LCC Rocket prices?
Discussion
carspath said:
I've never driven a Rocket , but have often wondered about the following :
1) 200 Kg less - but with such a low weight are there accompanying disadvantages ?
Yes, lack of available tyres which you can get some heat into on the road, also cross winds can be interesting but they all wanders about a bit too at higher speeds, other than that not much else!
2) The ? 11,000rpm rev limit must be a real buzz ?
Yes from 8,000 to 11,000 they just fly, if you can find one with a 6speed box even better, but they do sound better outside the car than in.
3) How reliable are Rockets ?
Like all low volume British sports cars they have their quirks, Gordons original design for the handbrake wasn't great (even geniuses get it wrong and later cars have a proper ratchet handbrake). The clutch and gearbox wasn't designed to shift that much weight so need treating with care. In nine years I broke one gearbox and blew one engine. Transaxle can be fragile as its a stressed member and can crack if rear wheels catch something at the wrong angle. Ideally better with an electric water pump upgrade too for managing engine temps. Other than that not much else to go wrong.
4) The Brooke was surprisingly comfortable - on one occasion we drove it 600 miles in one day - and although we were tired we were not battered .
The RR windscreen is much lower than the windscreen of the car currently advertised on CC , but was very effective .
( The weakest point of the KTM X-BOW RR is the in-cockpit turbulence - KTM might as well have left off the vestigial wind-deflector that they and Dallara had spent a fortune on developing )
How much turbulence is there in the Rocket's cockpit ?
Very little turbulence and very comfortable, I did many 300-400 daily road trips, the 2nd set of high ratios for cruising makes a huge difference and still unique to the Rocket I think, also plenty of space for a large soft bag in passenger seat.
1) 200 Kg less - but with such a low weight are there accompanying disadvantages ?
Yes, lack of available tyres which you can get some heat into on the road, also cross winds can be interesting but they all wanders about a bit too at higher speeds, other than that not much else!
2) The ? 11,000rpm rev limit must be a real buzz ?
Yes from 8,000 to 11,000 they just fly, if you can find one with a 6speed box even better, but they do sound better outside the car than in.
3) How reliable are Rockets ?
Like all low volume British sports cars they have their quirks, Gordons original design for the handbrake wasn't great (even geniuses get it wrong and later cars have a proper ratchet handbrake). The clutch and gearbox wasn't designed to shift that much weight so need treating with care. In nine years I broke one gearbox and blew one engine. Transaxle can be fragile as its a stressed member and can crack if rear wheels catch something at the wrong angle. Ideally better with an electric water pump upgrade too for managing engine temps. Other than that not much else to go wrong.
4) The Brooke was surprisingly comfortable - on one occasion we drove it 600 miles in one day - and although we were tired we were not battered .
The RR windscreen is much lower than the windscreen of the car currently advertised on CC , but was very effective .
( The weakest point of the KTM X-BOW RR is the in-cockpit turbulence - KTM might as well have left off the vestigial wind-deflector that they and Dallara had spent a fortune on developing )
How much turbulence is there in the Rocket's cockpit ?
Very little turbulence and very comfortable, I did many 300-400 daily road trips, the 2nd set of high ratios for cruising makes a huge difference and still unique to the Rocket I think, also plenty of space for a large soft bag in passenger seat.
Edited by carspath on Saturday 19th December 14:53
Edited by carspath on Saturday 19th December 15:21[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by Rocket. on Tuesday 22 December 22:11carspath said:
Hi again -- if you are seriously in the market for this sort of car so get a test drive in an X-BOW .
It is so solid - nothing like a Brooke , or Caterham etc .
The first time I got in one , it reminded me of a W124 Merc - in all the best ways .
And you have direct contact with the factory - in the same way you prob did with Lambo in the 1970's and Ferrari in the 1960's
The 4 cyl Audi turbo engine is very effective , but it doesnt rev to high heaven which is a drawback
Having thought about this for the past week or so and doing some research on the internet, I'm again drawn to the BAC Mono as a modern contemporary for the Rocket.It is so solid - nothing like a Brooke , or Caterham etc .
The first time I got in one , it reminded me of a W124 Merc - in all the best ways .
And you have direct contact with the factory - in the same way you prob did with Lambo in the 1970's and Ferrari in the 1960's
The 4 cyl Audi turbo engine is very effective , but it doesnt rev to high heaven which is a drawback
I suppose it eliminates the possibility for two up touring but it's design and apparent quality does make it an interesting option. I think I'd miss the chance of taking one of the kids out for a run but then, I'm not sure I'd be entirely confident of taking a child out in a Rocket, Brooke or Caterham anyway in case of an accident.
Fantastic looking thing the BAC, not sure why there doesn't seem to be more publicity around them?
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Having thought about this for the past week or so and doing some research on the internet, I'm again drawn to the BAC Mono as a modern contemporary for the Rocket.
I suppose it eliminates the possibility for two up touring but it's design and apparent quality does make it an interesting option. I think I'd miss the chance of taking one of the kids out for a run but then, I'm not sure I'd be entirely confident of taking a child out in a Rocket, Brooke or Caterham anyway in case of an accident.
Fantastic looking thing the BAC, not sure why there doesn't seem to be more publicity around them?
