Realistic BEC kits to build for under £10000????
Discussion
Been speaking to most kit builders and hardly any have said anywhere near this figure :-(
I owned an mk Indy r1 2006 engine and that was fun. That cost me £7300 in 2009 when it was only 2 years old max and the guy that built that said it didn't cost that much to build. Now i wanna build my own car but do t have a huge budget. What kits are realistic with a build cost of 10k?? I take it that the mk is achievable?? Mnr?? Mac#1?? Raw??
Engine choice will probably depend on value for money, zx12 maybe. Opinions would help on this matter, although I would like a different lump to an r1
The kit would be mainly road use with some track days here and there.
Sorry if it's a boring topic but I just would like the pro's advice
Thanks
I owned an mk Indy r1 2006 engine and that was fun. That cost me £7300 in 2009 when it was only 2 years old max and the guy that built that said it didn't cost that much to build. Now i wanna build my own car but do t have a huge budget. What kits are realistic with a build cost of 10k?? I take it that the mk is achievable?? Mnr?? Mac#1?? Raw??
Engine choice will probably depend on value for money, zx12 maybe. Opinions would help on this matter, although I would like a different lump to an r1
The kit would be mainly road use with some track days here and there.
Sorry if it's a boring topic but I just would like the pro's advice
Thanks
BEC kits are not cheap.
Have you considered a decent Duratec driven kit which probably could be built for that money?
Of an Audi Turbo based Kit. There are several to my knowledge.
Given the power these units can provide I would have thought them worth consideration.
The Audi turbo units I have driven with mid engine designs have been pretty blistering and handle very well. The weight in the middle does make a difference.
But BEC Kits do cost a fair bit of money.
Have you considered a decent Duratec driven kit which probably could be built for that money?
Of an Audi Turbo based Kit. There are several to my knowledge.
Given the power these units can provide I would have thought them worth consideration.
The Audi turbo units I have driven with mid engine designs have been pretty blistering and handle very well. The weight in the middle does make a difference.
But BEC Kits do cost a fair bit of money.
Kentmagpie said:
I defo didn't wanna go down the route of car engine. I'm banished from bikes and the only fix I can get is on four wheels so that's why i love BEC's. Gotta admit i do like the sonic and may be swayed with some good advice :-)
Interesting. I know and like both Stuart Mills the driving force behind Mev and the lads at Qdos cars and Deronda including Kelvin. Very bright individuals who really know the game.That is the car I would have recommended. It is unbeatable package IMO.
My own choice of engine would be Kawasaki or Yamaha because I like their engineering skills.
I was banned from Bikes over forty years ago.
I have been building enjoying, fettling, modifying and rebuilding three and four wheel kit cars since then. Currently own 12 cars including a 1954 Wolseley 4/50, Three classic Mini's, including a Classic Cooper convertible with a 200 BHP engine, two daily drivers and seven Kit Cars.
The Deronda was the Audi set up I would have recommended. Excellent car.
I am not personally a fan of bike engine cars I find the constant driving needed too tiresome. And I also find the clutches inherently unsuitable on most bike set ups.
But it is your choice. I would certainly look at the Exocet.
Quite outstanding car. Good Luck with your build!
Having never built one it's difficult to gauge where the costings can be saved so thanks for the input. Like u said though, spending all that time building it just to compromise on build quality is the big question. Other option is to do wot I did last time and buy one already built. Or take an older BEC and modernising it with the extra savings.
It can be done but would take self control. It's very easy to get distracted by shinney things. You'd have to stick to using as many donor bits as possible. IVA and registration will take almost 10% of your budget.
Cheaper option would be to buy a finished/registered car. Use it this summer. Work out what you like about it and what you'd like to change and then strip and rebuild to your preference over the winter. You could pick up a nice car for well under your budget and end up with exactly what you want, the experience of the build and all the shinney bits for your budget.
Cheaper option would be to buy a finished/registered car. Use it this summer. Work out what you like about it and what you'd like to change and then strip and rebuild to your preference over the winter. You could pick up a nice car for well under your budget and end up with exactly what you want, the experience of the build and all the shinney bits for your budget.
"I'm banished from bikes and the only fix I can get is on four wheels so that's why i love BEC's. Gotta admit i do like the sonic and may be swayed with some good advice :-)"
Why not three wheels? Lighter, simpler, and cheaper.
As for no R1 engine, how about the newer version with crossplane crank; sounds like a V8.
I'm tempted by it, but will probably stick to my plan for a torquey V twin.
Why not three wheels? Lighter, simpler, and cheaper.
As for no R1 engine, how about the newer version with crossplane crank; sounds like a V8.
I'm tempted by it, but will probably stick to my plan for a torquey V twin.
Thanks for all the input guys, just gotta decide wot to do. I might be swaying towards an older registered car with a rebuild project :-) like u said get some fun outta it then transform it in the crap months. So many people have got different opinions on engines. So far I've been told that the zx10, cbr1000 and gxsr1000 are the best engines to use. Thoughts???
Bloody hell just seen my old car on the classifieds, here it is:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3468628.htm
Probably wouldn't have been a bad base to rebuild from :-( having kids forced me to sell in the first place. Oh well new project ahoy :-)
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3468628.htm
Probably wouldn't have been a bad base to rebuild from :-( having kids forced me to sell in the first place. Oh well new project ahoy :-)
Steffan, do you think an Audi Turbo powered 7'esque could be built, IVA'd and registered for under £10k?? How would you accommodate a RWD gearbox to handle the torque and ECU etc?
