on ClubLupo! Ka collection Cheap, cheerful, not too powerful but still a very good drivers car (read: fun). Collection has colour coded bumpers so doesn't look too bad and also has a better specification inside. Saxo Westcoast Before I get slated, remember this is for a girl as a first car. Looks like a VTR, reasonable specification, cheap and cheerful like the Ka and as Andi knows, not as unreliable as people think. 106 quicksilver As above but looks like a gti. Yaris The reliable and sensible choice. Not much to look at and certainly very boring to drive but you can be sure it will last forever and they have a reasonable specification inside. Corsa C Plenty about and for good reason. They seem to be ok at most things. Not particularly unreliable, look ok (I would for a 1.2 sxi so it gets a few toys) and cheap to run. To be honest there is a huge choice if you have £5000 to spend, I could list loads but I would be looking at the above stuff first.

Pretty sure I followed you earlier today from Farndon, past the sugar beet factory and towards the A46. You were in a silver E46 330ci and I was in the titanium Elise directly behind you. I passed you in the two lanes of traffic on the roundabout next to KFC in Newark. The car had your M5 xxJ plate on.

Bloody hell, that is a seriously impressive time. Anything 0-100mph in the 12-13s area is mighty quick. You have every right to feel pleased with your car.

I have never owned either but I have been in a varient of both. Also had a good look into the FQ400 as it was a very slim outsider before I bought the Elise. Subaru For me the Subaru is the more practical everyday car, in that is is just that bit less hardcore. Reliability is awful though based on 2 mates cars both of whom treat their cars very well, fully service them and do not abuse them - but do drive them hard when the time is right. V reg Turbo 2000 (at about 40,000 miles) - oil pump failure resulting in a rod through the block, W reg Turbo 2000 (at about 40,000 miles) - something (not sure what) failed at the bottom (err middle on a boxer...lol) end resulting in a new engine P1 - 3 differentials, 1 gearbox and 1 engine in first few years. My personal choices would be either the RB5, 22B (bit extreme) or the WR1 in that lovely toothpaste colour! Evo More capable than the Subaru although more hardcore in the way it delivers. Seemed very harsh in all that it did. Power came in big hit, gearchange was jolty and everything seemed right on the edge. Awesome when on the pace but may irritate if you wanted it to be comfy and smooth sometimes, I think the Subaru was just that bit more relaxed. Expensive to maintain with frequent servicing required. Early ones may be cheaper but I never cared for those so have no knowledge on them. My personal choice would be an FQ400 or nothing. May as well go the full way or not at all in my opinion. Both Feel very poverty inside and not like a £30,000 (when new) car. This was one BIG reason that put me off the FQ400 (and R34 GTR but that is another story). Too much plastic fantastic. Even the leather and bare aluminium of the purposefully basic Elise feel more quality to me! Outside choice would be a tuned S3 in dolphin grey please!

Dom's dub GTI 1. I believe it has not been looked after since I sold it. Stereo equipment was £1000 on its own so if that is all gone then that will affect the price. 2. Insurance may scare you. I am 27 with full no-claims. Cost me £1000 a year to insure with an agreed value of £13000. I now insure and (group 20) Elise valued at £35000 for the same so do check insurance first. 3. Do not worry about check lights, they were on when I sold it. EPC is on because the drive by wire throttle was removed and the throttle bodies cable operated. Check light is on because the Motec runs the engine but the VW ECU is still connected to run all the car standard systems. The check light is on for things like the changed fuelling, timing and increased rpm limit. I had it turned off but it came on all the time so I left it on. I have read the fault codes it throws and none were a problem, all related to the engine modifications. Only thing is you do have to check the fault codes regularly as the with the light being on all the time you do not really notice if anything does go wrong...although I could tell if anything was wrong as I knew how it ran...I drove it for 80,000 miles.

I would lose too much money on the Elise with having bought it new and already modified it a little. I regret selling the Lupo so much, no other car has served me so well, 5 years, 80,000 miles miles and never any grief from it. Would love to do it all over agin on a last of the line silver or grey Gti but this time go a ittle bit further. I do want the black one to live a happy life again though.

My old car. Bought brand new by me and then had £13,000 spent on it during the 5 years that I owned it. Full VW service history, had cambelts (both) changed 3 times in first 80,000 miles, 1 off engine work, 1 off wheels, 1 off top grade leather, coilies, G60 brakes, re-bushed, Bose components, Alpine headunit, amp and sub and so much more it would take forever to list. Was mint when I owned it (received at trophey at E38 a few years ago and has been on their stage twice). Totally gutted I sold it, and as I mentioned on another thread the Elise is just not doing it for me. I feer it may be a little worse for wear now though, I hear that it has not been that well cared for since I sold it and may potentially have a few bills lurking in the near future. Never had a clutch while I had it and with 167bhp it may be struggling now and the rear wheel look at a funny angle (posative camber?) so maybe a curb strike. Would love it to return to the club and be cared for once again.

Awesome. Those lads were funny as!

Just got back from this. Some nice cars for sure but I am amazed at what some people think is show worthy. It really annoys me that some cars are such a mess, half-finished and blatently rubbish (big dents, crash damage, not even cleaned) and I have paid to see them. I expect to see a show full of show-worthy cars. Certainly plenty of variety which was nice, good coverage of most manufacturers, many more new cars than old (and generally the old cars were the nicer modified). Saw a few Lupo's there, all pretty rubbish condition and "blinged to within an inch of their lives". With the exception of one that is. A certain supercharged sport that I recognised with a new colour scheme, very low, tasteful modifications and all carried out to an extremely high standard. Oh, and why do so many of the owners seem to like driving around flat out in 1st gear on the rev limiter. It is packed with people walking around, many of the cars on show are expensive and some owners tear around the show area as if their really slow car should be impressing everyone.

That was fine, drove it like that every day...lol. What WAS silly was selling it.

I do not think it is as easy as just increasing the rev limiter and all will be great. As Tigz already mentioned, would VW map the ecu above their set rev limit? I doubt it as there would be no benefit to them doing this. If you raise your rev limit what will the fuelling and VVT do through the period of "new" higher revs? Not sure forged pistons are the best place to be spending your hard earned either. They are often used in "boosted" cars but remember that is a situation where compression forces (and temperatures) are increased on the piston due to the forced increase of posative pressure above the piston. With your case you are going to be increasing revs and therefore piston speed. When the piston changes direction at each end of it's stroke the forces on the big end and little end are going to be increased and these are the areas I would focus on. What about the big end bolts (will these take the increased stretching forces as the piston reaches TDC and changes direction at much greater speed), will the little end remain stable? Will the con-rod reach it's yield point and stretch a little? Also remember that with higher engine speeds any slight imbalance within the engine becomes more detrimental...though IMO the Gti engine is pretty well balanced from the factory and mine seemed smooth even at 8000rpm. What about induction, cam duration and lift? Are you going to be able to get enough air (and fuel) in to the engine for it to run correctly at higher rpm? I think you will struggle to be honest. Keep a more regular check on your cambelt (especially the short one that links the cams) if you are increasing revs. I had new belts fitted before my engine was modified and then changed them again after it was all set up. Regarding the peak power and where it is at, mine was around 6250-6500rpm when the car was standard.