Buying advice and originality questions

[Parptoot]

More buying advice and running questions

I now have a couple of cars in my sights, nothing done and dusted and at this stage it's just in the very early stages so no links to teasers just yet!

I do like to take on a challenge and all I really need is a running car that capable of attaining an M.O.T. test certificate with a few ??? and then some money chucked at reliability.

With the reliability thing in mind, how may of you use your car for commuting or drive your Elan, say 3-4 days a week?
This is where I currently am with my current classic and this absolutely needs to be repeated with the Elan. A good solid early morning starter, all year, all weather and yes that means winter too.
I've made it to work in my old MG when others in modern cars have languished in the ditches.

What I'm getting at is, can you, like my MG, get these to a state that they're running perfectly and with some simple yearly servicing, monthly checks, keep the car running and reliable for a more frequent use classic car.

From what I've read in amongst the threads of one of the cars in question, the owner had the car for many years, clearly loved it, spent money on it and also seemed to have problem after problem. Nothing major, just ignition issues, carb set-up, gearbox synchromesh crunching (rebuilt), an electric problem or two, gearbox syncho issue (rebuilt again).
All in all just a constant drip feed of issues. Is this the norm? I know it's not been my experience with my old MG. I know, they're very different cars and can't really be compared but old is old.

So you daily and frequent drivers, fill me in on your experiences and issues over the past couple of years.
Thanks,
Mike.

[john.p.clegg]

When it goes right nobody remembers,When it goes wrong nobody forgets...

John

[Orsom Weels]

What I'm getting at is, can you, like my MG, get these to a state that they're running perfectly and with some simple yearly servicing, monthly checks, keep the car running and reliable for a more frequent use classic car.

Yes, of course you can, at the end of the day, they're built around good old fashioned basic technology, just like any other car of the era & use many tried & tested components from run of the mill cars. They have one or two weak points, just like many others, but they are well documented now & can easily be addressed, there are numerous specialists offering upgraded components to improve reliability &/or make maintenance easier if you feel you need it. If you are looking at winter use, a Spyder chassis is no bad thing, as their turrets are nicely closed in so none of the salty sh1t can get in & rot them away, & for regular use, don't discount a Stromberg car, nothing wrong with Weber/Delllorto, but you will appreciate the fuel saving from Strombergs . My first +2 had to be an every day car, a second car was a luxury I simply couldn't afford, it was 14 years old at the time, so just an old car & probably not the best example, but I went through things methodically, sorting it's issues, & it became a good reliable car that got me to work & back & took me where ever I needed/wanted to go. It certainly didn't live up to the "Lot's Of Trouble, Usually Serious" nonsense . My current +2 enjoys a much easier life, but if the need arose, I wouldn't be afraid to use it as my main mode of transport. Like any other marque, things can go wrong & one of the biggest differences between a Lotus & your current MG could be the cost of some repairs, a major engine failure would probably cost three time as much to fix on the Lotus, for instance, other things may turn out to cost similar or even less however, so swings & roundabouts.
Going back to the +2 discussed earlier, it turns out my cousin was at the last auction the car in question failed to sell at. He's an Elise man, but thinking of getting into a classic Lotus, so had some interest in this car. He admits to not being an expert, but knows my car well & has been looking at others for a while, so is not a complete stranger to them. In his opinion, the body, dash, electrics & many fittings are later S130, the seats & identity are early pre 'S' +2, the engine somewhere in between. His description suggests more later parts than early, & his opinion was an S130 had been fitted with earlier seats, given an early identity & lost it's big valve head, rather than an early car re-shelled/re-nosed. The term he used was less complimentary than "bitsa" . The VIN plate is clearly not original & with the colour change on top of everything else, he felt there were too many doubts over it's provenance.

Best regards, Tim

[Sea Ranch]

Awesome summary . . . on both issues.

[Wickey]

Tim, I agree with Sea Ranch. It is nice to see those that spend a little time on the keyboard to assist others.....The one thing from my limited studying while looking to buy a nice classic for my retirement was looking at spares availability and cost including garage labour charges. I specifically compared the Lotus Elan +2 to an MGB at one point in spares costs/availability. There is no doubt the MG is far cheaper with more access/competitors to parts at far less a cost. Obviously there were a lot more MGB's manufactured so a lot more still on the road. That said I settled to look for a +2 as there is just more room in the interior.
When I went to look at the white +2 (with the purple roof) the guy actually had several beautifully restored cars one which was an MGB roadster so I actually got to get a test run in both. I know it is not really a fair comparison but the aerodynamics on the +2 too are truly incredible. So quiet even cruising at 70mph along the motorway with both door windows down and you don't feel 'cuddled up' to the driver or getting in the way of gearshifts. When I asked about problems compared with each marque he just said they all have odd electrical issues including his wifes Ferrari and Rolls Royce usually related to the Lucas and bullit style connectors which were generally used in the industry and common technology on all the cars of the same period..........what he did comment was generally access to do jobs on the MG were far simpler so less hours to have to pay out for............citing the 'diff' as an example he said he could repair that in situ on the MG in a few hours yet with the Lotus he would probably have to take the whole body off the chassis to even get at it..........the main point being any individual has to consider whether you can do the work on the car yourself or have to pay for it to be done. A hard one for me to swallow as I will have to use garages for maintenance on my cars but the desire of the Lotus over other marques is just too great.

[Parptoot]

Thanks again, this really is what I'm wanting to hear. I suspect I'm just dragging my heals a bit and in reality I already know that given the right amount of time, money and skill, of course you'd be able to drive one regularly

I just wanted to hear a few instances where it's happened and some "yes it's great, no problem" sort of accounts. I suppose that leads to the

When it goes right nobody remembers,When it goes wrong nobody forgets...

comment from John

The car leading the pack at the moment isn't the one from the H&H auction. Although that's still there and in the running, I do feel that there's a lot hanging over it. I'm not overly concerned with a car that's got a few different bits on again, I really do think that the majority just see the Lotus badge, the shape and appreciate it for what it is.

As to working on the car or passing over to a garage, well that's an easy one, I'm lazy.
I do have the ability having spent the majority of my working life in the motor trade and motorsport, I find the idea of working on my own car a huge drag. I will if I have to but I'd rather hand it to someone who knows the cars inside out. It'll be done quicker and probably with more proficiency.

The search continues.