If you do go for the bike engined route, I would be very wary of a £10k buget. Yes you probobly could do it if you were lucky to get parts cheap or free, but I doubt I could do it to build a car to the standard I think it would deserve. They are very fast, so I would not scrimp on braking components. And you want to keep it light, so then the alloy brakes get more expensive... And suspension, you should be looking minimum at a decent set of alloy Protec not some Spax budget ones. There is £600 alone. And I'd want an LSD if you want to drive it seriously. I'd honestly struggle for £10k, and if I did manage it there is no way it would be the far I'd want it to be!
Also engines, research what is used in your chosen model, don't be tempted to be a pioneer. Some bike engines make big power but the fearing is all wrong when mated to a car gearbox. And I know of one guy who could not drive his GXR1000 powered car at night because the alternator was not man enough to power all the lights! And if you need a dry sump or even an accusump then your budget will be stretched. And a reverse mechanism for IVA will blow it some more...
£10k will buy you a ver nice used BEC, if that is your absolute limit I would be tempted to buy a good used one, use it for a few weeks, see what you would like to change and strip and rebuild it if you have to.
As been said,
If you do go for the bike engined route, I would be very wary of a £10k buget. Yes you probobly could do it if you were lucky to get parts cheap or free, but I doubt I could do it to build a car to the standard I think it would deserve. They are very fast, so I would not scrimp on braking components. And you want to keep it light, so then the alloy brakes get more expensive... And suspension, you should be looking minimum at a decent set of alloy Protec not some Spax budget ones. There is £600 alone. And I'd want an LSD if you want to drive it seriously. I'd honestly struggle for £10k, and if I did manage it there is no way it would be the far I'd want it to be!
Also engines, research what is used in your chosen model, don't be tempted to be a pioneer. Some bike engines make big power but the fearing is all wrong when mated to a car gearbox. And I know of one guy who could not drive his GXR1000 powered car at night because the alternator was not man enough to power all the lights! And if you need a dry sump or even an accusump then your budget will be stretched. And a reverse mechanism for IVA will blow it some more...
£10k will buy you a ver nice used BEC, if that is your absolute limit I would be tempted to buy a good used one, use it for a few weeks, see what you would like to change and strip and rebuild it if you have to.
As been said,
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Tuesday 10th April 17:11
Wots everyone's thoughts on this as a project conversion:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3803033.htm
I know it's car based and is a lot more work but it's cheap :-)
Otherwise something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3542880.htm
Thoughts??
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3803033.htm
I know it's car based and is a lot more work but it's cheap :-)
Otherwise something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3542880.htm
Thoughts??
Absolutely no question you will save much money by buying in a car already registered and fettling it to your specification. These cars you posted may be fine I would go and view them. The is no substitute for viewing.
Kit car sales are very low at the moment. You should get a bargain, shop around there are a lot about.
Your original post suggested building a car yourself. You will not have the same experience in developing an existing car.
But it would be the cheapest way to a really quick car.
Depends what you want.
Kit car sales are very low at the moment. You should get a bargain, shop around there are a lot about.
Your original post suggested building a car yourself. You will not have the same experience in developing an existing car.
But it would be the cheapest way to a really quick car.
Depends what you want.
IVA is the biggest ballache you will ever have experienced, trust me. Buy used.
I would never build another kit again due to the utter tedium and monotony and anal bullshyte that is IVA.
IE - FAIL - Rear reflectors have incorrect radius on edge.
And other such BS.
Buy used..... you wont regret it.
I would never build another kit again due to the utter tedium and monotony and anal bullshyte that is IVA.
IE - FAIL - Rear reflectors have incorrect radius on edge.
And other such BS.
Buy used..... you wont regret it.
SystemParanoia said:
sylva r1ots are pretty cheap
Excellent track car. Not for me on the road personally.Jeremy Phillips was a brilliant designer and sadly is now retired. Created some exceptional Kit Cars. One of the best whose cars I have built.
It will be cheaper to buy in a suitable registered car and bring it up to your spec. There are literally dozens about which could be turned into rockets without huge costs. This will be cheaper.
But you not have the sense of achievement that lies in creating a complete new car yourself.
Your decision. Your choice, Your money. Good Luck with the project!
Funnily enough I spoke to someone recently whose selling a nearly finished riot r1 project for around 6k. Have to be IVA'd though and registered plus finishing the build. Having owned an r1 car i want summin different. The only way I'd stick with r1 is if it was 09 on with funky crank. Heard someone saying it wasn't the greatest engine for a front engined rear drive car though, anyone clarify this??
Turn7 said:
IVA is the biggest ballache you will ever have experienced, trust me. Buy used.
I would never build another kit again due to the utter tedium and monotony and anal bullshyte that is IVA.
IE - FAIL - Rear reflectors have incorrect radius on edge.
And other such BS.
Buy used..... you wont regret it.
Experienced a couple of SVA's with imported cars before and they can be ballache enough with properly manufactured cars. Can imagine an IVA to be sI would never build another kit again due to the utter tedium and monotony and anal bullshyte that is IVA.
IE - FAIL - Rear reflectors have incorrect radius on edge.
And other such BS.
Buy used..... you wont regret it.
t. I'm an MOT tester and mechanic by trade and our test is not in the same league as that for pickyness Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff