RE: Driven: BAC Mono

[Ultrasound]

otolith said:

Gizmo! said:

alexpa said:

Not if it was like the light car company rocket or yamaha ox99-11

I really do like the look of the mono!

Does anyone know what happened to the Rocket? I remember reading about that in maybe 1992...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...

Funnily enought the sitting in the middle bit is one of the best things, of many very, very good things. Easy to imagine yourself in a little racing car.


The Mono seems really nice (with the exception of the daft steering wheel).

N/A and about 500bhp/tonne, does anyone really need any more shove?

[Streetrod]

I have been following this car for a while and saw it for the first time in the flesh as the FOS. I must have spent an hour crawling all over it much to the amusement of the young lady who was guarding it.

And I have to say I had a similar feeling I had when I first had time to look at a McLaren F1 for the first time. The sheer engineering excellence is just so off the scale, that I knew instantly that is was going to be a brilliant drive. Everything from the quality of the welding to the milled brackets and the cool as ice suspension just pushed all my geek buttons.

The fact that it is a single seater just adds to the appeal. I have never felt comfortable driving fast with a passenger just as I have never liked being a passenger in a car that is being driving fast. If I am every unlucky enough to have an encounter with the scenery I would rather not take anyone with me.

I predict this car will sell very well and will also retain its value. Totally brilliant

[GroundEffect]

Or you could buy a used F3 car for £20k ish and have even more real thrills. Or £10k for a Formula Renault.

I like it, but it's too compromised for me.

[Daisy Duke]

GroundEffect said:

Or you could buy a used F3 car for £20k ish and have even more real thrills. Or £10k for a Formula Renault.

I like it, but it's too compromised for me.

Regardless of how good the car might be (and I'd still have concerns due to it breaking at CPOP), I can't see that many people spending that much on a single seat toy when they could get a really good bike for <₤10k if they want to have some selfish fun around the lanes. It won't be much use to a lot of people who enjoy giving rides at charity events either, where atoms, crossbows etc are immensely popular. Additionally, relying as it does on having a great PtW ratio, surely it's no good for the majority of PHers who are 'powerfully built'.

[otolith]

Daisy Duke said:

I can't see that many people spending that much on a single seat toy when they could get a really good bike for <₤10k if they want to have some selfish fun around the lanes.

Not everyone likes bikes. I could afford a 10k bike, but I don't have one or want one. If I could afford this, I'd be getting my name down right now.

[pSynrg]

This is my new fave car ever!

[bromers2]

On the 5th picture - ride height looks quite tall ?

Power to weight of 520/kg - drops to just over 400 with person and fluids.

£70k - still a lot of money v Atom and KTM.

[BigBen]

otolith said:

Daisy Duke said:

I can't see that many people spending that much on a single seat toy when they could get a really good bike for <₤10k if they want to have some selfish fun around the lanes.

Not everyone likes bikes. I could afford a 10k bike, but I don't have one or want one. If I could afford this, I'd be getting my name down right now.

Exactly that ^

[Daisy Duke]

otolith said:

Daisy Duke said:

I can't see that many people spending that much on a single seat toy when they could get a really good bike for <₤10k if they want to have some selfish fun around the lanes.

Not everyone likes bikes. I could afford a 10k bike, but I don't have one or want one. If I could afford this, I'd be getting my name down right now.

I only brought it up because Schnellmann posted this

Schnellmann said:

These types of car often seem more like 4-wheeled motorbikes so I don't see a problem with just one seat. At the price they are asking I assume most buyers will have other cars in their garage in case they need to take passengers.

and thought I'd point out that bikers could get their fun for an eighth of the price of one of these. I'm just trying to work out who these are really aimed at as most people I know who could afford such a toy (and are petrolheads) either have a track day special or racecar for their solo driving fun. I just think the Venn diagram of those !like bikes yet have ₤80k to spend on a single seat toy but don't already have a race/track car can't be large, - and that's coming from someone who had to persuade their OH that a Caparo wasn't a good idea!

[otolith]

That's fair enough, but the reason I'm not interested in motorbikes isn't the lack of seating, it's the lack of wheels. The passenger seat of my Elise has only been used four times in over two years. So something that does what a motorbike does, in terms of fun, performance and selfishness but which happens not to be a motorbike is perfect. If I were looking at spending 70k on replacing the Elise, the main advantage in trading up to a 911 or Evora would be that they are much better than an Elise at doing the kind of stuff we use my wife's 350Z for. This looks like something much better than an Elise at the kind of stuff I use my Elise for. For those who park their car at Canary Wharf five days a week, this car wouldn't make much sense, but even those cars which are great daily drivers don't all get used that way. I've a friend with a brand new 911 who won't take it to work for fear of creating resentment amongst the permies.

