Should I buy an Elan +2 130S?

[markn79]

Hi List,


In the last months my interest for the Elan has grown so much that I
think I want to buy one now. I've never driven one and don't know much
about them yet, but I'm pretty sure I want one.

I have found a car that I want to take a closer look at and test-drive,
but I'm not sure if it's the right for me. The car is a Elan +2 130S
with 5 gears/speed. I've read what I could find on the www.lotuslean.net
website, but most of the reviews are about the Elan S[1..4] or the
"plain" +2.

The Elan S[1..4] sounds like the car of my dream, but is the +2 as fun
to drive?

How is the car at highway speeds?

Are there something special I should listen for or take special note at
when I take the car out for a drive?

I know there's sometimes problems with older cars (I own a MGC-GT at the
moment), but is the Elan worse than other? I was hoping I could use the
car as a daily driver in good weather.



Many thanks in advance,

Mark Nellemann


--
Best regards

Mark Nellemann
Copenhagen, Denmark

[kstrutt1]

Hi,Mark,
AS the car you mention is a 5 speed I assume it is also a big veklve
+"S130. I have a +2S130 mine originally had the 4 speed which I found
too short geared for motorway use, if the the car you mention has the
original maxi based 5 speed gearbox you have a double edged sword, the
5th gear is really usefull but they have a reputation for fragility
and difficult to obtain / expensive parts.

As for the rest of the car it needs regular maintainance but can be
made very reliable. A good engine is tough and reliable the weak
points being waterpump and timing chain which are both cheap
but require a major engine strip down approx every 30-40,000 miles.
One that has been overheated, poorly maintained badly reconditioned or
thrashed to death can be a real headache (not to mention wallet ache).
The only other real weakness on the car is the rear driveshafts and
the rubber dougnuts, though this can now be fixed with various
aftermarket CV joint shafts.
Fibre glass bodywork doesn't rust but can crack and split, this should
be obvious unless the car has been recently re-sprayed.
The chassis can rust especially around the front suspension towers,
and the steel members in the sills tend to rot very quickly, look for
bulges along the botttom flange.

The worst thing I have encountered is previous bodges, when I
purchased my car I removed 3 buckets full of wiring which didn't go
anywhere (old alarms, lights, audio systems etc).

To drive it is great, and I often use it for the daily commute I did
look at the small elans but at 6'4" I found them a little cramped. The
+2 seemed to be softer sprung than the small elan with more body roll
but a better ride, it is still capable of seeing off many modern hot
hatches though and is streets ahead of the MGB.

As to which you should buy, well both are good, the small elan is
quicker and feels a little more direct, the Plus 2 is more
comfortable, easier to live with especially if you are large, also
it's much cheaper, my ideal choice (when I win the lottery!)would be
one of each, the +2 for daily driving and a tuned small elan for track
days etc.


--- In lotuselan@y..., Mark Nellemann <mark@n...> wrote:

[markn79]

Hi,

The car (not just the engine) has only 90.000 km and two owners on its
back. The steel-frame is electroplated (is that the right term?). The
fibre glass have small repair marks next to the frontlights, but looks
fine (for a 30 year old car) elsewhere.

There's pictures of the car here:
http://www.daytona-cars.dk/cars/car09.htm


***@***.***e:



I think the 4th gear is original. If it fails I need to repair the
gearbox or replace it with a 4-speed+overdrive ?



What exactly does this involve?




Is the rear-driveshaft expensive to replace if it fails?




I'll look for this.




I didn't see anything like this at all. The car look very original and
well kept.




I'm rather tall also and I like the extra room the backseats provide,
but the reason why I'm looking at the +2 is because I haven't found any
small Elan's for sale at all.




Thanks again.


--
Best regards

Mark Nellemann
Copenhagen, Denmark

[kstrutt1]

Mark,
To answer some of your points,

The only 2 gearboxes originally were the 4 and 5 speed, overdrive
boxes do not fit due to the narrow backbone/transmission tunnel. There
have been several other boxes fitted by various people, I have a 5
speed sierra, this means modifying the Chassis there has been talk of
a toyota box which fits as well.
Repairing the original 5 speed can be done, and if it is driven with
care (ie no drag starts etc)it can last well, also get it fixed if it
starts geting noisy rather than waiting for something to break.


To replace the water pump you need to remove the engine which takes
about 1 hour perhaps 2 if its your first time, remove the cylinder
head and sump then the waterpump, change the timing chain, rebuild the
water pump (a press is needed)and re-assemble.

