RE: Lotus Elan (M100): CIWYC

[Phunk]

I miss mine:



It was a great steer and with a stainless exhaust had a nice sound with a few pops.

Only thing that went wrong with a window regulator and the gearbox linkage, both of which were a PITA to fix.

[GT03ROB]

Mine

[Tickle]

Olivera said:

Front wheel drive cars in the late 80s and early 90s were pretty piss poor by today's standards - rampant torque steer and chassis flex were the norm. I would put money on a current chav-spec Corsa VXR running rings round the Elan in every possible handling dynamic.

It was still regarded as one of the best front wheel drive cars ever in 2006 by EVO, the magazine had an impressive selection of car journalists too back them to compile the list.

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/202157/this_mont...

[sjabrown]

danlowe42 said:

Oh the memories....



I saw a yellow one in the car park at the local Porsche dealership in Reading a few months back and it stood out as something special in amongst all the modern Porsches.

Ah, Lotus Turbo Challenge 2. Good memories of a big chunk of my childhood there.

[peter450]

I remember that game. I like Lotus their not perfect but all things considered they usually represent pretty good value, bodies that don't rot, decent performance for the most part and prices that are generally pretty cheap for a low volume sports car.

[autofocus]

s m said:

Surely this will get moved to Car Buying forum shortly.....

Kia made these for a while too



https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Wow thats a blast from the past.

I was involved with Kia in the late nineties and drove one of the Kia Elans the week it arrived in the UK. I believe only two came to these shores, the red one in the advert which is still on its original Kia UK plates, and also a yellow one which I think might be this one

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C226136

It looks like the yellow one might have sat un-registered for a year or two as its on a 1999 plate.

Regards

Tim

[ST270]

My old man had one of these for a few years - S2 in Azure blue with cream hide interior. Lovely thing, very sprightly when on boost on handled like a go-kart, zero body roll and inspired total confidence.

All those harping on about nippy hot hatches and handling dynamics would be surprised if they drove an M100!

Plus any owner of an M100 can be happy with the knowledge that their car shares a part with McLaren F1.... front indicator / side lights....

[Moonhawk]

I had a red S2 - wonderful car. I still look out for it on here and autotrader to see if it ever comes up for sale again - i'd buy it back in a heartbeat.

[Corranga]

autofocus said:

Wow thats a blast from the past.

I was involved with Kia in the late nineties and drove one of the Kia Elans the week it arrived in the UK. I believe only two came to these shores, the red one in the advert which is still on its original Kia UK plates, and also a yellow one which I think might be this one

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C226136

It looks like the yellow one might have sat un-registered for a year or two as its on a 1999 plate.

Regards

Tim

I remember a yellow one being in the Dundee Kia dealership with a price tag that was easily 3x anything else in the place. I guess they did the rounds as promotional cars or something rather than it actually being bought in by the Dundee dealer! I remember liking the rear lights a lot as they modernised the back end, and got rid of the dated, and condensation prone Lotus originals.
A few years before that, someone who worked at the Knockhill go kart track had one. Always popped over there for a look at it when I was at a race meet

[Cold]

Corranga said:

I remember liking the rear lights a lot as they modernised the back end, and got rid of the dated, and condensation prone Lotus originals.

When you say Lotus originals, of course you mean Renault Alpine GTA originals.

[James Junior]

Great article and chat about the car, enjoyed reading all that. Always quite liked these. Every time I see one out on the road (which is very rare these days) with the top down I always think they look like a mini exotic. As a long time MK2 MR2 owner I know well the allure of pop up headlights...

Also have fond memories of driving Lotuses (Lotai?!) on the Amiga as a kid. I was more of a Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge man...

[PhilboSE]

Kept mine for 14 years. It was a good car, though a bit underpowered, underbraked and over-tyred as it left the factory - all easily and cheaply remedied.

Best bit was the (Isuzu) engine which was in the classic 90's Japanese mould - practically unbeakable. Forged pistons as standard and a really strong bottom end meant that it could take 350bhp+ with no internal mods.

It was a product of its time for sure, but it wasn't a bad car and it wasn't a bad Lotus.

[samoht]

JohnoVR6 said:

Apologies as always if it isn't cricket linking to another site, but some interesting insight in to the M100 development from former F1 driver and dynamicist, John Miles;

http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/indust...

Thanks for a very interesting article, it really helps set the scene for how the M100 ended up FF.

[s m]

samoht said:

JohnoVR6 said:

Apologies as always if it isn't cricket linking to another site, but some interesting insight in to the M100 development from former F1 driver and dynamicist, John Miles;

http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/indust...

Thanks for a very interesting article, it really helps set the scene for how the M100 ended up FF.

Yes indeed, it was an interesting read - I've seen a similar article back ages ago in CCC mag and a bit from Pentti Airikkala when he used to offer driving courses on LFB and used a Mondeo V6/Rwd Sapphire as instructor cars - all from a fwd vs rwd debate
Most people on here have seen the Motor mag article on the 4AGE engine and the handling differences between the fwd and rwd Corolla and MR2 as well
I like the M100 Elans - an acquaintance had one of the early ones from new and was an amazing handling thing. I remember following him on a road I knew in my 309gti ( at the time one of the best handling fwd hot hatches ) and being amazed at how well the Lotus handled the corners, some of them bumpy and ridged.

I think he still has it although it looks to be SORNED now

He certainly got some use out of it - at one time I believe it was one of the highest mileage ones in the country



CAR did a nice article in the 90s comparing it with an Integrale and 911 as the fastest cars cross country - this was before the rally reps came to the fore

[DPSFleet]

Great value, why not?

[PistonBroker]

I never knew Kia made them. Interesting!

I lusted after one when they were out. Back then, as a kid, I'd still make sure to buy the annual Autocar handling special and I seem to recall this being hailed as one of the best front-drivers.

I love RWD having run a few MX5s, but I seem to have an obsession with sweet-handling front-drivers. I think one of these, an Integra, a Corrado VR6, a 309 GTI etc. would all have to be in my Lotto garage simply because at some point the mags I devoured as a kid reckoned they were the best-handling FWD cars!

[robzD]

Love mine !
Reliable once you go through it and do the right things to get it sorted.
Modern older car , handles great , goes like stink.
brakes are crap though.
MX5 money, you choose.

Edited by robzD on Saturday 29th April 15:24

[robzD]

Back side !

[saaby93]

JohnoVR6 said:

Apologies as always if it isn't cricket linking to another site, but some interesting insight in to the M100 development from former F1 driver and dynamicist, John Miles;

http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/indust...

Sometimes a diagram can outweigh a 100 words

[swisstoni]

HeMightBeBanned said:

A friend has run one for several years, replacing the TVR Tuscan that was forever broken down or catching fire.

He has loved owning the M100 but said that parts availability is becoming a pain in the arse, whilst parts prices are going up.

Forever catching fire? Try to keep it half way believable mate.