Discussion
Hi Guys,
I've owned a couple of kit cars and was looking for a new fun (but practical-ish) car in the near future and Jonty on the main forum suggested a Veranti, sounds like an excellent solution to my need for an open RWD everyday sportscar without submitting to MX5 annonymity.
Can anyone comment on the cars, particularly the handling, performance, (typical) standard of finish and an approximate second hand price?
....or anything else for that matter, very interested to find out about these cars.
Chris.
I've owned a couple of kit cars and was looking for a new fun (but practical-ish) car in the near future and Jonty on the main forum suggested a Veranti, sounds like an excellent solution to my need for an open RWD everyday sportscar without submitting to MX5 annonymity.
Can anyone comment on the cars, particularly the handling, performance, (typical) standard of finish and an approximate second hand price?
....or anything else for that matter, very interested to find out about these cars.
Chris.
Wow! Are we twins? My last car was a 2+2 (quicksilver), I am 23 and I've just bought the Veranti! You can see a blurry picture of it on my profile.
If you have a 2+2 and like it, then you'll love the Veranti.
Its everything the 2+2 was trying to be and so much more.
The build quality finish is like a production car. Peopl do not believe me when I say it is a Kit Car. It is double skinned Fiberglass, when sprayed professionally is on a par with your TVRs.
The reliability is fantastic (not sure about the Turbos though, mine is N/A). Its very comfortable, useable and relatively economical. The handling is unbelievable. On a twisty road at this time of a year it made my fridns Griffith look slow there is that much grip. When they are built they are always changed from standard MR2 set up. Lowered suspension, sports equipment etc. All creature comforts. Not too OTT looks but enough to be pretty. Sits nicely when just pottering around town or tramming along on the motorway. Not too windy with the roof down. And the roof is actually water tight. I got soaked everytime it rained when I had the 2+2.
Best idea is to go look at one though. Pictures never seem to do it justice. Although if you give me your email address I can send you some.
What else do you want to know?
If you have a 2+2 and like it, then you'll love the Veranti.
Its everything the 2+2 was trying to be and so much more.
The build quality finish is like a production car. Peopl do not believe me when I say it is a Kit Car. It is double skinned Fiberglass, when sprayed professionally is on a par with your TVRs.
The reliability is fantastic (not sure about the Turbos though, mine is N/A). Its very comfortable, useable and relatively economical. The handling is unbelievable. On a twisty road at this time of a year it made my fridns Griffith look slow there is that much grip. When they are built they are always changed from standard MR2 set up. Lowered suspension, sports equipment etc. All creature comforts. Not too OTT looks but enough to be pretty. Sits nicely when just pottering around town or tramming along on the motorway. Not too windy with the roof down. And the roof is actually water tight. I got soaked everytime it rained when I had the 2+2.
Best idea is to go look at one though. Pictures never seem to do it justice. Although if you give me your email address I can send you some.
What else do you want to know?
A very good rebody in my opinion, but check these threads for more info:
www.scads.co.uk/mr2-veranti.htm
www.totalkitcar.com/tkc_article_494.php
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=30&t=76785&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=30&t=274610
I hope it helps
Italo
www.scads.co.uk/mr2-veranti.htm
www.totalkitcar.com/tkc_article_494.php
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=30&t=76785&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=30&t=274610
I hope it helps
Italo
Jonty99 said:
Wow! Are we twins? My last car was a 2+2 (quicksilver), I am 23 and I've just bought the Veranti! You can see a blurry picture of it on my profile.
If you have a 2+2 and like it, then you'll love the Veranti.
Its everything the 2+2 was trying to be and so much more.
The build quality finish is like a production car. Peopl do not believe me when I say it is a Kit Car. It is double skinned Fiberglass, when sprayed professionally is on a par with your TVRs.
The reliability is fantastic (not sure about the Turbos though, mine is N/A). Its very comfortable, useable and relatively economical. The handling is unbelievable. On a twisty road at this time of a year it made my fridns Griffith look slow there is that much grip. When they are built they are always changed from standard MR2 set up. Lowered suspension, sports equipment etc. All creature comforts. Not too OTT looks but enough to be pretty. Sits nicely when just pottering around town or tramming along on the motorway. Not too windy with the roof down. And the roof is actually water tight. I got soaked everytime it rained when I had the 2+2.
