Lotus -- Daily Driver Blog by Patrick Shim

[Illumiloti]

Seemed to help the aero... maybe it was just my imagination ; )

[ScienceGuy]

Looks like fun Made any trips to IKEA in it?

[Illumiloti]

No, but Ive still gotta get the OEM tray (that they replaced with this one) back home whemn I pick up the car! So...maybe more pics to follow.

[plastique999]

Pat...seriously....give your car to Al Qaeda - they'll fix it right up for you!

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by plastique999

Pat...seriously....give your car to Al Qaeda - they'll fix it right up for you!

I've considered that option. However, I don't have any contact info for Bin Laden (well, I don't see it in my BlackBerry or Outlook contacts. )

Anyone on the board with the contact info? Perhaps I can give him the car, and also collect the ransom money, too.

Eddie, did you figure out what caused your engine oil to disappear? Is the car running now?

[the1sen]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

I've considered that option. However, I don't have any contact info for Bin Laden (well, I don't see it in my BlackBerry or Outlook contacts. ?

Hi sir,

I too have been watching this thread with great interest.

Does your exhaust system eliminate the Catalytic Converter? I am wondering if you have tried this in conjunction with your exhaust system?

Lotus Elise/Exige Check Engine Light Eliminator - StickerCity.com

While it adds 1.5 pounds weight to the car, I would install one just to get rid of that annoying problem in a heartbeat - even just to TRY it.

Apologies in case this is something you have already tried out.

I certainly hope Lotus gets this sorted for you. Best wishes.

[plastique999]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

I've considered that option. However, I don't have any contact info for Bin Laden (well, I don't see it in my BlackBerry or Outlook contacts. )

Anyone on the board with the contact info? Perhaps I can give him the car, and also collect the ransom money, too.

Eddie, did you figure out what caused your engine oil to disappear? Is the car running now?

Hi Pat, I'm replacing my short block and upgrading other engine parts...I was suffering from blow by and possible oil pump failure....
Engine is almost done...ready for track on dec. 21 at BW!!!!

Hope you get this sorted out....it's ludicrous!

[Wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Pestodude

Had to take my car in for it's 15,000 mile service. Decided, what the hell, I'll let them install my new carbon fiber undertray since they have to remove the oem one anyway.Now how do I transport it there??? Hmmm....

You really drove it to Silver Star like that? Haha wow

[PatrickShim]

Found another nail in one of the rear tires...


Front - Yokohama ADVAN A048 (195/50R16)
- Believe or not, at 26,532 miles, I'm still on my factory original first set with some tread left... (even after one track day at Cal. Speedway)

Rear - Yokohama ADVAN A048 (225/45R17)
- replaced @ around 12,000mi (nail in tire and wear) by Newport European
- replaced @ around 17,000mi (nails in both tires) by Lotus Beverly Hills



To-Do List
1. All four (4) tires need to be replaced. The question is, do I go with Yokohama ADVAN A048 or something else? (I'm thinking Toyo Proxes T1R after reading some good stuff about them. Your thoughts?)



2. Both rear brake pads needs to be replaced -- OEM Brembo or Pagid???



3. Oil change! (I never wait for the factory-recommended 7.5k miles... usually get one around 5k miles.)



In terms of the P0420 MIL/CEL issue, I erased the code with the computer a couple of times and they are not coming back on....

[plastique999]

Refreshing to get your car back Pat!

Depends on what you will use your car for...if you are going to AutoX and/or track, I would recommend the R888's. I'd also then upgrade to Pagids or Hawks.

If you're just going to street it, I wouldn't waste $ on either of those...and even get street tires.

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by plastique999

Refreshing to get your car back Pat!

Depends on what you will use your car for...if you are going to AutoX and/or track, I would recommend the R888's. I'd also then upgrade to Pagids or Hawks.

If you're just going to street it, I wouldn't waste $ on either of those...and even get street tires.

I thought Toyo Proxes T1R could be a good street tire. What do you think? (Didn't want to put Kumhos on my Lotus... , although I do have Kumbos on my Z28 -- they are actually fairly good tires.)

I don't think I'm going to track the Elise anymore. Probably I'll get an Exige and make it my track car. I put together a budget for myself for '09 and '10, and I think I might take a stab at an Exige around Fall of this year. I wonder if I can get my hands on a 260, considering they are only making a handful of them....

[Green Ghost]

I have T1Rs and find them good. About on par with a Yoko AD07 but come in the right sizes.

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by Green Ghost

I have T1Rs and find them good. About on par with a Yoko AD07 but come in the right sizes.

Awesome! I guess I'll go for the Toyo Proxes T1Rs!

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get the tires and how much did you pay for them?

[Rob T]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

Rear - Yokohama ADVAN A048 (225/45R17)[/u]
- replaced @ around 12,000mi (nail in tire and wear) by Newport European
- replaced @ around 17,000mi (nails in both tires) by Lotus Beverly Hills

I replaced my rear AO48's at 5100 miles because of wear. How you got 12k out of them the first time around is amazing.

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by Rob T

I replaced my rear AO48's at 5100 miles because of wear. How you got 12k out of them the first time around is amazing.

I don't know. I don't baby the car that much.

More amazing thing is, @26,532 miles, I'm still on my factory original first set in the front with some tread left...

[Rob T]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

I don't know. I don't baby the car that much.

More amazingthing thing is, @26,532 miles, I'm still on my factory original first set in the front with some tread left...

You're right, that is amazing. I mean the fronts will definitely last longer than the rears, but not that much longer!

[Lotusmotion]

T1Rs have been a good choice for street tires for my Exige. They provide good wet traction, good try traction, a compliant and quiet ride, and with 15,000 miles they are about 50% worn. I'll get another set when needed.

Note: they take a few hundred miles to break in / release molding agent, during which time they might feel a bit squirmy.

[Green Ghost]

They do feel squirmy new. Tall tread so there’s a bit of flex too to them when new. But to me at least they do all that I ask. Good predictable feel at the limits and good in the wet. I’m on my 3rd rear now to 1 front. But the life of one set of rears got cut short buy a hack to a sidewall of one. That set may have had 2,000 to 3,000 more to go but o-well.

I found Super Autobacs to have the best price and have them in stock. I paid about 370.00ish out the door (mounted and tax) for the last set of rears.

[PatrickShim]

Awesome! Sounds like Toyo Proxes T1R is a good choice! I'm going to order them tomorrow.

(Found this cool video on YouTube.com)

YouTube - Toyo Proxes T1R

What about the brakes? Any good brake recommendations for street use?

[Lotusmotion]

I run Pagid Blacks, but I would recommend Pagid Blues for street. Check with plastique...he uses Blues...about their streetability. I'll try them next once my Blacks toast. The Blacks are great, but they are noisy (groan and squeek) on the street until warmed up, then they yank the car down from speed like nothing else that I know of. I got the Blacks for track days, but the tanked economy has taken my track budget with it...so more street friendly pad are next for me.

I would expect the Blues to have similar stopping power but be less noisy. There are a number of other good choices...Ferodos, OEM (Lotus) pads are actually decent, etc.