Comments on Lotus Elan?
12 January 2003, 02:17 PM
#1
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Possibly thinking of getting a Lotus Elan (G or H reg) as a second car. Prices seem to be around the 5 - 8k mark.
Anyone got any experiences of these motors good or bad. Are they reliable etc. Parts expensive?
Cheers
Alasdair
Anyone got any experiences of these motors good or bad. Are they reliable etc. Parts expensive?
Cheers
Alasdair
12 January 2003, 05:41 PM
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Mmmmmm, not entirely accurate dome.....
The tests at the time said if anything it was too good and never let go and some thought it was boring because of this, the fact is was fwd annoyed the hard core sports car crew, especially as it shamed much more expensive machinery. Lift off oversteer is present if you are a hooligan or on wet/icy roads but you would have to be doing some insane speeds.
GM pulled the plug on the se as they were losing money on every one sold due to the over engineering on the car, Bugati bought Lotus from them and then came the Elise (named after Mr Bugatti's niece or somone family member if i remember right), on accusition of Lotus they found 800+ engine and gearboxs in crates for the Elan, there were comments that they had been kept to keep the cars on the roads but there was also a comment that only 1 engine had ever expired, dont know how true that is. Anyway Mr Bugatti gave the green light to make another 800 cars called the S2 (how original !) there are many differances, some cosmetic and some as the original parts used were no longer available. The S2 is slightly slower than the SE as it has bigger heavier wheels and the power is sapped slightly because it now needed a cat. It is better built than the SE as a lot of the problems with leaks and other niggles were mainly sorted, emphasis on mailnly :-] After all this Mr Bugatti sold the Elan production line to Kia who had many plans to sell a revised model all over the world, it never happened but i believe they do have a car of sorts for sale in Asia.
The old Lotus gag is true for all Lotus's but to this day it is the most useable and reliable car they have ever made, specialist garages offer a great service at more like Ford prices and as most Lotus's are parts bin raided there is usually a GM or whatever part available at half the cost, incidently it has the same side light lense covers as the Mclaren F1 and the same designer !
Check out www.lotuselancentral.com it's the best Elan site and is visited by Elaners all over the world.
Alas, be very careful on purchase, there are a lot of nails out there and you will be amazed how fidderant two identical ccars will feel, i would definatly get a car checked by someone who knows about them, but, get a good one and you will love it.
The tests at the time said if anything it was too good and never let go and some thought it was boring because of this, the fact is was fwd annoyed the hard core sports car crew, especially as it shamed much more expensive machinery. Lift off oversteer is present if you are a hooligan or on wet/icy roads but you would have to be doing some insane speeds.
GM pulled the plug on the se as they were losing money on every one sold due to the over engineering on the car, Bugati bought Lotus from them and then came the Elise (named after Mr Bugatti's niece or somone family member if i remember right), on accusition of Lotus they found 800+ engine and gearboxs in crates for the Elan, there were comments that they had been kept to keep the cars on the roads but there was also a comment that only 1 engine had ever expired, dont know how true that is. Anyway Mr Bugatti gave the green light to make another 800 cars called the S2 (how original !) there are many differances, some cosmetic and some as the original parts used were no longer available. The S2 is slightly slower than the SE as it has bigger heavier wheels and the power is sapped slightly because it now needed a cat. It is better built than the SE as a lot of the problems with leaks and other niggles were mainly sorted, emphasis on mailnly :-] After all this Mr Bugatti sold the Elan production line to Kia who had many plans to sell a revised model all over the world, it never happened but i believe they do have a car of sorts for sale in Asia.
The old Lotus gag is true for all Lotus's but to this day it is the most useable and reliable car they have ever made, specialist garages offer a great service at more like Ford prices and as most Lotus's are parts bin raided there is usually a GM or whatever part available at half the cost, incidently it has the same side light lense covers as the Mclaren F1 and the same designer !
Check out www.lotuselancentral.com it's the best Elan site and is visited by Elaners all over the world.
Alas, be very careful on purchase, there are a lot of nails out there and you will be amazed how fidderant two identical ccars will feel, i would definatly get a car checked by someone who knows about them, but, get a good one and you will love it.
12 January 2003, 06:03 PM
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I've never owned one but at the price they are still an attractive car if you don't want the bit more pricey, bit more hardcore elise 
when it came down to handing over the money I'd go for the elan.
when it came down to handing over the money I'd go for the elan.
01 December 2003, 03:41 PM
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Not got direct experience but can remember what the road testers thought.
Basically it goes round corners F.quickly but was set up by the boffins at Lotus to be inactive-ie lifting off mid corner won't provoke the back end out.
Powered by an Isuzu 1.6 turbo engine(there was a non turbo too but they're very rare).
Production stopped then a revised mk2 version came out when Kia took over Lotus which apparently was better but they're probably more expensive...
Oh and remember what Lotus stands for...
Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious...
[Edited by dome - 1/12/2003 3:43:48 PM]
Basically it goes round corners F.quickly but was set up by the boffins at Lotus to be inactive-ie lifting off mid corner won't provoke the back end out.
Powered by an Isuzu 1.6 turbo engine(there was a non turbo too but they're very rare).
Production stopped then a revised mk2 version came out when Kia took over Lotus which apparently was better but they're probably more expensive...
Oh and remember what Lotus stands for...
Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious...
[Edited by dome - 1/12/2003 3:43:48 PM]
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