M100 Elan - are these any good?
Discussion
Evening all,
I've been considering buying a second car for a while now, something as a fun second car to use on the local B roads, to occasionally commute in etc etc.
The M100 Elan has caught my eye, it looks like an interesting little car and I have always found them to be a pretty cool concept.
What are they like? Are they any good, as a small FWD convertible? Do they handle well, or does the lack of a roof make for a wobbly chassis? What are the Isuzu engines like?
I've been looking at a couple on Ebay like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-SE-TURBO-/200...
Such a good looking car (especially that back end).
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Are these worth getting excited about?
I've been considering buying a second car for a while now, something as a fun second car to use on the local B roads, to occasionally commute in etc etc.
The M100 Elan has caught my eye, it looks like an interesting little car and I have always found them to be a pretty cool concept.
What are they like? Are they any good, as a small FWD convertible? Do they handle well, or does the lack of a roof make for a wobbly chassis? What are the Isuzu engines like?
I've been looking at a couple on Ebay like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-SE-TURBO-/200...
Such a good looking car (especially that back end).
Are these worth getting excited about?
Never had a chance to drive one, but know a few people who own them (including former Elise owners) and think they pretty much all love them.
Off the top of my head the suspension wishbones are expensive if you need to replace them and the standard brakes are crap by modern standards.
http://www.lotuselancentral.com/ for all you need to know about them.
Off the top of my head the suspension wishbones are expensive if you need to replace them and the standard brakes are crap by modern standards.
http://www.lotuselancentral.com/ for all you need to know about them.
Finally bought an M100 this year after thinking about it for a few years. Fantastic cars, handle well, comfy, relatively cheap, Isuzu lump is bulletproof.
Rear wishbones are prone to corrosion and there are a few other common niggles, but nothing too serious. Lotus Elan Central is very helpful source of information.
I went to look at the car in your OP as it is only just up the road from me - perhaps not the tidiest of examples, PM me if you want more details (although it was a good few months since I saw the car).
Rear wishbones are prone to corrosion and there are a few other common niggles, but nothing too serious. Lotus Elan Central is very helpful source of information.
I went to look at the car in your OP as it is only just up the road from me - perhaps not the tidiest of examples, PM me if you want more details (although it was a good few months since I saw the car).
I've had mine for over 20yrs. Does that answer the question?
They are not super quick by modern standards, 0-60 in around 6.5 secs & top of around 125. But they are very very easy & safe to chuck about at high speed on B roads. You would give alot of higher powered stuff a good run for it's money.
Reliability is very good. The Isuzu engine seems to be bullet proof. Build quality is far higher than the Elise I had. Cars are very comfortable place to be in & very practical. Boot is huge.
They are not super quick by modern standards, 0-60 in around 6.5 secs & top of around 125. But they are very very easy & safe to chuck about at high speed on B roads. You would give alot of higher powered stuff a good run for it's money.
Reliability is very good. The Isuzu engine seems to be bullet proof. Build quality is far higher than the Elise I had. Cars are very comfortable place to be in & very practical. Boot is huge.
Another "never actually owned one" here, BUT
I have always thought they looked pretty, prettier than the MX5 etc. always questioned the FWD etc. as I am a RWD fan (it's my age).
BUT shortly after they came out I went to a lecture of the Mechanical Engineers Inst, which was given by the Designers & Developers of the M100.
They reckoned that they constantly got better times around a test circuit with a FWD M100 than an equivalent (not sure if it was a RWD M100) RWD car.
Did produce some interesting data as well.
Wonder what sort of MPG these get, and would it be a good alternative to the Elise or even a TVR !!!!!
Anyone give me the dimensions compared to my Excel, might fit my garage better.
I have always thought they looked pretty, prettier than the MX5 etc. always questioned the FWD etc. as I am a RWD fan (it's my age).
BUT shortly after they came out I went to a lecture of the Mechanical Engineers Inst, which was given by the Designers & Developers of the M100.
They reckoned that they constantly got better times around a test circuit with a FWD M100 than an equivalent (not sure if it was a RWD M100) RWD car.
Did produce some interesting data as well.
Wonder what sort of MPG these get, and would it be a good alternative to the Elise or even a TVR !!!!!
Anyone give me the dimensions compared to my Excel, might fit my garage better.
ooh, just found this thread after spotting a few tidy looking M100's in classifieds.
I've always liked the m100 elan. How would one cope with daily driver use - about 200 miles a week?
I remember the top gear episode when one of these had a leaky roof and dodgy window (could have been for comic effect I suppose)
I've always liked the m100 elan. How would one cope with daily driver use - about 200 miles a week?
I remember the top gear episode when one of these had a leaky roof and dodgy window (could have been for comic effect I suppose)
I've had an S2 since new, still feels a pretty good car to me. I mentioned in an earlier post, my "Roadcraft" Instructor had never been in an M100, and after a day of hard road driving passed the comment "why would you ever buy an Elise when you could have one of these " ?
Generally they are totally reliable, parts don't seem to difficult, I'm lucky having Lakeside Engineering fairly close by to maintain the car for me in good value exemplary fashion . The only significant fault with my car, which has been present since new is water ingress, the supplying dealer couldn't fix it when it was new, it seems to be down to luck as to how good a particular car is.
