Speaking as......
........someone who loses the skin off his knuckles when opening the bonnet, I admire your tenacity. Back in the day I used to do all of my own maintenance, and am just starting to enjoy trying again. Like you say, though, most of it is a mystery! Whatever anyone says, you own a Lotus Elan.

Kudos!
( The Lone Groover has mal des nuts., Mon 27 Jan 2014, 19:04, 1 reply)

Well
not exactly whatever anyone else says.

As I think a lot of Lotus officianados would argue he doesn't own a Lotus Elan at all, the Elan being the revolutionary backbone chassis/separate body car made in the 60s and early 70s that set out the stall for pretty much every RWD lightweight Louts sports car since, and certainly is the true father of the Elise.

As opposed to the Isuzu/GM plastic thing made in the early 90s.

But that would be picky of them. I personally quite like it. And it does drive well for a FWD sports car.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 28 Jan 2014, 9:38, closed)

You're quite right of course
But the funny thing is, when I say "Elan" to pretty much anyone under about 40 they think of the 90s version first because it was such a distinctive little car in its own right. It's like the 2000s Italian Job; not a patch on the original but a perfectly decent film that should really have just .. had .. its own name..
( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Tue 28 Jan 2014, 10:31, closed)

I'm well* under 40 and I certainly fucking don't
go and wash your mouth out, son.

You've hit the point, though. Why didn't they just name it differently?

*a bit
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 28 Jan 2014, 11:36, closed)

And there's even a new one for the autistics to get their knickers knotted over
Much better to take the Porsche attitude.

200 names, one car.
( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Tue 28 Jan 2014, 19:03, closed)