This Lotus Elise S1 160 is So Good, The Owner Waited 15 Years For It
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- čas přidán 20. 10. 2021
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In this video, we are looking at a fine example of a Series 1 Lotus Elise 160. The 160 was a limited production car made towards the end of Series 1 Elise production. Producing around 160bhp, as the name suggests, it features a few small upgrades that have turned it into one of the best regarded cars Lotus ever made. This one was so good, its owner waited a decade and a half to get it back having sold it once before!
#Lotus #Elise #S1
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In the US, we didn't get the S1 sadly... But, I rented a S2 for a few days and OMG was that the greatest driving experience I've ever had at any price point. Add lightless, always! The horsepower wars are stupid. We've lost the plot.
Agreed. The US car market needs something that would be made by someone like Colin Chapman.
I'm 25, bought my first sport car last may and it's a Lotus Elise S2 Rover 122hp. No need more to start and have fun, I offered a ride to some guys that own much more powerful cars (A45 AMG, RS3...) and they were all shocked.
That's why Gordons T50 will be insanely good - low weight is the answer.
S1 are starting to be 25years old this year, so you should be able to import one. S1 & Caterhams = the purest driving experience
@@r129r16pfl Ultima RS is also good, an ultima was used as an early test prototype for the t50 and f1
A black S160 is the ultimate modern Lotus
Close second @@PaulMR
That colour looks like the 340r carbon black which is B81
As for brakes, they’re all different depending on when they were last bled, how new the pads are etc. You can’t just say they’re all bad. Depends on the mileage and use in a 20+ yo car.
I’ve had mine for 21 years and love it.
Agree, I have a 25 year old MMC Elise and I've rarely driven a car with better brakes, especially for feel. My daily (a golf) has more powerful 'stoppers' but no feel at all.
@@AdamBuckley1964 Totally agree with the MMC bit.
Had a track experience at Silverstone years ago in an Elise. A truly fantastic pure driving machine. Thought I did quite well, good speed and hitting the apexes, then a professional driver took me for a few laps. To quote Alan Partride - 'I nearly soiled myself'.
I had the same experience, I thought I was doing well until the instructor took me out. Christ 😂
Funny that, Series 1 Elise never really float my boat. Everytime I played Gran Turismo 2 as a young chappy that I was, I always skipped the Elise and went for Esprit instead. Series 2, however... That's a different story.
I always preferred the series 1… except when the Elise was turned into the Exige
Fun at fifty was the idea behind the Elise, meaning 50 mph or normal twisty road speed. It's a car for real world enjoyment of good roads. The push for more and more power just obscures the real purpose of fun! Same if you're nit picking the comfort or leaky roof or lack of cup holders etc. If you want comfort and luxury, get a Camry. This is one of the last true purpose built roadsters, made on a budget by a few blokes in Norfolk trying to keep alive the idea that cars didnt need tons of HP to be great.
Love the look on the front of this car. Thanks for finding these to showcase, i hope you can find more of the older Lotus cars. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Jay for another great review. I added braded hoses, new discs and better pads on my S1 111S 16 years ago, made a huge improvement in braking.
When you recognize the tires by the thread shape , AD08R. Yea.
Prices have risen fast on these recently, people seeing just how good they are. Cracking cars.
A shame, because ill never be able to afford it
@@gilbertosantos2806 yes you will but it wil take sacrifice. I am a mail man and own a s2 longtail (the car between te s1 and s2)
Someone told me it was because the US can 'self-import' them now they are 25 years old. Is that true?
@@AdamBuckley1964 I believe all 25+ year old cars can be imported to USA, they don't have to meet type approval if that age.
The Elise S1 values have risen in the UK just because people are realising how good/fun they are, & we're unlikely to see anything like them again.
Just like to add that the brakes situation isn't an Elise specific problem but evidently something to do with this particular vehicle. Just in case there were any new potential Elise buyers out there. 👍🏻
True - the S1 Elise has no brake servo so requires a lot of effort, unlike any other car of the period. It is also sensitive to disc and pad setup
Agree, with no servo on the brakes the elise is sensitive to what brake pads & even what fluid is used. When JayEmm reviewed my S1 (the 135) I think he quite liked the brakes.
Yes I also agree. It's the one thing on my VX220t I didn't like. Having just under 300bhp you want feelsome brakes which it didn't have and felt wooden and underbraked. I should've really invested some time finding out what was the best setup but I moved it on.
Looking back, this is still the car I most regret selling. Incredibly fast, with the Nitron suspension it took corners amazingly and intuitively and the feeling of being connected to the car was absorbing whether you were going fast or slow!!
One day!!!
Needs pagid pads and braided brake hoses.
An incredible video...actually...the very opening sequence of sound....then again at the 9 minute + minute...sequence of shifting....is all you really need.
Of course, James' commentary is excellent....but...the sound of those shifting gears is the highlight!
Well done Lotus...well done!
Had my present S2 for over 5 years - 134 bhp Toyota engine which is happy to rev to red-line and to date has been totally reliable. Works brilliantly with 5 speed box which I prefer to 6 speed box I had in previous 111R. 134 bhp is more than enough for me. Brakes are excellent at high speed and ABS is welcome - my first Elise (2002 reg) didn't have it and in the wet I had a few moments. Roof is a doddle to put up/remove and no leaks.
This in yellow is the dream for me specially with a k20
Your content is absolutely on fire right now 🔥... Consistent, interesting and really mixing it up. You never know what is coming next. Don’t lessen the Porsche content like you mentioned in another video. It’s up there with the best content you give to everyone. *** Just LOVE the Tyson analogy at the end! Brilliant!
Thanks very much.
The Porsche content will continue I will just mix it in with other stuff
I got a 160 in azure blue this year and absolutely love it
My brake’s are fine and it happily revs out to 7000 so that one may need some attention
Also the hard top and an all weather cover keep the rain out
Agree - Brakes on my S1 were spot on.
I think he is confusing brakes requiring high pedal force/pressure with brakes that aren’t good.
I still regret not getting an S1 in the early '00s!
I love the brakes. I bought an adjustable pedal box so I could get more rear bias, but it works really well on the track with some good pads and good new brake fluid. Love the brakes!!
Great road that, Lennoxtown over to Fintry 👍🏼 had fun there in my elise many times. Only eclipsed by glencoe on a sunny quiet morning.
I've got an Elise S3 2020 and it's a cracking car, I don't know anything else that is so raw and engaging, particularly with the top down driving on Norfolk B roads. I'd love to drive an S1, most enthusiasts seem to say it's the best to drive.
Loving all the Lotus content. 👍
best sound out-tro of any you tube person I follow.
I am lucky to own an original 1997 S1 and I like to keep it. Thanks for your honest review. it's an icon, the S1.
Someone source this man a 340R to try out!!!
Getting in might me a bit of a struggle…. No offence bro….. 🙄
The S160 should come alive from 5-7k rpm. Perhaps this one has been remapped.
I have had my 111R for 3+ years and am absolutely in love! Keep the boot and passenger seat empty and it absolutely flies at any RPM above 4k. My only desire would be for more mid range torque. However, I am not willing to lose the screaming 8500 RPM redline with the Larini exhaust for the 7000 RPM Supercharged modification. I was parked next to a similarly yellow 650 S at Cars on Kiawah last weekend and with all the 'Cup" aero people were drawn to the Elise first.
Couldn’t agree more Dave. I have the same exhaust system and it is an absolute riot when the cam switches over all the way to Redline. Makes me laugh every time. Wouldn’t change it for quids!!
Larini is an absolute masterpiece got it on a 2003 S2 111S with a Hurricane induction and 52mm Trophy throttle body. Everyone asks me what engine the car has, they think it's some kind of a monster not a measly 1.8 litre :)
@@greggohlins1497 Splendid! I also have the 3.5 liter air intake, a remapped ECU, sector 111 brakes, Yokohama Advan A052s and the Sport Pak adjustable coil-overs. No better driver's car before or ever! Saw a similarly equipped Exige on the 'Ring pulling 1.3G
best looking Elise imo
My father had one. The tick over was pure joy
Great! Almost exact match of mine - not sure about the brake and engine comments though - mine loves reving (and pulls really well) beyond 5k! The brakes, without a servo, do need a bit more effort but the feel you get from them is excellent - perhaps fresh fluid and change of pads needed? There are some excellent pad options for these now…..
