Type 7 or an Elise S1
Discussion
Hi
Though I seem to have been looking at PH for the last couple of months on a nightly basis this is my first topic. I have been riding motorcycles since I was a wee lad some twenty odd years ago. Having recently become a dad and whilst I will always have a bike of some description I feel it is time to enjoy te benefits of four wheels a bit more.
I tend to go the Ring two or three times a year and also do a number of trackdays over here. What I,m looking for is a car that is capable of doing the above. I have mangaed to scrape together 8.5k which semed to be the easy bit as there seems to be hundreds of cars out there. My partner would prefer an Elise but I keep getting drawn back to looking at the type 7 kit cars for the performance they offer.
I have no mechanical background re cars but have learnt that irs rear ends seem to be better than live axles. What sort of power output is required from a CEC to give good performance over a BEC. I understand from previous topics that top end regardless is around the 130 mark due to aerodynamics.
The car is going to be third car so everyday use isn,t that important. Finally can a child seat be made to fit.
Thanks for any info.
Though I seem to have been looking at PH for the last couple of months on a nightly basis this is my first topic. I have been riding motorcycles since I was a wee lad some twenty odd years ago. Having recently become a dad and whilst I will always have a bike of some description I feel it is time to enjoy te benefits of four wheels a bit more.
I tend to go the Ring two or three times a year and also do a number of trackdays over here. What I,m looking for is a car that is capable of doing the above. I have mangaed to scrape together 8.5k which semed to be the easy bit as there seems to be hundreds of cars out there. My partner would prefer an Elise but I keep getting drawn back to looking at the type 7 kit cars for the performance they offer.
I have no mechanical background re cars but have learnt that irs rear ends seem to be better than live axles. What sort of power output is required from a CEC to give good performance over a BEC. I understand from previous topics that top end regardless is around the 130 mark due to aerodynamics.
The car is going to be third car so everyday use isn,t that important. Finally can a child seat be made to fit.
Thanks for any info.
As you're a biker, I'd say the wind-in-your hair appeal of a 7-style will win.
Even then, though, there are lots of options, depending on how much work you want to do and what you want to spend each year
You'll probably find that BECs work for you. I use 2 CECs all the time that need a lot of revs and I'm happy with that, but my friends that are used to big V8s don't know how to work them.
RE - kiddy seats, I don't see why you can't get one, but I doubt there're many (any?) for sale that fit into bucket seats.
I have been thinking about this myself a bit recently; due to legislation you can't make one yourself, install it and it be legal. I know a few seat manufacturers do make kiddy seats, but these always seem to be to fit 'normal' seats, not their own.
Even then, though, there are lots of options, depending on how much work you want to do and what you want to spend each year
You'll probably find that BECs work for you. I use 2 CECs all the time that need a lot of revs and I'm happy with that, but my friends that are used to big V8s don't know how to work them.
RE - kiddy seats, I don't see why you can't get one, but I doubt there're many (any?) for sale that fit into bucket seats.
I have been thinking about this myself a bit recently; due to legislation you can't make one yourself, install it and it be legal. I know a few seat manufacturers do make kiddy seats, but these always seem to be to fit 'normal' seats, not their own.
I'd say around 200bhp as available from Ford Zetec, Duratec and Vauxhall's XE engine should give similar peformance to most bike engined kit cars.
Can't see you having much luck with a kiddy seat though, especially if you're looking to take the other half too. Seven type cars are strictly 2 seaters. Apart that is from the 4-seater family version made by Vindicator. Although not the best Seven type car on the market, might be the only one that meets your needs. Certainly can't think of any others.
Can't see you having much luck with a kiddy seat though, especially if you're looking to take the other half too. Seven type cars are strictly 2 seaters. Apart that is from the 4-seater family version made by Vindicator. Although not the best Seven type car on the market, might be the only one that meets your needs. Certainly can't think of any others.
Elise is undoubtedly more practical and much safer in a crash (may be an important consideration if youre family relies on you for income or you are planning to carry your child).
The advantage of having you're partner's approval (or at least tolerance!) can't be dismissed, either.
There was a thread on the Elise forum of PistonHeads about child seats not so long ago. Not having children, I didn't pay any attention, so I can't tell you what the conclusion was, but you'll find it if you do a search.
Why not take the path of least resistance and buy an Elise... you can always move on to a Seven at a later date, once you've converted your partner to the idea of sportscars in general?
The advantage of having you're partner's approval (or at least tolerance!) can't be dismissed, either.
There was a thread on the Elise forum of PistonHeads about child seats not so long ago. Not having children, I didn't pay any attention, so I can't tell you what the conclusion was, but you'll find it if you do a search.
Why not take the path of least resistance and buy an Elise... you can always move on to a Seven at a later date, once you've converted your partner to the idea of sportscars in general?
As someone who owned an Elise (www.elises.co.uk) and is about to SVA a Fisher Fury R1 (www.robcollingridge.com/kitcar) all I can say is that they two things are chalk and cheese. Other than the fact they they both have two seats. One brother has a Sylva Striker and the other a car-engined Fury too as a comparison.
The Elise is relative practical and is positively refined by 7-style standards. The base 1.8 is not that quick and you would need Honda Supercharged power to get close to the performance of my R1-engined Fury. The handling is right up there and the driver involvement is very good but the Elise is no true light-weight. It is miles safer and comes with a decent roof (especially in S2 form). Servicing with main dealers is expensive but there are many independents out there. If you crash an Elise, repair bills are big (>£13k in my case).
The Elise is a great road/track compromise but if you really want excitment and performance go for something lighter and preferrably bike-engined or approaching 200bhp in car-engined form. Personally, I'd like an S1 to go alongside my Fury for those days where 11,500rpm is just a bit too manic but, they are few and far between.
Rob
The Elise is relative practical and is positively refined by 7-style standards. The base 1.8 is not that quick and you would need Honda Supercharged power to get close to the performance of my R1-engined Fury. The handling is right up there and the driver involvement is very good but the Elise is no true light-weight. It is miles safer and comes with a decent roof (especially in S2 form). Servicing with main dealers is expensive but there are many independents out there. If you crash an Elise, repair bills are big (>£13k in my case).
The Elise is a great road/track compromise but if you really want excitment and performance go for something lighter and preferrably bike-engined or approaching 200bhp in car-engined form. Personally, I'd like an S1 to go alongside my Fury for those days where 11,500rpm is just a bit too manic but, they are few and far between.
Rob
Thanks for the replies. As Sam states having my partner onboard makes it easier, especially considering all the times she has let me disappear on bikes in the past. Due to modern working practices our child care is split 50-50 between us so it would be nice to be able to go out for the odd drive with my son.
Though my heart says a type 7 my head says go for the lotus. Hope to see some PH'ers at my first track day whatever I'm driving.
Wow just seen a lovely looking Dax rush CEC in Kit Car which just needs finishing ........
Though my heart says a type 7 my head says go for the lotus. Hope to see some PH'ers at my first track day whatever I'm driving.
Wow just seen a lovely looking Dax rush CEC in Kit Car which just needs finishing ........
The original Elise S1 review from Top Gear might help sway you one way or the other...
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?d
from a personal point of view, having had a Megablade, 2 elises and an exige... I would go for the elise. But its not a bad dilemma to have
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?d
from a personal point of view, having had a Megablade, 2 elises and an exige... I would go for the elise. But its not a bad dilemma to have
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