Fury as a road car - what's the catch?
Discussion
I bought a 2L Zetec Fury (with Jenvey TBs) at the end of last year, I've not driven it that much as I've pretty much had it in pieces changing and rebuilding it, but its a lovely looking thing and goes like stink. I had to replace the GRP bucket seats as I couldn't get my butt into then , swapped them for Cobra Roadster seats which makes it a lot more comfortable, and also means it has headrests to keep my head away from the rollbar. It's a fairly narrow cockpit but much better than a standard Westfield, which I couldn't even get into. Pedals are really close together on mine, I have to wear the thinnest shoes I could buy to avoid pressing 2 pedals wit one foot.
I'd advise going for one with a windscreen if you want to do a lot of road driving - mine is a Spyder and the wind made it almost impossible to see above 60mph without a helmet on, so I made a slightly taller and steeper aeroscreen that has helped, but honestly I would have preferred a full windscreen. I had an aeroscreened Tiger Super6 before, and after a while I fitted a full screen and found it a lot more enjoyable to use as I didn't have to wear a crash helmet.
I'd advise going for one with a windscreen if you want to do a lot of road driving - mine is a Spyder and the wind made it almost impossible to see above 60mph without a helmet on, so I made a slightly taller and steeper aeroscreen that has helped, but honestly I would have preferred a full windscreen. I had an aeroscreened Tiger Super6 before, and after a while I fitted a full screen and found it a lot more enjoyable to use as I didn't have to wear a crash helmet.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th July 21:24
A few points
You don't need big power in a road going Fury, an extra 40bhp wont really make that much difference in getting down the public highway swiftly.
You will get damp. If its got a screen and you have a hood it still gets a little damp at times. The Stylus has a little lip around the back of the cockpit to keep the weather out.
Not sure if the factory can still do the tub with doors, you'll have to check with them.
It will turn in to an upgrade money pit. You'll see ideas on other Furys as not two are alike and you'll have to get it.
You will smile from ear to ear.
Don't be put off by bike engine cars. They come one tour and go around the mountains just fine. The only breakdowns we get are related to jumping and landing
If you feel cold you can always get a heater plumed in.. or just have a hole in the bulkhead where the brake master cylinder is and the engine warmth will blow through.
You don't want a car with an exhaust down the drivers side or you will cook in the south of France.
In short no real catch.
You don't need big power in a road going Fury, an extra 40bhp wont really make that much difference in getting down the public highway swiftly.
You will get damp. If its got a screen and you have a hood it still gets a little damp at times. The Stylus has a little lip around the back of the cockpit to keep the weather out.
Not sure if the factory can still do the tub with doors, you'll have to check with them.
It will turn in to an upgrade money pit. You'll see ideas on other Furys as not two are alike and you'll have to get it.
You will smile from ear to ear.
Don't be put off by bike engine cars. They come one tour and go around the mountains just fine. The only breakdowns we get are related to jumping and landing
If you feel cold you can always get a heater plumed in.. or just have a hole in the bulkhead where the brake master cylinder is and the engine warmth will blow through.
You don't want a car with an exhaust down the drivers side or you will cook in the south of France.
In short no real catch.
Turn7 said:
Huff said:
Good idea - more pictures.
Here's mine, Christmas Day 2014 - took a jaunt down to the Jurassic coast while everyone else was lounging
I always forget yuo have this car. Is it still 4XV r1 powered ?Here's mine, Christmas Day 2014 - took a jaunt down to the Jurassic coast while everyone else was lounging
Thanks very much for all of the comments so far..
They are seeming more and more attractive the more I hear. Great to get such positive comments from people with first hand experience. They seem to offer a lot more for the money than most other types of car I think of.
I think I need to do more research while I keep my eye out for examples that may come up for sale. I must admit, I prefer the classic look, purely on aesthetics, ultimate performance is not critical as I am sure I would run out of skill or nerve before the car ran out of ability.
They are seeming more and more attractive the more I hear. Great to get such positive comments from people with first hand experience. They seem to offer a lot more for the money than most other types of car I think of.
I think I need to do more research while I keep my eye out for examples that may come up for sale. I must admit, I prefer the classic look, purely on aesthetics, ultimate performance is not critical as I am sure I would run out of skill or nerve before the car ran out of ability.
This one has just come up for sale - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fisher-Fury/172288091245...
Looks string money to me, but on the other hand, the spec does seem very good.
I am 6 foot, so I worry I won't fit? And it's a long way to go to see my first Fury up close....but I am very tempted by it.
Would do others think?
Looks string money to me, but on the other hand, the spec does seem very good.
I am 6 foot, so I worry I won't fit? And it's a long way to go to see my first Fury up close....but I am very tempted by it.
Would do others think?
Dammit, reading this I want another one now! My concerns with the one in the link would be whether the rollcage is livable with for a car that you're going to use on the road a lot - the extra safety would be welcome but I think you'd need to wear a helmet all the time in case a minor bump led to head/roll bar interaction. Also, it makes getting in a and out harder.
Secondly, the engine at first glance looks to be a race-orientated specification, how tractable and reliable would it be on the road, and how much would it cost to rebuild if it was ever needed. I like the sound of 9000rpm though!
Both points easily investigated however, and lots of other nice parts have been fitted. Similar power-to-weight to my old one which was plenty fast enough for the road and pretty exciting on track - the light weight and low gearing means the 40-90 acceleration you use most for overtaking and b-roads is intense.
Secondly, the engine at first glance looks to be a race-orientated specification, how tractable and reliable would it be on the road, and how much would it cost to rebuild if it was ever needed. I like the sound of 9000rpm though!
