So what should a nice Elan feel like?

[ecc]

Drove one today - my first. It was truly depressing. Uninspiring handling, weak performance, wouldn't drive in a straight line (or anywhere even close), clutch was trashed, first and second were found only after pushing the gearstick in directions that no gearstick should ever go in, there were weird grating noises, the brakes were feeble, the engine was rusty(???), and I was glad to get back into my Peugeot 207CC and flee the scene.

They're not all like that, right? I was hoping for something approximating a true sportcar experience, at least in the handling department, not a rolling deathtrap/moneypit. The Peugeot was literally the better car today - by a long margin. I understand that they're now rather old cars, but there wasn't even a spark of sportscar in the one I drove. I've driven better handling cars that were made in the 1970s.

Did I simply experience a total dog of an Elan, or am I just not "getting it"?

For the record, the Elan is top of my list of cars. I think they're beautiful, they have what I'm looking for (modest performance and good handling at a reasonable price), and I don't want to give up on them. Any words of encouragement for me?

Thanks!

[muley]

..try another one.

Jim

..or a 2-litre MX-5 NC.

[ecc]

..or a 2-litre MX-5 NC.

To be honest, on the drive home, the thought crossed my mind. The 207CC does what it says on the box: gets from A to B reliably, provides a few smiles when pushed, and the roof comes off when it's sunny. What am I thinking trying to replace my daily driver with a Lotus Elan?

But the Peugeot doesn't have that Lotus factor. Even though the Elan I drove today was awful, it still put a smile on my face because I was finally sitting behind the wheel of a Lotus. And I don't get that from the Peugeot, and I didn't get it from the MX-5s I test drove in the past. They're very...vanilla. And two a penny.

Sitting here at home and going over the events of the day with a cider in hand, I'm now wondering if I was too hasty in dismissing the Elan. It's 25 years old, a niche car, quirky, and something that'll take some getting used to. Perhaps it was me, expecting it to drive like a modern car?

[Giniw]

I don't think so, you will find a much better one!

[steve matthews]

A properly set up M-100 is like a hot knife through butter

[Jamie N]

The ideal scenario would be for someone on here who has a nicely fettled Elan and lives reasonably close, to let you have a drive
of their car.
With that yellow one the first thing that alerts me is those alloys, they look like 17s ?, if they are that will have a different feel
to how it would with the 15s it came from the factory with, I have tried 2 different sets of 17s on my own Elan and both sets just felt horrible, similar to how you describe driving the yellow one, but even more critical is the offset, the chances are they are nowhere near correct, even if they are 16s with the wrong size
tyres and offset they will have an impact on handling, they look like heavy wheels too.

The car certainly doesn't look like a well cared for example to me, but I bet even with all its faults it would drive
a hell of a lot better with a set of lightweight 15s (and new gear cables), still wouldn't buy it though .

[John_W]

Add your location to your profile and a kind LEC member will offer you a passenger ride.
The one you tried sounds in need of a lot of TLC.
John

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Shifting should be accurate within the limits of the age of cables. Older (SE) cables are now prone to fail as the plastic bits crack and break. The newer cables that Lotus switched to (S2 model) are better but no longer available but there are other improved cable kits that are even better. You can search shift cables and short shift kit to see the options and other owner's comments. Info on GOOD replacement cables with spherical bearing attachments and with a short shift kit is available using the link in my signature at the bottom of this post. Bad shifting is easily sorted although not exactly inexpensive, it is straight forward and the current solution should never require anything in the future.

Best of luck finding the car you desire.

[Rambo]

Drove one today - my first. It was truly depressing. Uninspiring handling, weak performance, wouldn't drive in a straight line (or anywhere even close), clutch was trashed, first and second were found only after pushing the gearstick in directions that no gearstick should ever go in, there were weird grating noises, the brakes were feeble, the engine was rusty...

You've driven a bad 'un !!

The 1st person I let drive my M100 (Big Erch) was so impreseed he immediately went out and bought one. And then another. And then an Esprit. And then a Peter Stevens Esprit. And then a top of the range carbon fibre Evora. And then a baby Elan. And he hasn't stopped yet !!

What I'm trying to say is have a drive in a good one, then buy a good one and you will be forever hooked with the Lotus marque

There is only one car like a Lotus

[Giniw]

[Fredjohn]

The ideal scenario would be for someone on here who has a nicely fettled Elan and lives reasonably close, to let you have a drive
of their car.

That'll be me then. I'll be back from USA on 10/11th July. PM me some details and I'll show you how a Lotus should handle..... Which is better than my ability!

