Lotus Elan

[K. Roman]

I'm driving down Pine st. in SF today and spotted a 1991 Lotus Elan (cabrio) in immaculate condition for the price of $16,000. It has 43,000 miles. Does anyone know anything about these?
PS: I'm keeping my SC

[poorb0yw]

Originally posted by K. Roman
PS: I'm keeping my SC

Thats all you need to know lol.

[dd74]

They're cute, particularly in yellow, but that's sort of about it.

I think they were built from 1989-91. They're front-wheel drive, based on an Isuzu chassis and slightly modified Isuzu turbo powerplant, making 162 hp. Five-speed transmissions - again Isuzu, I believe. 0-60 as I remember was 6.7 seconds.

I never heard of them doing much in racing.

Front-wheel drive Lotuses...

Bet a turbo Miata would teach it a lesson.

An SC would probably tear it apart.

If you want an old Lotus, buy a real Elan (if you can find one), or this Lotus...

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/europa/

[K. Roman]

It looks like this except that it's green

[dd74]

Didja' Blue Book it? $16K seems high for what's really a Japanese car with Lotus badges. Maybe Lotus designed the body (and maybe part of the suspension come to think of it), but still, $16K...?

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Isn't that the one with front wheel drive and an Isuzu 4 cylinder engine?

Yup.

It's still made today. I think by Kia with another asian 4 cylinder engine. It seems like the 924 of Lotus

[dd74]

These guys build Europas from the ground up.

http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/cars/

For about $10K more than your $16K, you can have a real, "brand new" Europa.

[K. Roman]

Thanks for the info...I'll step away slowly now.

[MFAFF]

Don't step away....

Other than the Isuzu engine and Toyota gearbox its a great car...Lotus designed the chassis and body and the suspension. The engine was reworked to suit the new chassis but I recall the gearbox being used pretty much unmodified.

Seriously, when it was launched the reviews were great.

Sure it's FWd which sounds mad for Lotus but it was a hoot to drive and certainly over here in the UK one of the fastest cars from A to B, including 911s of the day....

It was never really raced as a the time Lotus were part of GM who were not into factory teams and Lotus, as Lotus Racing, was still in F1.

They are now overshadowed by the Elise here but they still rate highly.

Probably the one of the easier cars to drive very quickly over an unknown European twistie road. That's what they were designed for and htat's what they are best at....

My guess it that they are underpowered for the US market if loaded with equipment etc and possibly not suited to the majority of the roads over there.

Certainly when I lived in the US, over in NoVa, other than the Blue Ridge Parkway and roads around there which are police intensive there was no equivalent roads to what we have over here and so the driving requirements were different, not worse but different. Its horses for courses.

[Doog]

Ditto what MFAFF said...

They handle great.. An old colleague used one as a daily driver for a couple of years without incident.. Bit plasticky on the inside, but good fun nonetheless.

Less charisma than the original Elan, but probably a match for your SC over the backroads....

Dont walk away just yet.. Give one a try..


Doog

[Glasgow 911SC]

My dad has one. An US spec SC couldnt keep up with it on a twisty road. My car can outun it on the straights. Must be one of the best, if not the best, handling front wheel drive cars ever built. It really is great fun to drive. The cable operated gearchange is awsome.

Bad points: The power steering is a touch too light and lifeless. Some parts just can't be found (interior bits etc). Various DIY tasks can be difficult due to some bizarre designs. The oil filter is nicely hidden away. The quality of the interior could be better (but it is a Lotus!).


One thing's for sure though. There's a good chance you'll not see another on the road. So few of them were built. IMO its a great car.

[Glasgow 911SC]

Lotus Elan M100

[dd74]

This is true. I remember the new Elan being touted as the best handling front-wheel drive car of its time. I don't know who currently holds that status, but it would be interesting. Maybe the Ford Focus SVT?

Still, doesn't $16K seem to be a lot for these cars. I would guess $8-10K.

[no substitute]

Thought you meant the original, didn't know they came back in the nineties.

[Glasgow 911SC]

Over here good ones are fetching more than the cheapest Elises. Must be due to the low production numbers. £10,000 will get you a decent one. I've seen perfect ones for as much as £18,000. Whats that in $$

[speedo]

I'm sorry....outside of the fact that the body won't rust and you can probably drive it under a parked semi-trailer with enough extra clearance for someone to be sitting on the roof....I don't get the appeal. I met a guy out here in Colorado a few years ago who had 2 of these strewn across his garage....I tried to get comfortable inside the car and it felt like I was inside a Saab Sonnet.....at least I can find parts for my Porsches!

[dd74]

And if you're 6 feet or taller, I hear you can drive the car with your knees.

I knew the LA Times car reviewer a long time ago - he received a new car every two weeks for his job. He couldn't wait to get rid of the Elan. He thought the car was a bastardization of Lotus. And this guy was British to boot.

[Glasgow 911SC]

My dad is over 6 foot and Im pretty sure he steers with his hands. It has a thing called adjustable steering.....weird.

[RickM]

Unfortunately for Lotus the latest rendition of the Elan turned out to be a flop.

My only hands-on experience was with a first generation Elan Spyder. The co-worker who just purchased it, back in the mid eighties, was raving about it. When I rode in it as a passenger I couldn't understand his attraction. It wasn't particularly attractive and it's perfomance seemed completely lackluster. Perhaps I missed something.

On the other hand I do like the Europa (Lowest height production car for many years) and most Espirits.

[Glasgow 911SC]

Probably cos you were the passenger and not the driver.