Running Costs of a BEC?
Discussion
I've had mine for 2 years now, and thus far I have given it 4 oil changes, at £50 a go, and a new engine, at £433, due to me being a plonker. No new tyres, no new brakes, although I have changed the fluid once. So maybe a total of £700 in two years. Or less than £1 a day. If I hadn't blown the engine, it would be 28p a day.
Put it this way... you can throw away the BEC (the whole car... not just the engine!) and buy yourself another every for the cost of the full engine rebuild that you'll likely-as-not need on the Tuscan every 25K miles. 
But there really isn't any comparison. To be fair to the Tuscan, you'd be getting a stylish and comfortable GT with supercar performance that - if you can afford it - can be used as your everyday car. BEC's are toys, for track days and hour-long blasts on a sunny Sunday morning. Back in the real world, they really are f
k all use as transport and, given weather patterns recently, unless you're particularly masochistic/suicidal, they'll spend 300 days a year sitting in the garage.
I'm kind of confused why anyone should even be trying to decide between the two.
But there really isn't any comparison. To be fair to the Tuscan, you'd be getting a stylish and comfortable GT with supercar performance that - if you can afford it - can be used as your everyday car. BEC's are toys, for track days and hour-long blasts on a sunny Sunday morning. Back in the real world, they really are f
k all use as transport and, given weather patterns recently, unless you're particularly masochistic/suicidal, they'll spend 300 days a year sitting in the garage. I'm kind of confused why anyone should even be trying to decide between the two.
Edited by Sam_68 on Monday 10th November 18:00
The only reason I ask is I am torn between the two, now I know they are totally different, but in all fairness everytime I have had a 'toy' car, all I have ever used it for is a sunny day blast, with maybe 1 or 2 long (60 miles+) trips.
Now the wife likes the Tuscan more, but the sensible choice would possibly be a BEC, as I want to use whatever I get on track days, and a BEC would be a LOT cheaper in the long run.
I can easily afford eiter car (and associated running costs!)!
Thanks
Lee
Now the wife likes the Tuscan more, but the sensible choice would possibly be a BEC, as I want to use whatever I get on track days, and a BEC would be a LOT cheaper in the long run.
I can easily afford eiter car (and associated running costs!)!
Thanks
Lee
My wife is not a great fan of the BEC, although I did manage to take her to Zolder in Belgium for a long weekend in it, she absolutely loved the crash helmet and 7,000rpm for 4 hours... ;-0 But she will NOT actually drive it, as it is quite mad and goes sideways at every opportunity apparently. The best thing is to get your wife a ride in one before you buy, as it could seriously cause marrital problems if she detests it!
Running costs:
I do use mine quite a bit and do drive it hard, but what i found is the only things i ever actually wear out are tyres (last set of 48r's lasted only 5 weeks of road use, albeit the Alps) and clutches. However, in both my 'blade and 'R1 the cluch problems were both springs not plates, a new set of springs (Barnett race) is about £25. But the plates are only £100 per set so replace them anyway for a year of trouble free hooning. Takes about 1 hour to exchange, piece of cake. Do it every spring and forget about any trouble. Because they are so light they are very easy on brakes, i had to replace the rear pads (cheap std Ford Sierra, £20? )but the car runs drilled discs all round so that does not help. The fronts (Hawk Black) have hardly worn at all in about 3 years, amazing considering it litterally pops your eyeballs out whan you brake, it annhialates Porsche GT3's in braking zones, quite scary! MPG will be 30-40+ cruising at 70mph depending on engine, about 10mpg on track if you are lucky, constantly 7-12,000 rpm likes a drink.
To put it simply, it is the cheapest way to VERY fast bar none. I have given up defending BEC's mostly to people on PH who have never actually been in one and are always negative when they are discussed. They are not for everyone, but they are definately for me. I even do not mind doing 8 hours driving per day in them. No worse than riding a motorbike, full stop. There is nothing you can do to it to cause more than £1,000 of damage apart from obviously crashing and bending the chassis. I can use it, abuse it, park it up till next time. Just fill it up with petrol. But i SERIOUSLY reccomend you get your wife to ride in one if she is a big part of the ownership equasion, my wife doesnt care so i get no hasstle. Hope that helps.