Best idea is to go look at one though. Pictures never seem to do it justice. Although if you give me your email address I can send you some.
What else do you want to know?
If you have a 2+2 and like it, then you'll love the Veranti.
Its everything the 2+2 was trying to be and so much more.
The build quality finish is like a production car. Peopl do not believe me when I say it is a Kit Car. It is double skinned Fiberglass, when sprayed professionally is on a par with your TVRs.
The reliability is fantastic (not sure about the Turbos though, mine is N/A). Its very comfortable, useable and relatively economical. The handling is unbelievable. On a twisty road at this time of a year it made my fridns Griffith look slow there is that much grip. When they are built they are always changed from standard MR2 set up. Lowered suspension, sports equipment etc. All creature comforts. Not too OTT looks but enough to be pretty. Sits nicely when just pottering around town or tramming along on the motorway. Not too windy with the roof down. And the roof is actually water tight. I got soaked everytime it rained when I had the 2+2.
Best idea is to go look at one though. Pictures never seem to do it justice. Although if you give me your email address I can send you some.
What else do you want to know?
Hey Jonty,
Yeah I'd noticed that too, I clicked on your profile to take a look at the Veranti! I've actually still got my 2+2 (temporarily - www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/108092.htm) and it's been the best car I've owned. The CVH had been quite heavily breathed on so is very willing and has reasonable performance and the handling is probably the best all round of any FWD car I've driven. On the downside, I have encountered more watertight hard tops (this is what stopped me using it in the end and it's now tucked away at home in a barn!) and I've since caught the bug for RWD.
Toyota are renowned for their reliability, so I doubt this would be a problem as I gather the car is mechanically virtually the same as an MR2. I vaguley looked at MR2s in standard form and concluded the Mk1s were great, despite tin worm and limited straightline performance. Everyone has always told me the mk2's are less acomplished as a drivers car, but I'm sure that can be sorted with decent bushes, anti roll bars, shocks etc. Any idea what sort of performance you get from an NA car? I know the turbos are ballistic and kit car insurance would give me the chance to own one (mainstream insurers laughed when I said I was 23 and wanted an imported MR2 turbo!)
I'm based in Essex, but if you get bored over christmas I'm spending it at my girlfriend's parents in York. A spot of al fresco motoring might make a refreshing change from the prospective mother in law
Erm, trying to think of anything else. I'd definitely like to see a few pics, so I'll msg you my email address if that's ok.
I'm not a fan of replica's unless they are very very close to an unobtainably rare original, so the bolt on 355 kits don't appeal at all and I'm not a massive fan of the standard MR2, particularly with [well into] 4 figure insurance costs for a turbo, yet the basic concept appeals, so a Veranti might be worth stretching my budget a little for. The old man in me likes the Sabre too and they are beautifully done, so being designed by the same guy is an advantage.
Well drop me a mail if you're up near york and I'll meet you somehere to show you round.
I think mine has been given the full anti roll bar treatment, and it definitly feels like a drivers car. Ive never been in a standard MR2 so I dont know how different mine is set up.
You may still struggle with insurance with a turbo. Most insurance sompanies dont like insuring anything over a 2litre for under 25's, so not sure how it would be with a 2litre turbo? The actual size of the NA one is 1998cc's so its within the reasonable band of insurance.
The 2 litre NA is perfectly good enough when you've got a few mods on it. I think mine is good for 0-60 in around 6.5 seconds, and top speed of 150mph. Remeber these cars are light! Its different to the CVH though in that you have to rev this higher to get your power. My old Quantum had a small power band between 3,500rpm and 5,000rpm. The Veranti doesn't come in until around 4,800rpm and then goes all the way up to the limiter at 7,200rpm.
I'll send you some pictures tomorrow after its got light, and hopefully stopped raining. Lovely Yorkshire weather!!!!
