Newbie prospective owner

[Alexwils]

Hi there, not an owner yet but a former Elise owner and long time member of SELOC. Looking to get something in the next month or so.

Went for a drive in one on Sunday and it was brilliant, could definitely feel the lineage with the Elan to the Elise.

[MPx]

Welcome and GLWTS. What are you looking for? Model? Colour? Concours/Project? Also worth updating your location in your profile - maybe someone on here local to bounce ideas off.

[Alexwils]

Added location now, thanks.

As for what I'm looking at, I'm not particularly bothered by colour (although if I was going to pick my favourite it would be yellow). Budget wise I'm in the £10-12k mark, something that's in a good condition, I'm not after a project. I'm totally open to ideas and suggestions although my natural instinct is towards an S2 with my thinking being that Lotus ironed out a few of the issues - having come from lotus ownership in the past I'm aware that they tended to upgrade and change as they went along the build process. Also at some point I'd be looking to sell on so the fact that the S2s are numbered would suggest a better resale value. Definitely not interested in an NA Elan.

[Tuga2112]

the S2 has a few improved things, (rear wishbones, sligtly better fuel economy ) but they also have stricter emisions at the MOT and a few extra years before they go tax free (not that it matters at the moment, but you may be thinking you could have saved 600 quid in taxes by the time you sell it).

i personally dont find the difference in price worth it for what is pratically the same car to drive.

and you shouldnt knock down the NA until you try it.
the car has a lighter nose, and that does make a differnece when your driving. it also requires you to be more in tune with the engine in order to keep the power as it lacks the turbo.
i find myself driving the NA at considerably higher revs than the SE, the steering feel is lighter and that gives a different experience.

the few NA drivers i have meet always have posivite things to say, but all of them eventually sold the car.
I got mine after having a SE for 8 years, and find the lack of a turbo disappointing, but theres definitely something else there to enjoy that isnt on the SE
mind you, NA are not for the average person. despite the fact the car is 90% the same as the SE. everytime theres something odd about the engine, you find people's advice tends to talk about parts which aren't there (coil packs, HES, turbo + piping)

[Alexwils]

I appreciate that I haven't even bought the car yet but I've got to keep an eye on resale at some point so that's one of the reasons I'm discounting NA Elans - making a niche car even more niche isn't going to help! Also I think I'd always find myself wondering what it would be like with the turbo which deep down I think would be the big thing.

Interesting point about SEs vs S2s. I'm not totally ruing out a well sorted SE but probably more towards the later end of the production run so the '93 era rather than the '90

[MPx]

... more towards the later end of the production run so the '93 era rather than the '90

Not sure reality matches your thinking. The production run for SE/NA was quite short under GMs ownership 89-91. They didn't sell well and some were registered much later having sat around. When Bugatti bought Lotus from GM and found the 800 spare engines, the S2 was made ... but again in a very short production run in 94 despite some not being registered 'til 96 or later.

[Giniw]

When Bugatti bought Lotus from GM

*Romano Artioli, not Bugatti (R. Artioli also owned Bugatti though)

[Alexwils]

I'm totally happy to be schooled on this! However I'm guessing that most new owners are not already Elan owners so my thinking is that most people will follow my own flawed logic when looking to buy one

[Alexwils]

Also, I've heard the story of the 800 engines. Where were they hiding? It's not like a couple were in a shed somewhere - 800 is a lot of engines!

[MPx]

When Bugatti bought Lotus from GM

*Romano Artioli, not Bugatti (R. Artioli also owned Bugatti though)

Thanks for the correction.

Also, I've heard the story of the 800 engines. Where were they hiding? It's not like a couple were in a shed somewhere - 800 is a lot of engines!

More guesswork from me....but I suspect it was just a line in the inventory of what was bought from GM. GM also owned Isuzu so I'd expect they were engines earmarked for Lotus but never taken up/delivered - until they decided to do the S2.

[Tuga2112]

Also, I've heard the story of the 800 engines. Where were they hiding? It's not like a couple were in a shed somewhere - 800 is a lot of engines!

my own guess on that one is pretty simple.
when you manage large industrial areas and multiple buildings are owned by the same busines. its not unlikely to put stock on the "long term storage warehouse" and not have any staff go there until the paperwork says they need the items in that warehouse.

when the upper management comes to visit and gets a guide tour, you can show the warehouse to show how nicely organised things are (when no one is around)
if that person asks, "why are there soo many crates that look the same? whats in them" and the reply is "800 lotus engines" you can imagine the look of horror.

[Tuga2112]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186572248240 ... name=11021