I'm a Lotus fan, was driving an S3 1.8S and loved it, sold it now, price was to good to say no, because I ordered the Emira, but already regret it because i have to wait till the end of 2022 for the AMG-version.
But anyway, a Lotus is not the best car, but it's the best drivers car. My opinion, anyway, succes with your channel
Cracking 111r there James!
Another real Lotus! Fantastic. - This car was the reason why I modified the engine of my 122 hp Elise MK I almost to dead. Only to make the car unpleasant to drive at the end and not really a bit faster.
Great video thanks for sharing 👍.
Original head gasket on my S1 135 too (and no PRRT fitted). The only thing that ever failed me was that plastic radiator.
Breaks are the MMC ones. Deadly when wet, but perfect to my taste when dry.
I love that car so so much. 10 years of ownership, and to me, nothing could replace it for the money. And here in France, it's still quite exotic. Mine is RHD, and I love it that way.
If you have done 30k miles+ in a S1 Elise and have not needed a head gasket yet then you simply can not drive and are not worthy of driving anything beond a Dacia Duster.......
@@monkeymagic4555 okay mate, thanks for the expertise.
@@gregou22 No probs at all.....Good luck with the car search.....
17 years ago I was faced with a decision of what to replace my Fiat Coupe 16v turbo with. I drove a Subaru Imprezza P1 and a Lotus Elise Sport 160. Both awesome cars. In the end I went Lotus. Why? In the P1 when It felt like I was doing 70mph I was actually doing 100. In the Lotus i was only doing 50! Fun at any speed. James is bang on about the steering - hold it by your finger tips and the car shows every bump or dip in the road to you. It’s like a sexy girl whispering in your ear. Totally addictive. I’ll never sell mine!
Elise - a track car that can also be driven on the road
S2000 - a road car that can also be driven on track
I wouldn't put it like that. I would not say it's a track car just because of it's aluminium subframe and lack of interior feature and comfort. It's just plain perfect for the B roads as it leaves out of the factory
But I would certainly say the S2000 is somewhat overhyped. The Elise is at least 400kg lighter and it really, REALLY feels. The S2000 may be better equiped than say a Boxster as a sports car but that's it, it's in that category
My S1 Elise at 720Kg & with a Lotus 135 Sport head/intake kit & MMC brakes goes & stops v well. Hood is fine it doesn’t really leak, but I very rarely use it. It’s a Sunday drive blast drive car & the only car that might eclipse it is a quick Caterham.
To me the S1 loooks incredible. The styling screems 90's exotic, except its shrunken down. Especially in the rear.
The only Lotus I have ever sat in was the Europa, which was rather special at the time, as I was only around 8. It did impress, even as a child, used to traditional GM and Ford vehicles of the rather large type. The sensation of sitting on the floor was most pronounced, and even as a nipper it felt rather special. I can't say I was as enamoured of the vehicle's rear styling, which was more suited I thought to a barbecue. Ah-lah, Porsche whale tail, the car suited my small dimensions even then, with all controls to hand.
I miss my Calypso red S1. At the age of 25 i was very lucky to own one. I really wanted the later 160 but the standard version it was. I fitted an airbox, S2 elise suspension and probax seats.. Sublime car and I used it as my daily driver.
Go for some Carbon Lorraine CL5+ brake pads!
Ahh man I'd love an S1 elise what a beauty 😍
I own one of these and would like to know what kind of exhaust is mounted on this specific example? It sounds wonderful!