[ElanBRG]

So many owners of Lotus cars treat them like daily driver Corollas, and the Elan is not built to be treated like that. It's a half breed with some Corolla-like parts (Isuzu/GM in this case) and some exotic Lotus parts. As a result, it needs the care and feeding regime closer to an exotic car than a Corolla. So there will be a lot of bad ones out there that need a lot of work to bring them up. Keep looking.

[ecc]

So many owners of Lotus cars treat them like daily driver Corollas, and the Elan is not built to be treated like that. It's a half breed with some Corolla-like parts (Isuzu/GM in this case) and some exotic Lotus parts. As a result, it needs the care and feeding regime closer to an exotic car than a Corolla. So there will be a lot of bad ones out there that need a lot of work to bring them up. Keep looking.

Does that mean they can't be used as daily drivers, or that they're cars which require regular attention to stay sharp?

[dapinky]

They certainly can (and are) used as daily drivers - the thing is, you need to start with a somewhat reliable (or at least known) vehicle, and then keep on top of the maintenance. If you start with an unknown (or known to be wrong) car, then it may well do you fine with some ongoing work, or it may not get you home!

As with any second-hand vehicle, buying from a dealer will give you *some* assurances (and the protection of the Consumer Right Act), but will cost more than a private buyer.

A private buyer who knows what they are doing, and have looked after the car is the best bet - but, few are ever wishing to sell at any given time..... and that (unfortunately) leaves you where you currently are - surrounded by a lot of adverts on ebay, autotrader, etc - and all unknown vehicles (or owners).

As John has offered you a squint at his car (and I can tell you it's not a dog!), I'd wait for that oportunity.... if you keep travelling to see rubbish ones, it is possible that you will become dissillusioned and think they are all rubbish.

We see many of "the old favourites" coming up time and again on the regular websites - cars which are unloved, and passing through the hands of someone who doesn't understand the needs (or hoping for a quick profit) - after 6 months or so they put it up for sale again, and the cycle continues.

There ARE good ones out there - you just need patience (or luck) to find them.... it doesn't have to take forever - but you need to be realistic. The very 'best' cars out there are unlikely to come up for sale very often (if at all), howver, there are plenty which would suit your needs which do become availlable.

[muley]

I had the pleasure of driving a very nice SE today. Couple of niggles aside it was a great drive.

Look for one with a good service history and more importantly unmolested and you will be hooked.


Jim

..but the brakes and gear change on an MX-5 will take some beating IMHO

[daveiow]

[quote

..but the brakes and gear change on an MX-5 will take some beating IMHO[/quote]
BCN’s short shift and cables do revolutionise the shift and the HiSpec brake upgrade does the same

[Saltire]

[quote=“Muley”]
..but the brakes and gear change on an MX-5 will take some beating IMHO

BCN’s short shift and cables do revolutionise the shift and the HiSpec brake upgrade does the same [/quote]

Beat me to it!

Although I would also say that the standard brakes are fine (IMHO) for normal road work, provided you keep them well maintained and/or fit better front discs and pads.

[ElanBRG]

So many owners of Lotus cars treat them like daily driver Corollas, and the Elan is not built to be treated like that. It's a half breed with some Corolla-like parts (Isuzu/GM in this case) and some exotic Lotus parts. As a result, it needs the care and feeding regime closer to an exotic car than a Corolla. So there will be a lot of bad ones out there that need a lot of work to bring them up. Keep looking.

Does that mean they can't be used as daily drivers, or that they're cars which require regular attention to stay sharp?

You can drive anything daily.

But don't expect to have the level of reliability and lack of issues of a Corolla. Especially since it's such an old car.

[MPx]

If you're heading down to South Somerset at all, then I'll show you how nice an S2 is to drive. And if you're still looking next May come to Castle Combe and I'll show you how well they go on track! Awesome car...but can be made better with some mods that many of us have done.

[sideways]

On that note, I have been driving my recently acquired Elan as often as possible, top down of course and note a couple of things - which may be specific to MY car - lost of (atmospheric) wind noise and a fair amount of scuttle shake.

Neither of these are complaints, I intend getting a wind blocker as soon as I can find one I can source in North America but I had never driven a M100 before so I truly have no idea how it should 'feel'.

The car is in much better condition than I thought it would/could be - I bought it sight unseen - and wasn't even aware it had been 'chipped' (still working out the various effects using that Moates EX switch) which was a pleasant surprise!

I know of one other M100 locally and have rejoined the local Lotus club, the LCCBC and ideally will be able to compare with that one but was just wondering if my 'jiggle' was how they all feel - it reminds me of both me first Elan which was a DHC and one of my Plus 2,s which I converted to a DHC.

Any thoughts/comments on this?