To replace the original rubber couplings and bolts costs about GBP150
in parts, and they can last as little as 5000 miles, the CV jointed
shafts cost around GPB 400 are easier to fit and last forever (well
almost).


Kevin +2S130.



--- In lotuselan@y..., Mark Nellemann <mark@n...> wrote:

[rt6810]

Mark

No baby Elans for sale?

Come over and drive mine (Sprint FHC) to see how you like it. If you do, buy
it, drive it home and I will pay for your trip! Then I will be down to just
one.

You are just about to start an incredible journey - sometimes as far as the
end of your street! I just did 500 miles in her, through central London,
motorways, back roads; starts 1st time in -6 deg. C. A great everyday driver
potentially as practical as an MG C.

Email me for some photos and full description.

All the best.

Rob Thornton
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Nellemann <***@***.***>
To: ***@***.*** <***@***.***>
Date: 26 July 2001 10:28
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Should I buy an Elan +2 130S?



Hi List,


In the last months my interest for the Elan has grown so much that I
think I want to buy one now. I've never driven one and don't know much
about them yet, but I'm pretty sure I want one.

I have found a car that I want to take a closer look at and test-drive,
but I'm not sure if it's the right for me. The car is a Elan +2 130S
with 5 gears/speed. I've read what I could find on the www.lotuslean.net
website, but most of the reviews are about the Elan S[1..4] or the
"plain" +2.

The Elan S[1..4] sounds like the car of my dream, but is the +2 as fun
to drive?

How is the car at highway speeds?

Are there something special I should listen for or take special note at
when I take the car out for a drive?

I know there's sometimes problems with older cars (I own a MGC-GT at the
moment), but is the Elan worse than other? I was hoping I could use the
car as a daily driver in good weather.



Many thanks in advance,

Mark Nellemann


--
Best regards

Mark Nellemann
Copenhagen, Denmark








reserved.

["Anthony Brooks"]

The plus 2 is a great car and I think that it is a much more user friendly
car than the elan. I am currently looking for a plus 2 for a restoration
project. If anyone in Australia has a plus 2 in need of total restoration
that they want to sell, email me at ***@***.*** phone me on my
mobile at 0411879463. I live in Sydney but I dont mind travelling for a
bargain.
----- Original Message -----


Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 10:30 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Should I buy an Elan +2 130S?


Hi,Mark,
AS the car you mention is a 5 speed I assume it is also a big veklve
+"S130. I have a +2S130 mine originally had the 4 speed which I found
too short geared for motorway use, if the the car you mention has the
original maxi based 5 speed gearbox you have a double edged sword, the
5th gear is really usefull but they have a reputation for fragility
and difficult to obtain / expensive parts.

As for the rest of the car it needs regular maintainance but can be
made very reliable. A good engine is tough and reliable the weak
points being waterpump and timing chain which are both cheap
but require a major engine strip down approx every 30-40,000 miles.
One that has been overheated, poorly maintained badly reconditioned or
thrashed to death can be a real headache (not to mention wallet ache).
The only other real weakness on the car is the rear driveshafts and
the rubber dougnuts, though this can now be fixed with various
aftermarket CV joint shafts.
Fibre glass bodywork doesn't rust but can crack and split, this should
be obvious unless the car has been recently re-sprayed.
The chassis can rust especially around the front suspension towers,
and the steel members in the sills tend to rot very quickly, look for
bulges along the botttom flange.

The worst thing I have encountered is previous bodges, when I
purchased my car I removed 3 buckets full of wiring which didn't go
anywhere (old alarms, lights, audio systems etc).

To drive it is great, and I often use it for the daily commute I did
look at the small elans but at 6'4" I found them a little cramped. The
+2 seemed to be softer sprung than the small elan with more body roll
but a better ride, it is still capable of seeing off many modern hot
hatches though and is streets ahead of the MGB.

As to which you should buy, well both are good, the small elan is
quicker and feels a little more direct, the Plus 2 is more
comfortable, easier to live with especially if you are large, also
it's much cheaper, my ideal choice (when I win the lottery!)would be
one of each, the +2 for daily driving and a tuned small elan for track
days etc.


--- In lotuselan@y..., Mark Nellemann <mark@n...> wrote:















reserved.

[ardee_selby]

Anthony,
When you say "user friendly" - do you mean ergonomics?
maintainability? or something else?.
I've often wondered about having +2 one day.
Richard
--- Anthony Brooks <***@***.***> wrote:

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