Great car, thanks
No brake servo but that works OK when your stamping on them in a way. I owned a mk1 111s driven as a daily in Yorkshire, although the chassy is soft/vulnerable the rest actually has a utilitarian feel in a weird way actually hard wearing possibly a inadvertent side effect from simplicity. The best 20 minute frash machine about with a hardtop on although although without a blower abit all show on the roads
I've been darting around all over the place with my car thoughts recently and found this very useful.
I think your best quality as a reviewer is not ignoring the elephant in the room. If it's a Cayman 4.0 GTS and it's a great car but the suspension is too fussy for British roads.. you'll tell me it's like an old M030 car and I know exactly what you mean. If this Lotus is a superb way to enjoy the Elise that anyone could fall in love with. You won't be shy to remind me it leaks, the brakes are wooden and the engine doesn't have the apatite for revs you'd hoped. These things may not be the final factor in my choice, but I'm still very glad to hear them. Hearing it's "the best car ever" well, it doesn't really tell me all that much
Great review, and glad you didn't fall into the slating of the K series that so many reviewers do. However, I would be concerned that its sluggish at 5 k when it should be coming on song. Brakes aren't great on a MGF/TF too.
Importing an S1 Elise to the USA is on my bucket list!
I was out in my evora s today on a well known driving road local to me
I spotted a guy with a bright blue honda swapped elise s1 and we had a great chat
then I went for fuel and an old lady (>60) approached me and asked me what car I was driving and then told me she also had a 17 year old Elise
owning a lotus is like being in a special club of true enthusiasts.
My S2 is such a cheeky bit of fun. And the S2 also has a leaky roof.
Liked this video. I am an Elise S2 owner and I also am not fully pleased with the brakes. Still, of course you could do a lot here to improve and it would not even be that expensive to do so. The Elise is a heck of a car - I still love it. But I also feel that it has to go sooner or later for something new/ different. Most likely I will regret it instantly after it is sold. But hey, this is how the cookie crumbles, rite?
Brilliant story...Fair play to both.....Ha!
The S1 is legal to import in the US as-of this year and I've seen two so far, they are so cool in-person. I had no idea they were so much lighter than the S2
Ok, so as a Sport 160 owner for 15 years, I feel it necessary to point out a few faults in your review:
1 - WVTA cars from the factory were less powerful than the SVA as they had 2 airboxes, and a 111S exhaust, but, they could have power released by removing the second airbox (in fact, I suspect that none were actually supplied with one, and all were removed by the dealers, I have never seen one with the second airbox) and fitting a sports exhaust, although mine with those mods was 152.2BHP with those mods.
2- they LOVE to rev. The engine only gets on cam at 4,500 RPM, so changing up at 5,000RPM is barely allowing it to actually get going. If it didn't want to rev, there is a fault with it....
3- I suspect the brakes on that car need work, or have some horrible EBC pads on them, normally the brakes are excellent. The feel takes a bit of getting used to (most people haven't driven anything that doesn't have a brake servo), but they are normally really strong.
4- The soft top itself SHOULD be waterproof, BUT... there are holes at the junction between the windscreen, roof and side window that are covered by the roof, but any hint of wind whilst it's raining will cause it to come in....
As another S1 Elise owner (unfortunately not a 160) have to agree that the brakes should be great but yes you need to get used to needing to apply more pressure. Always made sure anyone else driving my car try the brakes first as it can come as a surprise. As for the roof / yes the car should be stored indoors but for weekends away and driving in the rain it is perfectly fine.
Lotus and Porsche will always jockey for top spot in my mind as the best drivers cars. They just “get it”. I’d love to own one of these. I’ve always dreamt of owning a lotus. Exige had always been my dream. Harder to find here in Canada. 🤙🏻
I’d love one particularly since No 27 started showing his
I think an Elise is a car, that an owner will come back too again and agian, in their lifetime. Its that special. No other car achieves, what it is.
I have always considered the number of British sports cars with convertible roof's to be astonishing, and then the number which leak to boot. After all, the region is not known for its sunny and dry weather. Whereas in Australia, the range of such vehicles is largely very limited, and they must never leak. In the case of the Lotus, is this due to the scuttle shake induced warping of the roof seals? A lot of targa topped cars which don't leak is legend, after all.
