Newbie :)

[Ronee]

Hi guys,

Well after many years of wanting and longing for an Elan i am going to finally bite the bullet and buy one! and need some expert advice please

does anyone have any info on this car?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3516310.htm

i went to view this one today, armed with the knowledge i would either LOVE it or hate it... luckily i loved it but it did have a few niggles i would like to share with you.

firstly the car was beautiful to drive in every way bar the steering which just seemed to want to launch me into whatever hedge was on the right hand side, now i haven't driven another yet to compare but i somehow don't think its meant to do that? I know that the steering is heavy (i am a weak and feeble female but i can cope with it!) also the temp gauge did not go up very high which we suspected the thermostat was at fault, is this a common fault? also the engine was a little tappy which would clearly be the lifters, how much am i looking for a set of these as i want the car to be perfect.

but the thing that would/will make me haggle the price considerably is the messy, poor effort at replacing/bodging the seals for the roof and doors, it looks like a kid has covered it in plasticine! what sort of price am i looking to replace all these seals with the correct ones? i understand they are not cheap!

and the last thing was A LOT of play in the gearstick i would the assume the cables?, i think by browsing through this forum its quite a common problem that can be easily rectified.

your help would be very much appreciated as i loved this car, but i know i should not buy the first one i see

[Specky]

Welcome Ronee,

Feel free to have a good old snoop around the site, You seem to be a switched on cookie when it comes to knowing your way around a car.

Would the car you have in mind, be used as an outside daily or garage queen?

I hope your search is a short one.

TTFN

[Andy_J]

Hi and welcome to the site.

I don't know anything about the car you are looking at, but it looks to me like the cover is missing off the CAS in the engine bay

Regards

Andrew

[dapinky]

Cough, cough....... This one is still here.

On a serious note, it may not be what you are looking for, but you are more than welcome to drop down to take a look at it (and the blue one!) so that you can have something to make comparisons with.
Many people take their cars off the road for winter, so there are less to compare (even if not for sale), but i don't (even if if it doesnt get used too much).

I won't be offended if you don't buy it, but feel free to take a look

[mmatthej1]

Re: Temperature Gauge reading.

I bought my M100 in the late Summer and found that the needle on this gauge stayed resolutely on its low stop (until I hit any traffic jam, when it rapidly moved up!). Advice from my local specialist garage was that the needle should normally sit at about the first mark up from the bottom and that the problem would be the thermostat.

I duly bought a t'stat from Halfords, fitted it and achieved the specified settings - an easy & cheap job, which also provided some heater performance, in time for Winter!

[texas2201]

welcome Ronee - Elans are great cars - looks a good car but sadly I know nothing about it - but you are paying a bit of a premium buying it from a dealer but I am sure you will get some sort of warranty from them. Martin I live near Newbury but if you were passing you are more than welcome to stop and have a look at my Elan - see some of it's history on my blog

[texas2201]

but the thing that would/will make me haggle the price considerably is the messy, poor effort at replacing/bodging the seals for the roof and doors, it looks like a kid has covered it in plasticine! what sort of price am i looking to replace all these seals with the correct ones? i understand they are not cheap!

The seals for the A posts are now available for around £65 + vat the roof ones - two part about £74 + Vat each see here

http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/index.php?mod=10

and the last thing was A LOT of play in the gearstick i would the assume the cables?, i think by browsing through this forum its quite a common problem that can be easily rectified.

There is an upgrade available from Bob on the forum for cables and a short shift -

viewtopic.php?f=85&t=9882&p=257135&hilit=short+shift#p257135

[Ronee]

thank you for all your responses

its a tough decision for me to bite the bullet and buy an Elan, i currently have 2 mk1 16v Clios one of which is a standard daily hack and the other is a high performance track car with a monster engine! i am selling my race spec engine to fund the move to an Elan as i feel its time for a change, and i really fancy a true sports car with the pedigree that an Elan has i feel its a good move.

it will be used through the summer months as my 'toy' with maybe the occasional track day thrown in, i dont want to wrap it in cotton wool i feel it needs to be appreciated and driven like it was intended!

the one i have been to see has had EVERYTHING done, new turbo, new clutch, new gear box, new roof, new brakes and has the most comprehensive service history that you will ever see, even includes all the details for every previous owner. it has had over 10k spent on it in the last 18 months, now i dont know if this is a good thing or not to be honest?

Cough, cough....... This one is still here.

On a serious note, it may not be what you are looking for, but you are more than welcome to drop down to take a look at it (and the blue one!) so that you can have something to make comparisons with.
Many people take their cars off the road for winter, so there are less to compare (even if not for sale), but i don't (even if if it doesnt get used too much).

I won't be offended if you don't buy it, but feel free to take a look

i am actually only in clevedon so just down the road from you, and if you dont mind i would love to come and have a nosy and get some much needed advice!

[Specky]

If you're thinking of following the petrol head route here's a little Video courtesy of Costas many years ago, he set the bench mark back then and I don't know of anyone attempting to surpass his project. It shows what's was possible nearly a decade ago. Goodness knows what's possible now....I don't think there is anyone around as mad as Costas in the Elan world. Personally I think he was responsible for the Greek debt Crisis just by virtue of him spending so much money and then stopping it all to suddenly.

I suppose It all just depends on your budget and the cars usage as to how heavily you want to modify your project.

Just be prepared for the "Looks" and the "attention"....They may be 20 year old cars, but some how they still turn heads and get you noticed.

Pay DaPinky a visit, he knows the Elan inside out, even if it's just gain as much knowledge as possible.

Wishing you every success.

TTFN

[Ronee]

My budget is around 5.5k and i have the cash now to buy one if the right one pops up.

