Itching to get an Elan

[sparecr]

The M100 was design for 90% of Drivers to drive 90% of the time at 90% which is what most seem to do. (well something like that was the Lotus reposrts at the time) It has good handling, but there are better handling Lotus out there. It is worth a drive you will be surprised.

If you drive for fun I would think an early car may be more fun. But I can use the Elan any time I want rain, dry, even snow (which has yet to happen). I think an early car would be a handful in traffic but I now have two consecutive weekends on 66 and 495 here in DC with the 7.


Tony so what is involved in swapping in your "test pipe"? I have to do some hose work on my car, so if not much much of a pain..... And I have two full years until next emissions.

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by sparecr

Tony so what is involved in swapping in your "test pipe"? I have to do some hose work on my car, so if not much much of a pain..... And I have two full years until next emissions.

Nothing really. Just unclamp the Cat..put this pipe in its place.

I think I paid like $150 for it way back when. $100 plus shipping?

[glb]

$00.02:

I loved my early Elan and never thought I'd sell it (hello, Elise) and still miss it.

Best steering feel in auto history perhaps; McLaren F1's Murray said they tried to emulate this in the supercar but failed.

I had 120k miles and it let me down only once.

Way more comfy than Elise, way more storage space in pass compartment, useable trunk, good outward visibility, brilliant handling and brakes.

Note, tho, that mine was highly developed (i.e. modified) and that Elans are not very quick in the Stromberg era. Wait didn't I already post this???

I've never driven an M100, but it seemed to me to answer a question no one asked at the time: Can a fwd car be made to handle like a Lotus?

I imagine these two cars feel v different and a simple drive or two would finalize the issue.

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

I read that when the US placed stricter standards on emissions, the m100 became much slower due to catalytic converters being placed. Truth?

The UK series 2 M100 also has cats but the drop in performance is marginal.

There are some excellent upgrades which can selectively increase the boost from 0.65 to 0.95bar and power from 165 to ~200bhp at the flywheel. Check out lotuselancentral if you're serious about an M100.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by glb

$00.02:

I loved my early Elan and never thought I'd sell it (hello, Elise) and still miss it.

Best steering feel in auto history perhaps; McLaren F1's Murray said they tried to emulate this in the supercar but failed.

I had 120k miles and it let me down only once.

Way more comfy than Elise, way more storage space in pass compartment, useable trunk, good outward visibility, brilliant handling and brakes.

Note, tho, that mine was highly developed (i.e. modified) and that Elans are not very quick in the Stromberg era. Wait didn't I already post this???

I've never driven an M100, but it seemed to me to answer a question no one asked at the time: Can a fwd car be made to handle like a Lotus?

I imagine these two cars feel v different and a simple drive or two would finalize the issue.

Wow. It is really that good, huh?



You almost have me sold. Those are the things I love about cars.

[tvacc]

[quote=Bavarian Motorist]Wow. It is really that good, huh?

QUOTE]
I have owned 4 or 5 Elans. Yes..they are that good. NOTHING is better than an Elan gearbox and the sound an Elan makes while going up through the gears is just awesome.

The light feel...the handling....really is special. It is the car that got me into Lotus and if I had the choice I would always have one.

I am sort of sorry that I traded in my elan and my Caterham for the Elise.

One of the moves I regret I did.

[Robert Puertas]

As great as the Elise is, the original Elan is a more involving drive in every way.

[khamai]

A little off topic... but I'm thinking about selling my very original '65 Elan S2 (commonly referred to as an S1.5 - has S1 and S2 parts).

But, all is not lost... I'll still have my other '66 Elan S2 and I'm looking at a very original '62 Elite.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[lotus54]

If I had the cash I'd snap that Elan up on a second Kiyoshi!

I especially like the looks of the earlier cars with no window frames.

Mark

[khamai]

Originally Posted by lotus54

If I had the cash I'd snap that Elan up on a second Kiyoshi!
I especially like the looks of the earlier cars with no window frames.
Mark

Thanks Mark! I'm having a hard time even thinking about selling this car. It is just so special. It even still has its original oval-pipe exhaust system. But, if I get this Elite I'll need to make some room in the garage.