I used to daily one of those!
Def a fun toy for the villa!
Thank you for being patient with the cyclist - we genuinely appreciate it.
Anytime. I operate a live and let live policy on the roads. Treating them better I hope means they will also respect what I am doing
@@JayEmmOnCars that's really good to hear, we need more of this message on the roads these days - maybe it's just me, but it feels like driving has become far more selfish and aggressive in the last year or so?! (And I say that as a driver 1st, cyclist 2nd)
@@The_BenboBaggins absolutely, the number of people overtaking on unsighted bits of road amazes me
Brakes are an easy fix. They are a nightmare to bleed so a good fluid flush and a proper bleed (removal of callipers and invert) can do wonders. Also Pad choice is key. Swap the factor pads for a set of CL RC5+ and they are much much better.
I'm absolutely loving this frequent upload schedule Jay! BRILLIANT STUFF
What are your thoughts on the Lotus Europa S circa 2007?
Hmm mine barely leaks and the brakes are amazing ... had it since 2003
I find the footage of your driving to appear tremendously quick, however, that is immediately obviated, once you end up behind another car or van, which is clearly driving at the same speed. Not a complaint or anything of course, yet it shows how being closer to the road presents the notion of speed itself. I am also curious if a change of brake pad material would make the stopping issues more progressive?
Dream car- that I never got to own! I remember thinking £15k was a lot to ask 😂 Too raw for me now, only beaten in my eyes by the S1 Exige though.
ok now i really want a lotus elise...
Hiya, what exhaust is that running please??
I have an Esprit V8-GT you can have a look at chap….owned a Lotus 2-11 previously.
Great Tyson comment!
I was riding the Rover engine S2 and it was a lot of fun, but I was fed up with the poor shift feel.
A Talbot Lotus is 160hp and 850 kg
so a good choice too
I have grown to prefer the looks of the series 1
Hi James l watched your video on buying rights from dealers/private sellers, l think maybe two or three months ago?, & have recommended to a couple of friends but now l can't find in your listing to fwd to them. I'd be most grateful for a link or pointer. I've followed your reports for quite a while & find them useful, well presented & useful. Many thanks Andrew
It is being revised with some new information
The mirror stalks look like they are from the later S3/Exige
Where can I get those seats on this S1?
I had one of these for 10+ years and covered north of 110k miles in it including several trips to the south of France and LeMans. It was a bit like 'triggers broom' so not all of it covered 110kmiles. The Honda K20 with 6speed box it eventually ended up with was wonderful. I liked that it revved to 8600rpm and the Stack stopped at 8000rpm.
i paid £12500 for a 10k plastic still on seat belle and covile 160hp back in 2000
super light wheels , adjustable suspension, and brilliant ceramic brakes bar the fact if you didnt constantly dab them on rainy motorway journeys there was zero braking when wet....
driven on undulating bumpy country lanes you became aware how light the front end is which can be a serious problem .
snake pass from ladybower 9 miles to pub was most memorable with three motorbike behind lol lol
Now they’re gone the prices will slowly go into the stratosphere.
Still have a desire to get an Elise one day. 😎
Surely the wooden brakes is easy fix with a proper new set of pads?
Very possibly
super car 👌❤️
One of these with a supercharged engine, would be an absolute dream
Just what I've got - early S1 with a Rotrex SC, CR box and all the right bits. Epic.
Try Gulf Oil livery!
My brakes are brilliant in both stopping power and feel. Need a bit of a push. Have to confess they are slotted rotors and relatively sticky tires.
Yep, by this time every single Elise S1 is an individual car so can only be judged as such
Jay Maybe you should try and get yourself in S1 Exige. I'll admit you might struggle. The seatbelts aren't particularly easy to put on either but the experience is the purest driving experience you will have!!
The engine is quite the lumpy and cammy, although much better with an ECU change, but once you're above 4000rpm it's alive and you just get absorbed into the experience with a huge adrenaline hit from the driving experience.
One of the best cars I've driven!!!
