Has anyone installed the factory supercharger?

[Green Rat]

...besides me!

The car was always a blast to drive, but the low end torque is soooo much better now. I know that there are aftermarket kits with more power, but warranty and CARB issues made this the right decision for me.

Cheers,

[swede]

I am looking to do the same, for same reasons as you.

M

[Cali]

Congrats! Being in Cali, I'm looking at this option as well, since CARB is a PITA. Can you give us some more driving impressions? Do you feel that it was worth the money? For daily street driving, is the car more fun? Thanks.

[proberts9999]

Sorry this is a little OT. I was talking with Chris at Mulhulland Motorsports the last time I was there getting my Elise serviced. He said he really wanted to do a SC install and would do the first one really cheap.... if any of you are thinking of getting one and he still hasn't done one since March (They're on Pico near La Cienega)

[JnC]

I was kind of curious how the factory mounting position of the alternator compared to other kits out there?

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Green Rat

...besides me!

The car was always a blast to drive, but the low end torque is soooo much better now. I know that there are aftermarket kits with more power, but warranty and CARB issues made this the right decision for me.

Cheers,

Who installed it? You, or a dealer? If a dealer, which one and how much did they charge?

[Green Rat]

Cali-I've only put about 60 miles on it since I picked it up, but here are my thoughts so far. First, IMHO, the car now drives like it looks. What I think I really enjoy now is the extra torque. It really puts you back in your seat at WOT. That feeling of a little extra thrust that you used to get with the cam change @ 6250 rpm, now comes on at ~3000 rpm, and is so much more linear. You can pass much more easily when driving at highway speeds even in 6th gear. And you don't notice the power drain from the AC, especially from a standing start. I'll try to give you some more impressions when I've spent some more time with the car, but so far I'm more than pleased.

JnC-I'm not sure on the alternator placeement, I'll check and get back with you.

ChrisH-I was the first to have the supercharger installed by Symbolic in San Diego. They charged me $4995 for the kit, and with labor and tax the price was just a hair under $7000. Lee, my service rep, let me know that I was actually charged fewer hours than it took them to install the kit, as when I dropped off the car they were still trying to sort out whether the gas tank was going to need to be dropped or not, but he wanted to honor his pre-install quote.

Let me know if I can answer anything else for you guys.

[PECivil]

rat, do you live in Poway perchance?

I have been seeing what has to be your car around town!


Very interesting on your install price. I had my car at symbolic a couple of weeks ago and I was all over Lee on the SC. He told me he had one scheduled already (which had to be yours!) and he quoted me $7800!! out the door.

I thought that was a tad high to charge $2800 for install. Glad to hear they have reduced the price somewhat.

The question is as they get more experience and faster at installing the SC does their install price also drop. Lee told me his goal was to install one per week and he thought he would be able to do that easily for a while as demand for the SC seemed (to him anyway) very high.

Sounds like you like it. I will probably pull the trigger by years end.

[Green Rat]

Originally Posted by PECivil

rat, do you live in Poway perchance?

I have been seeing what has to be your car around town!


Very interesting on your install price. I had my car at symbolic a couple of weeks ago and I was all over Lee on the SC. He told me he had one scheduled already (which had to be yours!) and he quoted me $7800!! out the door.

I thought that was a tad high to charge $2800 for install. Glad to hear they have reduced the price somewhat.

The question is as they get more experience and faster at installing the SC does their install price also drop. Lee told me his goal was to install one per week and he thought he would be able to do that easily for a while as demand for the SC seemed (to him anyway) very high.

Sounds like you like it. I will probably pull the trigger by years end.

I don't think its me...I live in Fallbrook. Lee had quoted me $7800 initially, but I called around and others were charging less, and he wanted to be competetive...I suspect that after a month or so the price will stabilize as the techs get comfortable with the install.

[LastToy]

Do you know if the kit is available for both cable and electronic throttle cars? I recall one review of the new supercharged Elise where the reviewer thought the software needed to be sorted out... stating the power delivery was not very smooth. Sounds like you disagree.

Thx.
J

[Green Rat]

Originally Posted by LastToy

Do you know if the kit is available for both cable and electronic throttle cars? I recall one review of the new supercharged Elise where the reviewer thought the software needed to be sorted out... stating the power delivery was not very smooth. Sounds like you disagree.

