Boot space

[Kathryn]

I've noticed in the few months I've been on LEC before and since owning my Elan, that a common question especially with potential new owners, is luggage space.
Last week I thought I'd see how much I can fit in the boot in anticipation of next month's holiday and to see if I need to buy one of those boot bag things (or fashion a cheaper version!) Well, there's no need to get the tarpaulin and bungee ropes out, because I can fit in: one medium suitcase, two cabin cases and a coolbag, and there's still plenty of space down the sides (and behind the seats) for shoes, jackets and handbags!

2014-07-11 19.26.10-1.jpg

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[novacaine]

The exact reason my mum used to love her Elan

[lotos]

Nice! In an MX-5 Miata you'd be lucky to fit your laptop you used to make that post

[Rob P]

You can even get a full set of golf clubs in a tour bag and an electric golf trolley, battery, Shoe bag and accessories with still room for a winners prize including a couple of bottles of wine

[Ian T]

Really useful post

I had no idea how much space there was before buying mine and while I suppose I had already thrown practicality to the wind, I've been surprised at what will fit into the boot.

Of course, with the hood up, there's a useful looking area in the hood stowage position too.

[Fredjohn]

A really useful practical demonstration of what you can get in. I went on a trip to Plymouth and Bournemouth 2 years ago with 2 up. Filled the boot, but still managed to get an electric guitar in on the way back!

But then I am used to doing 2000 miles 2 up across France in an old Elan, so the boot of an M100 is positively van sized!

[HJ2]

Top info indeed!

I am not going to demonstrate like you did, but here's another top tip: I put all the stuff in the trunk without the bags so i can make optimal use of all the strange corners in the back. I think you can get almost 30% more in it that way. Then in the end put the sport bags on top so you can put everything back to carry it to your hotel or camping.
We did almost 3 weeks of Italy like this and i could not believe just how much fits in there!

[GeoffSmith]

The boot used to be big enough for a Clemo, but maybe not now he's 40.

[dapinky]

It is amazing how I can get all the camping gear (bearing in mind that Angie doesn't do 'basic camping, so it's a big tent, airbed, duvet, pillows etc), cooking stuff, clothes etc for a fortnight in France....

..... and still get 20+ bottles of wine in the small gaps on the way home!


On a serious note, according to the official figures, it isn't size so much as weight which is the problem - the book says 40Kg - any more can lead to glassfibre damage (as the boot area overhangs the chassis).

[cliff]

But then I am used to doing 2000 miles 2 up across France in an old Elan, so the boot of an M100 is positively van sized!

Having driven Alfa Romeo GTV's for a long time and recently bought my 4th, I can only say that the Elan boot is positively cavernous. Takes a crate of beer and 20 bottles of wine easily.

[theelanman]

You can get a whole person in too......as demonstrated by clemo IIRC

[HJ2]

Having driven Alfa Romeo GTV's for a long time and recently bought my 4th, I can only say that the Elan boot is positively cavernous. Takes a crate of beer and 20 bottles of wine easily.

You Amateur!

[Kathryn]

I took the photos to prove to my travelling companion (my mum) that everything would all fit in! She was convinced it wouldn't - I didn't tell her I wasn't sure if it would either!! I thought I'd share them with LEC, as I found out how many golf clubs and how big a tent would fit in (as reiterated here!), but that's no use whatsoever to someone who doesn't play golf and who at the age of about 16 refused to stay in a tent ever again!!

[Stef]

You can get a whole person in too......as demonstrated by clemo IIRC

Yup!

In Elan boot.jpg

[cliff]

No offense meant Stef and apologies to Kathryn for being off topic (again),

but this looks like something from the Top Gear Albanian Mafia Don car test.

[DeanG]

But then I am used to doing 2000 miles 2 up across France in an old Elan, so the boot of an M100 is positively van sized!

Old Elans hold quite a bit of luggage. We are able to put 2 airline under seat size bags behind the seats, a small cooler in the foot well of the passenger's side a helmet (filled with cloths) on the transmission and a bunch in the trunk in our S3 FHC. They hold much more and have better room than a Miata.

Our furthest round trip in the Elan was about a thousand miles.

[testdriver]

Top info indeed!

I am not going to demonstrate like you did, but here's another top tip: I put all the stuff in the trunk without the bags so i can make optimal use of all the strange corners in the back. I think you can get almost 30% more in it that way. Then in the end put the sport bags on top so you can put everything back to carry it to your hotel or camping.
We did almost 3 weeks of Italy like this and i could not believe just how much fits in there!

You not, me yes . May I demonstrate then what you have just described - It's with an Exige S1 however, but the system is the same:

clicky for photos