I'd like to keep them all, but I'm afraid I'd be sleeping in the garage if I did that!!!

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[ervsch]

Originally Posted by glb

Elans are not very quick in the Stromberg era.

The Stromberg carb'd cars may have been a bit slower, but not by much, but they were much less fiddly - the Strombergs were more "set it and forget it". I certainly wouldn't rule them out - in 17 years of ownership, I only rebuilt my carbs once.

God I miss that car... Not that I'd trade the Elise back in... Too bad I couldn't have kept both.

[Robert Puertas]

God I miss my '65.

How much do you want Kiyoshi?

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by tvacc

I have owned 4 or 5 Elans. Yes..they are that good. NOTHING is better than an Elan gearbox and the sound an Elan makes while going up through the gears is just awesome.

The light feel...the handling....really is special. It is the car that got me into Lotus and if I had the choice I would always have one.

I am sort of sorry that I traded in my elan and my Caterham for the Elise.

One of the moves I regret I did.

That's a very compelling statement, considering I've been "itching" for an Elise for almost a year now.


I am going to seriously consider it now and look into my finances


Thanks

[glb]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Wow. It is really that good, huh?

You almost have me sold. Those are the things I love about cars.

Yeah. IMO, it's the best "classic" British sports car made.

Above, ervsch reiterates the old significant others' line about Strombergs. He has had v good luck. But, the Webers are the "set & forget" carbs; Strombergs have rubber (?) diaphrams that go bad, perhaps even quicker if gas with high alcohol content is used.

Webers, while complicated to set up the 1st time, give no problems even years later. This has been discussed before, probably in the beginning of this thread. I know many Elan owners and the Strombergs are often going out of tune. Never the Webers.

A friend is considering selling an Elan professionally restored (Spyder chassis, European Stromberg s/u, new paint (yellow), new windscreen, rebuilt eng, diff and trans, etc. Let me know if you'd like to contact him. I've driven it and it's a v nice car. He also has my old Webers and hot cams, not installed yet.

Had I had the room and $, would never have sold my Elan....

[Bavarian Motorist]

Strombergs? Webers? I need to do some more research. Thanks for your info!

[tvacc]

[quote=glb]Above, ervsch reiterates the old significant others' line about Strombergs. He has had v good luck. But, the Webers are the "set & forget" carbs; Strombergs have rubber (?) diaphrams that go bad, perhaps even quicker if gas with high alcohol content is used.

Webers, while complicated to set up the 1st time, give no problems even years later. This has been discussed before, probably in the beginning of this thread. I know many Elan owners and the Strombergs are often going out of tune. Never the Webers.
QUOTE]


I have owned 2 Weber cars and at least 4 stromberg cars. I never had problems with the Stombergs. Very little with the webers.

Just my experience. I think they are both good.

[ervsch]

Originally Posted by glb

Above, ervsch reiterates the old significant others' line about Strombergs. He has had v good luck. But, the Webers are the "set & forget" carbs; Strombergs have rubber (?) diaphrams that go bad, perhaps even quicker if gas with high alcohol content is used.

Webers, while complicated to set up the 1st time, give no problems even years later. This has been discussed before, probably in the beginning of this thread. I know many Elan owners and the Strombergs are often going out of tune. Never the Webers.

Originally Posted by tvacc

I have owned 2 Weber cars and at least 4 stromberg cars. I never had problems with the Stombergs. Very little with the webers.

Just my experience. I think they are both good.

Oh well... just my experience.

[JCoopr]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330194884095

Gorgeous car!

[glb]

Originally Posted by JCoopr

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330194884095

Gorgeous car!

FYI, this was my car for 20 years. I built it. Sold it for $24k and when new owner needed $, he sold it for much, much less.

Great car. Feel free to ask me any questions.

[UKphil]

Originally Posted by glb

FYI, this was my car for 20 years. I built it. Sold it for $24k and when new owner needed $, he sold it for much, much less.

Great car. Feel free to ask me any questions.

They are listing the mileage as 13K - I thought you put 120K on yours?