Itching to get an Elan

[glb]

Originally Posted by UKphil

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

Yes, 120k is closer to real. Odometer turned over.

[codymac]

If only it was a pre-airflow FHC (my dream Elan).
*sigh*

Very tidy car though!

[elancoupe]

If only it was a pre-airflow FHC (my dream Elan).

[Trainwreck]

Ok - here goes a car question. I know some now about the Elise and Exige( major differences between the two). What are the pros and or cons to an Elan comapared to Elise and Exige and which do most people prefer-Elise or Exige. I am more famialiar with Elise(as a passenger, unfortunately-but they are still fun even if you're not the driver. . I know this is all personal preference- so, people, state your opinions ( on this subject). Thank you for sharing your opinions and knowledge!

[codymac]

Originally Posted by elancoupe

Pics please!

[glb]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck

Ok - here goes a car question. I know some now about the Elise and Exige( major differences between the two). What are the pros and or cons to an Elan comapared to Elise and Exige and which do most people prefer-Elise or Exige. I am more famialiar with Elise(as a passenger, unfortunately-but they are still fun even if you're not the driver. . I know this is all personal preference- so, people, state your opinions ( on this subject). Thank you for sharing your opinions and knowledge!

Some of yr answers will be found on prev threads.

Elans are much more comfy w/well-padded seats; have good-sized trunks; IMO are beautiful; weigh only 1650 lbs (vs 1980); are very old by now (last made in '72); leak oil; fairly unreliable; have actual glove boxes; are too narrow to handle like an Elise (w/o fender flares); have virtually no safety protection (mine had a small roll-cage); were years ahead of most other cars of the era; catch on fire too often; need 5th & 6th gears; have iffy electrics; ride really well for such good handling cars.

My Elan was v fast and modified enough to be reliable. The elise is the only car that would get me out of the elan.

[Stacked]

I have been kicking around the idea of selling some motorcycles to buy an elan. I wonder if it is more fun than my Exige S. My neighbor who shares my garage is currently restoring two elan's, and would be a great partner in fixing any problems that would arise, he has a great collection of spare parts. I previously had been kicking around the idea of a pre 73 911 as well. Im not really a Porsche guy but have always liked the older and lighter Porsche's such as the pre 73 911 and the 356. I wonder which is a more engaging drive?

[Stacked]

also, what is a good estimated price for a nice series 1 2 or 3 elan, in good condition?

[mopho]

Well, I've driven an Exige S back to back with my Elan on the same roads and while the Exige is much faster, I find the Elan more fun to drive, especially on the tighter, twistier roads.

Obviously the Exige is easier to live with and there are times I would rather have one (like when having to do a roadside repair to the Elan), but I think the only thing that could get me out of my Elan would be a Caterham

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Stacked

also, what is a good estimated price for a nice series 1 2 or 3 elan, in good condition?

$20-30k

[glb]

Originally Posted by Stacked

I wonder which is a more engaging drive?

that mostly depends on you.

My elan was heavily modified & cornered, stopped and accelerated really well. But, many prefer the more vintage feel and keep the tall, narrow tires, which allow the car to be slid around more easily.

try driving one.

[glb]

Originally Posted by mopho

Well, I've driven an Exige S back to back with my Elan on the same roads and while the Exige is much faster, I find the Elan more fun to drive, especially on the tighter, twistier roads.

Obviously the Exige is easier to live with and there are times I would rather have one (like when having to do a roadside repair to the Elan), but I think the only thing that could get me out of my Elan would be a Caterham

Hey, how is yr elan doing anyway? Been meaning to contact you.

I had (possession, not ownership) of a Lotus 7. Amazing handling, but (repeating here) slow @ around 100 mph and terrible for trips (not the luggage issue, the wind buffeting...which I learned to fix, w/some effort).

When both were running, I mostly took the Elan. STILL the best vintage Brit sports car ever made.

crap, Healey's sell for $60k and they are truck-like (save 100-4s; not much better) so the elan s/b $70k.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by glb

that mostly depends on you.

My elan was heavily modified & cornered, stopped and accelerated really well. But, many prefer the more vintage feel and keep the tall, narrow tires, which allow the car to be slid around more easily.

try driving one.

My car is heavily modified as well (it is nearly as quick as an Elise) and I have semi low profile tires on it but they are all season (it is hard to find 13" tires these days) Bridgestone RE92's 165/65/13 and I have them shaved down half way. They are surprisingly grippy yet offer a vintage feel and break away very progressively. The beauty is that you don't have to be going warp speeds to be finding the edge of adhesion which IMO makes the car much more fun than modern cars, you have to pay attention as you are constantly having to make corrections and "feel" the car through the corners, it gives the impression that you are really pushing it even though you are not going terribly fast, love it, driving the car is an event!
On the really tight twisty roads you can see off some pretty hot modern cars because they are too big
The other nice thing is that it brings smiles to peoples faces instead of sneers, especially when you are cruising through neighborhoods and I have found that slow drivers pull over for you to let you by more often than when driving modern cars

Originally Posted by glb

Hey, how is yr elan doing anyway? Been meaning to contact you.

Car is doing great! So much fun and it is quite quick, sounds amazing too! Had some small teething problems but got them sorted out. Still having issues with getting the Tach and Speedo working, but we're sorting it out.

[glb]

Yup, the "performance envelope" of Lotus elans, elises, 7s, etc. are low enough to provide fun almost anywhere.

such is the joy of low mass (open, in our cases) sports cars. even @ 50 mph on a back road, they are fun.

this is what has me leaning against getting a supercharger.

I had a ferociously fast tt Supra, but one had to drive awfully fast to enjoy it; the dead-at-all-but-high-cornering-speeds steering didn't help much either.

I don't need/want a "supercar" capable of extremely high speeds; I have virtually nowhere to use that.

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by glb

Yup, the "performance envelope" of Lotus elans, elises, 7s, etc. are low enough to provide fun almost anywhere.

such is the joy of low mass (open, in our cases) sports cars. even @ 50 mph on a back road, they are fun.

this is what has me leaning against getting a supercharger.

I had a ferociously fast tt Supra, but one had to drive awfully fast to enjoy it; the dead-at-all-but-high-cornering-speeds steering didn't help much either.

I don't need/want a "supercar" capable of extremely high speeds; I have virtually nowhere to use that.

+1 I feel the same way about boosting the power on the Elise. The car is so nicely balanced and fun to drive at normal road speeds. I would have nowhere on public roads to exploit all that new found power/speed and I don't do track days any more. Maybe I am just getting old?

[glb]

Originally Posted by tesprit

+1 I feel the same way about boosting the power on the Elise. The car is so nicely balanced and fun to drive at normal road speeds. I would have nowhere on public roads to exploit all that new found power/speed and I don't do track days any more. Maybe I am just getting old?

Well, I AM old now, i.e. 60. It's not a great place...

and, even w/track days, the point is not to go down the straight faster than anyone else. Plus, there is always a faster gun...

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by glb

Well, I AM old now, i.e. 60. It's not a great place...

and, even w/track days, the point is not to go down the straight faster than anyone else. Plus, there is always a faster gun...

Yep, I completely agree!

[elancoupe]

Pics please!

Here you go.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by elancoupe

Here you go.

That's the ticket!

[glb]

Originally Posted by elancoupe

Here you go.

That is gorgeous. My engine & compartment never looked 1/2 as good.