CJ - From Proton UK

[CJ101KT]

Hello everyone. My name is Chris although im more known as CJ and I am in the process of getting myself an Elan S2 after loosing my Proton Satria GTI to some difficult circumstances.

I am also the site designer and event organiser for the only Proton Owners Club in the UK and we have been running an online forum / community just like this, for over two years now with great success.

I have just turned 21 and as my first car owned a Proton Compact and then bought the brilliant Satria GTI ... which some of you may know comes with handling done by Lotus and is regarded as one of the best handling hot hatches.

I am after an Elan as I have always adored them but never had the time or money to commit to one. I would be very greatful over any advice on things to look out for etc when buying one. Below are my previous two cars incase anyone is interested lol.

[chris.t]

Hi CJ and welcome. I've not had a lot of experience with Protons let alone the Satria. certainly looks the biz though.

For tips on buying can i suggest you have a read through this buying guide HERE

If you have any other questions then come back and ask cos there'll someone around who'll be able to give you a quick answer. Furthermore, depending on where you live it is not unusual for a member to come and look at prospective M100 purchases with you to give you that extra bit of reassurance.

anyway good luck with your search!

Chris

[CJ101KT]

Hi CJ and welcome. I've not had a lot of experience with Protons let alone the Satria. certainly looks the biz though.

For tips on buying can i suggest you have a read through this buying guide HERE

If you have any other questions then come back and ask cos there'll someone around who'll be able to give you a quick answer. Furthermore, depending on where you live it is not unusual for a member to come and look at prospective M100 purchases with you to give you that extra bit of reassurance.

anyway good luck with your search!

Chris

Really? Suppose on the Proton forum we are used to about 800 members worldwide lol so is difficult enough arranging large meets. Protons are very rare cars in the UK, not so in Malaysia, but they are brilliant and the Lotus influence on the GTI 1.8 model certainly shows on the track ... dare I say it can easily corner with a baby Elise.

Thanks for your help Chris and I will certainly be up for meets and maybe even get some of the Proton owners to come along although some may poke you lot over who owns Lotus lol .... I can't wait to get my S2.

[Dico]

Hi CJ

Maybe one of the BOLLEKS can help you find one.
They have a monthly get together (or at least they used to).
A strange bunch but kinda likeable
Infact Mr Pinky is online right now. Come on Pinkster, give the lad some of your wisdom

Btw, them are pretty cool pics!

[dapinky]

Come on Pinkster, give the lad some of your wisdom

I ain't got much of that to give away, Silver

However, Hi CJ I know little about anything, but have an opinion on everything!

Depending on your exact location in The Forest, your nearest active LECer is probably there's only on f in Geof Smith (Just off J14 M5), or The real Welshman (not the pretend one) (Ailwyn) AKA 'Jones the Mod', 'SheepShagger' 'Taffy' or lots of othe disparaging remarks which i would NEVER encourage or propogate.

There are probably others nearby, but I can't think of any (sorry if I missed anyone out!).

As Christy says, if you find one , then someone will usually either go with you, meet you there or have a shufftie on your behalf - we may not be experts, but can do a lot of sucking of teeth, shaking of heads and pointing at crappy bits (anything to get a few quid off a car - or at least, get a reasonable car for a reasonable price, considering likely expenditure).

[ailwyn]

The real Welshman (not the pretend one)

Glad to see your geography has not let you down both you and the exiled Welshman are closer than me.... ever wondered why you never made it to CID?

[clemo]

hello and welcome..
always thought of the satira as a very useable looking non leaky lotus / proton= lotus in disguise under the new ownership badge ..

s2 ohh i know somone selling a very shiney red one !

anyway welcome to the site and hope to see you at a meet/drive soon.

bye for now

clemo

[rip]

Are you determined to get an S2? They are not much newer than Ses now in the scheme of things. A well kept SE would be better than a slightly neglected S2. There is a list of differences somewhere on the forum (in the General section I think).

Are you after any particular colour? You are buying at a good time because Elans are not selling to well at the mo. It is a shame you could not get to Stoneleigh a couple of weeks ago. You would have seen loads in the flesh and had a good opportunity to look around one.

Also, how much is your budget, and do you want one which needs no work (rare) or are you prepared to get a cheaper one and spend money on it?

Good luck. I hope you find a nice one.

[dapinky]

The real Welshman (not the pretend one)

Glad to see your geography has not let you down both you and the exiled Welshman are closer than me.... ever wondered why you never made it to CID?

As far as I know, the Forest of Dean is very close to Wales, and you're Welsh, so that puts you pretty close. (Besides that, although I know you're from S Wales somewhere, i don't know exactly where, so you may have been closer.)