This looks a much more resolved and usable road car than the recent Radical-with-numberplates, which is what makes it more interesting than the option of a conventional single seater and a trailer.

[Justices]

GroundEffect said:

Or you could buy a used F3 car for £20k ish and have even more real thrills. Or £10k for a Formula Renault.

I like it, but it's too compromised for me.

Wouldn't fancy your chances on the road with either of these though

[JamesRobertson]

What about the caparo T1? Surely it would deliver a similar level of enjoyment if not surpass the level set by the mono? It may be a tich more expensive, at £270,000, but look at it...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2788350.htm

[militantmandy]

JamesRobertson said:

What about the caparo T1? Surely it would deliver a similar level of enjoyment if not surpass the level set by the mono? It may be a tich more expensive, at £270,000, but look at it...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2788350.htm

200k more and would be a lot less fun on bumpy roads I'd imagine. Also, may set you on fire.

[JamesRobertson]

militantmandy said:

JamesRobertson said:

What about the caparo T1? Surely it would deliver a similar level of enjoyment if not surpass the level set by the mono? It may be a tich more expensive, at £270,000, but look at it...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2788350.htm

200k more and would be a lot less fun on bumpy roads I'd imagine. Also, may set you on fire.

Haha, I didnt think anyone would remember that far back, so it may have caught fire a little bit but it still looks like great fun. I recon it would slaughter the mono round a track aswell.

[otolith]

JamesRobertson said:

Haha, I didnt think anyone would remember that far back, so it may have caught fire a little bit but it still looks like great fun. I recon it would slaughter the mono round a track aswell.

I'd be bloody miffed if it didn't, for nearly four times the price!

[DS240]

From the first pic I saw of this, I loved it. Glad it has turned out to be great to drive.

This an occasional toy. You have to forget usual considerations if buying one. This is a car to enjoy, in addition to something a bit more sensible in the garage.

(perfect garage- 5 series/e-class for sensible times, boxster spyder/carrera s for sports car fun with comfort and the mono for full on fun and track days.) all for the cost of the least expensive new Ferrari - bargain!

If I had the cash to buy one of these, I wouldn't hesitate. Also think, that like the atom, it would not lose much money.

Pointless comparing this to a caparo. Totally different goals, price point. The mono looks much much better though.

[Schnellmann]

Daisy Duke said:

and thought I'd point out that bikers could get their fun for an eighth of the price of one of these. I'm just trying to work out who these are really aimed at as most people I know who could afford such a toy (and are petrolheads) either have a track day special or racecar for their solo driving fun. I just think the Venn diagram of those !like bikes yet have ₤80k to spend on a single seat toy but don't already have a race/track car can't be large, - and that's coming from someone who had to persuade their OH that a Caparo wasn't a good idea!

There are other costs associated with bikes beyond the initial purchase price...namely the very real risk of death or permanent injury (I speak from personal experience). A car that can be used on both track and road (which you can't do with a single-seater race car) and one that offers similar thrills to a fast bike (although I've yet to drive a car, however quick, that gives that pure rush and satisfaction from riding) is appealing. At least to me!

[Dagnut]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1PK0hVGGg4&fea...
Someone needs to give Suttters a job on TV

[Johnny997gt2]

NicePlaceToBe said:

Wow - sounds amazing. Anyone know the story behind Briggs and BAC?

all I can say is Neil and Ian Briggs are the hardest working, committed, passionate and dedicated people I have ever met. Throw into the mix the fact that these guys are really nice chaps who've been ballsy enough to give up their very successful careers, remortgage their homes and start Briggs Automotive Company and then spend 4 years developing a car that the mainstream manufacturers have neither dared nor had the forsight to design...... I could go on

I am a Briggs family fan .... Only just met Neil and Ian for the first time 6 months ago

[Johnny997gt2]

I would also like to point out that Neil and Ian are great hosts. I arrived at Goodwood without an invitation. I just turned up. They put me up in their luxury motorhome and didn't even make a fuss when I kept them awake all night snoring .....