Say hello to Patch

[maz_r]

Hi All,

Joined the happy band today.

Picked up Patch this afternoon in the torrential rain and tiptoed to her new home in Solihull. What a fun drive home - not far but I was still getting used to the car. Got overtaken by an arctic on the motorway - slightly embarassing, to say the least. Apologies for letting the side down!

The missus was less than impressed when water came pouring in all over her leg! My side was fine

Plenty of little things to sort - mostly bits and bobs of electrics (where I am moderately confident of my ground): it looks like a couple of mechanical ones (where I am not ) and paintwork (where I need professional help). Due to the multiple shades of red and pink (esp. the headlamp pods), the name Patch seems more than appropriate

Think the turbo is smoking - didn't on the test drive - ho-hum.....

I think replacing the front discs and pads might be quite high on my list - she does stop OK, but as commented many times here, there is a lack of initial bite.

Previously owned 2 Excels, so I'm not a stranger to the delights of Lotus ownership.

Confident that I'll be regularly picking your collective brains in the near future,

All the best,

Martin.

[Specky]

Hi patch

TTFN

[dapinky]

Welcome

As the owner of a multi-shade red/pink elan myself, I can offer the following advice:-

Give it a good T-cut.

Depending on whether the paint is clear lacquered or not, it may well help.

Mine is a solid paint with no clearcoat and responded well to T-cut followed by wax - half a day soon had it all one colour (sadly it didn't last 'cos Angie never washes / waxes it )

But when it is regularly waxed (every month or 2) it stays looking good.

The turbo can be re-built quite easily for £30 (if the shaft and impeller are still okay) if you are fairly happy to have a go (using only basic tools and household items!) see this page on the Wiki, or a specialist will do it for you (a few diferent people have had various jobs done for prices starting at about £150 and going up depending on what needs replacing)

[texas2201]

welcome Martin from another Martin - I still have my Excel's and the Elan - great little car - this site is the best place for anything to do with these cars

[tigerdog]

hello to Patch

Martin, welcome to you, too!

[Nige]

Martin and Patch, welcome to LEC.

[rip]

Hi Martin & Patch.

Brakes are a good place to start. The discs are shared with a 1993 Astra GSi & pads are from another Astra, a 1300 MK1, but a lot of us have gone for upgraded pads. Halfords also do a refurb kit for £10 a side which improves matters a bit (althought the included O rings are slightly wrong). These will make your brakes just about acceptable instead of being poor.
Like most parts of the car, there are decent upgrades available.

A pity that your first experience was in the wet. The Elan is great fun in warm, dry weather (if we get any more this year).

Try to get along to a meet sometime. For me, being a part of the 'Lotus community' is at least as much fun as owning the car itself.