Elan guru's?

[Noodles 4.2]

Hello,

Can some of you Lotus guys please give your opinion on the Elan?

A friend is thinking of spending 8-9k on one and she would be very greatful of any hints/tip/advice doing so.

Any idea on servicing, reliability and the do and don'ts would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance

Tony

[clanger]

Hi Tony

I presume its the M100 Elan you're after advice on and not the orig 60s/70s Elan.

Do:

Make sure its the SE Turbo version the N/A is a tad on the slow side.
Check that the car has been maintained - service history is nice - but not conclusive.
Speak to previous owners
HPI check it - many Elans have 'histories'!
Check number of owners
Brake test from speed - if weaves alarmingly - walk away - may indicate chassis problem
Check tyres and wheels for irregular wear/damage.
Check rear wishbones/front radius arms for rust.
Check hood, especially neoprene seals for damage.

Don't

Buy one without someone who knows M100's being there to help with inspection.

Remember some of these cars are now 13 years old, some will have had a chequered history - buy a good one and you'll get heaps of fun, engine/gearbox is bulletproof, they are terrific cars with superb handling and performance with practicability too!! I've had mine for 4 years now and it has been perfect - good luck

[JonRB]

clanger said:

Don't Buy one without someone who knows M100's being there to help with inspection.

Oops. Still, turned out well as the car as a good 'un (hi Laurence ).

Seriously fun little cars. We love ours.
It will be at PistonFest this weekend if you want to see it.

[Noodles 4.2]

Thanks for that guys,

What are the servicing intervals and how much do they average out at please? Are they considered to be generally reliable (assuming you look after it and have a good example)?

The lady who the car is intended for is not too concerned about the turbo charged version (!?!).

What are the hoods like with respect to leakage?

Can you point me in the direction of a reputable source for these cars or do I have to brave the classifieds?

I hope to be able to persuade her to take the leap to a British car - although she seems quite eager to buy a Golf (yuck!)

Thanks very much

Tony

[JonRB]

Yes, the hoods do leak. Ours doesn't but effort has to be made to achieve that - effort that was thankfully made by the previous owner.

We have had ours less than a year and haven't serviced it yet so can't help you on price.
Insurance was £380-odd on a limited mileage (6000 miles pa) policy.
Other than that we've had no problems and have only had to spend out on petrol and oil so far.

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 25th June 14:33

[clanger]

I service the M100 myself - change oil (synthetic) every 5k miles. V straightforward car - competent garage will heve no probs with servicing - don't pay main dealer prices for servicing ). Paul Matty in Birmingham generally has a few in stock - but I think he's a tad expensive. Would advise you against the N/A model..

[Rob B]

Totally agree about taking some with you who knows one end of an M100 from another.

Also mine will be at PF if your going and fancy a chat

[Noodles 4.2]

Thanks very much guys.

The search has started.

Tony

[Elanbloke]

I,m glad to hear the cars still doing well Jon! If anyone is looking don't forget to check out www.lotuselancentral.com and www.british-cars.co.uk
Cam belts are the biggest service expense items, IIRC it's every 60K miles. The rear wishbones seem to be the only serious potential rust problem (can break if corroded badly) and must be carefully checked give them a good hard poke (with a screwdriver) top and bottom. Cam angle sensors on the SE's/S2's tend go eventually and are quite expensive to replace but a good test drive should show up any problems. Electric windows and headlight motors should be checked for sound operation. Good Luck!

[waspygill]

Had my Elan several years now after 'aquiring it' when the Insurance co wrote it off due to the difficulty getting parts (KIA problem days! I remember them well) and we had it in the workshop sitting around for several months running up hire car charges. I was really chuffed as I had always wanted one (albeit mustard yellow) since the day Wayne had brought in a photo and told me that we would be repairing them (many many years ago now!) I had kept a poster on the wall next to my desk (just shows you that wishing works)

I was just telling a customer the other day that we had never had a problem with ours and what great little cars they are when our mechanic took it out to meet a customer and it blew an oil pipe, lucky he knew what it was and stopped, (lucky I wasn't driving when it blew)

However other than the pretty crap brakes and the leaky, but so easy to put up roof, it is a lovely car and very reliable.

Your other half will love it especially the reaction from other drivers and members of the public. Everyone seems to like the Elan

Do do as the Clanger said tho' and check it out thoroughly before you buy.

Happy shopping!

Gill
@Sinclaire

[fallon]

Hi there. I've had my Elan for two and a half years now and had no major problems.

My partner does all the servicing and general maintenance as he's knows Elan's, Elises and 340R's inside out, so I'm very lucky in that respect.

I have the SE turbo and for an 11 year old car it still goes like a perfect little rocket and is nice and comfortable on long runs (take it up to Scotland on those lovely empty roads!).

Yes, the hoods usually leak, but that's really the only bug-bear. For the money, you simply can't get anything that comes close to the performance, looks, handling and sheer smile-factor of an Elan!

[Noodles 4.2]

thanks everybody.

She has decided to take the leap. Just need to sell the renault first.

Tony

[fallon]

Renault.... not a Clio, I hope? I've got one of those too, you can imagine my dismay at having to pick the French rubbish over the Elan whenever it's raining particularly hard!!!

[Noodles 4.2]

Not a Clio - a Megane Cabriolet (yuck!).

I think it will sell quickly as there seem to be no Megane convertibles about at all.

Tony

[fallon]

Have just thought of something else to check (along with items already listed by Clanger and Elanbloke).

My Elan is missing the wheel arch liners and as a result, when it rains heavily, water absolutely p*sses in through the passenger side - strangely the drivers side is OK.

Does anyone know where to get hold of these elusive liners? I'm thinking I might have to get a plastics company to fabricate some for me....

[clanger]

Fallon - unfortunately they are as rare as rocking horse sh*t. There's a breaker near Wigan called Douglas Valley Breakers who have 4 Elan's in at the mo' - might be worth checking them out?

[fallon]

have just checked with Douglas Valley Breakers and they've got what I need! Fabulous, thanks Clanger!

wonder if one of those breakers is a red SE model trashed by my aunt's brother on his way back from Le Mans!

[Noodles 4.2]

fallon said:

My Elan is missing the wheel arch liners and as a result, when it rains heavily, water absolutely p*sses in through the passenger side - strangely the drivers side is OK.

Is this common?

Tony

[Mattw]

I don’t suppose anyone here has any experience of trading in an MX5 for an Elan? I have been thinking that I would like to get something a little more exotic/individual than the mass-produced Japanese roadster and have been thinking about an Elan.

I’ve got a 99 ‘T’ (MK2) 1.8is, anyone have any comparisons against an Elan? I do like the MX5 and know that it’s supposed to be one of the best but I have no idea how it compares. I know that I’d be looking at an older car if I was looking to do a straight (ish) trade and this does not bother me, I can also put up with a leaky hood but I’m not sure if I want a FWD or if the 1.6 Turbo is quicker than the MX.

I know the obvious answer is to go and drive one which I am intending to do this weekend, but I would be interested to hear your opinions before I go.

Cheers

Matt

[JonRB]

fallon said:

...trashed by my aunt's brother...

Forgive me for being thick, but isn't you aunt's brother your uncle?