2nd hand kit cars - Any advice?
Discussion
Hi,
Am currently trying to establish if buying a (7 style) used kit car is a good idea.
I have been looking at Westfields mainly, but have also seen a few tigers around.
1st Question. I'm not great mechanically, but am willing to learn. How reliable are they?? And one of the reasons I'm attracted to them is the relatively small cost of maintaining a "pretty basic" car. Would any reputable garage be able to help me if it's beyond my ability? Is this issue complicated further by getting a bike engined car?
2nd Question. I was predominantly looking at Westfields. Caterhams are out of my budget, and these seem to be the next best thing. However, Tigers appear to be considerably cheaper. Does the quality reflect this? Or is it purely perceived reputation?
Are there any other brands worth considering?
3rd Question. Engines. Ideally I would like a bike engined car, but this might not be possible due to my budget. Ive seen the Ford Pinto, and Zetec engines. What are the relative plus's and -'s with these. and what are the other popular choices with engines?
Sory for the ignorance and length of post!
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
Am currently trying to establish if buying a (7 style) used kit car is a good idea.
I have been looking at Westfields mainly, but have also seen a few tigers around.
1st Question. I'm not great mechanically, but am willing to learn. How reliable are they?? And one of the reasons I'm attracted to them is the relatively small cost of maintaining a "pretty basic" car. Would any reputable garage be able to help me if it's beyond my ability? Is this issue complicated further by getting a bike engined car?
2nd Question. I was predominantly looking at Westfields. Caterhams are out of my budget, and these seem to be the next best thing. However, Tigers appear to be considerably cheaper. Does the quality reflect this? Or is it purely perceived reputation?
Are there any other brands worth considering?
3rd Question. Engines. Ideally I would like a bike engined car, but this might not be possible due to my budget. Ive seen the Ford Pinto, and Zetec engines. What are the relative plus's and -'s with these. and what are the other popular choices with engines?
Sory for the ignorance and length of post!
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
Am currently trying to establish if buying a (7 style) used kit car is a good idea.
Answer: Yes!!
I have been looking at Westfields mainly, but have also seen a few tigers around.
Answer: Tigers seem to have a reasonable reputation, but Westy's are regarded a little more highly.
1st Question. I'm not great mechanically, but am willing to learn. How reliable are they?? And one of the reasons I'm attracted to them is the relatively small cost of maintaining a "pretty basic" car. Would any reputable garage be able to help me if it's beyond my ability? Is this issue complicated further by getting a bike engined car?
Answer: Will depend on the individual car and the quality of the original build/components used. Bike engine not necessarily a problem altho' fewer available. Yes, engineering is pretty simple so should be local garage friendly.
2nd Question. I was predominantly looking at Westfields. Caterhams are out of my budget, and these seem to be the next best thing. However, Tigers appear to be considerably cheaper. Does the quality reflect this? Or is it purely perceived reputation?
Are there any other brands worth considering?
Answer: I would say you have the right names there. As mentioned earlier Westfield have best engineering reputation. On a budget you might want to look at Stuart Taylor/locost options.
3rd Question. Engines. Ideally I would like a bike engined car, but this might not be possible due to my budget. Ive seen the Ford Pinto, and Zetec engines. What are the relative plus's and -'s with these. and what are the other popular choices with engines?
Answer: Car engined cars (CEC's) - Pinto can be tuned to give reasonable output. Has loads of torque. Bit heavy. Budget £5.5k upwards
Xflow's are more revvy, well proven, can be tuned to similar figures as Pinto, more if budget allows. Tend to need tinkering/fettling. Early ones can be found for as little as £4.5k.
Zetec/Vx 16v units are most popular and give reliable 160+ bhp simply by adding carbs to standard engine. As modern motors they tend to be reliable and certainly are engines of choice, at least until Duratec's come down in price. Budget c.£7.5k upwards
Answer: Yes!!
I have been looking at Westfields mainly, but have also seen a few tigers around.
Answer: Tigers seem to have a reasonable reputation, but Westy's are regarded a little more highly.
1st Question. I'm not great mechanically, but am willing to learn. How reliable are they?? And one of the reasons I'm attracted to them is the relatively small cost of maintaining a "pretty basic" car. Would any reputable garage be able to help me if it's beyond my ability? Is this issue complicated further by getting a bike engined car?
Answer: Will depend on the individual car and the quality of the original build/components used. Bike engine not necessarily a problem altho' fewer available. Yes, engineering is pretty simple so should be local garage friendly.
2nd Question. I was predominantly looking at Westfields. Caterhams are out of my budget, and these seem to be the next best thing. However, Tigers appear to be considerably cheaper. Does the quality reflect this? Or is it purely perceived reputation?
Are there any other brands worth considering?
Answer: I would say you have the right names there. As mentioned earlier Westfield have best engineering reputation. On a budget you might want to look at Stuart Taylor/locost options.
3rd Question. Engines. Ideally I would like a bike engined car, but this might not be possible due to my budget. Ive seen the Ford Pinto, and Zetec engines. What are the relative plus's and -'s with these. and what are the other popular choices with engines?
Answer: Car engined cars (CEC's) - Pinto can be tuned to give reasonable output. Has loads of torque. Bit heavy. Budget £5.5k upwards
Xflow's are more revvy, well proven, can be tuned to similar figures as Pinto, more if budget allows. Tend to need tinkering/fettling. Early ones can be found for as little as £4.5k.
Zetec/Vx 16v units are most popular and give reliable 160+ bhp simply by adding carbs to standard engine. As modern motors they tend to be reliable and certainly are engines of choice, at least until Duratec's come down in price. Budget c.£7.5k upwards
Not owning one but just having been to a day at Bruntingthorpe to look at Fisher Furys I would say that although the bike engined cars are faster you will still have an absolute ball in something like a 1.6 Crossflow engined car, because you're sat so low down the speed is amplified, so you can be having just as much fun doing legal speeds as someone in something like a 911 turbo would have at double the speed limit.
WWESTY said:
2nd Question. I was predominantly looking at Westfields. Caterhams are out of my budget, and these seem to be the next best thing. However, Tigers appear to be considerably cheaper. Does the quality reflect this? Or is it purely perceived reputation?
Are there any other brands worth considering?
Answer: I would say you have the right names there. As mentioned earlier Westfield have best engineering reputation. On a budget you might want to look at Stuart Taylor/locost options.
If you don't mind the fact that they are slightly more of an original design, rather than visual copies of the original Lotus/Caterham Seven, I'd also suggest that you look at the Sylva/Raw Striker (or it's streamlined equivalents, the Sylva/Stuart Taylor Phoenix/Clubmans or Fisher Fury).
They are cleverer and more effective in design than either the Westfield or the Tiger, lighter than either, and equally durable. The best bit, though, is that because they are a simpler design, they tend to be cheaper.
If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of the Sylva's design, pay a visit to a 750 Motor Club Kit Car Championship race. There's a saying: 'when the flag drops, the bullshit stops'. I can pretty much guarantee what the winner and most of the field will be cars that originated from the Sylva stable.
I bought my Marlin Roadster 2 years ago with absolutely no mechanical knowledge what-so-ever (well apart from helping my father do simple services on our Citroen ZX). It was a steep learning curve, but the technology is so simple and easy to understand (mines Morris Marina based) and things are easy to get to (not much bodywork you see).
So long as you don't mind getting fingers dirty and asking for help from people (PH is helpful in that respect, but most kit-cars have an owners club which are more useful) you'll be fine
So long as you don't mind getting fingers dirty and asking for help from people (PH is helpful in that respect, but most kit-cars have an owners club which are more useful) you'll be fine
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