Feedback on kits (7s and twin sons of a different mother)

[kennyrayandersen]

Note to MK Indy, others:
I take it you have an Indy? I was also thinking about a seven build and that was one of the few 7s that I narrowed it down to. Seems like there a quite a few of them out there and I don't hear many complaints. You liking yours alright? Any others from the UK that are noteworthy (I'm not too hot on the Westfield -- I prefer a more traditional look. I like prospect of the MNR unit as well, but again, would prefer a more traditional look, i.e.

Caterham - no link necessary, but $$$$

Birkin - http://www.texasmotorworks7.com/ $$$

Leitch Super Sprint - http://home.earthlink.net/~earleymotorsports/ $$$

MK Indy - http://www.smartsportscars.com/mk%20sports%20cars....

Luego - http://www.luegosportscars.com/velocity.htm


Non 7's:

Fulcrum - http://web.mac.com/rawuk/iWeb/Raw/Raw%20Fulcrum.ht...

Sylva Spectre - http://www.sylva.co.uk/spectre.html (the only mid engined of the bunch -- does this not beg for a Honda Ztec?)


Since it will be primarily a road car, I'm not thinking bike engine. I'm thinking Duratec, IRS. Any feed back or comments would be appreciated.


http://www.sylva.co.uk/spectre.html

[GuinnessMK]

I have an Indy, which is great fun. Was built on a reasonably tight budget and is pretty fast. Certainly mine keeps up with 2.0 Zetec powered MNR's and Caterhams.

I think the Spectre may be my next project. I just love the look of them. But the thing that stops me using the Indy more often is the lack of weather gear. It looks like that might be even more of an issue in the Spectre.

Mike

[Chris71]

The weight is something to consider. My 1600 K-Series Caterham seems to be somewhat faster in a straight line than a mildly breathed on 2-litre Zetec Westfield, but at 518kg (wet, in full road trim with hood etc) it's the best part of 100kg lighter than some of the wide bodies I believe.

[kennyrayandersen]

Chris 71

Thats one of the reasons I'm leaning toward an Indy, a Brikin, or other smaller-sized 7. I think the MNR car is nice and all, but I actually WANT a smaller more original sized rig. Unless, of course, I'm successful running down a 595 Barchetta -- which would be lighter still. I guess I'm looking for a little feed back on how happy folks are with their cars since you guys in the UK have access to a lot more kits that we are just now starting to see Stateside.

[Jon Ison]

Kenny, MK have a distributor in the States complete with small showroom and a couple of built cars for test runs.

[Chris71]

kennyrayandersen said:

Chris 71

Thats one of the reasons I'm leaning toward an Indy, a Brikin, or other smaller-sized 7. I think the MNR car is nice and all, but I actually WANT a smaller more original sized rig. Unless, of course, I'm successful running down a 595 Barchetta -- which would be lighter still. I guess I'm looking for a little feed back on how happy folks are with their cars since you guys in the UK have access to a lot more kits that we are just now starting to see Stateside.

How about a Striker? They're often thought to be the best handling Seven, they're tiny and they're good value.

I went for a Caterham because of the ease of acquiring parts etc. and the guaranteed resale (plus I think they're the prettiest Seven), but had I gone for a different design it'd almost certainly have been a Sylva/Raw Striker.

[Stubby Pete]

Chris71 said:

How about a Striker? They're often thought to be the best handling Seven, they're tiny and they're good value.

I went for a Caterham because of the ease of acquiring parts etc. and the guaranteed resale (plus I think they're the prettiest Seven), but had I gone for a different design it'd almost certainly have been a Sylva/Raw Striker.

The windscreen on the Striker is a real put off for me, just don't like the look of the A pillar going down beyond the scuttle. Without a screen they look ok though.
As you can see from my profile, I prefer the covered wheel look though. As for weather gear, coat and helmet is all you need!!

[kennyrayandersen]

Jon Ison said:

Kenny, MK have a distributor in the States complete with small showroom and a couple of built cars for test runs.

The U.S. is pretty big. I know that sounds silly, but unless you’ve experienced it, it might not quite sink in. For instance I’m living in TX. You can start driving in the morning from one end of TX and you can drive ALL day and into the night and still be in TX! I’d have to fly out to take a look at the MKs, which I might eventually do. I have Birkin USA about 40 miles from my house, which make pretty much a S3 Caterham, and another W[orld] C[lass] M[otors], which make the S2K Honda S2000-based 7. If it weren’t for the fact that the S2K is a bit bigger and taller (not unlike the MNR rig, in fact they look surprisingly similar), I would go for it in a second. It’s a stunning performer. Ether of those would run about $30K USD – not too cheap. I think there is more 7 competition in the UK which keeps the prices a bit more ‘competitive’. I see that there are a LOT of them in the UK and a LOT of them racing successfully, which says heaps. It looks smaller than the MNR car, but it could just be the way the photography looks.

Chris71 said:

kennyrayandersen said:

Chris 71

Thats one of the reasons I'm leaning toward an Indy, a Brikin, or other smaller-sized 7. I think the MNR car is nice and all, but I actually WANT a smaller more original sized rig. Unless, of course, I'm successful running down a 595 Barchetta -- which would be lighter still. I guess I'm looking for a little feed back on how happy folks are with their cars since you guys in the UK have access to a lot more kits that we are just now starting to see Stateside.

How about a Striker? They're often thought to be the best handling Seven, they're tiny and they're good value.

I went for a Caterham because of the ease of acquiring parts etc. and the guaranteed resale (plus I think they're the prettiest Seven), but had I gone for a different design it'd almost certainly have been a Sylva/Raw Striker.

I have to say I kind of agree with Stubby Pete -- It looks pretty darn good except the crack-cocaine smoking windshield (I guess you could leave it off, or put on a Brooklands or something? Still, the Fulcrum is the same – great looking except the arse. It’s like the designer suddenly got this vision, started at the front and laid the lines down to the back, got hungry, went out for lunch, and buy the time he got back the fish and chips had gone to his head. So close… at least they are consistent!

I can’ fully understand why someone would go for a Caterham. They are nice. I can also fully understand why someone wouldn’t, cost. You do pay extra for the name, but from what I gather you are also right that they tend to be a bit better sorted out than some others.

Stubby Pete said:

Chris71 said:

How about a Striker? They're often thought to be the best handling Seven, they're tiny and they're good value.

I went for a Caterham because of the ease of acquiring parts etc. and the guaranteed resale (plus I think they're the prettiest Seven), but had I gone for a different design it'd almost certainly have been a Sylva/Raw Striker.

The windscreen on the Striker is a real put off for me, just don't like the look of the A pillar going down beyond the scuttle. Without a screen they look ok though.
As you can see from my profile, I prefer the covered wheel look though. As for weather gear, coat and helmet is all you need!!

Hmmm, covered wheel… Spectre? I really like the layout of the Mojo as well, but Dang, and no offense if you like kissing your sister, but I couldn’t be seen driving that one lol The other thing is that on this side of the pond the donor would HAVED to be a Honda V-tec. They are EVERYWHERE, and when they aren’t, they get imported from Japan as a front clip on a pallet. They are very affordable, and plentiful. The fords, on the other hand have a spotty reputation at best (except the Duratec that I have in my M3 (that’s Mazda 3!)). Give me a Spectre, LHD, and Vetech, and I think I could be persuaded.

[Jon Ison]

Spent plenty of time in the States ta, the way you guys catch internal flights thought I would just mention they are over there since you specifically mention MK.