ALL ELANS ON PISTONHEADS.

[andy123]

Spotted what looks a reasonably priced BRG S2 on pistonheads. There is also a
Blue SE at Pure Lotus which doesn't look bad value from a lotus specialist

Wondered if anybody knows anything about any of these cars.

Tempted go and have a look this weekend, shame they aren't closer to home - the prospect of a 500 mile round trip is putting me off a bit.

[steve matthews]

BRG S2

Again I must ask
How much to ship to the States.
Steve -loving the prices-

[stonks]

Well, I have made an appointment to look at the BRG one, so fingers crossed I may well be a proud owner.

Glen

[andy123]

Hi Glen,
Good luck with the viewing, looks a nice colour combination, and description suggests its been well looked after.

Andy

[stonks]

Well not good news I'm afraid, after having looked at the car, it is in very nice mechanical condition - its started and ran beautifully - sounds great, and the owner is a very nice and IMO an honest person. But the paint work on the front wings is in poor condition, lots of crazing on these, lots of stone chips on the lower forward rear wing edges - the car needs a partial / full respray, also some slight lacquer peel on the headlights. Drivers door has had the paint chipped off on the closing edge.
'A' post seals will require replacements, hood has a small repair in the usual spot on the RH side, rear window slightly milky. Interior, front seats require a good clean and some wear on the drivers RH seat bolster, in the pictures the leather looks like a very light magnolia but they are a light tan. Plenty of history in a folder - tracker fitted.
Nice with air con, tyres / wheels good. But it was over the top of my budget and I cannot live with the body as it is, I was rather hoping to steal an S2. The pictures make the car look very good but sadly I may have to pass on the Elans and buy another marque, In my opinion the cars in the market are over priced. Current mileage 84k. This one is unquestionably good value but maxing out on my pennies, also the insurance on this later model the insurance rockets for some strange reason. 400miles round trip....

[andy123]

Hi Glen

Sorry to hear you've had a wasted journey - particularly such a long one. I was very tempted to try and see the car over the weekend but was concerned with wasting a day travelling. Don't suppose you popped into TrackvRoad to look at their car while you were in the area, the previous owner posted on one of the forums to say it was a great car and he would have liked to keep it - just didn't have the garage space for it plus the new elise he had bought ! That's also a tempting car but a lot more money.

Judging by the number of cars that have been sale for the last 6->8 months, I think a lot of people agree with you on price - although suspect there is quite a small market for cars, so they propbably do stick around for a while. I think the same applies to a lot of other 'classic' cars e.g. MG's TVR's etc. Suspect the key is being patient and trying to pick up a car for reasonable money, once bought I hope they can then be run on a tight budget - i.e. cheapish insurance / no depreciation - just money needed for a bit of tlc and upgrades (the brake upgrade was one of the appealing aspects of the car you viewed). It's a shame the car had body work issues - I think mechanical issues can be a lot easier for most to sort out themselves.

Hopefully there will be a couple of good cars available for us both over the next couple of months and we can enjoy some open top motoring in the summer

[stonks]

Hi and Thanks Andy, yes the blue car looks good value, especially after just having a repaint. Its also nice knowing that the previous owner has said good things. But 4k really is the limit (except for an s2!) I have seen a few cars but they tend to be very in very poor condition inside, such as saggy seats - worn out leather (not a massive fan of the yellow leather stripes either) , door seals and roof seals. Seemingly the more I see the less appealing they become. I'm sure that one will come along that matches my expectations, some peeps think that spending 3k on a 2k car makes it a 5k car, not in my book. Like you the mechanicals I can do myself, but seat trim and paint is expensive. Maybe a Smart roadster could be on the agenda? The thing is I had a Lotus before, and I like the fact that they are not common and are nice drivers cars and its a Lotus.

[JeffJ]

Sorry to publicly disagree, Stonks, but I think that you're very badly wrong, though like you I do incline to the view that some owners do have an inflated idea of what these cars are worth, and that many asking prices are artificially high.

But in my opinion, and if I'm allowed to express an opinion on the divisive and contentious issue of value, I think that your expectations (as expressed here), are, quite frankly, unreasonable and unrealistic.

If you buy a £4,000 Elan SE (a 19-22 year old car), you should expect the car to have some cosmetic imperfections, and indeed for there to be minor problems (seals, worn seats, etc.). £4,000 most definitely is NOT "the limit, except for an S2", and the prices that are actually achieved by these cars show your statement to be just plain wrong.

If you want a concours or near concours car (unless it's very high mileage) then you should still expect to be paying up around £7,000. Or perhaps more.