[CJ101KT]

Are you determined to get an S2? They are not much newer than Ses now in the scheme of things. A well kept SE would be better than a slightly neglected S2. There is a list of differences somewhere on the forum (in the General section I think).

Are you after any particular colour? You are buying at a good time because Elans are not selling to well at the mo. It is a shame you could not get to Stoneleigh a couple of weeks ago. You would have seen loads in the flesh and had a good opportunity to look around one.

Also, how much is your budget, and do you want one which needs no work (rare) or are you prepared to get a cheaper one and spend money on it?

Good luck. I hope you find a nice one.

To be honest im not set on just the S2 aslong as I could find a decently looked after SE. My budget is around 6k - 8k and I would like to get either an SE or S2 with no more than 80,000 miles in her and pretty well looked after ... I am willing to spend out on it but not too much to begin with so its a compromise over price and condition really. As for colour im not stupidly fussed although my favourite colours would include the blue versions but as I said its not the most important thing.

[CJ101KT]

The real Welshman (not the pretend one)

Glad to see your geography has not let you down both you and the exiled Welshman are closer than me.... ever wondered why you never made it to CID?

As far as I know, the Forest of Dean is very close to Wales, and you're Welsh, so that puts you pretty close. (Besides that, although I know you're from S Wales somewhere, i don't know exactly where, so you may have been closer.)

Yes you are Correct ... the Forest Of Dean is literally 5 minutes from the Welsh border. I went to Cheltenham the other week to see a red SE and just sitting in it made me feel like I was 10 years old lol.

[CJ101KT]

Come on Pinkster, give the lad some of your wisdom

I ain't got much of that to give away, Silver

However, Hi CJ I know little about anything, but have an opinion on everything!

As Christy says, if you find one , then someone will usually either go with you, meet you there or have a shufftie on your behalf - we may not be experts, but can do a lot of sucking of teeth, shaking of heads and pointing at crappy bits (anything to get a few quid off a car - or at least, get a reasonable car for a reasonable price, considering likely expenditure).

I think the offer of other members going to have a poke around an Elan for or with me is extremely nice and I can see from just my first topic that you lot are also a very friendly bunch indeed. I will be buying an Elan from Trade as I need the warranty to cover me but would still be interested in meeting up with someone to come along with me as I obviously dont have the experience that you all do with Elans.

[rip]

WillB & Clemo are 2 who spring to mind for having a good reputation for finding decent Elans. WillB is a dealer from W London. I am not sure if Clemo is a dealer or an enthusiastic Elaner who is skilled at finding good examples.

[ailwyn]

I will be buying an Elan from Trade as I need the warranty to cover me

Please only go to a reputable Lotus specialist if you are buying for a warranty, you will pay over the odds, but that's what piece of mind costs.

I bought mind from Paul Matty (just off J1 M42 - just beware you won't be able to take this exit coming from the M5) and was glad I did as I had two problems (minor to me know - thermostat and coil pack, but I wouldn't have had a clue back then), he made sure they were sorted and for the second he arranged transport back to his place and the return to me.

Even with hindsight I did the right thing for me then, but I would suggest that you look around, especially with a helping hand from someone on the site and don't avoid a private purchase just on the basis of a warranty (or lack of). If you check the basics, wishbones, fluid leaks, hood movement etc and follow the buying advice you've already been directed to then chances are you will end up with as-good an Elan as you would get from a dealer, and let's face it, none of us want to buy a car that needs a warranty

Ailwyn

[Sy V]

Matty's are surprisingly light on stock (numbers-wise) for Elans at present.
But what they lack in quantity they've certainly made up for in quality.
He has an 18,000 mile SE in BRG (1991 on a J plate) in at the moment... yours for the princely sum of £12,950.

Sy

[CJ101KT]

Matty's are surprisingly light on stock (numbers-wise) for Elans at present.
But what they lack in quantity they've certainly made up for in quality.
He has an 18,000 mile SE in BRG (1991 on a J plate) in at the moment... yours for the princely sum of £12,950.

Sy

Is this the place???
http://www.carpages.co.uk/go.asp?sessio ... 67586@1512

[ailwyn]

Is this the place???
http://www.carpages.co.uk/go.asp?sessio ... 67586@1512

That's it, or directly:

http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/

[CJ101KT]

Is this the place???
http://www.carpages.co.uk/go.asp?sessio ... 67586@1512

That's it, or directly:

http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/

Thanks so much. I will certainly be taking a trip there soon. Do you know how often they get other Elans in as although I could afford 12-13k I would rather not go over 10k lol. Still though I am very interested in buying from here as I know I will get the warranty and support I will require.