Advice on Robin hood kitcar

Advice on Robin hood kitcar

Author
Discussion

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
Please be nice.
Me and hubby have been offered a Robin Hood sub k kitcar for £2000. Its not been SVA tested but MOTED it used a Sierra and it's a 2l pinto with a band new twin choke Webber.

We are new to the world of kitcars with a very limted budget but just want to have a bit of fun to start with ive read loads of comments about these cars but im just wondering if the price seems about right it needs a bit of tlc but its a running car.
Thank you

Justaredbadge

37,068 posts

190 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
It will need to be sva'd.

They will be stopping cars being registered as the donor vehicle soon.

svaing a robin hood is akin to herding cats, so I am told.

bear in mind an sva is £450iirc. that cost will need to be added on to the base cost plus any work/parts etc needed to get it through the sva.

grumpy

967 posts

243 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
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Check the V5, make sure it has been properly registered. In not don't touch it as it will never pass an IVA test so wont be road leagal.

grumpy

967 posts

243 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
Justaredbadge said:
It will need to be sva'd.
IVA. I don't think a Robin Hood would ever pass an IVA test, they were't designed to.
Someone on here said the average cost of the IVA these days, including the inevitable retest and trailering is close to £1000 these days.

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
So its worth giving a miss maybe keep any eye for one that is already running on the road ? we just want a bit of fun maybe take to a track ect and if we fall in love get something better

one eyed mick

1,189 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
Join Rhocar for info on Robin Hoods or just log on as community there are lots of us out here who are only to pleased to help if you give location we probably know the car . The registration bit can be iffy it should be registed as a Robin Hood not ford , sierra etc if its been MOT 'd its registered but be carefull ,if its an early car it may not need iva it may have had sva or if realy early neither as it was not in action ,hope this helps

one eyed mick

1,189 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
grumpy said:
IVA. I don't think a Robin Hood would ever pass an IVA test, they were't designed to.
Someone on here said the average cost of the IVA these days, including the inevitable retest and trailering is close to £1000 these days.
A great number have passed both sva and iva and are used to great effect , it can be costly to get iva I admit but its not immpossible

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

marshalla

15,902 posts

203 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
nicolaz said:
ebay listing said:
we have used the id of the Sierra but needs a Sva test on it to put it on the road
'nuff said. Walk away.

rdodger

1,088 posts

205 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
As has already been mentioned getting a 2k Robin Hood through IVA could easily cost the same again. The test is £495 plus £90 retest and £55 first reg fee, plus road tax. You can safely say by the time you have rented a trailer (if required) taken a couple of days off work that's a grand gone.

It's far better to get something already registered if you are on a tight budget. As we get closer to spring there will be more and more cars available.

Any 7 style car, even if it has a modest power level will perform much better than your average mainstream sporty car so will be very enjoyable to drive.

I would keep an eye out for a Locost or Stiker etc, maybe that needs a bit of a tidy that you can get to know. £3-4k should get you something fun. After that the sky is the limit!

The best advice is to find some owners local to you. Go to a meet or 2 and have a look/ride in a few cars and listen to what the owners have to say.

At this price point (car with an IVA) if you want to resell it you won't lose any money so don't be afraid of getting a starter car with a view to upgrade or even build your own later.

Where do you live? I'm sure some owners on here would be happy to show you their cars and offer advice. Locost builders is also definitely worth joining.

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
Thanks everyone we are not going to buy that car but we will keep an eye for one thats running on the road.

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
hi we are in Birmingham close to the NEC

AdiT

1,025 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
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It depends upon it's registration status. The "not been SVA'd" and "has been MOT'd" make it difficult to tell it's actual status.


If it's neither IVA'd or registered then it could take quite a bit of work (and cost)to prepare and get it through. I'd guesstimate at least £2k inc test and reg. Avoid!
If it is incorrectly still shown as a Sierra on the V5 doc', either because it was on the road before SVA was introduced and the doc not changed or the builder simply put the donor plates on it and ignored the SVA/IVA and registration requirements, then it's illegal. Avoid!
If it was on the road before SVA was introduced and is correctly registered as a RobinHood on the V5 doc', then it's legal. It's up to you. RH are at the very budget end of the scale.

