Alternative to caterham 7

[Piston2022]

Hi all,

I have a drift car which I use for track days and now want to also get a cheap car for track days and when time allows turbo charge it.

My thinking is a Robin Hood or caterham 7 on turbo kit will be like arial atom. Then of course need to consider brake etc

My question is what is cheap alternative to caterham 7? I see lots of robin hood for 2k or so , are they no good?

[Bobley]

There are plenty of decent little sports cars for a lot less wedge than a Caterham. A nicely built Locust could be worth a look.

Look for cars on 750MC classifieds and Racecarsdirect.

Things like Fisher Fury and Sylva Phoenix etc

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/139441/f...

[Equus]

Robin Hoods are awful: avoid.

Otherwise, as above, only I'd say be careful of Locosts - they are a plans-built car, hence quality and dynamics are VERY dependent on the skill of the original builder.

And don't confust Locosts (plans-built, with a spaceframe chassis not dissimilar to early Westfields) with Locusts (also plans-built, but with a very crude ladder frame chassis to which is bolted an aluminium-skinned plywood body). The latter are a dead loss for track use, expecially if you're intending to fit a high-powered engine.

The series of cars designed by Jeremy Phillips (all originating as Sylvas, though he had a strategy of selling his designs on, once they had become established) are the best value for track use at the lower end of the Locaterfield Market: the Sylva (Raw) Striker, (Fisher) Fury, (STM/Raw) Phoenix, (SSC) Stylus, Riot and J15. They are all pretty basic (hence cheap), but are all dynamically excellent.

[Piston2022]

Thanks both

I saw fair chunk of Robin Hood listed on eBay, is handling the issue?

I am looking for something which is not plan built by individual so do not have to stress if chassis will disintegrate while driving

What websites do you guys use to find cars like Sylva

[Equus]

Piston2022 said:

I saw fair chunk of Robin Hood listed on eBay, is handling the issue?

And build quaility, and design quality, and safety. and weight.

They are turds, basically. Some models even struggled to pass the basic IVA test on structural grounds.

Piston2022 said:

What websites do you guys use to find cars like Sylva

Apart from the racecarsdirect website linked above (though that's most commonly race or track modified examples), mainly Ebay and Facebook (both classifieds and marque groups - there's a Facebook group for Sylva and Raw cars, for example, and a separate one for the Fisher Fury).

They occasionally crop up on PistonHeads in the 'kit cars' section of the classifieds listings, or on carandclassic.com. There's also a 'Jeremy Phillips Cars' section on the UK Locost forum (www.locostbuilders.co.uk), so they sometimes come up for sale on there.

Also the 750 Club Classifieds are worth a look (the RJR Cyana they currently have listed is another Sylva-Phoenix-derived car and might be worth a look if you want a pure track car, and aside from Sylva-derivatives they're also listing a Ginetta G27 that might be a worthwhile alternative).

Depending what you're after, I've got a Sylva J15 I might be persuaded to part with, but it was built and set-up as a road car, so would need to be looked upon as a basis for further work, if you're looking for a dedicated track car.

[DickyC]

I agree with the views expressed about the Robin Hood. I once had to deliver one and thought I was going to die. It was awful. More awful than an unspeakably awful thing.

[Piston2022]

Lovely thank you

Re j15 let me know if I should dm you for pic/cost

[dhutch]

Bobley said:

There are plenty of decent little sports cars for a lot less wedge than a Caterham.

Things like Fisher Fury and Sylva Phoenix etc

Always admired the Fisher Fury.

[dhutch]

What about a Westfield?

[Turn7]

dhutch said:

Bobley said:

There are plenty of decent little sports cars for a lot less wedge than a Caterham.

Things like Fisher Fury and Sylva Phoenix etc

Always admired the Fisher Fury.

I built a ZX9 powered Fury and it was fabulous on track.
It was an IRS chassis, and I think it actually had better ride quality than my Caterham .

[Piston2022]

is GBS any good?

[Chicken Chaser]

What about a MEV Exocet?

[Piston2022]

so many options out there. trying to find a starter car with small outlay. I find caterham expensive for taster car at 20k or 15k minimum

[DickyC]

Piston2022 said:

so many options out there. trying to find a starter car with small outlay. I find caterham expensive for taster car at 20k or 15k minimum

You'd get most of it back if it didn't suit. There's not many cars you can do that.

[Belle427]

You would be better off with an Mx5 but rust is your enemy.

[Piston2022]

They are all baed on mx5. Was / is mx5 such legendary car?

Yeah seen most with sills having rust. I guess japan doesn’t really do a great job of corrosion protection and underseal

[Simon_GH]

Piston2022 said:

They are all baed on mx5. Was / is mx5 such legendary car?

Yeah seen most with sills having rust. I guess japan doesn’t really do a great job of corrosion protection and underseal

They don’t use road salt so corrosion isn’t much of an issue.

[Belle427]

Piston2022 said:

They are all baed on mx5. Was / is mx5 such legendary car?

Yeah seen most with sills having rust. I guess japan doesn’t really do a great job of corrosion protection and underseal

Have a go in one, they are great fun.
Just lack a little bit of power really but lots of tuning options out there.

[EastStand]

There is a company called Toybox who sell Westfields. They get them in and go over them adding their own finishing touches. They look like they do a cracking job……

[AshyS4]

How about a Tiger Avon?

Factory built chassis, independent rear suspension, handles great and easy to slot a different engine in if needed.
Can easily pick one up for under 10k

I only want 6 for mine