Noobie buying Qs

[Rambo]

Maybe another to consider within your budget ???

Lots of good upgrades and also with 17 inchers if that floats your boat ???

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=24931

[cynic-al]

Just to let you know...

2nd hand SE OZ alloys (15") are ten a penny or to be more precise between £30-60
2nd hand S2 OZ alloys (16") are like gold dust or to be more precise between £350-500

As Phil says, flog the wheels and get half the purchase price back
But as Dapinky says, 15" wheels won't do with the brake/caliper upgrades so you will have to go down the route of Fed 16" wheels (hard to source) or aftermarket 16" alloys with the correct offset

The choice is yours

OK I'm a bit lost with this and the ensuing chat...price above is per wheel?...so I could get SE wheels but would need new tyres and calipers...and pocket a few £100?

[lotusflasherman]

OK I'm a bit lost with this and the ensuing chat...price above is per wheel?...so I could get SE wheels but would need new tyres and calipers...and pocket a few £100?

If it runs bigger brakes you could go to 17" wheels. Tyres are much cheaper too. I run 17"x7J BBS wheels on my SE, with lower profile tyres that gives virtually same rolling radius so speedo is spot on, and they improve handling too but it's a harsher ride when you hit potholes. Peter Stevens, the designer, posted a 'Like' and commented on a photo I posted on Facebook that he designed the Elan for bigger, wider wheels and always felt the 15"x6J UK SE wheels were much too small for the wheel arches. The hubs are GM based and use 4 stud, 100mm PCD so Vauxhall hot-hatch (Corsa, Astra etc) wheels will fit and a set of 4 with tyres can be acquired via ebay for the price of 1 S2 rim! If you increase the rim width you don't need to maintain the extreme 60mm offset or you run the risk of contact with the wheel arch liner on the inside tyre wall. A different offset affects the scrub radius so there will be more effect if you suffer a puncture or single circuit brake failure but no change to everyday handling.
Think it looks better too, but I've now added mudflaps to stop the muck being thrown up along the side of the car.

bbs1024.jpg

If you really want to go back to 15" Oz wheels I've got a big pile of them, with tyres, and a full set of SE calipers doing nothing, quite happy to swap ..

[dapinky]

OK I'm a bit lost with this and the ensuing chat...price above is per wheel?...so I could get SE wheels but would need new tyres and calipers...and pocket a few £100?

Theoretically, yes.....

..... the problem comes with actually achieving the end result - a set of Oz wheels in 15" size could probably be purchased for something around £120-£200 (depending on condition) - and whether or not you got those, kept the 16" S2s or went for something else, you will still need a set of tyres - so that could be anything between budget at £30 each, or top-notch at £150 each...... if you are wanting to drive it 'enjoyably', but not high mileage, there are excellent tyres in the right size for £100 a corner.

In order to fit those wheels, you will need to remove the brake callipers which are fitted (certainly the front ones, and I can't remember if the rear ones were kept OE or changed) and source/fit OE callipers. Finding a set of 4 callipers is straightforward (and usually cheap) enough, but you will need to budget for a complete refurb....

... that said, brand new ones can be sourced from USA, and could land on your doorstep with all shipping, duty, VAT included for under £200.

You would then be in a possition to sell off the S2 wheels, and they have been advertised for some silly prices in the past couple of years - what they have actually sold for is another matter (if they sold!). Generally, SE owners want a full set, but S2 owners may only want to buy 1 or 2.... it may be better to sell them seperately, although more hassle and not done in one hit.

It then depends if you intend to use the car all year, or take it off the road for the Winter - if it is off the road, there is no problem in selling the wheels first to fund the rest of it (and to avoid being stuck with an 'asset' that you can't realise). but if you need to keep it mobile, then you need to spend a bit before you can gain a bit - the choice is to swap the callipers first, and keep it on S2 wheels (callipers are the same for SE & S2), then sell the wheels, then buy SE wheels (short time with the car immobile). Or buy the lot, fit them and then sell the S2s, or possibly buy a set of cheap 17" alloys designed for a Vauxhall (4 x 100 PCD) - put them on with the bigger callipers as fitted, sell the S2s, buy 15" wheels, tyres, callipers and fit them at leisure - then either sell on the 17" alloys or keep as 'spares'.

