Twinspark Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Any good? - I know they're FWD, but everyone who has driven one seems to rave about them. Non-turbos are cheap but seem to offer largely the same performance as my MX5. I have a bit of a dilemma - the '5 is starting to bubble around the rear arches, so I can either replace it or get them sorted. I know I've posted before, pondering what I could 'upgrade' to, but the M100s have really caught my imagination today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Reckoned to be the best handling FWD car ever made, even compared to modern cars. However, I can't see the attraction to be honest, it'll be an MX-5 with all the fun and reliability removed, and every time I see one, I cant help but think it's ruined with far too obvious parts bin cr@p from other manufacturers, aren't the rear lights upside down Ford Sierra units? Personally i'd never go near one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted October 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Not sure about reliability, as the oily bits are all Isuzu sourced. I suppose electrics could be a nightmare and many parts are probably becoming unobtainable now, too. Suppose the last thing I need is two cars with unobtainable bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 It's an old Lotus, you've got to be very dedicated to keep one running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 I like these too, Thorburn (who used to post on here a bit but is over on SELOC a lot) will tell you more, but rusty suspension arms and tatty hoods are the biggest worry. I think the S2 (with the nicer fat 5 spoke wheels) had galvanised suspenension arms. They've been cheap forever, a bit unloved, but I'd get your arches on the MX-5 fixed instead of buying an M100. £110 a side for a proper weld in panel, plus fitting and spraying, not that expensive. I've just spent a few £££ getting mine done and it looks great now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 This surely is absolutely fecked? Used Elan M100 1992 non turbo model for sale - PistonHeads (Ref 815025) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 I can't imagine it being quick. A well sorted chassis will just highlight the slowness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 It'll be slow, but it's soft top, BRG and a Lotus, so is quite appealing... Good time of year for buying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 There's a chap local to me who owns a really nice BRG one. I don't know him personally but if I see him, I'll ask him what it's like. He keeps it immaculate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Same power and less weight than my MX5... so not that slow, really. Can you tell I was a massive Lotus Turbo Challenge fan when I was in my late teens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 I was too. I was a master at "Peasoup" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Lol, had the Lotus games on my Amiga, in fact, they'll still be up in the loft. Thing is, the game didn't highlight the hilariously shonky build quality, I know that one in the link is getting on a bit, but those dodgy panel gaps were probably like that when it was new. Personally, in your position, I'd avoid them like the plague, having the Alfa means you've got enough on your plate in terms of DIY maintenance, so I'd be after something utterly reliable such as, oh I don't know, your MX5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 I'm just a bit bored of the MX5 - I've done 15k miles in it in 18 months and I'm losing interest in it. As I've also discovered, they are the most rot prone cars since the AlfaSud, too - mine was absolutely spotless 18 months ago, but the arches are bubbling now and it really fecks me off every time I look at it. I kind of wish I'd spent more money and bought a S4 Alfa Spider now - at least they had a half decent level of rust proofing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 There's a Cat D 3.2 Alfa GTV on PH for £900 Why not turbo the MX-5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Aye that is the MX 5's Achilles heel, and it is frankly ridiculous for a modern car, mine has had the arches and sills done already, and it's only 9 years old. I'm thinking about having it waxoiled or something, but I'm not sure it would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted November 3, 2012 Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 Rust, shmust, drive 'em, when it fails an MOT for rust, fix 'em. The Elan M100 looks tempting, but the Excel is now an absolte bargain, last car Chapman himself worked on, cool/ugly wedge styling, plastic panels and reasonably reliable too. OK, the interiors are horrific, but worth a look ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 If I didn't have the 75, then an Excel may have been worth looking at - but they're not a ragtop, which is why I was looking at the M100s. I have a bit of a Lotus itch to scratch, I think - but my head does tell me to keep the '5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 That one seems to have disappeared from sale - it was the only one that I'd probably have really considered buying, as it was disposable money, almost... All others are at or around 944 Cabrio money - which is a bit of a no-brainer. The 944 is an order of magnitude better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted November 3, 2012 Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 What's your 944 Cabrio budget? One of the guys on the PCGB forum has one for sale, I can PM him for some details if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 At the moment.... sod all! Well, not enough to buy one. It's all musing it over in my head before taking the plunge with my bonus next spring. Sadly it won't be quite the budget I'd have liked, as there's another 2 years on my share save before it pays out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Time for an S1 Elise ? Right time to buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted November 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 Too sporty and not practical enough. Whilst I do a lot of track days, we also do a lot of road miles, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 You'd be surprised hoe much booze you can squeeze in an Elise after a quick hop across the channel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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