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Advice for a newbie?


G2sound

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I hit "Buy it Now" on the Superformance S1 that was recently listed on EBAY. I'm flying out to Mississippi on Sunday to check it out. Does any one in the Seven Intelligence Community have any suggestions as to what I should look for or ask when I am out there? Does anyone have any first-hand info on this car? Any help will be appreciated!

:auto:

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This is copied from the EBAY listing:

 

TITANINUM SILVER WITH BLACK INTERIOR

VERY LOW MILES, (APPROX. 4000)

STRONG FORD ZETEC MOTOR, APPROX 175 HP WITH LUMENITION INDIVIDUAL THROTTLE BODY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

RACELINE WATER RAIL AND ALLOY SUMP

CERAMIC COATED HEADERS AND STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST

FORD TYPE 9, FIVE SPEED TRANSMISSION

FULL DIGITAL GAUGE PACK

15" POLISHED ALLOY WHEELS WITH KUMHO ESTA SUPRA "V" RATED TIRES

4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES WITH WILWOOD ALLOY CALIPERS

UNIQUE "ROCKER-ARM" REAR SUSPENSION WITH COIL-OVER ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS

FULL WEATHER GEAR, TOP, SIDE CURTAINS, DOORS AND BLACK CANVAS TONNEAU COVER

COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY

LARGER COCKPIT TO ACCOMMODATE "LARGER" DRIVERS

FACTORY BUILT IN SOUTH AFRICA BY THE SAME BUILDERS OF THE HIGH QUALITY SUPERFORMANCE COBRA AND GT-40

WHAT A MODERN LOTUS SUPER 7 SHOULD BE

VERY QUICK WITH "RACE CAR" LIKE HANDLING

 

 

I have been the owner for 2 years. The car has a Mississippi title and is registered under a 1965 Lotus. It has it's orginal paint work. The body has no damage except for a penny size dent on the hood that was caused by the previous owner. The fuel and speed gauges are digital but not accurate, I haven't had time to figure out what the problem is. I don't know of any mechanical issues. The car may weigh between 1600-1800lbs. The car is kept in south Mississippi but it has NEVER been flooded. I keep it in an large shop out of the weather.

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It looks like you had a good looking car and the price is pretty good.

I'm sure the engine is ok too, otherwise the owner will tell you.

The gauges and the speed is easy to sort out ---- something for you to do on winter.

 

Yep, Christmas is early------------>Merry Christmas!!!

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Thanks for all of the advice and encouragement, I have to admit that I've had more than a few "OH S**T!!" moments since committing to this. Thankfully my wife and especially my 6-year-old are both very excited about the car as well (the wife will just be happy to see the Jensen Healey go away!!).

 

Is there anything specific to an S1 that I should look for? What should I be smelling for wrt the oil and tranny fluid?

 

I'm located just outside of Los Angeles (Topanga Canyon for those familiar with the area). Looking forward to my drives home!!!

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It looks like a fantastic deal. Those Superformance S1's are the "plushest" sevens. Very high quality, it's like having a "real"car. Great buy, I am sure it will serve you well.

 

Jerry has it right !!!!! I like the " plushest", LOL

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JohnK, who posts here occasionally, lives in Cincy, not far from Super Performance's Ross, Ohio office/dealership. He tuned the S1 engines for them for a while and is quite adept. Maybe a resource in the engine area?

 

I also live in Cincy and wld periodically make the pilgrimage to Ross in my pre-se7en days to look at all their offerings. The S-1 was a favorite.

 

S-1 experts:was it made in the same South African factory as Birkins?

 

Mike

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Kitcat, S1 and Birkins were not made in the same factory. The dealer in Ohio is were I bought my car from, Mike E was the real master of the S1 and all of the Superformance cars,and Noble cars. Mike is a great guy. They have sold off all the S1 stash of parts a few years ago I have a few. And Mike is gone.

As for John, My car runs 50 times better after he tuned the Web-Con FI set-up that most S1 came with. He no longer does tuning as far as I know. Want to know about tuning and Zetec's, ask John. Come on Dr. John, help me out here. LOL

Edited by S1Steve
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. . . Come on Dr. John, help me out here. LOL

 

Hi Steve,

Maybe (and only maybe) I've recovered from my adventure of learning to tune cars with computer controlled engines. The result of the experience was that, when I finally bought my Se7en I got one whose engine I wouldn't have to tune, EVER !!!

 

Steve has the most well developed tune (calibration) running on a "standard" webcon Zetec 2.0l setup. Steve's calibration was developed on an identically engine'd S1 a few years ago and I sent him a copy (burned a new chip). Nothing magic went on on my end, just many hours on a chassis dyno, lining up the fuel and spark to "where they should be". That other car's still around, but I can't recall who owns it now. I placed a post a while back when the owner joined this list giving the various relevant bits of info about the history of Webcon'd S1s. If you're interested, do a search on JohnK. It'll pop up somewhere.

 

The S1/Webcon experience showed me that the S1 is the best buy (value for the money) out there in Se7en's land. The Webcon part of it showed me that just about ANY well-developed electronic engine management system can make the term "drivability" have meaning to you that you never dreamed of. The people whose cars I tuned never talk about how much HP they make, they talk about how well it behaves when you drive it. Like having an absolutely quiet engine when you're off throttle and instant instant throttle response as soon as you touch the pedal. Anyway. S1's offer an awful lot of the the money. If you have a Webcon system on the car you're interested in, and if it's setup is stock, it shouldn't be difficult to get someone to make a copy of the latest chip for you.

If it's not running a Webcon, and if you really need better drivability out of the engine, find someone who has worked with your Engine Management System before and has a chassis dyno and be prepared to part with maybe $500. Best of luck!

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The deed is done! The S1 is on it's westbound journey! I'm still trembling with excitement (and maybe a bit of fear?) from my test drive on a damp Mississippi highway. I've never experienced breaking traction on acceleration from 50 before!

 

As my 6-year-old said when she saw the S1..."that's not a car, it's a spaceship!".

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" The deed is done", Thats great news. If # 17 is still riding on the Continental Sports that S1's came with, you will find that a better tire will transform your car into a rocket.

Thats close to a spaceship !!!! Enjoy !

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The deed is done! The S1 is on it's westbound journey!

 

I've never experienced breaking traction on acceleration from 50 before!

 

As my 6-year-old said when she saw the S1..."that's not a car, it's a spaceship!".

 

First of all CONGRADULATIONS and the smile really never goes away from your face after driving a 7.

An S1 is a real space ship when it comes to modern LSIS vehicles and is one sharp looking car.

Post some photos when you receive your new car and have fun.

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The deed is done! The S1 is on it's westbound journey! I'm still trembling with excitement (and maybe a bit of fear?) from my test drive on a damp Mississippi highway. I've never experienced breaking traction on acceleration from 50 before!

 

As my 6-year-old said when she saw the S1..."that's not a car, it's a spaceship!".

 

Time to replace the engine to S2000 !!

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