Your description of the 'faults' on the BRG car explain to me the relatively low asking price (for an S2 with only 82,000 miles), assuming that the wishbones are OK, that the cam belt is recent, and that the air con works. It has working air con (worth a small premium) and a recent near-£500 brake upgrade that is certainly worth having and paying for. It sounds as though it's worth its asking price, to me. Depending on how bad the stone chips and lacquer are, of course, though since you sound (if I may be so bold) slightly picky and pernickety, I think I'd want to make my own judgement.

Having been looking for a permanent Elan for some time, I'm very tempted to go and have a gander. If I could get it for £4,000 I'd feel I'd got a bit of a bargain. I quite fancy green.

[dapinky]

As a moderator, i feel that i should point out the "No discussion of pricing on open forum" rule.........

.....one persons opinion does NOT constitute a discussion, however, and as a 'newbie', perhaps we should (will?) allow a little latitude here.

That said, there are many on here who would totally disagree with the opinion that the car is overpriced, certainly without a good gander at it by someone who knows what they are looking at/for.......




....however, should you wish to hold out for an S2 with brake upgrades and low mileage, with a perfect body, maybe you'll still be looking in a couple of months when the winter hibernators come out.........



.....then having seen what is availlable, maybe i can tempt you to a realistically priced Calypso red SE with 140K on the clock, daily driver, paint needs a tidy up (don't they all?), but with totally re-trimmed interior (new carpets and seat covers), S2 hood (new rubbers), new SS wishbones, SS exhaust, roll hoops, loads of upgrades and i can (almost) guarantee that it won't ever let you down mechanically (been to IOM, France, all round UK etc etc) as it has been well looked after. (new belts and waterpump 5k miles ago)........


.....of course, MY idea of realistically priced is to drive it away for £4400

[JeffJ]

Pictures, Mr Pink, please. Especially of this interior retrim.

[stonks]

Hi all, just to clarify that the limit of 4k is my budget! and not the value of an individual car - The green car IS good value IMO but I as said could not live with all the paint issues, etc. (please see 'wanted elans' for proof). And do not want to spend another 1.5k bringing up to a standard that I would like, I have already done a plus 2 elan resto and know any resto is never on budget. BTW I have not mentioned prices in line with forum rules. But a car - any car is only worth what people are prepared to pay. END OF. For eample my friend has a minor Traveller woodie, currently under restoration but in reality costs to restore will be greater than its end value.


Some time just before xmas was a brg s1, 60k on the clock, half leather - on PH @ if I recall £2750, this to me would have been the ideal figure for a car needing some remedial tidy up and was well within my meagre budget.

I have no wish to upset any individuals, regarding Jeff saying i'm fussy - well yes I am!

[stonks]

Any one looked at the black elan on PH?

[pjw12]

no, but theres a nice looking NMY on ebay at £3750 with no reserve that might suit you, see the ebay thread. Its near chester, im up there on a stag do this weekend

[theelanman]

no, but theres a nice looking NMY on ebay at £3750 with no reserve that might suit you, see the ebay thread. Its near chester, im up there on a stag do this weekend

if you mean this one....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-LOTUS-ELAN-S ... 4cf5d04aa4
I live in Buxton and have never met this person so I could go and meet and inspect if anyones interested....
might just go to be nosey anyway...

[theelanman]

no, but theres a nice looking NMY on ebay at £3750 with no reserve that might suit you, see the ebay thread. Its near chester, im up there on a stag do this weekend

if you mean this one....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-LOTUS-ELAN-S ... 4cf5d04aa4
I live in Buxton and have never met this person so I could go and meet and inspect if anyones interested....
might just go to be nosey anyway...

couldnt resist.........Im booked in to view Friday afternoon....

[Rambo]

Don't forget to take your cheque book Gareth

[inkitin]

Don't forget to take your cheque book Gareth

Would get a much better deal with cash!

[esprit888]

Not sure if a 'pond' is the same as a pound but i believe thats 140 PER SIDE

no, but theres a nice looking NMY on ebay at £3750 with no reserve that might suit you, see the ebay thread. Its near chester, im up there on a stag do this weekend

if you mean this one....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-LOTUS-ELAN-S ... 4cf5d04aa4
I live in Buxton and have never met this person so I could go and meet and inspect if anyones interested....
might just go to be nosey anyway...

couldnt resist.........Im booked in to view Friday afternoon....

[Dave Eds]

check the ABS while you're there G!

[Songbird]

....Ultra low miles....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2617360.htm