Personally I think it's like the old joke... Tourist asks for directions to Dublin, "Well you wouldn't want to start from here!"

I wouldn't start with a RH, look for something else.

Edit. Just seen the e-bay adupdate (must type faster)...
Avoid is the best decision.


Edited by AdiT on Saturday 25th January 11:01

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
we will go back to research but we only want to spend £3k at the most we already run 2 cars so this is just a little project. thank you all

one eyed mick

1,189 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
quotequote all
My s7 had niether IVA orSVA it was built before they were brought in so it is taxed as normal with normal MOT . There are alot of misguided opinions about RH cars mainly from people who have had little to do with them or any thing at all ,yes they are at the budget end of thing but no less enjoyable so please keep derisory comments to your self

S47

1,325 posts

182 months

Monday 27th January 2014
quotequote all
Pass/Avoid even if its been iva/sva'd
Buy any other KC thats been correctly registered.
I built and SVA'd a Robin Hood 2B similar to your subk, without doubt the WORST Kitcar I've ever owned & driven, just checkout the Robin Hood 2B build video - it's certain to be on utube.
Take an experienced kit car owner with you when you go to look at any kit car, don't believe any BS the seller tells you.
Buy a good KC and you'll have loadsa fun for little money. Just be careful when buying view plenty and get a good 'un.
CU at Stoneleighsmile

ugg10

681 posts

219 months

Monday 27th January 2014
quotequote all
Just going to stick in my oar here - £3k for a kit car, even properly tested (SVA/IVA) and registered (Kit car not donor car on log book) will only get you something pretty shabby, one of the very bottom of the market cars with dubiousbuild standard or a pre SVA/wrongly registered, all will be a nightmare/costly to own/fix/improve. In order to get a half decent one you are looking at around £5k in my opinion and I would be looking for an early cross flow/pinto Sylva Stiker, they occasionally come up around this price.

Without being excommunicated from this forum, dare I say, that at £3k you would be better looking at a Clio 172 or a early Subaru Imprezza and then track preparing it (stip out all unneccessary interior, light weight seats, decent tyres, filter and exhaust, possibly polybush + tidy up anthing else that need doing) or going down the classic car route Mini/MGB/spitfire would be your best bet. Sorry, but decent kit cars are hard to come by and also come at a price.

Happy hunting and I hope you find something that you can get your teeth into.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

257 months

Monday 27th January 2014
quotequote all
one eyed mick said:
My s7 had niether IVA orSVA it was built before they were brought in so it is taxed as normal with normal MOT . There are alot of misguided opinions about RH cars mainly from people who have had little to do with them or any thing at all ,yes they are at the budget end of thing but no less enjoyable so please keep derisory comments to your self
With the exception of the Zero (which is GBS rather than RH), the cars are all poorly designed and engineered which can only be partly compensated for by the attentions of a skilled builder (and plenty get built by people who aren't). You can't make a silk purse from a pigs ear as they say.

The status of your car is irrelevant. In this case it's clear that the car will require IVA to be road legal, the seller even states this.

I bought an RH S7 and was pretty appalled by the construction of monocoque and how flimsy it was. Fortunately I had only bought it to strip the useful parts for a Locost (Cortina front suspension, axle, engine and box etc.) so the rest of it was weighed in for scrap, where it belonged.

nicolaz

Original Poster:

8 posts

125 months

Monday 27th January 2014
quotequote all
ok guys i am going to a classic car show in may where i will get to see these cars up close and maybe save some more pennies thanks

AdiT

1,025 posts

159 months

Monday 27th January 2014
quotequote all
nicolaz said:
ok guys i am going to a classic car show in may where i will get to see these cars up close and maybe save some more pennies thanks
Best place to see kit cars is Stoneleigh show (4th-5th May this year I think). It's the biggest gathering of kit cars by a long way, especially if the Sun comes out.