Thx.
J

Yes, the kit is available for the `05, as well as the `06 (electronic throttle). I have an `06, so I can only speak for the electronic throttle kit, but the kit truly feels stock (as it should since you pay a premium for OEM, warranty, and CARB). I can't speak to what the `05 kit might be like, but I would think that it would be more difficult to program the software for an electronic throttle rather than a cabled one, but YMMV.

[Cali]

Thank you for your impressions... I look forward to your thoughts once you drive it some more. Enjoy the heck out of it!

Originally Posted by Green Rat

Cali-I've only put about 60 miles on it since I picked it up, but here are my thoughts so far. First, IMHO, the car now drives like it looks. What I think I really enjoy now is the extra torque. It really puts you back in your seat at WOT. That feeling of a little extra thrust that you used to get with the cam change @ 6250 rpm, now comes on at ~3000 rpm, and is so much more linear. You can pass much more easily when driving at highway speeds even in 6th gear. And you don't notice the power drain from the AC, especially from a standing start. I'll try to give you some more impressions when I've spent some more time with the car, but so far I'm more than pleased.

JnC-I'm not sure on the alternator placeement, I'll check and get back with you.

ChrisH-I was the first to have the supercharger installed by Symbolic in San Diego. They charged me $4995 for the kit, and with labor and tax the price was just a hair under $7000. Lee, my service rep, let me know that I was actually charged fewer hours than it took them to install the kit, as when I dropped off the car they were still trying to sort out whether the gas tank was going to need to be dropped or not, but he wanted to honor his pre-install quote.

Let me know if I can answer anything else for you guys.

[larez2]

Originally Posted by Green Rat

I was the first to have the supercharger installed by Symbolic in San Diego. They charged me $4995 for the kit, and with labor and tax the price was just a hair under $7000. Lee, my service rep, let me know that I was actually charged fewer hours than it took them to install the kit, as when I dropped off the car they were still trying to sort out whether the gas tank was going to need to be dropped or not, but he wanted to honor his pre-install quote.

Let me know if I can answer anything else for you guys.

Sweet review

Ooooh the first in San Diego, nice! So how many hours did it end up taking them to install it and ? After reading what you said about it really makes me want to get one!!! Lee's the best Lotus service advisor! If you happen to have some pics of what it looks like installed that would be cool if you could post them.

thanks,
larez2

[waydui]

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but what is up with this whole CARB issue in California?

I can guess it's about emissions control, but it sure sounds draconian from all the other threads/posts I've read.

What is the inspection and/or certification process in Cali?

Regards,
Wayne

[Loki250]

Great to know of another Elise owner in Fallbrook. I think I saw you heading West on Sleeping Indian Road a few months ago, late afternoon. I own a SY 05 Elise I drive around town most weekends. I would love to get a ride [n your Elise sometime.

JT

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by waydui

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but what is up with this whole CARB issue in California?

I can guess it's about emissions control, but it sure sounds draconian from all the other threads/posts I've read.

What is the inspection and/or certification process in Cali?

Regards,
Wayne

It is draconian. And, it is more than just California now. Many states that think the federal emissions standards aren't strong enough are adopting the California regulations now rather than make their own.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by waydui

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but what is up with this whole CARB issue in California?

I can guess it's about emissions control, but it sure sounds draconian from all the other threads/posts I've read.

Basically, any component that is part of the combustion process in any way shape or form cannot be changed unless it has been tested to show it would still pass emissions. Mufflers are about the only exception there (any muffler will pass CARB, though there are separate noise regulations). If you want to change your air filter, fine, but if you want to replace the airbox with a cone filter, forget it. In addition to the tailpipe sniffer test done every other year, the smog techs do a visual inspection for any items that are not stock (in which case, there must be a sticker with a CARB exemption order number).

[MattG]

Originally Posted by waydui

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but what is up with this whole CARB issue in California?

I can guess it's about emissions control, but it sure sounds draconian from all the other threads/posts I've read.

Basically, any component that is part of the combustion process in any way shape or form cannot be changed unless it has been tested to show it would still pass emissions. Mufflers are about the only exception there (any muffler will pass CARB, though there are separate noise regulations). If you want to change your air filter, fine, but if you want to replace the airbox with a cone filter, forget it. In addition to the tailpipe sniffer test done every other year, the smog techs do a visual inspection for any items that are not stock (in which case, there must be a sticker with a CARB exemption order number).

[jhnmdahl]

Has anyone found (or made) a torque or HP curve before and after? Or, comparing the Elise SC to the standard Elise - since the curves should be the same as with and without the kit? Thanks,

John

[Green Rat]

Here are some pics as requested: