Potential Lotus Elan Newbie

[Ladyboy]

Hi all, hope you don't mind me picking your brains for some advice.

I am mulling over getting a '91 Elan as a weekend car to have a bit of fun with. Someone has offered me one for £8900 which seems reasonable (71000 miles, 4 owners) but I just wanted to ask a couple of questions.

The seller is suggesting that mustard yellow with cream full leather interior is a particularly rare combo and quite sought after, is this the case?

He has also upgraded the turbo and fitted a dump valve. Now I don't even know what a dump valve is (answers on a postcard) but while I will ensure these have been done by a reputable establishment is there anything worth looking out for in regard to this e.g should the brakes have been upgraded as well?

Also could anyone offer any sort of comparison with Chimaera? Very different cars I know but with up to £13k to spend I've been taking an interest in them as well, it's just the whole reliablity/cost thing that is putting me off. I don't want to be bled dry or have the car in the garage all the time.

Thanks for your learned thoughts and opinions.

[mustard]

Mustard is reasonably common on an SE (Black and Silk Red being the rarest), but beige leather is definately non-standard (does it look right with yellow? )

Price looks a bit over the top to me, I would have thought around £7500 if its a really nice car IMHO

www.lotuselancentral.com for more buying advice and general info

>> Edited by mustard on Friday 2nd July 09:12

[JonRB]

A dump valve vents excess boost when you come off the accelerator (ie. when braking or changing gear).
On a turbo car without one, the excess boost has to go somewhere so it goes back though the turbo which can stall it or at the least put strain on it. So it is good to have to prolonging the life of the turbo.

An uprated turbo will produce more power, but will also put the insurance up. If the new turbo pushes the power up significantly then I would expect to see uprated brakes too - grooved discs, better pads and braided hoses at the minimum.

There is little comparison between an Elan and a Chimaera other than the fact that they are both 2 seater convertables.
The Elan will murder the Chimaera round the corners, and the Chimaera will murder the Elan on the straights.
It all comes down to which you prefer.

I like driving my wife's Elan, but I prefer my Chimaera. But that's just down to my personal choice and driving style.

>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 2nd July 10:36

[Ladyboy]

Just been told the leather is actually light grey. Would this make more sense?

[mustard]

Ladyboy said:

Just been told the leather is actually light grey. Would this make more sense?

at that age the interior should be either mid grey part leather with cloth centres or three tone grey with yellow flashes across seat base and back plus door caseings