A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Is there an quick and easy way to tell if an 05 Elise has the sport package or not? I'm guessing the tires are the easiest way, if they haven't been changed.
Thanks
Mark
A:
Originally Posted by mr2sh
Is there an quick and easy way to tell if an 05 Elise has the sport package or not? I'm guessing the tires are the easiest way, if they haven't been changed.
Thanks
Mark
The wheels are the best visual indicator. The attached picture is my car, with the sport package wheels.
A:
Tires would be quickest and to my knowledge the only way to tell by glancing. That being said, someone could always have put Sport tires on a touring or basic Elise. You could hit a pot hole at 30 mph and if your kidney pops...then it's probably a Sport...LOL
A:
Originally Posted by deddie
The wheels are the best visual indicator. The attached picture is my car, with the sport package wheels.
Wheels alone won't do it. Aside from lots of folks w/base suspension buying and installing LSS wheels, there were a few months in 05 where the factory had run out of LSS wheels and were shipping sports suspension cars with black or silver (former) Exige wheels.
Lots of folks with LSS cars opt for something other than the AO48's when they wear out, so you can't really tell by the tires.
Not at a glance, but look under the car at the shocks. LSS shocks are yellow, I believe.
A:
Don't forget dual Oil Coolers!
A:
Originally Posted by ZTEC
Don't forget dual Oil Coolers!
The first 6 months or so production of the base cars had dual oil coolers, too! You're right, one oil cooler, base car. Two oil coolers, check the build date.
Ask the seller to see the original window sticker, if he or she still has it. Look at the options, and compare the VIN on the car to that on the sticker.
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Dual oil coolers is not 100% as I understand that some of the early 05 non-sport package cars came with dual coolers. I have an 05 with the sport package and my shocks are yellow Bilsteins.
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can you tell me the production period of the early cars that come with twin oil coolers regardless of the package (sport or not)?
A:
Sorry, I don't know. Hopefully somebody will jump in with an answer. You can also try searching. I'm sure it has been posted before.
A:
It does NOT appear to be indicated in the VIN number, as I would have guessed.
A:
Ok, so I have an early production model of a 2005 touring Elise. It has yellow Blisten shocks hidden by the wheel liners and dual oil coolers. It’s got the standard wheels (not forked like LSS cars) and the “normal” tires.
I’ll have to look again at the shocks. I’m pretty sure they’re yellow. Can anyone confirm his or her shocks are different color (and subsequently what trim your Elise is)?
I know that mine has dual oil coolers. They were both there when I put in the aftermarket headlights.
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FWIW, my non-sport pack October '04 build date car (VIN 831) has dual oil coolers. Maybe others can post to determine how late in the model year they included them.
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Muy car was built early Feb. 05 Dont have the VIN handy as I am on a job. It has twin oil coolers. I remember seeing a car on the lot with 4 numbers behind and built after mine as it came in later and it had single oil coolers. Both cars were Touring Base.
According to what I read...the running change was done in Feb 05
A:
Originally Posted by Obsidian
Ok, so I have an early production model of a 2005 touring Elise.
Just to be clear, there is not "Touring" model - the Touring package is an interior trim package and has nothing to do with the suspension of the wheels. I don't think that's what you meant though, so I won't thwack you.
It has yellow Bilstein shocks hidden by the wheel liners and dual oil coolers.
I believe that both the Standard/Base shocks and the Sport Pack/LSS shocks are yellow Bilstein shocks. I have no idea what '06 Track Pack shocks look like...
It’s got the standard wheels (not forked like LSS cars) and the “normal” tires.
I was right!
My campaign is working. You know there's no Touring wheels!
I know that mine has dual oil coolers. They were both there when I put in the aftermarket headlights.
Yep. My Base Elise is a very early one, and it also has the dual oil coolers. Not sure when the cutoff date was though...
A:
Originally Posted by TimMullen
Just to be clear, there is not "Touring" model - the Touring package is an interior trim package and has nothing to do with the suspension of the wheels. I don't think that's what you meant though, so I won't thwack you. ...
I actually typed that just to get you to post here. You know your stuff and I will admit that I tried to push a button there
So, ... ummm ... maybe the ONLY thing I didn't get were the wheels and tires? Other than that my car seems to be the same thing as the 2005 "LSS" package. Or am I missing something? I was under the impression at the dealer that the suspension was different on the $2500 LSS option (for the model 2005 Elise).
I was just looking here wondering if I got lucky and received the "upgraded springs and shocks" mentioned under the 2005 options. I know I lucked out on the oil coolers
But you can Thwak me ... I probably deserve it for any number of other transgressions.
A:
Originally Posted by Obsidian
I actually typed that just to get you to post here. You know your stuff and I will admit that I tried to push a button there
Well, in that case...
So, ... ummm ... maybe the ONLY thing I didn't get were the wheels and tires? Other than that my car seems to be the same thing as the 2005 "LSS" package. Or am I missing something? I was under the impression at the dealer that the suspension was different on the $2500 LSS option (for the model 2005 Elise).
The Sport Pack (the real name for the LSS) has different shocks and springs and obviously different wheels and tires than the Base Suspension Elise. In both cases, the shocks are Bilsteins - they are valved different internally, but look that same on the outside.
It's most likely that you have a plain old Base Suspension Elise. Keep in mind that the Base Suspension on the Elise is still better than 99% of the other cars out there. In reality, the biggest difference between Base and Sport Pack is the A048 tires. They make most of the additional grip and handling improvements. But keep in mind, that the A048s wear out very quickly (seems to average about 5,000 miles) and give the rougher ride. That's why I opted to skip the Sport Pack when I ordered by Elise (and it was the first time I've ever bought a car and didn't opt for the "better" suspension).
But you can Thwack me ... I probably deserve it for any number of other transgressions.
Okay...
A:
I tested a Sport Pack Elise the day I put my money down on the vehicle. The tires and the ride seemed really harsh on Minnesota roads. Like you, I opted out of the Sport Pack for that reason, figuring the normal configuration would be just a bit less harsh for everyday driving.
I’ve gotten 15,500 miles out of my first set of AD07s. I couldn’t imagine having to replace tires on the Elise every 5,000 – 7,000 miles with the A048 rubber. Do the A048s fit on the standard wheels? I was under the impression that the rubber would work on both sets of wheels. It might give me an option should I ever decide to track the car.
That makes sense about the suspension. The Sport Pack just has differently valved yellow Blistens. When I ordered the Elise I figured if the suspension was lacking in any way I’d get an even better aftermarket set (Nitron or Ohlin). I didn’t see why I should drop the cash for what looked to my eyes to be the same setup. It’s good to know that they are different on the inside.
Is there any definitive way to tell for sure which shocks are on the car? Do the shocks have part numbers on them somewhere visible? Are the springs visibly different at all?
I also like the slightly more pronounced body roll in the base suspension. Since I don’t track the car regularly it seems a little more fun during everyday driving.
Thanks for your answers! I learn more about the car every time I visit here.