Running costs:
I do use mine quite a bit and do drive it hard, but what i found is the only things i ever actually wear out are tyres (last set of 48r's lasted only 5 weeks of road use, albeit the Alps) and clutches. However, in both my 'blade and 'R1 the cluch problems were both springs not plates, a new set of springs (Barnett race) is about £25. But the plates are only £100 per set so replace them anyway for a year of trouble free hooning. Takes about 1 hour to exchange, piece of cake. Do it every spring and forget about any trouble. Because they are so light they are very easy on brakes, i had to replace the rear pads (cheap std Ford Sierra, £20? )but the car runs drilled discs all round so that does not help. The fronts (Hawk Black) have hardly worn at all in about 3 years, amazing considering it litterally pops your eyeballs out whan you brake, it annhialates Porsche GT3's in braking zones, quite scary! MPG will be 30-40+ cruising at 70mph depending on engine, about 10mpg on track if you are lucky, constantly 7-12,000 rpm likes a drink.
To put it simply, it is the cheapest way to VERY fast bar none. I have given up defending BEC's mostly to people on PH who have never actually been in one and are always negative when they are discussed. They are not for everyone, but they are definately for me. I even do not mind doing 8 hours driving per day in them. No worse than riding a motorbike, full stop. There is nothing you can do to it to cause more than £1,000 of damage apart from obviously crashing and bending the chassis. I can use it, abuse it, park it up till next time. Just fill it up with petrol. But i SERIOUSLY reccomend you get your wife to ride in one if she is a big part of the ownership equasion, my wife doesnt care so i get no hasstle. Hope that helps.
leemarkadams said:
Now the wife likes the Tuscan more...
Then it really comes down to your wife and the relationship you have with her. Most women like the glamour and attention they get from being seen in exotic sports cars, for which the Tuscan is perfect, but really don't much like noisy, uncomfortable, flimsy-feeling machines that ruin their hair and gritblast their skin.
BEC's only really work if they are ultra basic, to the point of foregoing windscreens to reduce drag, and padding on the seats to reduce weight and lower the driving position. The majority of women I know (and obviously I don't know your wife) will get in them once out of curiosity/novelty value, then refuse to go anywhere near them again.
In which case... you either buy the Tuscan, or you accept that the BEC is your toy and yours alone, which takes your wife's preferences out of the equation.
Personally, I loathe TVR's and BEC's with almost equal passion, so (having reasonable experience of driving both)I can give an unbiased view. If you can afford either, my advice would be to buy the BEC only if you're intending to use it mainly for track use. The Tuscan is much more usable on the road, much better looking, has a fantastic interior and has equally intoxicating performance.
And your wife likes it.
If I did get a BEC it would be mine, as she would not enjoy it, but the money saved over a Tuscan would get a cracking new kitchen!LOL.
As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
leemarkadams said:
If I did get a BEC it would be mine, as she would not enjoy it, but the money saved over a Tuscan would get a cracking new kitchen!LOL.
As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
Now you're just talking yourself into the kit car!As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
leemarkadams said:
If I did get a BEC it would be mine, as she would not enjoy it, but the money saved over a Tuscan would get a cracking new kitchen!LOL.
As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
Those are pretty much the reasons I went the BEC route! They are not intended as long distance cruisers, although they can do distances if you don't mind rolling along at 6-7Krpm. I wanted a car I could play with easily and cheaply, and that would be similar to a bike, which I would get, but I just don't trust myself. So most of the bike bits but sat down with a harness on is just what I wanted. It sounds like you want the same things, so go get yourself a ride and wonder why you ever questioned it! As for main reason for one, would be to throw around a track and a few country lanes here in Hampshire. The other thing is I like 'tinkering' with cars, as have built up a few Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts (stuck roll cages, bucket seats, welding etc) and enjoy that side as well.
Lee
agree with pretty much everything thats been said here..
BEC is a total blast on track - if track days are your thing you can't go wrong.. also gives you anice route to the odd sprint/hill climb.. or even race meeting if you fancy it over time...
TVR - definately a nice car if you like flash and not so into out and out corner speed/track performance.. a bec around track would make the TVR look very slow indeed.. but as has been pointed out - they relaly aren't in competition with each other...
Mark.
