To buy,or not ? new member advice

[The Veg]

Welcome Alan! You're gonna LOVE the Plus 2! Keep us posted on your search!

[Gasbag]

Well its taken 2 months since my 1st post but I have now sold my MGC and am now actively looking to buy an Elan OR Elan + 2.
Trouble is there doesn't seem to be much about, or what's for sale is from dealers asking BIG money !
I want a Very nice car that is sorted with replacement chassis, decent paint / panel fit, a recent new or rebuilt engine, and with good history and evidence of ongoing repairs /maintenance. So not too much to ask then !!
Oh and must have a decent interior.
Yeah I just want to drive and enjoy from day one.
I don't mind paying decent money, say around 25 k for a +2, or bit more for Elan FHC.

So if anyone is thinking of selling, OR knows of a good car coming up for sale please let me know. I don't mind waiting, there's no rush but my garage is Very empty now !

Thanks,
Alan [gasbag]

[alanr]

Personally I would just love another MGCGT having had a couple of them in the past. Very reliable, looks good, low maintenance cruiser type motoring!
On the exact opposite scale to my +2 though, which needs constant maintence, is very noisy, uncomfortable to go very far in, but somehow quite why I don't know, I love it!

Alan.

[berni29]

Hi

Just to add to this thread, I have been in MG circles for many years but have only ever had a Midget 1275 RWA car in my younger years. My father had a very nice MGB though. I have friends with various GT's and C's.

I have also has several plus 2's and used two of them as daily drivers. One of those through some pretty harsh winters. I sold my last one about 15 years ago and have been looking for another recently.

25k is a very healthy budget. There was a "showroom condition" and it really did look like it was, on Ebay which went for 19.9k recently. Hopefully it was the OP who bought it. Looking at a lot of cars on the market either it was really quite cheap or there are are many fairly hopefully priced offerings out there. True of any marque I guess, especially at dealers. Club Lotus News is a good place to look for honest cars in my opinion. I have just agreed on a rolling chassis, but almost complete car that I found in that publication. I have been a member since 1995. Time flies.

As far as Plus 2 vs MG's, the Plus 2 makes the MG seem agricultural. I do not mean that in a bad way really. I quite like the way MG's go. Torquey willing engines, but nothing like the sophistication of the Twincam, or the Plus 2 suspension. If set up properly the Plus 2 is a very comfortable ride while being much sportier and responsive than a typical (non race) MG. Also the bodies do not rust, although every other part of the car has the potential to turn to dust. They are not as tough as MG's in my experience. Also you will I hope have read up on the issues that fibreglass Lotus cars can/will have with paintwork.

The Plus 2 (early cars are my preference) is a truly beautiful car. Like anything though you it helps to know what you are buying, so I would draw on the experience here, especially if originality is your thing. For me originality is not my thing so it does make the buying proposition a bit easier.

All the best

Berni

[Lotus 50]

I have had my Plus 2 since 1984 and it’s quite reliable now. I put on about 1500 miles a year. Fun car, way nicer to drive then an MGC - I drove them back to back 30 years ago and don’t remember much beyond disappointment with the MGC

[Gasbag]

Well yes the MGC was a bit of a disappointment to me, only had it 6 months and although it was a lovely restoration, very practical and a great looker I just couldn't fall in love with it. Did a few suspension upgrades but it was no sports car, rather a refined tourer I suppose. Hence why I sold it [got my outlay back ! ] and I'm now actively looking for a nice sorted Elan to fill my now empty garage.
Thing is there's not many on market to view and what's out there is mostly expensive trader cars, as far as I can see, OR at the opposite end of country !
If anyone knows of a nice Elan I can treat myself to for Xmas.........?

[berni29]

Hi

The MGC is a bit more hairy chested brute than the rather elegant refined Plus 2. I have a couple of friends with MGC's. Both are pretty rough and loud, and one has a sidepipe exhaust that flames come out of haha.

All the best

Berni

[bexylou]

Hi Alan
did you get sorted? as I am thinking of moving mine on. Its 68 in great condition after complete engine refurb do just over 3k since, PM for details if interested ,over 25k of invoices.
Tony

[Gasbag]

Despite a couple of near misses I'm still looking and searching chaps. Maybe I Will have to travel further afield ?
I would appreciate any leads .......

[cliveyboy]

Alan
There are plenty of Plus 2s around and they come on the market regularly.
Buy a good one and look after it and it will reward you with one of the best driving experiences you are likely to have.
Your budget is enough to get you a very nice one. Just be patient and don't rush into it.
Clive

[Gasbag]

"there are plenty on the market and they come on regularly"

Well the trouble is there's few really nice ones, and now the winter is approaching I don't see many coming up for sale. I guess maybe the nice ones are owned by real Elan enthusiasts and they're "keepers", unless a change of lifestyle pushes them to sell ?

So despite some near misses I'm still looking, hopefully from a private sale. Having viewed a couple of +2s from a so called "specialist dealer" I was very disappointed to find that there wasn't anything "special" about them, Or the cars at all ! How they make a living I don't know, I wouldn't buy a loaf of bread from them ! [ got that off my chest ! ]

So just to recap, am looking for a very nice +2, with replaced chassis, Engine and decent body/ paint. Some upgrades and a ongoing history of regular maintenance and use. A tidy interior and dash also.
Anyone who knows of one or got one please message me.

Thanks for reading.
Gasbag

[Rob1n]

I went to look at an MGB roadster drove it and then a friend of mine said he was selling his +2. A “ Lotus” after driving it that was it. I probably could have bought a better Lotus than the one I bought, for all the reasons outlined in the previous posts. But what a smile they put on your face!!
Go for it your only here once.

[Spyder fan]

Have you checked this one out? https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1382745

No affiliation, it seems to tick a lot of boxes, not to my own taste of colour and a few bits are not correct, but looks good in the pictures.

[berni29]

I went to look at an MGB roadster drove it and then a friend of mine said he was selling his +2. A “ Lotus” after driving it that was it. I probably could have bought a better Lotus than the one I bought, for all the reasons outlined in the previous posts. But what a smile they put on your face!!
Go for it your only here once.

MGB's are fun, but the Lotus is just so much more sophisticated. Do you have any pictures of the car or more information? Chassis/paint status/sunroof? Was it a good price? Wish you well to drive it.

All the best

Berni

[Gasbag]

Yes I have seen that all Yellow +2 Alan, I emailed the chap a while ago. Turns out though that there is little history with the car, No invoices for the engine rebuild or body prep/ paint etc. It does look nice [ although not my colour also] but its top money and for that price [26.5 k] I would want some good provenance. Its been on C&C for quite some time now, although the ad has recently been refreshed as its not selling. I wonder why ?!
Thing is I've been disappointed several times now with viewings, and so now don't bother to chase up if I think somethings not right or I'm not at least 70% happy. !
In fact searching for a decent Elan has almost taken over my life [well almost] and its a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride, Interest / excitement / trepidation / anxiety / … and then Disappointment / despair etc !!! Until the process starts again. Getting the picture ?

I blagged a test drive in a + 2 [ a not nice car at a ropey "specialist"] a few weeks ago and despite the cars shortcomings I was blown away by the experience, and yes far far more fun than all the classics I've owned to date, which has kept me going as I know its the car I really want to own ! BUT, I may still be searching in 6 months time...

Alan [Gasbag]