What to buy?

r10crw · Post by **r10crw** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:49 am

Guys got a big question. Mates got a scooby turbo, not a wrx and is considering an s2. Hes got several things he needs, lockable boot (think alls s2s have this), reasonably comfy interior ie no leaking roof ( ive never been near an s2 so cant comment), wants it to be quicker than standard (Around the asme acceleration as the scooby to 60 at least). Id suggested a 111s like ali used to have but cant remember their specs. Do they have the close ratio box? 155bhp? LSS? Hes looking to spend around 12k but could probably stretch a couple of thou more, so whats best for his money? He was looking at a sports tourer and wondered what the spec of it was? Lots of questions but sure you s2 guys are up to the task! Cheers Craig.

robin · Post by **robin** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 10:11 am

To 60 I don't suppose there is much in it in any elise vs. scooby battle, other than the most extreme ones.

The 111s has different ratios than normal S2s which have a S1-style close ratio box.

A sport 135R is obviously the car for him, though ... it has LSS, CR box, enough power to run with a scooby to 60, won't leak (relatively - they all leak sometimes), has as much of a locking boot as you ever get and has the wider front wheels which allows easy fitment of nice R-type tyres.

Cheers,
Robin

r10crw · Post by **r10crw** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 10:32 am

what will you pick one up for robin? I should also point out that hes quite fussy not like tut and myself, and said he wants good nick.

robin · Post by **robin** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:27 am

Hmm, perhaps a bit more than his budget, I guess. For example, the only one on PH:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/149441.htm

but it will go for about 16 I would guess.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/146717.htm

Great VFM if you don't mind the Q plate and the risk that something important was missed/bodged, but just a standard 120BHP model.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/151016.htm

Cheapest VVC S2. Good VFM also.

Cheers,
Robin

r10crw · Post by **r10crw** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:21 pm

Thanks Robin hes calling later tonight so ill get him to check out these links.

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:22 pm

What do you mean not fussy?

I have a lovely yellow jobby, unlike your shotblasted bluey, and will soon have an immaculate bluey as well.............

tut

r055 · Post by **r055** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:01 pm

tut wrote:What do you mean not fussy?

I have a lovely yellow jobby, unlike your shotblasted bluey, and will soon have an immaculate bluey as well.............

tut

better see a doctor about those lovely yellow stools

Post by **campbell** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:33 pm

robin wrote:Hmm, perhaps a bit more than his budget, I guess. For example, the only one on PH:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/149441.htm

but it will go for about 16 I would guess.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/146717.htm

Great VFM if you don't mind the Q plate and the risk that something important was missed/bodged, but just a standard 120BHP model.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/151016.htm

Cheapest VVC S2. Good VFM also.

Cheers,
Robin

All great options courtesy of Arfur Daley there!

The 135R is perfect colour combo for a Scooby owner

The Q plate is an excellent long-term buy.

My vote goes to the 111S though...and if your mate wants a CR box to shave a few tenths off the quarter mile, that isn't all that expensive to swap back in I think. 160bhp approx in latest VVC guise so a good bit quicker than the 120bhp standard...if you rev it of course!

robin · Post by **robin** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:45 pm

Campbell, the VVC has it's own blend of gearbox ratios that are a tad unusual but work fine; you do need to rev the f*ck out of it in 2nd IIRC, but after that it works a dream - put it this way, AliC was never slow with his

Cheers
Robin

Post by **campbell** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:50 pm

No that is true, Ali never was slow was he and he won a prize or two IIRC!!

Marketing blurb =

"Despite its performance the Elise 111S remains civilised yet fun to drive on motorways or when cruising around. The newly developed Lotus gearbox ratios have been created to maximise the power and torque of the VVC engine giving excellent in gear performance and maximum driver enjoyment whilst offering an ideal cruising ratio."

From Rob Collingridge's http://www.elises.co.uk site:

"This is the car that most people were waiting for. An official Elise S2 variant with a decent power output. The 111 uses the VVC K-series as used in the MGFT but uses a Lotus K4 ECU to provide 156bhp @ 7000rpm and 129lb-ft at 4650rpm. By using closer ratios in 1st and 2nd gear, the 0-60 time falls to 5.1 seconds. The other gears are also taller to provide improved fuel economy. The new car feature 8-spoke wheels with a lower unsprung mass than the standard S2 wheels. These are 5.5 x 16in fronts and 7.5 x 17in rears with Bridgestone Potenza RE 040 175/55 VR16 front tyres and 225/45 VR17 rears.

Despite the extra power the S2 111 fuel consumption combinded figure is up from 38.1mpg to 40.9mpg and the urban figure from 46.6mpg to 51.8mpg and this comes with lower CO2 emissions by 14g/km, rsulting in the car falling into the lowest tax band. The list price is £25,995.
"

And, for techies only, here is the technical data:

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Rover_PG1_gearbox

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:33 am

You could pick up a VXT for £13k-£15k if you shop about.

Might not be the last word in handling excellence but it will feel like it coming from the scooby and it will be bl**dy quick.

EDIT:

Don't know these cars personally but to give you an idea..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/154292.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/154023.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/153177.htm

A search on http://www.vx220.org.uk will throw up a number of pampered examples

wil_scotland · Post by **wil_scotland** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:03 pm

There is a nice vx220 NA for sale in the classifieds