Wrong top speed figures

[Dave]

On the topic of speedometers and instrument clusters, has anyone verified the accuracy of the odometer? While it's easy enough to lose track of time while joy riding, it still seems like mine is creeping up at a faster rate than I think it should. Easy enought to check on the highway or maybe GPS...need to get around to it. Just curious.

[turbo]

guys my car is not in the US and i live in the UK, like I said my car is the s1 120bhp not the US version of the elise, I think you can distinguish between 145mph from 120mph on a elise. The car was reaching that speed at about 6000rpm. I dont think the S1 had any problems at all regards speedometer. next time I go over to paris I will definately take a picture for you guys.

[Ground Loop]

Originally Posted by turbo

The car was reaching that speed at about 6000rpm. I dont think the S1 had any problems at all regards speedometer. next time I go over to paris I will definately take a picture for you guys.

Don't bother, we got one:


Of course, the parking brake is on and the car isn't going anywhere, but like you say, the speedometer never lies...

[turbo]

thats fine believe if you want to believe, i dont have to prove anything to nobody, simply if you dont believe it maybe we can bet???

[turbo]

in la mans 24H circuit there is going to be the 50th aniversary of lotus if anyone still has doubts about top speed feel free to come down and test the real top speed of your cars

[Miguel]

Turbo, seems like you are not listening

We DO believe your S1 indicated that speed.
We DO believe the problem is not only for US cars
We DO believe that the speed indicated in the console is off

Borrow a friend's GPS if you don't have one and next time you speedometer reads X mph see what the GPS says, if it's spot on, then your S1 might have a more accurate console.

Someone said that at some time Lotus changed suppliers and we don't know if the change was for the better or the worse.

No one is calling you a liar, we are calling the Speedometer of the Elise a liar, it seems it's off by 8%.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by electronix

On the topic of speedometers and instrument clusters, has anyone verified the accuracy of the odometer? While it's easy enough to lose track of time while joy riding, it still seems like mine is creeping up at a faster rate than I think it should. Easy enought to check on the highway or maybe GPS...need to get around to it. Just curious.

The odometer is dead on, the speedo is at fault.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by turbo

thats fine believe if you want to believe, i dont have to prove anything to nobody, simply if you dont believe it maybe we can bet???

Sure. I'll take the bet. I bet that your made-for-Britain S1 elise speedometer isn't accurate and that you never actually went 145MPH in your Elise regardless of what your speedometer actually indicated.

[SilverArsenal]

Wow, doesn't this whole argument seem silly? Come one guys. We do not need to impress ourselves. We all own an Elise. Our desire is to either drive on endless curvy roads where nobody is (and nobody will see us) or in the city drives to impress others who stare and wonder what the hell we are driving. It's all fun. When we get from 0-60 just that much (8%) faster, aren't the passengers impressed? Lotus did us a favor with the speedo. For all those who think the car costs $150,000, my speedo tells me I hit 0-60 in 4 flat. And the next time I go 150mph, it'll be like a tree falling in the woods.

[dmoney]

I agree with Silver Arsenal. The Elise is a really unique driving experience that transcends 0-60 and top speed numbers. I don't care if the speedo is off by 8%, or if R&T or Motor Trend tests show the 0-60 time with an 8,000 rpm clutch dump. The real magic of this car is just driving it. It's so zen in the twisties -- you feel one with the car. Then you cruise Rodeo Drive and get that ego thrill of watching people gawk as much at the Elise as they do at a Bently GT. No one mentions the 0-smile time of the Elise. 0.001 seconds.

[Genjuro]

Who gives a $H!t? My elise is fast enough... that's all that matters. Anything over 65 is speeding in my state.

[Stan]

Many cars have speedometers that read 5-11% high per one survey. Also, as your tires wear, their RPM at a given actual road speed increases. This will increase the indicated speed compared to fresh rubber. Up to about 2% or so from wear.

[Crash]

Like the title says... I had a buddy sit next to me reading his gps. I kept the needle steady at 60mph, 70mph, 80mph and 90 mph for a minute or so at each speed. The gps consistently reported we were going 5 to 7mph slower than the speedo reported. The deviation never went beyond 5 - 7mph so doing the math an 8% deviation would be reasonable to assume. When we were over 100mph on the speedo neither of us had the stomach to look down at the gps or the will to loosen our death grip on whatever we were holding on to.


While on the street, many times with a cop behind me, I assume the speedo is reading 5 mph higher than my actual speed. Thinking that's a safe assumption.

[Less Moore]

Totally agree about the quality of the drive . . . the direct connection to the road . . . the immediate response . . . you don't have to hammer it to enjoy it. Nothing else in the world drives like an Elise and I'm just disappointed when I have to carry too much stuff, forcing me to leave the Elise at home. Why bicker about speedo error . . . most cars have it. If someone wants to believe what the dial says, it's OK with me.