So, potentially, there is a profit to be made, but not quite as simple as some would have you believe. (if it were me, I'd keep the brakes and wheels as they are and enjoy them - but if I needed to release some cash (or wanted OE wheels), then I'd expect (hope!) to fit brand new callipers, S/H OZ 15" wheels, which I'd get refurbed, with Yokohama AD008R tyres, sell the S2 wheels and hope to have something like £500 - £1000 in my pocket - to get the top money it makes an allowance for selling the bigger callipers, and the 'profit' could be more under the right circumstances, and if the rear callipers are also 'big' ones.

[dapinky]

Another one which may be worth a look at (lots of upgrades, not everyones cup of tea, but a well-known car on here with lots of work done)...

... viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26177&view=unread&sid=a122df7d3a94be1041db982ce4e67dc6#unread

[Rob P]

Another one which may be worth a look at (lots of upgrades, not everyones cup of tea, but a well-known car on here with lots of work done)...

... viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26177&view=unread&sid=a122df7d3a94be1041db982ce4e67dc6#unread

Cheers Dave, and of course I'm always open to offers

[cynic-al]

Noooooooo! That is lovely!

Yellow might attract vandals tho (sadly an issue for me)

[dapinky]

Well, like the black one, Robs' car is another which has been in forum ownership for a long time - but unlike the black one, it has been lovingly looked after in recent years (wheras the black one is an unknown quantity in that regards - - not to say it hasn't been looked after, but with Robs you can guarantee it!).

I have to declare an interest in Robs car because I did a fair bit of work on it when it was in Paul Watkins' ownership - and I know Rob has used and maintained it excellently since he has owned it.

It is an honest car, and a read through the forum will soon tell you all the highs and lows of its history over more than 10 years... suffice to say, like most cars on here, it has had a couple of issues - but unlike many, all problems have been addressed PROPERLY and quickly..... it is a great car!

(and, before you ask why I don't own it, I had the chance when Paul sold it to get it for a song, but turned it down as I knew he could get more on the open market..... but I had to hide the advert from my wife otherwise it would be here now! - likewise, i can't let Angie know it is up for sale again otherwise it will end up here (and I'm moving house with nowhere to keep it at the moment).

As often happens in life, 2 cars which i would love to own come up for sale at the same time when I have nowhere to put them

[Rambo]

As often happens in life, 2 cars which i would love to own come up for sale at the same time when I have nowhere to put them

No excuses. There's plenty of space in a Tytherington driveway whilst the owners away slurping sangria

[dapinky]

No excuses. There's plenty of space in a Tytherington driveway whilst the owners away slurping sangria

Cashflow is another aspect - owning 2 properties (although only for a short term) means nowt to spend on toys... and once the house in Weston is sold, I'll have the money to build my required garage, but by then, both of these may well be gone and I'll be left buying Clemos red shed

[Rambo]

Noooooooo! That is lovely!

Yellow might attract vandals tho (sadly an issue for me)

I would say ditch the Eunos and Smart car and get any of the aforementioned M100s. They are fantastic little cars and just as usable as your
mx5 and Smart car

You only live once

[cynic-al]

My heart agrees, my wallet and head are being sensible tho...unless any of these cars are utter bargains!

Both black and yellow are tempting. Is repainting the wishbones a DIY job? I expect swapping calipers is.

Is not being able to garage it a killer?

Anyone have an idea of the boot volume/dimensions? Can't find any info online. This and the noise of my Smart are issues. (It replaced the Eunos).

Still thinking...

[Saltire]

Go and see it/them.

You may not like the car, the boot space, the performance, etc. You may not be happy with the condition of the cars you see (though that sounds unlikely based on what others have said). Or you may fall in love and do a deal.

Either way, you'll know.

