Noobie buying Qs

[cynic-al]

After lusting after an Elan for decade, my time may have come, but I have some questions:

Will £5K get me a reliable one? (Obvs a decent amount of work required in choosing).
Is mpg 28 for reasonable mixed driving?
Prices seem to have bottomed out from when I last thought about it 5-10 years ago... perhaps on the way up?
Autumn/winter the best time to buy?

I'm really hoping I get one, I think it'd be a better car for me that my Eunos and Smart Roadster.

[simonbuk]

5K will get you a road worthy useable car. Maybe a bit of tidying up here and there but it should be ok.

Approaching winter or during snowy times is obviously the best time to buy as prices do fluctuate quite a lot during the year.

Buy a members car from here if you can, lots of niggles will have been sorted out for you, and no doubt history could be found within these pages.

There was a car on eBay that somebody had seen, a mechanic who had sold an engine and his car was going too. I think around your price range.

Look in the For Sale section for eBay cars.

Good luck in your search !!

[simonbuk]

Oh and 28 is achievable as an automatically verbage I find. Mine constantly gives me over 30 quite easily on a decent journey with some twisty roads included too.

[rip]

[simonbuk]

Oh and 28 is achievable as an automatically verbage I find.

What on earth was I typing there ??!!

No idea where that came from and can't remember what I was supposed to type !!

[dapinky]

Al,

This one may be worth a look....

.... it has a lot of desirable upgrades (brakes, S2 wheels etc), and if you can live with the bespoke interior it should be a good start (it was previously owned by an enthusiast on this forum, but has been in other hands for the past few years - when Stevie owned it, it was widely considered to be amongst the better ones on here. I presume that the car would benefit from some work (as they all could!), but it certainly was in great condition, and if the current owner has done some maitenance to keep it up to usable condition it would be a usable car.

[Rambo]

Is it my eyes or is Kermit hanging down lower on the offside than the nearside ?

[Giniw]

dapinky > and I find it quite inexpensive, especially with its features as you say!

[Rambo]

It certainly was a well looked after and cared for car when Stevie Shagmeister owned it

Newish MOT until May 2018 but it will need a lot of work in the next few years.. All fairly bog standard sort of stuff though

Reason(s) for failure
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)
Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)
Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)
Offside Rear Brake cable has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Advisory notice item(s)
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
tyres perishing

[simonbuk]

That was all a few years ago though........

[Rusty Wishbone]

5K will get you a road worthy useable car. Maybe a bit of tidying up here and there but it should be ok.

Approaching winter or during snowy times is obviously the best time to buy as prices do fluctuate quite a lot during the year.

Buy a members car from here if you can, lots of niggles will have been sorted out for you, and no doubt history could be found within these pages.

I agree with this. £5k won't buy you a great Elan, but could buy you a car that is reasonable. Personally, I don't see prices going up much - if it didn't go up in the last few years of excessive asset value growth, I doubt that it will appreciate in the next few years. The financial benefit is that you won't suffer depreciation, unlike a modern car, but you will spend that money on maintenance instead. So, don't buy an Elan if you want a financial asset. Buy one, like most of us here, because you love it.

I get about 28mpg, which isn't too bad.

Good luck. And please do let us know when you buy one.

[lotusflasherman]

One here for £3750 that leaves a bit of 'wriggle room' for unexpected expenditure. forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=24931#p332719

or buy the one on Pistonheads and you can sell the S2 wheels and get almost half the money back ...

[cynic-al]

Thanks all. Servicing costs...a good few hundred a year?

I do like black (it's slimming!). But that's quite a list of issues. But I prefer S1 wheels...are the S2 wheels really worth a lot?

I'll keep thinking. My Roadster is appearing to be reliable now which doesn't help this decision, especially if a fair bit would need spent on an Elan.

I will be in London shortly though...this is a head v heart decision.

[dapinky]

.... But that's quite a list of issues. But I prefer S1 wheels...are the S2 wheels really worth a lot?

The list of issues could be a problem, or could be an opportunity to get into ownership within budget - depends on your view, and whether or not you are happy to wave a spanner around for a day or two, or need to factor in garage costs.

Nothing in that list would upset me too much - from looking at the MOT history it appears to be a case of a couple of old advisories which haven't been addressed, along with standing around unused (not much mileage over the past few years).

If you have to allow for complete rear wishbones (upper and lower) - then it isn't a cheap job - parts will come in at around £1200 (remade in Stainless Steel), and second hand in good condition rarely come up for sale...... but if it's passed an MOT, then they are (should be!) okay for now, and a strip/repaint may keep them going for many years - even if they need plating in areas.

The CV boot is a straightforward replacement.

I'd budget for a complete set of tyres.

Also, if the car hasn't been used much, I'd be looking at a cambelt change (along with waterpump and tensioners).


As for the wheels, well, I'd be prepared to offer you a straight swap for a set of SE wheels, with new tyres, for those S2s

(but realistically, due to the brake upgrade, the SE wheels won't fit over the bigger callipers, so you are 'stuck' with the S2 wheels, or if you really prefer the SE ones, then I'm sure you could swap them for a set of Federal 16" wheels - or any aftermarket 17" or whatever that you like).

(I'm joking about the 'straight swap' - but research the availability & previous sale prices of these wheels before anyone else offers you such a generous deal )

[Rambo]

Just to let you know...

2nd hand SE OZ alloys (15") are ten a penny or to be more precise between £30-60
2nd hand S2 BBZ alloys (16") are like gold dust or to be more precise between £350-500

As Phil says, flog the wheels and get half the purchase price back
But as Dapinky says, 15" wheels won't do with the brake/caliper upgrades so you will have to go down the route of Fed 16" wheels (hard to source) or aftermarket 16" alloys with the correct offset

The choice is yours

NB edited to reflect my mistake. BBS not OZ

[Giniw]

or aftermarket 16" alloys with the correct offset

which basically don't exist? (or do they?)

[Rambo]

I think a few on LEC have Compomotive wheels in 16" but I could be wrong. Maybe they're 17"

Flickerman Phil had some nice wheels on his car at Castle Combe. Non standard but I can't remember what. I'm sure he'll enlighten us

Also Par up in Dunfermline has Compomotives but not sure of size

[Rambo]

Just found what Phil has. Looks like 17" wheels but I think they look good

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=24465

[dapinky]

2nd hand SE OZ alloys (15") are ten a penny or to be more precise between £30-60
2nd hand S2 OZ alloys (16") are like gold dust or to be more precise between £350-500

I think Mark means 16" S2 BBS wheels - it was only the 15" SE/NA or 16" Fed wheels which were made by OZ

[Rambo]

Correct Dave. That's cut and paste for you and inaccurate checking. Sorry