1st kit car advice

[Andy-G]

Hi,

I am new to the whole kit car idea but I would really like to get one and would like a bit of advice.

I would like a car that handles well, how does a seven style car compare to something like a fisher fury? Is there much difference between the handling of the different seven style cars I've been looking at Tiger's MK's and budget allowing MNR's. How much difference does the donor car make

Is there much handling difference between a BEC and a well setup CEC, and how much difference is there between the handling of similar BEC & CEC.

Also are BEC still quite reliable or are they quite fragile as I don't mind carrying out repairs but I don't want excessively high running costs.

My budget is 5K-8K for a second hand fully built car, I intend to use the car for track days and weekend driving, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

[MKnight702]

With that budget you could get a Westfield which I prefer over the Tiger. Or for something different how about a Sylva Riot? If you can hang on a bit get along to Stoneleigh show, there are normally a few cars for sale there and you can talk to plenty of owners/builders/manufacturers to help make up your mind.

As for the BEC vs CEC thing the WSCC forum has done that one many times, IMO the bike engined cars are very rapid and are more geared towards trackday usage rather than weekend pottering but any car engined Westfield or similar will feel in a different league performance wise to pretty much anything you have driven. I used to run a Westfield with a stock 1600cc pinto and it was a blast to drive, I had a ride in a 1700cc X Flow powered car and it felt stunningly quick, the latest Duratec 200bhp monsters will blow you away.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Yep, get yourself along to Stoneleigh in May. Kid in a sweet shop springs to mind.

[dean100yz]

I was in same position in December just gone.

Read as much as I could and ended up running with a 7 style car. Have a BEC but honda engine that seems to just go on forever.

Mine was not looked after and things unfinished or done badly but after a month or so I got it how I want and now Im loving it. I budgeted up £6500 and got exactly what I want, couple of years old. Top spec parts, fast and a keeper!

I can only go from what i have and have never driven a CEC or fury though

Its additive though - Ive prob blown another £1500 in extras since Ive had it!

[Andy-G]

Thanks for the advice I had heard of Stoneliegh and was going to try and go over, I haven't heard much of the Sylva riot what are they like compared to a normal seven style car.

The main thing I want the car for is for track days and weekend blasts basically no much pottering but in your experience can a bec be smooth at anything other than flat out. I apologise for ignorance I don't have much experience of bec.

[Snake the Sniper]

You can drive a BEC slowly, but it's hard not too boot it! Since cruising is a bit of a PITA at 6-7K rpm, you tend to take the twistier back road routes, and as such you will end up changing up at the red line, and trying to see how late you can brake into that corner you go round quite often. If driving through scenic countryside, it is possible to drive slower and enjoy the views, but that's not really why you buy a BEC. The best bet is to blag a ride in one and see if you like them. The one I went to see first I ended up buying, so be warned!

[dean100yz]

Just got in from another night out in the MAC1. Honestly I could easily drive my bec engine normally. Below 6k it sounds like a sporty car. There tiresome on the m/way though thats a fair point made above. Mines at 7300rpm at 80mph. I cant say id wanna do lots of miles.

Funny I bought first one I saw too, some 260 miles away in december! Now that was a drive to remember!

[mikeveal]

Yes, a BEC can be driven smoothly at normal road speeds.
My Skunk, 360Kgs with a R1 engine pulls from 2Krpm well enough to embarass any hot hatch. Get the revs up to 7K though and it's a different car. As quick as you will ever need for road use.
I haven't taken my baby to a track day yet. If I did, I'd expect to be passed by CEC's but becasue of driver skill, not becasue the CEC's are quicker.

A BEC will be fractionally more responsive to steering input that a CEC. This is simply because of the weight. Less weight, easier to change direction.

Finally there are some downsides to BEC ownership.
1/ Earplugs.
2/ Motorways (think 7000rpm at 80mph).
3/ Service intervals, every 2000 odd miles.
4/ Creature comforts. BEC's perform because of their low weight. Start adding windscreens, heaters etc. and proformance drops off rapidly.
5/ You might find it difficult to keep the points off your license. A BEC at 11000rpm is not exactly inconspicuous!

Hope that helps.

[Furyblade_Lee]

If you genuinly have £8K in your pocket, look the Orange R1 Fisher Fury in the classifieds. I know who originally built it, it cost a fortune and is (was last time i saw it) mint. You will not go far wrong with that car. There is a Youtube clip of it in action in the ad, awesome.

[john7]

Where in the north west are you. There use to be a kit car club meeting near Charnock Richard - Nut Crackers. I don't know if it's still going but members there may be able to answer some of you questions.

[Andy-G]

Hi I am on the Wirral, I will have to look into that meeting it would be good to see a few different types of cars at the same time. I have looked at Fury I really like it, but I think I would like to drive both a bec car and a cec before definitely deciding what type to go for. When you go to look at a kit car is it important to have someone with you who has knowledge of building one is a normal mechanic sufficient?

[Furyblade_Lee]

It helps to have somebody who knows the marque intimately. Component spec can vary wildly from car to car, even though they look similar. For instance some have very good quality suspension and brakes, some have £9.99 Spax shocks and 30 year old Escort calipers. I made that mistake when i bought my GTM Libra. Because it was preety and had a brand new top spec engine, i assumed the builder had specced the suspension and brakes to match. I had solid front metro discs FFS, it stopped fine but only once every 30 minutes. I spent about £4k upgrading it properly, should have looked at a few and spoke to the owners club first. Light weight and component spec is key on BEC's, you want good suspension and brakes to make the most of the huge performance available or you will just have a dragster not a circuit car.


I WOULD URGE YOU to visit a show like Stoneleigh in May, make the effort if you are serious. EVERY marque of kit car will be there as well as all the owners clubs. Have a look over 5 different cars of the same make, you will soon get a feel for what to look for in the good ones. If you have £8K in cash in your pocket you could come away with an absolutely cracking car. £8K is a good budget in this climate, and will bag you a decent CEC or BEC. Just do not go into buying one eyes wide shut.

[gixermark]

definately check out the spec of brakes/shocks etc to take into consideration... but don;t be put off by 'basic' ford calipers/solid disks and drum rear brakes etc... on a BEC at least.. more important to have kit that is well maintained, shocks - you more or less get what you pay for..

also look out for alloy hub carriers, uprights, decent light wheels, proper cage or RAC bar etc etc... all these things will take significant ££ to add yourself

also dcent manifold and exhausts system, air intake systems, and obviously spec and history of engine & box.. guages in dash etc etc...

a 'kit' car is exactly that - only worth the 'kit' in it..

one thing to remember is that a 'seven' will always appeal to more folk if/when you come to sell than the fury's etc too.. they are a love/hate..

Mark.