Lotus Elan SE

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The Elan M100 was one of Chapman’s best. So who needs an MX-5?

I’M AFTER A CHEAP SPORTS CAR BUT NOT AN MX-5. ANY IDEAS?

Yes why not have a look at a Lotus Elan – no not the expensive Emma Peel one but the later all new model made for the 1990s? They’re as cheap as an old MX-5 and rarer.

ANY GOOD THOUGH?,/h3> Oh yes! Lotus never sold as many as it predicted, but that was due more to the price the carmaker pitched for rather than any deficiencies with the design. Some weren’t taken by the tubby looks either but as you’d expect from Lotus, this was no retro makeover like the Mazda.

WHAT’S THIS ELAN’S BEST POINTS?

In its day the new Elan M100 was widely acclaimed, particularly for its incredible front-wheel drive handling and roadholding. Enough said.

HANG ON… FRONT WHEEL DRIVE?

Oh yes – because as you’d expect from Lotus, the engineers didn’t look back to the old Elan for inspiration but went front wheel drive to compete with the new generation of GTis. However, Lotus went a stage further and its special suspension design on ‘rafts’ gave it exceptional neutral handling and the usual comfortable ride you expect from a Lotus. The M100 Elan was dubbed a ‘90 per cent’ sports car when launched – but as a compliment. That’s because it was designed to be driven at 90 per cent of its massive ability, by 90 per cent of drivers 90 per cent of the time. It was one of the best handlers in its day and few moderns can match it today.

AH… BUT IS IT FUN?

It depends what you want from a sports car. True, you can’t hang the tail out with aplomb as you can in a MX-5 or Midget; the M100 Elan is more about precision and making the most of its great grip and security, rather like a good modern hot hatch.

WHAT’S AROUND?

Basically there’s three models; the original standard 1600cc car, the far, more popular higher powered turbocharged SE and the final S2, which boasted various improvements over the SE but was fitted with a cat which knocked the power back a tad.

HOW QUICK ARE THEY THOUGH?

Fast enough for many. All use the same Isuzu (yes, we did say Isuzu!) 1.6-litre engine. The base car kicks out some 130bhp, the SE 165bhp if in good order with the S2 quoted at 155bhp. All will hit 60mph in eight seconds with the SE considerably faster in less than seven – about the same as the classic Elan Sprint.

They are pretty good on fuel too, so expect 30mpg or more. But if they have a flaw it’s their family car parentage – they don’t have the character and noise you’d expect from a sport car although an aftermarket exhaust changes things notably if you pardon the pun.

DO I NEED A TURBO?

No – but you should buy one! Almost 4000 Elan M100s were made over five years – 800 of them later the S2 – yet less than 100 ‘N/A’ versions ever found homes. They are around and should be significantly cheaper to buy, but the flipside could be harder resales. It’s a shame, because this base car performs reasonably well (and can be made much livelier with better breathing) with the same grippy handling, and there’s no turbocharger to fail either. But the fact is that hardly anybody wants one so don’t get lumbered or you may regret it!

L.O.T.U.S?

You mean that old acronym, Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious, don’t you? Well, the good news is that the M100 Elan is probably the most reliable car ever to come out of Hethel. Lotus really strove hard to make the car as durable as any mainstream rival and the company largely succeeded, chiefly due to employing Isuzu hardware! Unless the car has been badly neglected you can buy one in confidence – certainly with less worry than you would with an MGF for example.

NO WORRIES THEN!

Not quite! Elan uses dedicated suspension parts such as the rear wishbones which rot and cost £400 to replace with driveshafts costing around £400 each. Track control arms cost almost as much, while Lotus dampers are £200 a pop! And while that Isuzu engine is cheap to source as it is long-lasting (from around £350), if it does need a rebuild you’ll find gaskets practically impossible to obtain… Alas, because the car has until of late suffered from low residuals, the high cost of some spares led to many being scrapped for parts but not to MGF levels.

AND BODY BITS?

The Elan has been out of production for 20 years but bits are still available. New bodies and chassis frames are obtainable but expensive at £4000 for the former and very early cars are reported to be less rigid than later ones. Rear light clusters come from the rare Renault GTA so are not cheap either. Elan M100.com, Lotus Talk and the new specialist M100 Hoods can help.

POINTS TO WATCH?

The Isuzu engine and drivetrain is almost unbreakable. See that the camshaft drive belt has been replaced on time (60,000 miles).
Talking of cams, apart from checking for wear (lots of top end clatter), the assembly’s sensor can play up causing running-on problems (the engine’s dash warning light should also illuminate unless it’s been disconnected!).

Isuzu gearboxes are generally unbreakable unlike the gear selector cable – if it does break fit improved S2 parts. A short shift conversion was offered by Lotus while in the US, a limited slip differential was specially made if you fancy an Elan as a track day car. You may need it as one M100 expert, Barry Ely, says while the engine can see over 200bhp, it does tax the handling and can even break the engine mounts.

OK – JUST HOW CHEAP IS CHEAP THEN?

Along with the unloved Elite/Eclat and Excel, Elan M100s are dirt cheap but there are signs of this changing. Prices range from a few thousand to around £12,000 which is pennies when you consider what original Elans now go for. At a recent Brands Hatch Lotus Festival, we spoke to a couple of owners who have cheerfully spent considerable sums on full house restorations, so the tide is turning.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Only that colours count. Red cars fade quickly if they’re not looked after and turn to a less than pleasant shade of pink. Specialists usually won’t touch these as it will mean an expensive respray, so don’t think it will simply polish out. British Racing Green cars can highlight panel defects. Whites and blacks look good though…

AN ELAN FOR THE PRICE OF AN MX-5!

Yes it’s tempting isn’t it – and a good one will be just as durable and dependable. Who knows, the M100 may become a collectable classic in years to come so buy one and keep it!