This is more aimed at S1 Exige owners, just wondered if anyone had driven/experienced a Elise (S2) Sport190? As I need to go back to one car, I think it could be a good compromise from the Exige - being a little more usable but still having some edgy character from the Exige…
I know of a lovely one which isn’t currently for sale, but can be if I’m interested…
Try a PM to Brendan on here or SELOC. I think he owned an S2 190 sport Elise before the S1/S2 exige.
No but…it has the same engine (good and bad) and is only slightly more civilised than the Exige, I’d stick with the Exige. If I needed more civilised I’d go for a S2 S or R. They really are pretty good and still very uncivilised compared with a normal car.
not sure how much more usable a elise is over an exige?
Yep S2 R must be the most ‘normal’ car.
Curve ball - europa?
Benmac off here had an S2 sport 190 before his S2 cup240, may be worth a PM.
andy
I recall John (JSR) saying that the VHPD in the S2 190 is a peach.
Can’t say as I see that it would be ‘that’ much more of a one car proposition than the Exige??
CSL as an alternate??
Well, its just an S2 with LSS and a VHPD, is it not?
Proper boot, lower sill so easier to negotiate, better interior, better visibility, roof off so I don’t stew in my own juices - and the engine is meant to be a totally different beast to the Exige, being far more tractable at low RPM’s and therefore more usable.
I’m just a big fan of the K, so would rather stick to that, but at the same time I like a bit of character; something I thought the S190 would mix well with.
Europa I’m not keen on, looks more Proton than Lotus, and BMW’s are a big no-no for me, the Z3M Coupe being the only exception.
I did test drive another car the other week I was quite keen on for totally different reasons, but I’m not saying what it is as I’m not a woman in my 50’s 
Matt send a PM to MartinR on MLOC - I think he still has his 190 and is local.
As Benja says, S2 190’s were a totally different engine map and a few inside goodies to the VHPD, think standard engine, only more power/torque/noise everywhere! Much more civilised than any Exige that still has its VHPD.
Be careful though, they had a BMW rivaling options list. Started life as a base spec Elise, with 190 engine. Everything else was optional, even down to a decent manifold, oil cooler, uprated rad.
They do seem to suffer from eating throttle sensors, which makes them do all sorts of weirdness.
Have an S2 VHPD- not sure where the differences are?, spec seems very much as the S1 Exige VHPD - same head set up, same block, same liners and pistons, same crank and rods - can only be in the mapping?
Both are absolutely marvellous engines 
[quote=SimonE]Have an S2 VHPD- not sure where the differences are?, spec seems very much as the S1 Exige VHPD - same head set up, same block, same liners and pistons, same crank and rods - can only be in the mapping?
Both are absolutely marvellous engines [/quote]
Is that ( the S2 VHPD)the new engine going in yr S1?
[quote=thommo][quote=SimonE]Have an S2 VHPD- not sure where the differences are?, spec seems very much as the S1 Exige VHPD - same head set up, same block, same liners and pistons, same crank and rods - can only be in the mapping?
Both are absolutely marvellous engines [/quote]
Is that ( the S2 VHPD)the new engine going in yr S1? [/quote]
No - Its a Lotus Motorsport VHPD with an interesting head build
Hope you’re going to fit an Emerald/Verniers, Simon, to get it to run properly
Throttle bodies were more compact, with 5mm trumpets, different airbox and were a nightmare to balance. Standard S2 exhaust manifold, sports cat and Janspeed rear silencer. Different cams possibly, as they had the camshaft sensor added for S2 plug top coils. Was designed to be more drivable, and was certainly much improved, and both I looked after made the power straight out of the box.
Never had too much of a look inside, but Lotus claimed that they were different to the S1.
Yep verniers fitted and emerald will be
Motorsport engine has forged crank and rods and v lightened flywheel - oh and is balanced too
Don’t think that S1 & S2 VHPD innerds are that dissimilar - coilpacks and ecu are different S1 was based on half a V8 Esprit if I recall correctly 
JDS vs SimonE in VHPD face-off, Zoolander stylee
I loved my S1 Sport 190, same engine as the S1 Exige but a different ECU map and it also came with different cam timing, it made it quite a different engine character to the Exige.
Harvey, spoken to MartinR, he’s full of praise for his.
Re: S1/Exige VHPD vs S2 VHPD, I’ve been told they’re VERY different in terms of power and delivery, with the S2 making over 190 out of the box and being alot easier to live with. Still not alot of oomph below 3k RPM though!
Its looking like a good proposition, in all honesty. Otherwise I’ll just buy a man-bag and go with my V8 alternative.
[quote=IDG]JDS vs SimonE in VHPD face-off, Zoolander stylee
[/quote]
I’d like to enter into this face-off if it’s ok. (It’s nearly to the point of it’s first start up)
[quote=IDG]JDS vs SimonE in VHPD face-off, Zoolander stylee
[/quote]
To be honest, they all have too much hair to be me!!