I dont really want to modify it, ive done the big power thing now, i just want to be able to enjoy it as it was intended and enjoy a leisurely drive with the top down! The only things i may do are a chip and map and some roll hoops for a bit of extra security if i take it on track, which no doubt i will at some point!

How poor are the standard brakes? A lot of people are favouring the brake conversions, i run hi-specs on my track car so know how awesome they are!

[theelanman]

Welcome,
I think you're making an excellent choice of make and model......although i think you may find we're slightly bias.
IIRC there was a buyers guide check list somewhere........if you look at SE or NA then check the rear lower wishbones.......
Cheers
G

[theelanman]

How poor are the standard brakes? A lot of people are favouring the brake conversions, i run hi-specs on my track car so know how awesome they are!

Lol

Very poor.....well usually.......
If they are in good condition then they are just about adequate.....
Id definately suggest sorting your brakes before you crank it up to 200bhp.......
Cheers
G

[theelanman]

Dont forget to have a good read of the wiki too.....(buyers guide is one of them... )


http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Main_Page

[Specky]

OEM brakes.... You can stop a fully laidened oil tanker quicker.
OEM calipers with greenstuff pads, slotted and dimpled disks poor
OEM callipers with Pagid blue pads, slotted and dimpled disks average
HiSpecs, when they work... OK, but they have a little bit of a rep for leaking and poor HiSpec customer relations.
AP racing...Now we're talking.

There's also Bob Browns Brakes Mod, but I've never driven a car with them so I can't comment.

If you can find a car with APs for 5 grand bite there arm off, I think DaPinkys has a brake upgrade, (HiSpecs, not sure)



TTFN

[dapinky]

I think DaPinkys has a brake upgrade, (HiSpecs, not sure)

Nope - I am one of the few who thinks OE (well maintained!) is good enough - That said, it has got dimpled and groved discs and greenstuff pads, so slight upgrade.

I use the blue one on track with standard calipers and either Ferodo or Mintex race pads - no dramas to date, but i think a bit of extra on Castle Combe wouldn't be a bad thing - Ask Nick - he was in the passenger seat

You're welcome to drop down and have a chat, viewing and cuppa - and despite the glowing reference by Specky, I wouldn't say i know the elan inside out - but i do know enough to get by, and am happy to tell you what i know, and where to find out the info i dont.

[Ronee]

If you can find a car with APs for 5 grand bite there arm off

the car i looked at has AP's with a reciept for £1350 from 2008 and is running Pagid pads with it

im pretty sure the chap who owns the car would take 5k for it, he did keep throwing that figure around whilst in talks about what i thought was wrong with it.

i am a bit of a 'tinkerer' so if theres small issues with the car im not fussed, knowing the roof seals are not an expensive as i thought has made me lean towards this green elan a lot more as it was truely stunning.

i am also interested in this one because id love a yellow one ideally..

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3565961.htm

BUT, im concerned that it has no service history after 37k and after an email to the owner it has 3 sets of clocks or something and he didnt know what the correct mileage was? sounds a bit dodgy to me. and also if i do decide for a bit more poke id rather get the car chipped and mapped in my ownership than buy a ready made one so i know its been done right.

You're welcome to drop down and have a chat, viewing and cuppa - and despite the glowing reference by Specky, I wouldn't say i know the elan inside out - but i do know enough to get by, and am happy to tell you what i know, and where to find out the info i dont.

thats great, thank you! are you about saturday? i was planning to drive to taunton to see a red SE but weston is far closer at 6 miles from me!

[theelanman]

Yellow is definatley the best colour.....but i might be bias on that front too

Does sound rather dodgey tho.....
Green one might be the way to go but you'll need to see a few to get your eye in in regard to condition and what you can get for your ££££

[dapinky]

are you about saturday? i was planning to drive to taunton to see a red SE but weston is far closer at 6 miles from me!

I should be at home and would welcome a break from fitting the new kitchen. Just let me know nearer the time.

[rip]

OEM brakes.... You can stop a fully laidened oil tanker quicker.
OEM calipers with greenstuff pads, slotted and dimpled disks poor
OEM callipers with Pagid blue pads, slotted and dimpled disks average
HiSpecs, when they work... OK, but they have a little bit of a rep for leaking and poor HiSpec customer relations.
AP racing...Now we're talking.

There's also Bob Browns Brakes Mod, but I've never driven a car with them so I can't comment.

If you can find a car with APs for 5 grand bite there arm off, I think DaPinkys has a brake upgrade, (HiSpecs, not sure)



TTFN

Dico & I have both driven each other's Elans. His has HiSpec front brakes & mine has Vectra/Bob Brown ones.
We both felt that mine were marginally sharper.

Nick Walker has just had his OEM calipers refurbished. New pistons as well as sliders have made a difference & he now feels the brakes are ok.
My OEM ones developed a shudder within 2 years of fitting new discs....the same shudder which was there on the previous set of discs.
Bob identified a flaw in the OEM disc design though. The intake fins for 'cool' air are on the outside of the discs. This is not really a problem on S2 wheels which are quite open. SE wheels are not too bad either. I have fed wheels, which are more like a dish trapping used, hot air in the space where the 'cool' air intake is.

Sorry for the thread hijack...

Hi Ronee,
Welcome to the forum. many, including me, would not still be running (or even owning) our Elans if it was not for this place.

Why not check out the BOLLECKS local meet thread ?
Looks like they have not got together for a while. You could be the catalyst they need to arrange a meet. It won't be anything formal...just a beer/meal & friendly chat about Elans & anything else you care to mention.
They are a great crowd...even that old git Smithy

[Ronee]

went to look at another one today... it was a bit of a dog so needless to say i didnt make an offer.

spoke to the other half and we both agreed i should buy the gorgeous Elan i saw last weekend... rang up and guess what, it sold yesterday

i was so close!