I have been driving my car every day for two weeks in pouring down rain just to get those miles in and get to a level of enjoyment above 4,500 rpms and half throttle. Having tested a broken-in car, I knew what I was missing and am so glad to be there now.

Had the service done yesterday at Tonkin in Portland, OR. Very helpful folks and I drooled over a new 430, a few 360s, a 575M, and a 330 while I was waiting. Also made my service seem cheap compared to their work. Tightened a few nuts, but otherwise all was fine with mine. Changed the tranny fluid to Redline MT-90 while everything was open. I wanted the speedo adjusted, but they had not heard back from Lotus as to how to do it and whether it would be covered under warranty. Mine is off by 8 mph at 35 and more at 65. Sure I can calculate it, but there is no good reason for it not to be closer to accurate. Tonkin charges 2.5 hours at $95/hour for the 1,000 service plus $20 to dispose of the old oil. Also wanted 1 hour for the tranny fluid change, but we lowered that since it only really added about 5 extra minutes. I had more fun driving home last evening than should be allowed.

What an amazing car we drive. Hope you are all enjoying yours as well. I wanted the speedo adjusted, but they had not heard back from Lotus as to how to do it and whether it would be covered under warranty. Mine is off by 8 mph at 35 and more at 65. Sure I can calculate it, but there is no good reason for it not to be closer to accurate.
Unless there's been a revelation lately, there's not much the dealer can do about the speedo. It's driven by a digital signal from the ECU. A couple of guys here have investigated injecting a replacement signal into the CANBUS data stream, but I don't think it went anywhere. 8 mph off at 35 is about double the normal "error", so there may be a problem with his speedo. 8 mph off at 35 is about double the normal "error", so there may be a problem with his speedo.
Ahh, good catch. I read it as 8 percent which is about 'normal'. .... Mine is off by 8 mph at 35 and more at 65. ....
If your speedo is not at zero when the engine is off, it will add to the error. Mine was at 5 mph, and the dealer was able to "set" it back to zero If your speedo is not at zero when the engine is off, it will add to the error. Mine was at 5 mph, and the dealer was able to "set" it back to zero
Thanks. I will check that when I leave work tonight. Thanks. I will check that when I leave work tonight.
If the needle doesn't zero out properly, there's a procedure in the manual for resetting it. It involves holding a couple of buttons and turning the key or something like that. I'm looking forward to getting my car.. but NOT for the 1,000 mile break in.

Driving in those first 1,000 miles will be like being naked with a HOT chick, but not being able to have sex. Is that too raw for this board? The truth none the less.

Humft. If the needle doesn't zero out properly, there's a procedure in the manual for resetting it. It involves holding a couple of buttons and turning the key or something like that.
The procedure did not work for my problem. I tried it a few times! The procedure did not work for my problem. I tried it a few times!
Yeah, I remember that. But it's supposed to work, so it's at least worth a try. Strangely my speedo seems to be accurate,I guess it's broken too(but in a good way) plus $20 to dispose of the old oil.
What a rip off. That old oil didn't even cost $20 new. What a rip off. That old oil didn't even cost $20 new.
As the only place in town, I guess they figure they can get away with it. Wouldn't be worth taking the old stuff home just to avoid the charge. Also cheaper than driving to Seattle for the service (where the total charge for the 1,000 service is a more reasonable $250, with no oil disposal premium).

But it's so "cool" to be going "100 MPH" when everyone around me is going 65 at the same speed!!!

Speedo is a little off...

Larry
2005 Saffron Yellow Lotus Elise Found the following in the Service Manuals Maintanance and Lubrication. LARRY22331

But it's so "cool" to be going "100 MPH" when everyone around me is going 65 at the same speed!!!

Speedo is a little off...


I checked my Lotus against my 2005 Honda Pilot. I found that my Lotus is 8MPH off. My wife was following me and called me asked why I was going 62 mph in a 70 mph area. My speedo showed I was going 70 mph.
I informed Lotus-Overseas at my 1500 mile check and they said they checked it and all is OK no Speedo problem.
Sometimes I'm glad it is off- When friends borrow the car or when I see a police car on the side of the road and I don't get pulled over.

My concern is the extra miles on the car (8%) than what I really have.
Peter Found the following in the Service Manuals Maintanance and Lubrication.
Old data. Don. My concern is the extra miles on the car (8%) than what I really have.
Peter
The odometer has been found to be very accurate. The speedometer reads high by design, not by accident or poor quality. Found the following in the Service Manuals Maintanance and Lubrication.
Is that from the *US* manual? I believe that was for European Elises only... Found the following in the Service Manuals Maintanance and Lubrication.
I believe that is from the UK version of the manual. The labor is not free here.