New S2 owner

[novacaine]

So I've finally got my own elan!

It's a 1994 S2 #170 in steel blue, done 99000 miles but drives like its brand new still! The previous owner really looked after it. It came with a full service history, bundles of recites and every mot certificate. All for just £4000, bargain! But the poor bloke is being made to by a mini van. Best thing of all every thing is original, so I will be making the least amount of visable changes as possible.

My list of projects:

• Make a hard top
• upgrade front brakes (hispec or wilwoods)
• add some cup holders ( I like my morning coffee)
• put the loose parts of the dash back together ( I understand this is pretty common)
• improve the sound system ( who needs a cd changer now days)
• make myself a wind deflector
• possibly get a roll bar made
• new wheels, as I'm not keen on the S2 BBS wheels
• Elise S1 style front fog lights/DRLs

So I'm sure I will be spamming the forums from time to time

Regards

Jon

[paulous]

Welcome Jon!


Saw your car on pistonheads, looks really nice. This time last year I was on the hunt for an S2 and probably would have been very interested if yours had come up then.

Happy Elaning....

[dapinky]

Hi Jon,

with regards to your projects, then they all appear to be worthwhile additions/changes, each of which have been tried with various success over the years, so there are various threads on the forum for guidance - you won't have to make any leaps into total darkness, byt may wish to add your own ideas to what has gone before - nobody on here (well, me anyway) knows everything, and there are always new ideas - which I welcome.

I make a few observations here, which you can take or leave as you see fit - it's YOUR car, you do what YOU want, and good luck.

• Make a hard top
Not sure how easy it is to make from scratch, or convert an (MGF?) one.
• upgrade front brakes (hispec or wilwoods)
Many find it a great improvement (even if just in confidence levels), but i still reckon OE ones in GOOD CONDITION, with good tyres fitted, are plenty good enough.
• add some cup holders ( I like my morning coffee)
Not sure of the S2, but in the SE, a 'standard' Costa cup (plastic re-fillable one!) sits nicely between the arm rest and the rear bulkhead - never had a spillage yet.
• put the loose parts of the dash back together ( I understand this is pretty common)
Get the glue out!
• improve the sound system ( who needs a cd changer now days)
Lots of people have spent big money, many have spent less, I spent £30 on a unit from Lidl!!!! But I'm deaf in one ear and only drive with the hood down (unless it's really raining), so any more would be wasted on me - each to their own
• make myself a wind deflector
Well worthwhile
• possibly get a roll bar made
Even more worthwhile
• new wheels, as I'm not keen on the S2 BBS wheels
I'll take the S2 BBS ones off your hands for £50
• Elise S1 style front fog lights/DRLs
Not my sort of thing, but hey, as I said, if it's what you want, then go for it.


Most importantly, if you can't find the answer to anything you want/need to know - just ask.

[novacaine]

Yeah it was a great find, lucky I was the first one to go see it! And cheers for the welcome guys

[WienLot]

Hi Jon,

Welcome ! if you change the wheels, I would recommend you keep and store the original ones.
Have a lot of fun
Franck

------------------------------------

Not sure of the S2, but in the SE, a 'standard' Costa cup (plastic re-fillable one!) sits nicely between the arm rest and the rear bulkhead - never had a spillage yet.

Dave,
Would you have a photo ?

[Rusty Wishbone]

My list of projects:

• Make a hard top
• possibly get a roll bar made

Jon

Welcome to Elan ownership.

I was intending to make my own hardtop based on one from an MGF, but this project is in the balance now that I have sourced one of the hardtops designed by Kuching (Simon Carrier). The moulds for that hardtop still exist, so more could be made. I posted some notes on my plans for converting the MGF hardtop here: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=22512&p=283618#p283618

I am currently trying to get 10 people together for a group buy of the hoops. We are still short on numbers, so please see what is proposed in the Group Buy section and add your name if you want to be included.

[trig]

So I've finally got my own elan!


My list of projects:


• new wheels, as I'm not keen on the S2 BBS wheels


Jon

Welcome Jon and what a great buy ,, please dont be too hasty about changing the S2 alloys , stick around and you will realise the S2 alloys are like rocking horse dropping........ But if you fancy changing them I'll give you £54

[Rob P]

Welcome Jon, nice motor you have picked up although looks like you have a whole heap of jobs already lined up, this car will keep you busy but make sure you spend plenty of time behind the wheel and enjoy the true driving experience of this lovely little car

As for the S2 wheels you'll have people forming a queue to take them off your hands, I'll up the stakes and take them off you for £60

[alan e]

Trig, Dapinky and Rob p shame on the 3 of you within 12hrs of Novacaine first posting (by the way welcome) you are all trying to rob him of the s2 wheels which we all know are worth more, Novacaine i can only say sorry for the welcome you have got from the 3 of them they mean well but the mere thought of s2 wheels must have gone to there heads, if you do change your wheels i will give you £65 inc postage for them pm me if you want to take me up on my offer o .

[dapinky]

Jon,

Just to clarify the situation, the wheels you have are VERY sought after, and knowing the others who have posted, the 'offers' we have made are done in a jovial way, NOT as trying to rip off a new owner/member of LEC... please don't take it as anything else.

It is well worth keeping them anyway, as by NOT having them could affect any future sale value of the car - unless you get a good price now which will offset the later depreciation. (and none of the 'offers' posted would constitute a fair price, In my opinion, albeit they aint serious ones!).

If you do want to sell them then I'm pretty sure sensible offers will be made (but maybe not by me!) - In the meantime, keep asking away, and I'll try and be sensible (as I was in my other answers)......



...PS, although I live miles away, I have a sister and family in Kent, and can collect the wheels within a couple of hours - how about a nice round £100

[trig]

I can't match/beat Dave offer of £100 , sorry I'm out ,,, unless you put new rubber all-round

I'm sure you could sell your old S2 alloys for enough to buy new wheels with tyre if you wonted ...but as said its worth keeping the original wheels

[alan e]

How about £65 3 camels and a bag of sand for the wheels

[dapinky]

bidding too strong for me, I'm out aswell - unless you would accept £100.02 a Costa coffee of your choice, AND a Mars bar duo

[Rob P]

Well there truly is a North South devide, no way a poor Preston lad could even attempt to meet those prices being banded around

as before welcome aboard and enjoy the motor, top down all the time of course unless it's monsoon weather

[P@ulW]

Stay above 40mph and the rain will go straight over the top. But you will look like a dick at traffic lights!

[novacaine]

Lol I don't intend on selling the wheels, I know they are very hard to get hold of now. So they will be safely stored until I want to sell the car. Sorry to disappoint you all

[alan e]

I will let the camels know they will be disappointed they like Kent for some reason enjoy your new car

[dapinky]

Good decision - now i can eat the mars bar nyself!!!

[HJ2]

New members are just too educated these days thanks to the forum
Welcome aboard!

[abmunro]

Hello Jon and welcome.

Of course everything is down to personal choice but I'm sure most members on here would say that it's virtually impossible to buy better wheels than the S2 wheels ( Hens Teeth etc ).

Firstly they look the best suited wheels to the car ( My opinion )

Secondly they are the best suited for handling.

Everyone who has looked for alternatives have struggled to find wheels with correct offset, I think the nearest is Mini ( BMW ) alloys but even these need centre hole drilling.

Basically its a minefield.

Good Luck!!