Lotus Elan Central

by **TrueBlue** » Wed 11.07.2007, 18:39

Ive always wanted this car and i got it yesterday
managed to find a 1991 edition with mileage under 90k from a dealer/showroom
also bought a private plate
i'm not supposed to drive it with the new plate on yet because the paperwork hasnt been processed yet by DVLA but i couldnt resist it today so ive been out all day driving..what a lovely day!!

dont like to push the engine too much but i did on 1 occassion and yes it DUS go quicker than a C5 or should i say s**t off a shovel

i still think its the best looking car on the road!!

picture attached

by **WillB** » Wed 11.07.2007, 19:53

Yet another one in Torquay, congrats!

by **TrueBlue** » Wed 11.07.2007, 19:59

thats interesting only ever seen an elan once in torquay burgundy i think it was??

look forewards to finding out who else is here

by **Enright** » Wed 11.07.2007, 20:24

Welcome and good luck.
Look after it.
You have a LOT of reading to do!!! :lol:

But if you get stuck I'm sure we can provide links to the answers.

by **clemo** » Wed 11.07.2007, 20:28

welcome

guess you have not driven down cadwell lane recently then !! i have a silver na and a pasific blue se ....
see you around ..

clemo

and i thought i was the only pacific blue elan in the village...

by **Gary** » Wed 11.07.2007, 21:29

what going on ? every post tonight is a double post ???

I say, what going on ? every post tonight is a double post ???

by **TrueBlue** » Wed 11.07.2007, 22:01

whats going on everyone seems to have double posts and lotus's
1 for spares perhaps?

thanks everyone for your kind reception to the forum

enright: thank you - yes i will look after it but i'm not very mechanically minded i am a retired designer (a designer)
i just get frustrated and pissed off when i see a bad design or if something breaks and i am very impatient

i am hoping to find a Lotus garage soon somewhere in the SWest
that can service it for me and supply and fit any parts that break
i am new and not sure at the moment how much lotus ltd support the elan still??

by **TrueBlue** » Thu 12.07.2007, 15:58

I am very sad today
i have found out that my new Elan has been crash damaged
i though it was just the bonet out of line but the whole front end is out of line and the wings have been joined to the door sill bit (not sure if that is supposed to be is the body - front and back supposed to be all in 1 piece??)

so now i dont know what to do the repair will cost alot i suspect
and it might need a whole new body??
so i might have to sell it cheap and buy another one

i paid top wack £5000 to the power house car centre in nottinghamshire
for the car all the photo's looked good...i assumed being from a dealer that it would be the best buy but it seems i was wrong

so how much is a new body and fitting likely to cost?
i'm going into the lotus dealer on saturday for them to let me know exactly

HELP!!

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 12.07.2007, 16:29

unfortunately its not the body you need to worry about.....
its the drive train....if thats bent its not good.....
how does it feel when driving??...
does it pull to one side when accelerating??....does it buck around at the rear under braking?....are the tyres evenly worn?
Id take it to southwest lotus and get them to give it the once over....
good luck....

ps do you still not have it on 30 days aproval.....
is it not law that if your not satisfied within 28 days you can return it and demand you money back?....

by **TrueBlue** » Thu 12.07.2007, 16:39

thanks for ur support
yes it drives lovely!!
and the engine seems to be in good nick with 69000 miles
its going in to the local lotus dealer in Exeter-peninsula- on saturday for a checkout..
Lotus have just told me the front section is seperate from the a frame so i am releived about that
i paid £5000 for the car here is the advert http://www.fish4.co.uk/iad/cars/advert?adId=15142251&sid=s45E33E7B7587543&pos=1&src=search&tot=3
because i thought i was safe buying from the dealer who assured me on this basis with what it says in the advert 'a very nice example'

now its probably gonna be another £2k so i either sell it and buy another one or end up paying £7k total for it
atleast i will know that it is all ok and sound i guess

i've had the car for 3 Days

by **abmunro** » Thu 12.07.2007, 17:07

I think I would be thinking of taking it back to the dealers.

I looked at that one on the internet before I bought mine.

Everything you buy has to be fit for purpose.

I would certainly be speaking to the dealer before I got it repaired.

Good Luck whichever way you go..

by **muley** » Thu 12.07.2007, 17:32

Sorry to hear about your problem - if you download the manual you can see how it is supposed to be put together. In short; the front and the back are 2 separate parts, with other bits dotted around.