Both points easily investigated however, and lots of other nice parts have been fitted. Similar power-to-weight to my old one which was plenty fast enough for the road and pretty exciting on track - the light weight and low gearing means the 40-90 acceleration you use most for overtaking and b-roads is intense.
aww999 said:
Dammit, reading this I want another one now! My concerns with the one in the link would be whether the rollcage is livable with for a car that you're going to use on the road a lot - the extra safety would be welcome but I think you'd need to wear a helmet all the time in case a minor bump led to head/roll bar interaction. Also, it makes getting in a and out harder.
Secondly, the engine at first glance looks to be a race-orientated specification, how tractable and reliable would it be on the road, and how much would it cost to rebuild if it was ever needed. I like the sound of 9000rpm though!
Both points easily investigated however, and lots of other nice parts have been fitted. Similar power-to-weight to my old one which was plenty fast enough for the road and pretty exciting on track - the light weight and low gearing means the 40-90 acceleration you use most for overtaking and b-roads is intense.
I was wondering about the road cages. I think the car looks a lot prettier without and can imagine a full cage will bring some practical compromises with it too.Secondly, the engine at first glance looks to be a race-orientated specification, how tractable and reliable would it be on the road, and how much would it cost to rebuild if it was ever needed. I like the sound of 9000rpm though!
Both points easily investigated however, and lots of other nice parts have been fitted. Similar power-to-weight to my old one which was plenty fast enough for the road and pretty exciting on track - the light weight and low gearing means the 40-90 acceleration you use most for overtaking and b-roads is intense.
Are the cages built for SVA regs? Purely just protection in case of rollover? Or because the chassis needs that extra torsional rigidity?
Yazza54 said:
No catch as such they are lovely cars, obviously not practical but if that's not an issue then they are good fun. I found the diff mounts a bit weak on my old one so had to beef them up but no other issues I can remember.
One of the diff mounts failed on mine, which left the diff swinging on the other one, I had an additional mount was added to the new chassis.I think it is the best handling car I have ever had and would love another.
There is no catch. The racing history speaks for itself (& implies a good safety record) & I've recently got back from a 2000 mile 7 day tour to the north coast of Scotland. Goes / handles like or better than a seven-a-like, curved screen means you can hear the passenger at 70+.
Brilliant chassis, excellent styling, comfortable, fast
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Brilliant chassis, excellent styling, comfortable, fast
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Corpulent Tosser said:
Yazza54 said:
No catch as such they are lovely cars, obviously not practical but if that's not an issue then they are good fun. I found the diff mounts a bit weak on my old one so had to beef them up but no other issues I can remember.
One of the diff mounts failed on mine, which left the diff swinging on the other one, I had an additional mount was added to the new chassis.I think it is the best handling car I have ever had and would love another.
Yazza54 said:
Hmm they are not the best, easy to strengthen but shame one would have to when it should be fit for purpose from the factory
Corpulent tosser said it was the best handling car he had ever had so it's pretty difficult for you to disagree as it is relative to him, not absolute.The chassis strength issue sounds easily solved, but of course it would have been better to have been picked up pre production. These are not mass produced car however with the R&D budgets many companies can afford.
They still seem to have a very positive reputation with those that have owned.
I am now getting serious about finding one.
1. Front 'suspension Rocker' breaks if you drive it enthusiastically often over Welsh 'B' roads.
2. exhaust running through the sill can cause fire - it gets very very hot within the fibreglass sill itself. so carry a large fire extinguisher.
3. Heavier than comparable '7' owing to full bodywork.
.
other than the above a very nice kit indeed, The earlier ones with low headlights and No windscreen look the best IMO. Later cars with screen and sva compliant headlights look like they're sitting up and begging again IMO - not everyone would agree with this.
>
One other point - IMO you would be better off with a 2 litre zetec fitted - coz 2 litre Zetec weighs the same as a 1600.
Hope this helps
2. exhaust running through the sill can cause fire - it gets very very hot within the fibreglass sill itself. so carry a large fire extinguisher.
3. Heavier than comparable '7' owing to full bodywork.
.
other than the above a very nice kit indeed, The earlier ones with low headlights and No windscreen look the best IMO. Later cars with screen and sva compliant headlights look like they're sitting up and begging again IMO - not everyone would agree with this.
>
One other point - IMO you would be better off with a 2 litre zetec fitted - coz 2 litre Zetec weighs the same as a 1600.
Hope this helps
battered said:
The cage is for track use. Will it stiffen the shell? Yes. Will you notice on the road? Doubt it. Unbolt the cage, sell it on, fit a normal roll over bar. I did this on a Caterham 7, made a profit on the deal.
I’ve not got a Fury, but when I fitted a full cage to my Caterham it made the car feel noticeably stiffer, even on the road. It’s a bit of a faff to get in and out, but the main reason for fitting (other than roll-over protection) was frontal protection – you feel a bit vulnerable with an aeroscreen and nothing in front of your face.dave7 said:
battered said:
The cage is for track use. Will it stiffen the shell? Yes. Will you notice on the road? Doubt it. Unbolt the cage, sell it on, fit a normal roll over bar. I did this on a Caterham 7, made a profit on the deal.
I’ve not got a Fury, but when I fitted a full cage to my Caterham it made the car feel noticeably stiffer, even on the road. It’s a bit of a faff to get in and out, but the main reason for fitting (other than roll-over protection) was frontal protection – you feel a bit vulnerable with an aeroscreen and nothing in front of your face.Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff