anyone own a GTM Libra?
Discussion
Been looking at these and i think they look like a possible excelled daily driver, should be cheap to run and insure, 1.8 vvc or similar should be ok on fuel and offer very good performance sub 6 sec to 60. Anyone run one of these and if so how reliable has it been anyone done one as your daily? I hear they have reasonable boot space for mid engined car, they also look fantastic most people will think it costs 5 times as much and will surprise a few people.
Any advice welcome
Any advice welcome
Somnophore said:
Been looking at these and i think they look like a possible excelled daily driver, should be cheap to run and insure, 1.8 vvc or similar should be ok on fuel and offer very good performance sub 6 sec to 60. Anyone run one of these and if so how reliable has it been anyone done one as your daily? I hear they have reasonable boot space for mid engined car, they also look fantastic most people will think it costs 5 times as much and will surprise a few people.
Any advice welcome
You'll probably get more replies in the kit car forum. I don't have one sadly so can't add owner experience. But I too think they'd make a great daily. Build quality will be down to who built it. But as it is made up of mainstream off the shelf parts (very similar to an S1 Elise). There's no reason why it shouldn't be reliable or cheap and easy to maintain.Any advice welcome
Can be used as a daily. I drove mine to work this morning, I don't always but can if I fancy a drive. Mines got a c/r box and light flywheel though so it is slightly easier to stall in traffic but no biggie.
I'm only 20 and I insured it at 19... but the insurance is cheaper than I was paying on a 1.6 Stilo. I'm with Adrian Flux, cheapest I could find. Get a quote off the net.
In terms of comparing to an Elise. A VVC Libra which most of them are will beat a Elise S1 to 60. I think the performance is more comparable to a 111s 160 Elise. Elise a tad sharper in the handling department from what I hear, but a well set up Libra won't have any trouble keeping up. I think my car is probably not much over 5secs to 60 currently. Never timed it though.
Depends what you want but it gets a lot of attention too, more than an Elise I would imagine.. no one knows what it is! Though, it can get a bit tiring explaining what it is to people all the time. But that's what you get for owning a rare car.
Practicality, I'll stick my neck on the block and say that it's more practical than an Elise. Just because theres more room, I've been camping in mine with all my gear in the boot and theres quite a lot of space behind the seats. Headroom is fine too, I'm 6ft2 and no issues. People have passed comment that it is a small car. But what they are missing is that it is a very well packaged car. Oh and parts are cheap and readily available and with the right headgasket and thermostat the K series engine won't give any trouble.
Now, refinement - all down to the builder... so no comment
Anything else?
Oh and I got your email, I live and work in Manchester so it'll have been me you saw.
I'm only 20 and I insured it at 19... but the insurance is cheaper than I was paying on a 1.6 Stilo. I'm with Adrian Flux, cheapest I could find. Get a quote off the net.
In terms of comparing to an Elise. A VVC Libra which most of them are will beat a Elise S1 to 60. I think the performance is more comparable to a 111s 160 Elise. Elise a tad sharper in the handling department from what I hear, but a well set up Libra won't have any trouble keeping up. I think my car is probably not much over 5secs to 60 currently. Never timed it though.
Depends what you want but it gets a lot of attention too, more than an Elise I would imagine.. no one knows what it is! Though, it can get a bit tiring explaining what it is to people all the time. But that's what you get for owning a rare car.
Practicality, I'll stick my neck on the block and say that it's more practical than an Elise. Just because theres more room, I've been camping in mine with all my gear in the boot and theres quite a lot of space behind the seats. Headroom is fine too, I'm 6ft2 and no issues. People have passed comment that it is a small car. But what they are missing is that it is a very well packaged car. Oh and parts are cheap and readily available and with the right headgasket and thermostat the K series engine won't give any trouble.
Now, refinement - all down to the builder... so no comment
Anything else?
Oh and I got your email, I live and work in Manchester so it'll have been me you saw.
Edited by yazza54 on Friday 23 July 09:08
sday12 said:
yazza54 said:
sday12 said:
300bhp/ton said:
[Stuff about GTM Libra
Shouldn't you be on the MGF thread? 
Edited by yazza54 on Friday 23 July 11:21
sday12 said:
yazza54 said:
sday12 said:
300bhp/ton said:
[Stuff about GTM Libra
Shouldn't you be on the MGF thread? Hence all the BS about the MGF's is really and truly BS as many of the same people then love the same components when used in other cars.... 
Libra is way cool in book though. But I see 2 main reasons for buying one over an Elise:
-To build it yourself for fun
-Because it'll be a lot cheaper to insure
Other secondary reasons would be:
-exclusivity
-They are still awesome looking, high performing sports car
-Prices can be good on them for the age of vehicle
In short. I'd seriously consider one, should I be wanting a car like this.
300bhp/ton said:
sday12 said:
yazza54 said:
sday12 said:
300bhp/ton said:
[Stuff about GTM Libra
Shouldn't you be on the MGF thread? Hence all the BS about the MGF's is really and truly BS as many of the same people then love the same components when used in other cars.... Libra is way cool in book though. But I see 2 main reasons for buying one over an Elise:
-To build it yourself for fun
-Because it'll be a lot cheaper to insure
Other secondary reasons would be:
-exclusivity
-They are still awesome looking, high performing sports car
-Prices can be good on them for the age of vehicle
In short. I'd seriously consider one, should I be wanting a car like this.
Mine certainly wasnt crude, full grey Alcantara and Red Recaro seats from an Integra Type R. Lamborghini pearescent yellow paint too. Performance wise they are lighter than an equivalent Elise unless built with tonnes of sound deadening and needless crap like central locking ect. Every Libra is different. . My VVC car made 172 bhp and weighed 780kgs with 1/2 tank of fuel and decent stereo. Was not as easy to drive as an Elise, much more oversteery and had roll-oversteer, but i did loads of trackdays in it with Lotus-on-track. Would do Brands Indy circuit in about 57.5 seconds, which is not bad for a comfy road car with me at the wheel. I toured Europe in it too, would have been a great daily for me if i could have fitted all my tools in it! I loved mine, but given the choice Elise v Libra I'd go Libra as a funky road car no question, Elise if you wanted to do anything more than the occasional trackday. 
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mine certainly wasnt crude, full grey Alcantara and Red Recaro seats from an Integra Type R. Lamborghini pearescent yellow paint too. Performance wise they are lighter than an equivalent Elise unless built with tonnes of sound deadening and needless crap like central locking ect. Every Libra is different. . My VVC car made 172 bhp and weighed 780kgs with 1/2 tank of fuel and decent stereo. Was not as easy to drive as an Elise, much more oversteery and had roll-oversteer, but i did loads of trackdays in it with Lotus-on-track. Would do Brands Indy circuit in about 57.5 seconds, which is not bad for a comfy road car with me at the wheel. I toured Europe in it too, would have been a great daily for me if i could have fitted all my tools in it! I loved mine, but given the choice Elise v Libra I'd go Libra as a funky road car no question, Elise if you wanted to do anything more than the occasional trackday.
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