New Owner // Complete Amateur!

[JCM]

Hey people,

So, i'm 22 years old and have somehow managed to come across a Lotus Elan as my latest car. I know absolutely nothing about Lotus's, I have to be honest. I didn't know what the hell this car was when I bought it. In truth, I didn't actually go out and find this car, it kinda found me. Someone in the family had been holding it in our garage for 6 months, and when I heard it was up for sale, I thought i'd take a look. When I looked into these, it seemed the price was too good to turn down.

I gotta say, I love it!!



This is my 3rd car, and it's quite a change for me because the other 2 cars have been bought brand new, so this old car seemed a bit at first. But i'm learning to love it.

It's a 1992, 1.6 SE Turbo, 51,000 miles. Anybody care to guess how much I paid for it?

It's in excellent condition, and i'm excited to give it a real good clean, it is absolutely filthy (and looking rather dull) as you can see in the picture.

[niall]

Welcome. You are of course particularly lucky to have a Pacific Blue Elan.

[theelanman]

welcome and I hope you enjoy the site as much as you are about to enjoy your new car...
as for your price paid.....family....this that and the other...Id take a stab at about £2~£2.5K
where are you based by the way...?
cheers
G

[maz_r]

Hi & welcome.

Be careful - this site will take over your life!

If you need to know anything, there is someone on here who knows the answer.

Hope you enjoy the car,

maz_r

ps Where abouts are you?

[JCM]

The Elan Man - Yep, I paid £2k. Did I get a good deal?

And why am I particularly lucky to have a pacific blue Elan?

I'm in North East England to those who asked.

[The Ref]

were in the north east i am in hartlepool in fact there are 4 elans in the town could yours be number 5


Billy

[theelanman]

The Elan Man - Yep, I paid £2k. Did I get a good deal?

And why am I particularly lucky to have a pacific blue Elan?

I'm in North East England to those who asked.

£2k isnt too bad....just depends on what needs doing....
how has it been used over the past few years?....sparingly??....these cars need to be driven to stay in good order.....leave them standing at your peril....
sticky turbo, seized sliding pins on your brakes which stop them working...then its cam belts, water pumps when were these changed?.......interior condition, hood condition, hows the paint?....usually you may find that the colours like the blue suffer from loss of laquer........

all Id say is if its not been used for a while take it easy to start with......and get it a good service either from yourself or from a garage you really trust...



cheers
G

[The Ref]

The Elan Man - Yep, I paid £2k. Did I get a good deal?

And why am I particularly lucky to have a pacific blue Elan?

I'm in North East England to those who asked.

£2k isnt too bad....just depends on what needs doing....
how has it been used over the past few years?....sparingly??....these cars need to be driven to stay in good order.....leave them standing at your peril....
sticky turbo, seized sliding pins on your brakes which stop them working...then its cam belts, water pumps when were these changed?.......interior condition, hood condition, hows the paint?....usually you may find that the colours like the blue suffer from loss of laquer........

all Id say is if its not been used for a while take it easy to start with......and get it a good service either from yourself or from a garage you really trust...



cheers
G

yep everything Gareth is saying is a must. if you need any help just i am free most weekends.

Billy

ps

thats if i am not refereeing or at pools

[JCM]

Billy... Close. I'm in Middlesbrough.

G... For the past 6 months the car had been totally unused, but the previous owner had the car since 13 years. It's been serviced every year. It's got a new exhaust, brake pads and some other stuff. I had to buy a new battery for it since the other one had practically seized from not being used. Also, there's a crack in the windscreen so i'm getting that replaced on monday.

The car seems to be in excellent condition, inside & out. It's just dull & dirty because its been stood for so long.

Externally, there is a small chip in the fibreglass on the hood and a crack in the windscreen as mentioned above. Inside there is a piece of the trim missing from the drivers door. Other than that, everything is perfect. Just a case of getting a good valet to get it looking good again.

Then onto some upgrades.

[Songbird]

Very very nice ..... and a bargain...
The advise given on this site is priceless...

Best of luck...

Can we have some more pics after its been polished up ...

[theelanman]

ah..the old windscreen thing....
make sure they are happy to replace the a pillar seals before you get the work done......
theyre are fairly difficult to get off in one piece and will need to be taken off to replace the screen....if they take them off and dont replce them then you will have a leaky door and also some nasty looking rubbers
they used to be unobtainable (the seals that is) but theyre now available from lotus and are about £150 for a pair...
just a heads up before they make a mess and leave you to sort out the loose ends
cheers
G

[The Ref]

make sure they are happy to replace the a pillar seals before you get the work done......
theyre are fairly difficult to get off in one piece and will need to be taken off to replace the screen....if they take them off and dont replce them then you will have a leaky door and also some nasty looking rubbers



I have one new piller seal "still unopened in the bag" you can have it FOC if youn need it.

Billy

[rip]

And why am I particularly lucky to have a pacific blue Elan?

Because they look nicer for real than in photos.
I don't really like blue very much, but an Elan in PB just works for me. I don't know why.

[The Ref]

Jorden

Have a look at this link there is a Few lads from Boro who are members.


Billy

http://www.phpbber.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=teeslotus

[JCM]

I'll take a look Billy.

I have a question! How did you know my name?

[GeoffSmith]

You ask that of Billy the Mystic?

[paulrwebster]

I'll take a look Billy.

I have a question! How did you know my name?

It's in your email address (icon next to every post).

[GeoffSmith]

Well that's gone and spoiled it!

[CJ101KT]

Hi and welcome along JCM. Nice to hear of another lucky person of my age with an M100. I bought mine when I was 21 and have loved it ever since, won't be getting rid of it for a long long time lol. Hopefully see you at a meet one day, join up with the Lotus Drivers Club and start enjoying the Lotus community ... it's one of the best and friendliest in the Country. Happy motoring

[The Ref]

You ask that of Billy the Mystic?

Simthy you are funny some times