New to the kit-car game - advice please
Discussion
Hi
I'm totally new to kit-cars and have some new-boy questions. I'm thinking of buying either a 7-style kit or something like a Fisher Fury. I am more interested in owning and driving rather than building and modifying, so am looking at the 2nd-hand market. Budget is £5K, so I guess Pinto power. Is that a realistic budget? How reliable are they?
My mechanical experience extends to basic servicing and I would go to a garage for anything more complex. Are garages likely to be able to help or would the car be too specialist? Incidentally, there is a kit car garage near me at Longfield (Kent) - Kit Car Builds - anyone know of them?
My main use for the car would be as a fun road / track-day car, but as I'm interested in getting into racing eventually, it would be good to get a car that would be eligible (with little or no modifications) for something like the 750MC series. Is it possible to get a car to suit all of these uses?
Ideally I would try out a few cars before I commit to buying, but I have seen a rather tasty Fury in the classifieds here on PH - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/47410.htm - up for £5K. Sounds very nice and the price is about right. Would the number of performance mods reduce reliability/increase cost of repairs? Is it better to hold back until I have seen more cars and become more knowledgeable about them?
I would really appreciate any help/advice!
Cheers
I'm totally new to kit-cars and have some new-boy questions. I'm thinking of buying either a 7-style kit or something like a Fisher Fury. I am more interested in owning and driving rather than building and modifying, so am looking at the 2nd-hand market. Budget is £5K, so I guess Pinto power. Is that a realistic budget? How reliable are they?
My mechanical experience extends to basic servicing and I would go to a garage for anything more complex. Are garages likely to be able to help or would the car be too specialist? Incidentally, there is a kit car garage near me at Longfield (Kent) - Kit Car Builds - anyone know of them?
My main use for the car would be as a fun road / track-day car, but as I'm interested in getting into racing eventually, it would be good to get a car that would be eligible (with little or no modifications) for something like the 750MC series. Is it possible to get a car to suit all of these uses?
Ideally I would try out a few cars before I commit to buying, but I have seen a rather tasty Fury in the classifieds here on PH - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/47410.htm - up for £5K. Sounds very nice and the price is about right. Would the number of performance mods reduce reliability/increase cost of repairs? Is it better to hold back until I have seen more cars and become more knowledgeable about them?
I would really appreciate any help/advice!
Cheers
Welcome to PH
Hmmmm, lots of questions with quite a few "how long is a peice of string" answers
A kit car is as reliable as you make it, I wouldn't spend your whole budget on the car, keep some for repairs and maintenance
Re racing, I can answer a few questions. It does depend what you want out of it
I'm doing the Catherham academy ATM and you could do that on your budget, as long as you didn't write the car off
It's a really good option if you want to pit yourself against other newbies, but there are cheaper options if you just want to "experience" racing
More info available on request
Hmmmm, lots of questions with quite a few "how long is a peice of string" answers
A kit car is as reliable as you make it, I wouldn't spend your whole budget on the car, keep some for repairs and maintenance
Re racing, I can answer a few questions. It does depend what you want out of it
I'm doing the Catherham academy ATM and you could do that on your budget, as long as you didn't write the car off
It's a really good option if you want to pit yourself against other newbies, but there are cheaper options if you just want to "experience" racing More info available on request
I bought a xflow powered westfield for about 5k and it cost peanuts to run as I did it myself and was reliable (I only had one breakdown and that was on the way home dude to a snapped throttle cable). Condition is everything and they need regular fettling.
If you're not that tall the world is your oyster.
Mark
If you're not that tall the world is your oyster.
Mark
I'd say you are being pretty realistic, yes.
£5K will buy you a nice Sylva or Fisher with a Pinto or Crossflow engine. Crossflow may be preferable if you intend to go racing.
They are very simple cars, with very simple engines, so provided they have been properly built, they are pretty reliable.
Any local garage will be able to deal with problems. They are so simple and easy to work on that you will probably find yourself tackling jobs yourself, though. Anything with a flip/removable front (ie. any '7' or Sylva/Fisher derivative except the Stylus) has simply superb access to mechanical components.
To be competitive in the 750 Club Championship, you really need something with just aeroscreens, and preferably the fully-enclosed Phoenix/Spyder Sylva/Fisher, for better aerodynamics. Windscreens add a lot of air resistance at speed, on a car this small! My Sylva Phoenix is an ex-750 Club racer, to competitive race spec., and I'd sell for £5k, so yes, your budget is realistic and the car can be used on the road. It's great as a weekend toy, but I wouldn't to use it as my only car, though.
Apart from the lack of a windscreen and weather gear, a race spec. Crossflow is a bit of an intractible beast (won't pull the skin off a rice pudding below 3,500rpm, but then flies when it comes on cam), so it's a pain in the ass in heavy traffic.
A Pinto or a lower-tuned Crossflow would be more tractable for road use, but would lose you the edge on the circuit.
>> Edited by Sam_68 on Thursday 29th September 18:47
£5K will buy you a nice Sylva or Fisher with a Pinto or Crossflow engine. Crossflow may be preferable if you intend to go racing.
They are very simple cars, with very simple engines, so provided they have been properly built, they are pretty reliable.
Any local garage will be able to deal with problems. They are so simple and easy to work on that you will probably find yourself tackling jobs yourself, though. Anything with a flip/removable front (ie. any '7' or Sylva/Fisher derivative except the Stylus) has simply superb access to mechanical components.
To be competitive in the 750 Club Championship, you really need something with just aeroscreens, and preferably the fully-enclosed Phoenix/Spyder Sylva/Fisher, for better aerodynamics. Windscreens add a lot of air resistance at speed, on a car this small! My Sylva Phoenix is an ex-750 Club racer, to competitive race spec., and I'd sell for £5k, so yes, your budget is realistic and the car can be used on the road. It's great as a weekend toy, but I wouldn't to use it as my only car, though.
Apart from the lack of a windscreen and weather gear, a race spec. Crossflow is a bit of an intractible beast (won't pull the skin off a rice pudding below 3,500rpm, but then flies when it comes on cam), so it's a pain in the ass in heavy traffic.
A Pinto or a lower-tuned Crossflow would be more tractable for road use, but would lose you the edge on the circuit.
>> Edited by Sam_68 on Thursday 29th September 18:47
Thanks for all the feedback guys - most useful! I am beginning to get an idea of what I want out of kit-car motoring. I like the look of the Fury/Phoenix with crossflow route.
Joining a local club looks like my next step.
Incidentally, has anyone heard of Kit Car Builds in Longfield, Kent?
Cheers
Joining a local club looks like my next step.
Incidentally, has anyone heard of Kit Car Builds in Longfield, Kent?
Cheers
Here's the website of the Kent Kit Car Club, I'm sure someone there will know of the garage you mention.
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