MK Indy kit, Westfield or GT Panther?
Discussion
Hi all
New to the forum, I've decided I need a toy for the weekends. Had porsche before but decided to try something new. A mate has a Caterham and loves it but the prices are a bit rich. I'm shopping around and have seen the MK Indy. Watched You Tube vids and they look frighteningly quick which is just what I want. They look and sound great but I'm going in to something new. As a newbie would you recimmend one of these or a Westie or the Gt Panther? Is there much difference in them? I really like the Mk but note its a bike engine. Do they require more maintenance? Read they need a rebuild every 3000 miles! Basically I want something I can go for a blast on weekends and the odd track day during summer months, put away in winter and be able to get it out nxt year with minimal maintenance. Was going to do a track experience with MK but any other advice or pointers would be much appreciated? I'm based in Worcester. Thanks
Stu
New to the forum, I've decided I need a toy for the weekends. Had porsche before but decided to try something new. A mate has a Caterham and loves it but the prices are a bit rich. I'm shopping around and have seen the MK Indy. Watched You Tube vids and they look frighteningly quick which is just what I want. They look and sound great but I'm going in to something new. As a newbie would you recimmend one of these or a Westie or the Gt Panther? Is there much difference in them? I really like the Mk but note its a bike engine. Do they require more maintenance? Read they need a rebuild every 3000 miles! Basically I want something I can go for a blast on weekends and the odd track day during summer months, put away in winter and be able to get it out nxt year with minimal maintenance. Was going to do a track experience with MK but any other advice or pointers would be much appreciated? I'm based in Worcester. Thanks
Stu
You don't have to have a bike engine in an MK, you can have whatever you want (and can fit!).
Worth bearing in mind that MK don't have the best reputation for delivery times, especially when ordering parts it seems.
Most 7 kits don't lose too much money, but Caterham probably hold value better than others, so even if it's a greater outlay you get more back come sale time.
Worth bearing in mind that MK don't have the best reputation for delivery times, especially when ordering parts it seems.
Most 7 kits don't lose too much money, but Caterham probably hold value better than others, so even if it's a greater outlay you get more back come sale time.
As said above, you don't have to have a bike engine in an MK, mine doesn't. They can be built/bought in many different flavours. Different engines, boxes, live axle, independent, in board suspension, out board suspension, full cage, just a roll bar etc etc. Anything I have ordered from them has been with me quickly. They used to have a bad reputation but I think that has changed now.
If money was no object then I would have a Westfield. The fit and finish is way better than most of the "other" kits(you do pay for this though). Also look at MNR. Spoke to them at the show, the cars are nice and have heard great things about their customer service.
A seven is an awesome experience, whatever you buy/build will be great fun indeed! Everywhere you go people wave and want to chat. Even filling up with petrol takes a while because of this!
If it had to be one that you mention above it would be a Westfield, followed by an MK.
If money was no object then I would have a Westfield. The fit and finish is way better than most of the "other" kits(you do pay for this though). Also look at MNR. Spoke to them at the show, the cars are nice and have heard great things about their customer service.
A seven is an awesome experience, whatever you buy/build will be great fun indeed! Everywhere you go people wave and want to chat. Even filling up with petrol takes a while because of this!
If it had to be one that you mention above it would be a Westfield, followed by an MK.
Thank you all for the advice. Its definately westie or MK. I will be buying a second hand one. Westfield were really helpful. Sales guy saidvif I do just make sure there's lots of paperwork. This will prove whats been done on it and shows its been cared for. Any other adice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks all
I've a bike engined Indy, currently a Honda Fireblade engine with paddleshift. Great car for the money but they can be a bit of squeeze for the larger gentleman. I'd rather have a 'busa lump or something with a bit more torque for driving on the road but on the track its not an issue. I like how it sounds and I love that it revs to nearly 12k but that isn't for everyone. It is very quick, roughly equiv to the "400" caterhams as my Indy weighs a good 100kg less than they do.
As for running costs, it depends how hard you drive and how often. The bike sourced bits are under more strain in the Indy as it is nearly double the weight of the bike that donated the engine. I'd expect even a highly tuned car sourced engine to be under less stress that a ~1l sport bike engine retro fitted into a locost.
I think its more of an event to drive a bike engined locost, they are lighter, rev far higher and sound like an angry hornet.
As for running costs, it depends how hard you drive and how often. The bike sourced bits are under more strain in the Indy as it is nearly double the weight of the bike that donated the engine. I'd expect even a highly tuned car sourced engine to be under less stress that a ~1l sport bike engine retro fitted into a locost.
I think its more of an event to drive a bike engined locost, they are lighter, rev far higher and sound like an angry hornet.
Hi
I have an MK Indy based car with Hayabusa engine, there is nothing comes close to the raw driving experience with a buzzy bike engine and a sequential box.
What you describe as a bike engine needing a re-build every 3000 miles is not the case. Possibly if all 3000 miles the engine spends most of its life at 10,000rpm on a track but in general they are very durable and need no more than normal servicing.
In the case of the Fireblade engines pretty much bullet proof and fairly cheap but as has been said lack Torque for road use or when off the boil.