I think mine has been given the full anti roll bar treatment, and it definitly feels like a drivers car. Ive never been in a standard MR2 so I dont know how different mine is set up.
You may still struggle with insurance with a turbo. Most insurance sompanies dont like insuring anything over a 2litre for under 25's, so not sure how it would be with a 2litre turbo? The actual size of the NA one is 1998cc's so its within the reasonable band of insurance.
The 2 litre NA is perfectly good enough when you've got a few mods on it. I think mine is good for 0-60 in around 6.5 seconds, and top speed of 150mph. Remeber these cars are light! Its different to the CVH though in that you have to rev this higher to get your power. My old Quantum had a small power band between 3,500rpm and 5,000rpm. The Veranti doesn't come in until around 4,800rpm and then goes all the way up to the limiter at 7,200rpm.
I'll send you some pictures tomorrow after its got light, and hopefully stopped raining. Lovely Yorkshire weather!!!!
Jonty99 said:
Well drop me a mail if you're up near york and I'll meet you somehere to show you round.
I think mine has been given the full anti roll bar treatment, and it definitly feels like a drivers car. Ive never been in a standard MR2 so I dont know how different mine is set up.
You may still struggle with insurance with a turbo. Most insurance sompanies dont like insuring anything over a 2litre for under 25's, so not sure how it would be with a 2litre turbo? The actual size of the NA one is 1998cc's so its within the reasonable band of insurance.
The 2 litre NA is perfectly good enough when you've got a few mods on it. I think mine is good for 0-60 in around 6.5 seconds, and top speed of 150mph. Remeber these cars are light! Its different to the CVH though in that you have to rev this higher to get your power. My old Quantum had a small power band between 3,500rpm and 5,000rpm. The Veranti doesn't come in until around 4,800rpm and then goes all the way up to the limiter at 7,200rpm.
I'll send you some pictures tomorrow after its got light, and hopefully stopped raining. Lovely Yorkshire weather!!!!
I think mine has been given the full anti roll bar treatment, and it definitly feels like a drivers car. Ive never been in a standard MR2 so I dont know how different mine is set up.
You may still struggle with insurance with a turbo. Most insurance sompanies dont like insuring anything over a 2litre for under 25's, so not sure how it would be with a 2litre turbo? The actual size of the NA one is 1998cc's so its within the reasonable band of insurance.
The 2 litre NA is perfectly good enough when you've got a few mods on it. I think mine is good for 0-60 in around 6.5 seconds, and top speed of 150mph. Remeber these cars are light! Its different to the CVH though in that you have to rev this higher to get your power. My old Quantum had a small power band between 3,500rpm and 5,000rpm. The Veranti doesn't come in until around 4,800rpm and then goes all the way up to the limiter at 7,200rpm.
I'll send you some pictures tomorrow after its got light, and hopefully stopped raining. Lovely Yorkshire weather!!!!
My CVH was mental! Didn't have any grunt 'till 4,500 and screams up to about 8,000rpm! Like I said subtley tweaked
I'd expect you can insure a Veranti on kit car insurance (even if its registered as an MR2 to get round the SVA) as a result atleast one company (Footman James) do it on capacity, possibly with a small loading for turbos. As a result a 2 litre [turbo'd] veranti would attract the same premium as that engine struggling to pull 2 tons of Beauford.
6.5 secs to 60 should be quick enough though if it's reflected in in-gear times. Didn't think from looking into standard MR2s they were as quick as that. I doubt they're bad to drive - I think it's just the [standard production] Mk2's weren't as sharp as the Lotus engineered Mk1s, but I suspect this was an attempt to stop first time sportscar buyers going backwards through hedges, so whatever they did to soften up the chasis is probably reversable. The only thing that I found slightly suspect about the Veranti conversion is the fact one article said chopping the roof off didn't have a noticable effect on the stiffness and I'm sure I remember the jap chat people moaning about the standard MR2 T bar not being as stiff as the GT and that still has half a roof. You can probably recover quite a lot of that from the underbody stiffening though.
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