I should have thought you might have some way of returning it to the dealer .. Dealers ! :roll:

Well, it was cheap - normally dealers charge more ...

Hope it works out for you

Cheers

Jim

p.s. To anyone else considering buying an Elan, do try Willb first ! JB

by **TrueBlue** » Thu 12.07.2007, 17:46

thanks muley

ive had a look at autotrader
the better elans are 7K
so i guess theres room for manouver being that its only 69k miles

if it takes 2k to make it immaculate by a lotus dealer then i'm not bothered

its just so sad that people nowadays omit unwelcomed truth in order to line their pockets

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 12.07.2007, 18:30

TrueBlue wrote:thanks for ur support
yes it drives lovely!!
i paid £5000 for the car here is the advert http://www.fish4.co.uk/iad/cars/advert?adId=15142251&sid=s45E33E7B7587543&pos=1&src=search&tot=3
because i thought i was safe buying from the dealer who assured me on this basis with what it says in the advert 'a very nice example'

mmm.......reading the ad.....

never trust a dealer who doesnt even know the engine size of a car he's selling....erm in actual fact avoid 2nd hand car sales men :evil:

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 12.07.2007, 18:32

abmunro wrote:I think I would be thinking of taking it back to the dealers.

I looked at that one on the internet before I bought mine.

Everything you buy has to be fit for purpose.

I would certainly be speaking to the dealer before I got it repaired.

Good Luck whichever way you go..

I'd give it em back and start again.......this time with whatever help we can all throw in.........

by **Dave Eds** » Thu 12.07.2007, 19:08

theelanman wrote:
abmunro wrote:I think I would be thinking of taking it back to the dealers.

I looked at that one on the internet before I bought mine.

Everything you buy has to be fit for purpose.

I would certainly be speaking to the dealer before I got it repaired.

Good Luck whichever way you go..

I'd give it em back and start again.......this time with whatever help we can all throw in.........

I have to agree with Gareth :wink:

This dealer should not be allowed to get away with any misdoings.

LEC will help you start again

by **Monty** » Thu 12.07.2007, 19:56

TrueBlue wrote:I am very sad today
i have found out that my new Elan has been crash damaged
i though it was just the bonet out of line but the whole front end is out of line and the wings have been joined to the door sill bit (not sure if that is supposed to be is the body - front and back supposed to be all in 1 piece??)

so now i dont know what to do the repair will cost alot i suspect
and it might need a whole new body??
so i might have to sell it cheap and buy another one

i paid top wack £5000 to the power house car centre in nottinghamshire
for the car all the photo's looked good...i assumed being from a dealer that it would be the best buy but it seems i was wrong

so how much is a new body and fitting likely to cost?
i'm going into the lotus dealer on saturday for them to let me know exactly

HELP!!

Who says it`s crash damaged?

Did u do a HPI check?

A dealer has to declare if the vechile has ever been in an accident.

Sounds like u haven`t got a clue about cars

It`s a shame u couldn`t meet up with Clemo so he can give u advice.

How close is SW Lotus to u? maybe best to get there advice

Maybe one of the Mods could move this thread :roll:

by **GeoffSmith** » Thu 12.07.2007, 20:24

Monty wrote:It's a shame u couldn't meet up with Clemo so he can give u advice.

Great minds think alike - see here!

by **TrueBlue** » Thu 12.07.2007, 20:24

thanks the elanman and dave i'll let u know here what happens at the lotus dealer on saturday

monty wrote:
>Who says it's crash damaged?

because 2 of the panels have been filled in the corner

>Did u do a HPI check?

yes and i'm all insured with that

>A dealer has to declare if the vechile has ever been in an accident.

>Sounds like u haven't got a clue about cars It's a shame u couldn't >meet up with Clemo so he can give u advice.

no i havent got a clue about cars..i PM's clemo yesterday awaiting a reply

>How close is SW Lotus to u? maybe best to get there advice

yes i'm popping in on saturday
i'm really pleased with the engine, the way it drives and the mileage so hopefully the body repair wont be too expensive and it will save me the hassle
stay tuned i'll post here after lotus has had a look

by **Enright** » Thu 12.07.2007, 21:24

TrueBlue wrote:monty wrote:
>Who says it's crash damaged?

because 2 of the panels have been filled in the corner

Um, that's not conclusive proof.
The A panels can be a bit of a crappy fit.
Well to be honest, ALL of the panels can!

Lotus Elan Central

Got my Lotus Elan Yesterday!!

Got my Lotus Elan Yesterday!!

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