RE: Lotus Elan (M100): CIWYC

RE: Lotus Elan (M100): CIWYC

Author
Discussion

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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robzD said:
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.
MX5 money, 944S2 pace

gazza285

9,780 posts

207 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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swisstoni said:
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.
Indeed, my mate's TVR only ever set on fire once.

Gandahar

9,600 posts

127 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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When you see one on the street today it still looks like a supercar.

It's still a lovely oddity though, like a Subaru SVX.


cooperd5

81 posts

171 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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Had one back in the day for a couple of years before getting an Elise. Fun and quick enough but it leaked plenty and the seats were pretty poor quality, had a cushion under the drivers seat... Sold it in 1997 to a guy who kept it for at least 15 years. I saw it for sale a few years back.. and mot history almost up to date, 202k miles!
Def would struggle against a VXR IMHO.

Yipper

5,964 posts

89 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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Saw one in the wild on a sunny day a few weeks ago. Definitely stood out on the road, but, boy, did it look small (compared to modern cars). Looked like a little '60s or '70s roadster.

F1GTRUeno

6,335 posts

217 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
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robzD said:
Reliable once you go through it and do the right things to get it sorted.
So what are those things exactly?

seanyfez

173 posts

190 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
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6 years back I purchased a late, very clean, mustard yellow S2 for my wife, with only 40000 miles on it - I thought we were getting the best available (from an excellent local dealer I might add).

Frankly the car was dreadful when compared to my Morgan (Roadster) and the various ancient 911's we had run previously.

The brakes could not keep up with the car and felt downright dangerous if pressing on through country lanes.

Anything that broke would cost a fortune to fix - we managed to damage the rear plastic screen and had to change the whole roof for the repair!

After a year the car felt as though it needed a rebuild so the Mrs ended up with a Mk3 MX5 (2.0) - yes, much slower but it felt a lot safer.

On the positive side the plastic body didn't rust and externally it always looked great!

In summary, the M100 has moved into weekend car club territory for those with the time and patience to care for them at the level they need - don't be swayed by the badge!

Edited by seanyfez on Sunday 30th April 08:23

robzD

23 posts

138 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
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F1GTRUeno.
Mostly silly things that cost little or nothing to fix.inc.

new cam angle sensor. ( not expensive)
volvo plastic heater valve.
set timing PROPERLY.
port wastgate to 22MM.
re bush all nylon central locking mechanism.
re bush pop up headlight motors .
re lube window mechanism.
upgrade to decent discs and pads .

Like i said , daft annoying things .
The engine/gearbox is bomb proof. Body will not rust.
The car is not as brittle as you might think.
The only problem i get is f***ing speedhumps clunking my nice shiney stainless exhaust.


Johnston

249 posts

179 months

Monday 1st May 2017
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I've driven a couple of these and they go pretty well. One had the standard brakes which were damn right dangerous. The other had uprated brakes front and rear from PNM Motorsport. The difference was night and day. As with any car, modern brakes make such a difference to the confidence in driving a car. If I had one of these, the first thing I would do is bin the standard brakes.

F40LM

41 posts

125 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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As a Lotus salesman in the late 90's early 00's we were still selling a handful of used M100 models, the SE always needed money spending on them particularly the hood/rear plastic window, a retrim of the interior and adjustments to the sloppy gear linkage. The S2 was a huge step up from the SE in quality performance. I ran Elise demo's but would always grab a nice S2 as a change, comfy, quiet and easy to get my 6ft+ frame inside. Only ever suffered one breakdown in an S2 but this was caused by the 'laserline alarm'.

SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th May 2017
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Had mine just over a year now - great fun to go for a blast in !!

It's a 20/25 year old car so yes some things need repairing/tightning. My MX5's needed window cables/regulators repairing too, so did the plastic rear screen and surprise, surprise, pieces of trim needed repair/replacing - no different.

Some pieces of interior trim and hood seals are now obsolute but some people in the club have actually made there's more waterproof by making their own !!

The engine is very reliable, economical, and get it chipped will be 200bhp minimum easily.

The standard brakes are Astra GTE but if maintained are Ok at best. Better ones can be purchased.

I had space in the garage and with prices of older cars going up I was looking for an early MX5/MR2/etc. Wanted something a bit different and not too much more......


SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Monday 15th May 2017
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Olivera said:
I would put money on a current chav-spec Corsa VXR running rings round the Elan in every possible handling dynamic.
But why compare 2 cars when there's 2/3 decades difference ?

auyt

107 posts

168 months

Tuesday 6th June 2017
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I recon these are a little hidden gem, and recently have started to reasurch them as possible future additional toy.
A good friend who is a died in the wool traditionalist rear wheel drive person drove one when new and was stunned and he reckoned you cannot tell.
Bang for buck and looks I recon they area bit bargain.

Peterehill

5 posts

79 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Pleasant surprise to see car you own pictured in an article. Bought the Elan shown from Willb last August with 70k on clock. Thoroughly enjoying ownership and hood down motoring. Looking forward to summer to get even more usage.