Advice on a potential car

[Mellow Matt]

I've been browsing the classifieds for a while now and came across this the other day: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/798677.htm

It seems like a pretty good price, considering the condition it seems to be in and the fact it's a zetec rather than a pinto. I was wondering if the high-lift cams are likely to cause any problems? Make it a bit temperamental low down perhaps? Is there anything else I should particularly look out for if I were to have a look?

Thanks

Edited by Mellow Matt on Friday 20th February 20:35

[antnicuk]

it depends what you want it for. I'm no expert, but if it was just for sunday blast on the country lanes then it looks fine, but if you want a more track focused car, i think the stock sierra rear end would make the car a little heavey and the suspension not very tunable. (assuming that its using the sierra rear sway bars etc and not its own double wishbone set up with a sierra diff)

IIRC that model is quite heavy for a kit car.

[Mellow Matt]

Good point, I neglected to explain what I wanted it for. It will be primarily for road use, but I would like to use it on track occassionaly too. I've been on a couple of dozen trackdays, primarily in a 1.6 k series Caterham (ex academy car) but also in a Honda S2000, and found the Caterham much more fun. I imagine a Tiger Cat would be almost as much fun as the Caterham, although I understand the handling wouldn't be as good, but still good enough to be a laugh (I'm not looking for mind blowing lap times!). From what I've read a Tiger Cat will be about 50-80kgs heavier than an Academy Caterham, which I can't imagine will detract from the fun too much, especially if the Zetec puts out more power than the Rover K series, but I welcome any thoughts!

[stevespic]

I purchased a E1 tiger late last year and it seems to handle very well, its currently running the pinto 2.0 and sierra stock rear end, i also own a 944s2 and mostly used it on the ring and in my opinion my lap times this year should be quite a bit quicker and i cant wait, My advice is test drive a few different types and decide what's best for you, that's what i done and i found they were all quite alike accept for the prices.

[Mellow Matt]

Thanks Steve, that's helpful. Do you think this Tiger's good value if it's in good condition then? From what I can tell it seems about right, but obviously no car is exactly the same so it's hard to tell!

[Furyous]

Looks like good value to me, its got all the right bits on it.

Find out if the chassis has ever had a proper geo set up and job done.

Looks to be in very good overall condition.

Wont be much else to give smiles per mile for £5k.

[Ferg]

I've always thought that the Cat was a very compromised car once everyone else moved on to ditching then Sierra semi-trailing arms and that big chunk of steel over the top of the diff.
Anyone know the weight comparisons between the Cat and the MK Indy, for example??

[stevespic]

From my research the Tigers do seem to be good value, and i have to agree that there is a lot of heavy metal in the rear but then my tiger has a pinto in the front which is very far from light so as far as weight distribution goes its quite good and at the end of the day im not going to compete in the car so for road and track day use the has plenty of beans for me, So try to be sure your not going to go racing because that extra weight will leave you feeling very slow when they leave you standing off the line...

[artov60]

Tiger is well known for its' racing abilities. I have not heard people questioning the balance/weight distribution in the past. The Kit car magazines have always given them good reviews. Certainly on my shortlist.

[Mellow Matt]

Thanks for the info all. I registered on the locost builders site and they were very helpful too. Although I'm now swaying towards a BEC if I can find one for the right price!

Edited by Mellow Matt on Tuesday 24th February 17:00

[Ferg]

artov60 said:

Tiger is well known for its' racing abilities. I have not heard people questioning the balance/weight distribution in the past. The Kit car magazines have always given them good reviews. Certainly on my shortlist.

True, but be aware that there are Tigers and there are Tigers. There's quite a difference between a Cat and an R6, for example.