The M100 was a car I very much wanted town at launch and did so when they had dropped to 4-6k in the early 2000's. It drove neatly and as you say was very much a hot hatch without a roof. The build quality was fundamentally good but trim, seats and plastics were somewhat lacking. Interestingly the special painted chasis has stood up well and unlike TVR's of a similar age remain good. Rear wishbones not so much. I ended up buying a selling them over the course of four or five years travelling far a wide to buy them. Unlike most other classics - indeed Lotuses the price of a half tidy Elan has hardly moved, Esprits I bought at the same time have more than trebled in value.
They are fantastic. I sold and drove a few back in the day and to me they are a much more exciting car than the MX5. As used cars in the 90's you could sell every one with ease.
I found them pretty reliable, the gear change was poor compared to the MX5 though and perhaps its biggest sin - dull to drive unless you were ragging the hell out of it. Parts prices - Lotus sure knew how to stiff there customers when it came to spares but they did keep them. M100 was a rust resistant little beast which is quite the opposite of a MX5.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
This is still in my Top 10 cars to own before I die. Loved the engineering and build.
This was a nice little fun car to drive. I still remember the smell of the interior first day of picking it up from dealership at Hethel.
Dealership at Hethel? You mean the factory or was that made up?
The M100 was a car I very much wanted town at launch and did so when they had dropped to 4-6k in the early 2000's. It drove neatly and as you say was very much a hot hatch without a roof. The build quality was fundamentally good but trim, seats and plastics were somewhat lacking. Interestingly the special painted chasis has stood up well and unlike TVR's of a similar age remain good. Rear wishbones not so much.
I ended up buying a selling them over the course of four or five years travelling far a wide to buy them. Unlike most other classics - indeed Lotuses the price of a half tidy Elan has hardly moved, Esprits I bought at the same time have more than trebled in value.
I bought one as a stepping stone to getting an Elise, still got it after 15 years, it nearly ticks all the right boxes.
Great to hear, they're cracking cars!
Lovely car and colour and good video 🚘🚙🚙🚗👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍
Two cars I should never have sold, my M100 Elan SE & my series II V8 swb Land Rover
Great two car garage!
They are fantastic. I sold and drove a few back in the day and to me they are a much more exciting car than the MX5. As used cars in the 90's you could sell every one with ease.
Initially In production for only two years, thats crazy.
I love my very rare non turbo model.
Classic
Please, please, please stop reviewing cars I like. It just makes me want to go spend money I haven't got!
😂😂 Spend my friend 😂😂spend
If you think it's bad for you...imagine how WE feel!
@@ClassicsWorldUK Yeah but at least you get to drive these cars, which is way more than most of us will ever do.
same - i just dropped 17k on this - not sorry lol
Nice little car, but for a question of price, reliability, parts availability, it would be hard to not go the Miata way.
I found them pretty reliable, the gear change was poor compared to the MX5 though and perhaps its biggest sin - dull to drive unless you were ragging the hell out of it.
Parts prices - Lotus sure knew how to stiff there customers when it came to spares but they did keep them. M100 was a rust resistant little beast which is quite the opposite of a MX5.
Lovely to look at, shyte to drive. Although the flat red is hideous. Green and Blue were the much better colours
You must have driven sh it e ones then because a good one is an absolute hoot :)
I made it to "front wheel drive".
Stick with it, you might be brought around!
Kia Elan.