[Rob P]

Is not being able to garage it a killer?
Anyone have an idea of the boot volume/dimensions? Can't find any info online. This and the noise of my Smart are issues. (It replaced the Eunos).
Still thinking...

Can't give you the exact volume but I can advise that I can carry a full size tour Golf Bag, electric trolley, shoe bag and an overnight bag easily in the boot. It is a surprising size.
Also used this car for the Classic Le Mans trip a couple of years ago and managed to pack enough supplies for two people plus all the rain gear and tenting equipment for the trip.

As for not being garaged I know of a few that are not garaged but all benefit from having a waterproof full sized cover to protect them. Mine has had this at times when the garage wasn't available due to refurbishing my other classics.

Just food for thought

[rip]

Anyone have an idea of the boot volume/dimensions? Can't find any info online. This and the noise of my Smart are issues. (It replaced the Eunos).

If you are asking that, then maybe you could do with a closer look at someone's Elan in a situation where there is no expectancy to buy.
If you are in the UK, then there will probably be a member not too far away & if they happen to be arranging a local meet, you will certainly be welcome.
Where are you based (adding your location to your profile will answer this without anyone having to ask again )

[dapinky]

I agree with above posts - you really need to have a good look at one (preferably with an owner who knows what to point out for you).

We have been camping in France with ours and can fit everything in - and Angie doesn't pack light!

The main reason for this seems to be that the hood doesn't intrude at all on the boot space, unlike some other convertibles.

As for 'DIY' jobs - maybe I'm not the best to answer, as I consider virtually everything to be a DIY job, whilst some owners have no interest in the 'workings' and just like the shape/drive.

There are many on here who (before they got their cars) had little experience of things, but soon learned that nowt is too tricky with the right guidance and desire to do it. Almost every job you will ever need to do is documented somewhere on the forum, often with photos and helpful 'write-ups'. I can't think of any job which no-one has tried before (but there are always new ideas coming up) - certainly, anything which is a 'usual' issue is well covered - including cleaning and repairing/repainting suspension wishbones.

[cynic-al]

Cheers.

If anyone is based near Edinburgh I'd be happy to check one out but if half what is said about the Elan is true I'll be happy. Bigger boot and more quiet cruising are factors.

Having lived with the Eunos and Roadster, I'm used to wee convertibles.

Home mechanic work is something I am keen to learn. I'm a former bicycle mechanic so have some tools and skills...but lack of garage/ramps etc an issue, tho I guess I can buy some ramps.

Good tip re the rain cover. I've had several vandalism incidents, and with the cost of Elan roofs, this is a concern, particularly with a bright car.

Do all the mods on the mustard one hike the insurance?

[Rob P]

Do all the mods on the mustard one hike the insurance?

Clearly with a modified car the insurance does take a hit depending on who you insure it with. I have had my son insured on the yellow one (he's only just turned 25 this week) so that has had an affect on my current insurance as they don't insure under 25's on classic policies for this type of vehicle, at least I never found one that would. This means we are currently insured with Admiral insurance with a 6000 mile restriction, European cover and breakdown, and a guarantee value of £5,250 for just over £500.

I would have been moving this across to Classic Line if I was keeping it as they appear to be the best route for Modified cars as they insure anything up to Hot Rods. (currently insured for the Blue Elan S4 with them so had discussed this but not got around to asking about prices sadly),
Best idea for price would be to discuss with someone local to you as prices will vary depending upon post code, same as with all insurance.

[par]

I am in Dunfermline and would be happy to meet so you can get a good look over an Elan

My car has a few mods and I have carried out quite a lot of work so can probably give you a heads up on what to look for, give me a shout and we can sort something out.

[GeoffSmith]

As often happens in life, 2 cars which i would love to own come up for sale at the same time when I have nowhere to put them

No excuses. There's plenty of space in a Tytherington driveway whilst the owners away slurping sangria

There's more room when we're home as the rust buckets are in the lay-by opposite. There's room for 4 on the driveway. And 2 in the garage. And 1 out the back of the garage. And 2 in front of the house. So feel free to buy up to 8 Dave.