1991 Lotus Elan SE Turbo review from UK and Ireland

So far only minor niggles.

- Heater wasn't working on nearside wing mirror when I bought it.

- Came with a TOAD alarm system that can be a bit quirky when using the remote central locking.

What a fantastic car.

I always wanted to own an Elan, and when I finally got the chance I when straight out and bought a Calypso Red one.

An Elan in mint condition will set you back only around £14,000 which is cheap for a car in this performance bracket.

Handling :

- Superb. Extremely precise steering

- Stiff suspension means that you can really feel the road. However this can be a bit bone rattling on long journeys

- Brakes were a bit soft, so I upgraded to AP calipers. Much better now.

Performance :

- Out-of-the-box, the car is seriously quick, thanks to it's light weight (e g plastic body panels)

- If you're a speed freak however, after a few months you end up wanting more. Fortunately, upgrading is straightforward. I chipped my car to increase the turbo boost, upping it to around 218hp.

My wife was initially sceptical, but after driving around in the summer with the roof down, the amount of people watching her plus car changed her mind!!