BEC is a total blast on track - if track days are your thing you can't go wrong.. also gives you anice route to the odd sprint/hill climb.. or even race meeting if you fancy it over time...
TVR - definately a nice car if you like flash and not so into out and out corner speed/track performance.. a bec around track would make the TVR look very slow indeed.. but as has been pointed out - they relaly aren't in competition with each other...
Mark.
The biggest cost beyond the petrol (I'm averaging ~25mpg) is the cost of tyres. I got 2600 miles from a set of four A048R's and that works out at 13p/mile in tyres alone. Insurance is dead cheap for my Fury R1 (£146 fully comp, limited mileage policy). Servicing is all done by me so less than £50 a year in fluids/filters so far. Road tax is £125 per year as it is 998cc.
To be honest I've spent far more on upgrades (new seats, in-car camera, etc.) and on track days than I have on keeping the car going. Got out in it again today for the first time in 3 weeks (due to crap weather) and I would have paid £500 for the experience :-)
Rob
http://www.robcollingridge.com/FuryR1/
To be honest I've spent far more on upgrades (new seats, in-car camera, etc.) and on track days than I have on keeping the car going. Got out in it again today for the first time in 3 weeks (due to crap weather) and I would have paid £500 for the experience :-)
Rob
http://www.robcollingridge.com/FuryR1/
Furyblade_Lee said:
Sam, to "loathe" TVR's and BEC's is a bit harsh isn't it,considering the cars you have owned? !
I "loathe" many things in life, like murderers, but it is a strong word to be aimed at decent sportscars!
I "loathe" many things in life, like murderers, but it is a strong word to be aimed at decent sportscars!
I don't know. Possibly.For the record, I've owned a TVR (though I won't make the mistake again) and I'm in the process of designing a BEC for myself (though I'm trying to design out the major shortcomings whilst retaining the advantages).
...but TVR's make my skin crawl slightly and BEC's irritate me almost to the point of anger, albeit for opposite reasons.
The TVR because, under the pretty bodyshell, the chassis engineering is just horribly crude; it's the ultimate example of 'brute force and bloody ignorance'.
The typical BEC because as a road car, it's self-flagellatingly extreme. The approach angers me in the same way that religious evangelists and extremists do. Fanaticism is all right in moderation...
I can understand the appeal of both and - like fat women or whips and leather - if that's the bag you're into, then that's cool by me, just so long as you don't expect me to participate.
Can I just say that I have also had a TVR (Chim 500) before, which was very fast in a straight line, but handling not the greatest! It was a lovely car, but I balked at the thought of £400 for a service, with no problems.
I have also had a lot of other fast cars and always wanted to track day them, but never got round to it. They were only used for the odd weekend blast.
Just got to convince the wife now........
I have also had a lot of other fast cars and always wanted to track day them, but never got round to it. They were only used for the odd weekend blast.
Just got to convince the wife now........
As others have said, the TVR is a GT. The BEC should be thought of as a motorbike with seats.
BEC's are a total blast for the driver. For the passenger, once the novelty has worn off, they are too noisy, too smelly, too cold, too hot, too windy, too uncomfortable and very often too scary. There is not enough room in the boot for all the things she needs for a weekend away and of course, as with all kit cars you will spend an inordinate amount of time in the garage "tinkering".
Buy the BEC.
BEC's are a total blast for the driver. For the passenger, once the novelty has worn off, they are too noisy, too smelly, too cold, too hot, too windy, too uncomfortable and very often too scary. There is not enough room in the boot for all the things she needs for a weekend away and of course, as with all kit cars you will spend an inordinate amount of time in the garage "tinkering".
Buy the BEC.
i have just got a bec (mnr vortex) its great i drove it home in the frost was a tad chilly but great drove around for ages on £15 cheap tax awsome performance get one you will never look back, easy to work on
unlike my last toys nissan pulsar,skyline,
just go for it & enjoy roll on the trackdays & drag racing & my MRS CANT WAIT !
she even let me spend a chunk of the wedding fund to get it !!! god i love her
jrm rossi
unlike my last toys nissan pulsar,skyline,
just go for it & enjoy roll on the trackdays & drag racing & my MRS CANT WAIT !
she even let me spend a chunk of the wedding fund to get it !!! god i love her
jrm rossi
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