Very true, I first had an S1 and then swapped it for an S1 Exige with other ECU and 220 bhp....best driving machine I've ever had......and then came the family....oh well....
@@buschtaxi75driver55
The Exige I drove was my Father in Laws, he had 2. But prior to my 2 kids I had a tuned Vx220t which unfortunately had to go😒 but I now have a Williams clio instead 😉
@@markwalton8644 Good man....I had a Clio Williams before the Elise S1....good choice, mate :p I now have a Landcruiser HZJ75 because we have a mountain hut and I want to start travelling the world soon....take care, Bruno
Curve ball, James - but what about a VX220 Turbo for your next ‘Lotus’? Failing that a cheeky Turbo Technics Supercharged S1 (there are one or two about) or even a Maidstone Sportscars K20 conversion?
I have a general dislike of turbo chargers in that kind of car - they need instant response, and the big power of a turbo is not necessary. Plus they sound better without
I’m 2007/8 I passed up on a scandal green IVA Sport 160 with less than 3000 miles for £13k. It sold a few weeks later, was stolen and crashed six weeks after that.
How I wish I’d taken a different decision!
The lack of revviness and dead brake feel isn't normal for an S1.
I've had a S1 111S tuned to over 200bhp since 2007 and it is very responsive to the go pedal. I got bored with wheel dust, so fitted MMC discs, which produce none, and stopping is at least as good as before, but lighter and dust-free.
I fitted Nitron shocks, but the springs on it now are a bit too harsh for road use.
Always wanted one. The only major problem with these is that even a fairly minor prang will render the tub, which is made of extrusions, unrepairable. Same goes for corrosion.
Why is iLotus appealing? Affordable, limited to the necessary and fun. Not many cars around these days anymore
What road is this, it looks familiar????
Whats the title mean tho. After he purchased it, it took 15 years to be delivered??
Craved one as a kid, It was my absolute dream car for years! Now at 24 I’ve got the fat ugly sister (still a sweetheart) in the MG TF 160. One day, I’ll have a heated garage and a 160 s1 to go in it 🤞
Add an Excel SE to your collection and give that car the credit it deserves, so under valued and under rated, in my experience of Excel ownership, utterly reliable so long as you keep on top of maintenance, mind you it was twenty years ago when i had one.
I owned an Excel SE years ago and did make videos on it
@@JayEmmOnCars yea, i saw them at the time, equally I understand the difficulty you have in making content that will attract views and an Excel might not bring the views in tbf.
Find an S1 Elise/Exige with a Honda K-series swap like mine, it will blow your mind :P
Hallo bennie, hoeveel kost zo'n swap tegenwoordig
@@rinohuis5260 zo'n 10k als je het netjes doet
Jay, another great vidéo. 👍
You can sell the Ferrari in my opinion and buy one of these (over an Emira)
I've already had my Elise, a very different experience to a Ferrari and a good complement, not replacement
I hope I get to own one before I am too old to get in...
Pig impressions as well !!! Is there no end to your talents my son ?
Yes. Any form of manual labour
@@JayEmmOnCars understandable - keep the vids coming then 👍
Would have loved an Elise but as a 6'4" big lump its not exactly a great place to get into, same with the MX5 so had to go 981 Boxster S for my kicks.
You would be surprised. Once inside the Elise has a lot of headroom. Admittedly, I'm only 1,62m but I have more vertical space in my Elise than in my Mx-5.
@@CC-qe1gq yes it's vertical space I struggle with as 2/3 of my height seems to be vertical.in my upper body
@@CC-qe1gq It's not just headroom though. It's shoulder width, knee room under the column, space in the pedal box etc. I'm 6'5" and there's very few reasonably priced sports cars that I can comfortably drive.
@@billbuchanan4594 I made this comment before :) Many sportscars seem to design without considering either taller not shorter drivers. I'm 162cm (5'3", if I don't convert it wrong) and I struggle to many Sportscars because I'm too short.
I know to be under the average, even for a girl, but there are still ppl shorter than me.
At least I can claim that my Lotus is the lightest one of all, because of the small weight added by the driver 🙂