Big bang R1, ZX10 offer good options before hitting the expensive stuff from Suzuki and Kawasaki in the ZZR1400
Like said by others also choice between Westy and MK or MNR........ all comes down to one thing, who screwed it together.
Either way http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/ has all the info you ever could need
Here is a short video of mine on a sprint course testing the new mic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFaBKNo7iBQ
I have an MK Indy based car with Hayabusa engine, there is nothing comes close to the raw driving experience with a buzzy bike engine and a sequential box.
What you describe as a bike engine needing a re-build every 3000 miles is not the case. Possibly if all 3000 miles the engine spends most of its life at 10,000rpm on a track but in general they are very durable and need no more than normal servicing.
In the case of the Fireblade engines pretty much bullet proof and fairly cheap but as has been said lack Torque for road use or when off the boil.
Big bang R1, ZX10 offer good options before hitting the expensive stuff from Suzuki and Kawasaki in the ZZR1400
Like said by others also choice between Westy and MK or MNR........ all comes down to one thing, who screwed it together.
Either way http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/ has all the info you ever could need
Here is a short video of mine on a sprint course testing the new mic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFaBKNo7iBQ
Edited by hkp57 on Friday 20th May 12:52
Looks great mate and sounds wicked! MK or Westie I think. When I find one I'll prob pop it on here and see what you all think. When it comes to the techy stuff like suspension, brake type, differentials etc I've not got a clue but by the sounds of it these don't take much maintenace and as long as it has a good background happy days 😊Thanks again.
Quality is down to the dedication and skill of the builder - the best cars are factory built. Caterhams are expensive because they are all at least part built by the factory (I don't believe you can build it from scratch even if you want to).
I don't get bike engined cars - a basic Ford Zetec (with an improved exhaust/inlet mod that all kit car manufacturers do) makes 160bhp which is more than all but the newest bike engines and it has been designed to propel a 1200kg car so a 600kg car is never going to stress it. BEC cars also need modified propshaft, driveshafts, gear linkages etc - all extra items with potential to fail as they are one-off items that haven't been tested to death by a large manufacturer.
I don't get bike engined cars - a basic Ford Zetec (with an improved exhaust/inlet mod that all kit car manufacturers do) makes 160bhp which is more than all but the newest bike engines and it has been designed to propel a 1200kg car so a 600kg car is never going to stress it. BEC cars also need modified propshaft, driveshafts, gear linkages etc - all extra items with potential to fail as they are one-off items that haven't been tested to death by a large manufacturer.
nelmo said:
I don't get bike engined cars - a basic Ford Zetec (with an improved exhaust/inlet mod that all kit car manufacturers do) makes 160bhp which is more than all but the newest bike engines and it has been designed to propel a 1200kg car so a 600kg car is never going to stress it. BEC cars also need modified propshaft, driveshafts, gear linkages etc - all extra items with potential to fail as they are one-off items that haven't been tested to death by a large manufacturer.
At risk of the eternal BEC vs CEC argument, they each have their advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious for a BEC is reduced weight, which is arguably the attraction of kit cars in the first place - a 2.0 Zetec and Type 9 is going to be around 160kg (at a guess) - a Hayabusa engine with its incorporated 6 speed sequential is about 40kg. It's also going to be 197bhp (quoted) before any mods, so with a free breathing exhaust, filter and a Power Commander it's going to be up about 210-230 without any major effort. The high revs needed to get the power and sequential gearbox is going to give it that "race car" feel which some people will like.A CEC is always going to be more convenient (and arguably more pleasant for more of the time) on the road, a BEC will give an extra dimension of rawness which can be really enjoyed on track. Each to their own, horses for courses.
Equus said:
xRIEx said:
...a Hayabusa engine with its incorporated 6 speed sequential is about 40kg.
That's more than a slight exaggeration. Try doubling that figure, then adding a bit..."Even better, the 'Busa's little bundle of power is a bantamweight 135 lbs [61.29kg]."
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1519/Pro...
"The shipping weight on the last busa motor I got was 173 pounds [78.542kg] with pallet, battery, airbox, headers, all electronics, and emptied of fluids..."
http://www.minibuggy.net/forum/motor-engine/7655-1...
Assuming those people aren't lying.
Anyway, point being that a bike engine (with more power) and gearbox is significantly lighter than a car engine and gearbox. Hence why some people like BECs.
Most typical figures seem to suggest about 82kg with ancillaries, but dry.
...although this guy seems to have done an itemised weigh of the parts and reckons 86g just for the bare engine and nearer 113kg with all gubbins and ready to run.
But then you have to add a bit for the mandatory reverse, and a two-part propshaft.
Certainly, it's a damned sight heavier than the Aprilia V-twin, and I've personally weighed one of those at 65 kilos, dry.
...although this guy seems to have done an itemised weigh of the parts and reckons 86g just for the bare engine and nearer 113kg with all gubbins and ready to run.
But then you have to add a bit for the mandatory reverse, and a two-part propshaft.
Certainly, it's a damned sight heavier than the Aprilia V-twin, and I've personally weighed one of those at 65 kilos, dry.
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