Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I am happy with my Lotus, but I would like to take my family out in my cars also. Despite the fact that there are two rears seats in the plus two, no other than small children will survive longer trips in the back.

What is the ultimate sports car for four people. As the Lotus has a fixed head, I'd prefer a convertible, and it needs to fit in a moderate garage (maximum 4.5 meters). Of course it must be a classic...

I'm thinking about a Triumph Stag. Are they comfortable for four people?

Other suggestions?

Regards
/Ulf

The Stag is a good suggestion but not really a "Sports" car, more of a cruiser. It is hard to think of a true four-seat convertible. Maybe the Mercedes SL but even then the rear seats were an extra.
If you do find something suitable the biggest problem will be the amount of wind/draught in the rear seats. I have a VW Eos, which is a sort of modern 4-seat convertible; at anything over 50kph it is not really pleasant to sit in the back with the roof down.

Audi RS4 wagon with a sunroof

SAAB turbo convertible

I would ask first the "has to be" conditions:
- budget (min/max)
- minimum age (of the car)
- age of the childs
- "sports car" definition: looks or abilites
- capacity of boot

>- age of the childs
or may be better:
- size of the childs

What with you being in Sweden, a classic 900 SAAB Turbo convertible comes to mind as a practical four seater.

Mercedes made some pleasant drop head versions of their 1950/60s saloons.

Alvis TD21 drop head is another practical four seater.

I think that if you define 'sports car' as performance allied to handling, then you will not find that in a genuine four seat drop head. So if those two aspects are important to you, then you could open the field to include cars such as the Volante Astons, Morgan 4+4 (if you must!) or Jensen Interceptor drop top (rare).

Tim

trw99 wrote:or Jensen Interceptor drop top (rare).

Tim

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... SS:GB:1123

Bargain!

Terry

>THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE HOOD

well there some other issues which might does it not make a bargain ....

gherlt wrote:>THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE HOOD

well there some other issues which might does it not make a bargain ....

Nothing that a very large tub of P38 won't fix

Terry

Sorry but when family consists of 2 + dog (sorry griff) the ?lan is the ultimate family sports car!

How about a BMW 2002 Turbo ? or a TI ?

http://www.lotuscars.com/en/lotus-eterne

If they build it...

Is it just me that thinks all these proposed new models look basically the same?

This is the drill that I went through, eventually giving up as there is no such thing and bought the elan. I thought about the Stag (not a great history), Jensen Interceptor (mostly automatics), Aston Martin V-8 Vantage/Porsche 911/Maserati Ghibli/Ferrari 300 or 412 (pricey), BMW 2002 (no convertibles), classic Mustang or Camaro (pricey and terrible handling), Plus 2 convertible (hard to find)... Lately I have been thinking about a BMW 3-series with the retractable hardtop for my daily driver. It seems like the best combination of performance, comfort (commuting), reliability, winter (hardtop), summer (convertible) and back seat for family. My wife has still not driven in the elan after 7 years and I don't really want her to, as she will never let the kids step foot in it again. The kids love the elan. Dan

Budget would be maximum 15.000 Euro

Children are 7 and 13 (adult size)

Saab 900 convertibles would be relevant, they are however too long and maybe too young. It would be easy to keep budget low here, Saab parts and shops are everywhere.

Mercedes SL are nice, but they are too american, too much Bobby Ewing...

Jensen Interceptor convertible? - well a good suggestion

Again the Stag, can an adult sit in the back for long? I have seen what Jeremy Clarkson thinks of it, but I don't mind. I would't drive fast with the roof down and I don't mind the cruising character - I compensate with my Elan which gets more track-oriented for every year