In my view this is the best made Lotus ever, it was their "Porsche Boxter" five years before Porsche got to market. Another tragedy, another Lotus story of missed opportunity, all very sad.
Generally they are totally reliable, parts don't seem to difficult, I'm lucky having Lakeside Engineering fairly close by to maintain the car for me in good value exemplary fashion . The only significant fault with my car, which has been present since new is water ingress, the supplying dealer couldn't fix it when it was new, it seems to be down to luck as to how good a particular car is.
In my view this is the best made Lotus ever, it was their "Porsche Boxter" five years before Porsche got to market. Another tragedy, another Lotus story of missed opportunity, all very sad.
Should also say that the quality of the fibre glass body on the M100 is really remarkable, it's close to perfect and yet very thin and light. Looking yesterday at the finish of the brand new Exige S, and seeing all the Reliant Scimitar style ripples down the "C posts" things have certainly deteriated in the moulding quality department !
we owned one for twenty years or so
not quick on the straights by modern standards, but unbelievably quick on corners and rough british b roads
comfortable and practical day to day
also the most reliable car we've ever had : there are examples in the uk with 1/4m miles
slightly leaky hoods, weak gear linkages, rusty wishbones, struggling now...
as mentioned, lotus elan central is your guide
not quick on the straights by modern standards, but unbelievably quick on corners and rough british b roads
comfortable and practical day to day
also the most reliable car we've ever had : there are examples in the uk with 1/4m miles
slightly leaky hoods, weak gear linkages, rusty wishbones, struggling now...
as mentioned, lotus elan central is your guide
These are brilliant cars.
I've just acquired one again after having one 20 years ago when I was 21 and they are still a good drive.I even think the shape has stood the test of time and the build quality was good as on the whole they seem to be reliable.
I think they have reached a price now where they are excellent value and there's only one way future values can go.
I've just acquired one again after having one 20 years ago when I was 21 and they are still a good drive.I even think the shape has stood the test of time and the build quality was good as on the whole they seem to be reliable.
I think they have reached a price now where they are excellent value and there's only one way future values can go.
Hi bought my 1991 elan se british racing green in sept this year from a dealer in Bromley. I paid a very small price for what is proving to be a peach of a car. The car had been stood for a while & came with 9 months mot. I have fitted a new exhaust [£210 new on ebay for a complete tuned stainless system] & I am in the process of fitting new brake pipes. Although it is winter I use it as much as I can & still love the push in the back when the turbo kicks in. I think the brakes are pretty good as standard but a lot of people do upgrade them. So I think anybody fancying a little easy to use, cheap to run fun car the elan is well worth considering. Jonno
1990 Top gear review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q71yPwV23Go
"Bullet proof" engines?
I have replaced a couple on the Isuzu Piazza (same engine) with crank thrust problems. Usually take out the crank and the block.
So do check for crank endfloat and also put the car into neutral at traffic lights etc.
Otherwise, fab little car - about the best handling FWD car ever.
I have replaced a couple on the Isuzu Piazza (same engine) with crank thrust problems. Usually take out the crank and the block.
So do check for crank endfloat and also put the car into neutral at traffic lights etc.
Otherwise, fab little car - about the best handling FWD car ever.
V8 FOU said:
"Bullet proof" engines?
I have replaced a couple on the Isuzu Piazza (same engine) with crank thrust problems. Usually take out the crank and the block.
So do check for crank endfloat and also put the car into neutral at traffic lights etc.
Otherwise, fab little car - about the best handling FWD car ever.
as mentioned before, i owned an elan for a little over 20 yearsI have replaced a couple on the Isuzu Piazza (same engine) with crank thrust problems. Usually take out the crank and the block.
So do check for crank endfloat and also put the car into neutral at traffic lights etc.
Otherwise, fab little car - about the best handling FWD car ever.
during that time i only came across one engine that had been "opened"
For those of you who haven't already, I'd really recommend getting a Mountain Chip for that extra boost! (The stock turbo only goes to 0.65, the Everest chip will take it to 0.9) 
These are great cars IMO, I use one pretty much as a daily, I never get sick of it. It's comfortable & has a surprisingly sizable boot.
Brake upgrades are a must as the stock brakes are terrible.
These are great cars IMO, I use one pretty much as a daily, I never get sick of it. It's comfortable & has a surprisingly sizable boot.
Brake upgrades are a must as the stock brakes are terrible.
Gogoplata said:
For those of you who haven't already, I'd really recommend getting a Mountain Chip for that extra boost! (The stock turbo only goes to 0.65, the Everest chip will take it to 0.9)
These are great cars IMO, I use one pretty much as a daily, I never get sick of it. It's comfortable & has a surprisingly sizable boot.
Brake upgrades are a must as the stock brakes are terrible.
Agree, brakes and chip a mustThese are great cars IMO, I use one pretty much as a daily, I never get sick of it. It's comfortable & has a surprisingly sizable boot.
Brake upgrades are a must as the stock brakes are terrible.
add a stainless free flow exhaust and you'll have a quick car that will keep with most modern sports-carsGassing Station | General Lotus Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff