Dan’s car (the S1 in question here) was originally Marc P’s car. Now most on here know Marc and know he knows how to screw a car together. Dan, the current owner, I have known for over 10 years and he is UBER anal about his motors, so a lot of the things Dan has done, the rest of us wouldn’t even have thought about.
One example is this. Dan recently sold his Merc ML AMG, it needed some new disks and pads. Now most of us, would have just stuck it up for sale and let the new owner change the brakes, but no, Dan said he wanted the car to be right before he sold it, so he was going to change the brakes. He had several different priced options from different after market suppliers, but in the end went for the expensive (nearly double the price) ones that were OE or OE quality (I cant remember exactly) because when he does a job, he does it right. We all thought he was mental, but that is the way he rolls, so to speak.
Dan’s S1 is a fantastic car, is very well screwed together and is a great spec. I think these kind of cars will always get changed by the current owner, so that they can be exactly right for that person, so I am sure Ade (if he has it) may want to change a few bits and bobs to make it right for him. But the car is a great place to start for anyone who wants a ‘proper’ S1.
All the s1’s I’ve had have just gave me hastle, some of it my own doing some of it just being unlucky and some very expensive bills. The s2 was great and never let me down and I found it more fun on the track than sitting watching after my s1 broke and was sat in the pits. Don’t get me wrong I like the s1 but I don’t think I could ever buy another one after all the trouble I had with mine (any of the 6 or so times I’ve had one). I’m hoping the 2-11 will be just a reliable as the s2 and I’m keeping the power at 260bhp to try and make sure I don’t cause myself more problems.
How very dare you! You of the sweeping statement.
S1s are lighter, S1s are the original, S1s look better, S1s are more of a challenge to drive, etc. There’s a host of reasons to want one.
‘K-series engines are a pain’ and other such statements may apply.
I am expecting my S1 with a Honda engine and big brakes to be a blooming splendid trackday tool and pretty reliable too as the upgraded components are under less stress. Even when it had the K it had a character that was great.
Chris, I wish you all the best and hope those previous S1s are behaving themselves much better these days.
I did have a slight chuckle at hoping that 260bhp from a 1.8l engine would avoid problems. I remember the good old days when 100bhp per litre was reasonable.
Maybe they are being less trouble now, phils red Honda car used to break faster than the radical and that’s some going lol. I guess the 2-11 will give me a few problems but I’m just hoping that they will be less often and not to expensive to fix.
Anyway it’s up to Ade really I like the s1 and s2 but if I were to buy again I just don’t think I could pay for an s1 with any engine conversion I’d have to take an s2.
Thanks Sean.
Reading your comments would set aside many of my perceived issues with the car given the description on the build thread.
It would seem a bleaker picture was painted of previous work because Dan had to have it ‘just so’.
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I remember the good old days when 100bhp per litre was reasonable.