A BAC Mono is a good shout and I think they can be found for circa. £65k for an older one, that said I've not driven one but would imagine they offer a similar experience. I suppose it eliminates the possibility for two up touring but it's design and apparent quality does make it an interesting option. I think I'd miss the chance of taking one of the kids out for a run but then, I'm not sure I'd be entirely confident of taking a child out in a Rocket, Brooke or Caterham anyway in case of an accident.
Fantastic looking thing the BAC, not sure why there doesn't seem to be more publicity around them?
When I sold my Rocket in 2016 I went in search of a cheaper alternative, an R500 Caterham or Lotus 2-11 were on my shopping list. I had my head turned by a recently rebuilt and converted high spec S1 Elise fitted with a SC/CC Honda K20 and about 370hp. When it worked it was fun but that wasnt too often and I soon tired of it so moved it on. With hindsight should have bought the 2-11.
Alipapa said:
Still haven't seen one on the market for the pass 12 months
I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news for you Alipapa, but….https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
Timer said:
I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news for you Alipapa, but….
https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
That’s just silly. https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
Timer said:
I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news for you Alipapa, but….
https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
wow !https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
prices have, err, rocketed
andrew said:
Timer said:
I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news for you Alipapa, but….
https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
wow !https://www.hbiauto.com/vehicle-details/used-1996-...
prices have, err, rocketed
I note that this one is "Signed by Gordon Murray".
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 8th November 14:12
carspath said:
Re the Red Brooke 260 RR ...... that was my car for almost 9 years .
It was the Brooke prototype car that was tested by all the mags .
I was it’s first private owner and bought it dorectly from Brooke in 2007 , but had to wait until 2008 for delivery as it was the only car they had and they needed it for promotional purposes .
Before I took delivery , I asked Brooke to strip it down completely , refurbish the suspension , change the clutch , fit a secondary cooling system so that I could use it in Southern Europe in the summer , and had the body repainted .
I have see it all over the continent .. and it was a joyous thing when it worked .
It’s acceleration and braking was phenomenal... the perception prob heightened by the lack of a windscreen
It was not an entirely trouble free experience , but after thousands of miles it left my hands in pretty immaculate condition .
The only reason that I sold it was to get a KTM X BOW R ( Google. 9781787114333 for a photo ) .. an entirely different experience in some ways , but very similar in others .
There is something v special about lightweight windscreenless cars
In many ways they give an adrenaline shot that conventional wide supercars find difficult to deliver in the real world
The poor Brook then went on to 2 other owners , who may have been less than kind to it , but happily it is now back in the hands of a real enthusiast who is spending loads of time and money restoring it .
I think that it will be back to better than new by the time he has finished restoring it .
Thank you Path. I still have your Brooke. I have been testing suspension settings recently. Drove about 40 miles in the sunshine today. Wonderful and still a lot of fun to have no roof and all that sound. It was the Brooke prototype car that was tested by all the mags .
I was it’s first private owner and bought it dorectly from Brooke in 2007 , but had to wait until 2008 for delivery as it was the only car they had and they needed it for promotional purposes .
Before I took delivery , I asked Brooke to strip it down completely , refurbish the suspension , change the clutch , fit a secondary cooling system so that I could use it in Southern Europe in the summer , and had the body repainted .
I have see it all over the continent .. and it was a joyous thing when it worked .
It’s acceleration and braking was phenomenal... the perception prob heightened by the lack of a windscreen
It was not an entirely trouble free experience , but after thousands of miles it left my hands in pretty immaculate condition .
The only reason that I sold it was to get a KTM X BOW R ( Google. 9781787114333 for a photo ) .. an entirely different experience in some ways , but very similar in others .
There is something v special about lightweight windscreenless cars
In many ways they give an adrenaline shot that conventional wide supercars find difficult to deliver in the real world
The poor Brook then went on to 2 other owners , who may have been less than kind to it , but happily it is now back in the hands of a real enthusiast who is spending loads of time and money restoring it .
I think that it will be back to better than new by the time he has finished restoring it .
Hi Rich ,
Great to hear from you again and I am delighted that the prototype Brooke has found such a caring and dedicated owner .
That car's acceleration is genuinely brain-warping , and made more so by the lack of a windscreen .
Wheel-spin in 5th gear in the dry , while well into 3 figures , has to be experienced to be believed .
Happy , happy memories .
Last year I reset the bound and rebound settings on my KTM X-BOW R to pretty much their softest settings and the car is now hugely more drivable ( I only use it on road and not on track ) .
I am sure that your experimentation will deliver similar dividends .
Take care and Best wishes
Carspath
Great to hear from you again and I am delighted that the prototype Brooke has found such a caring and dedicated owner .
That car's acceleration is genuinely brain-warping , and made more so by the lack of a windscreen .
Wheel-spin in 5th gear in the dry , while well into 3 figures , has to be experienced to be believed .
Happy , happy memories .
Last year I reset the bound and rebound settings on my KTM X-BOW R to pretty much their softest settings and the car is now hugely more drivable ( I only use it on road and not on track ) .
I am sure that your experimentation will deliver similar dividends .
Take care and Best wishes
Carspath
Quick update.
I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
GetCarter said:
Quick update.
I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
when when when ???I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
andrew said:
GetCarter said:
Quick update.
I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
when when when ???I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
GetCarter said:
andrew said:
GetCarter said:
Quick update.
I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
when when when ???I spent yesterday with GM and, as you may know, he's sold a lot of his company (inc the iStream stuff) but he's kept the '"fun stuff" - Probably under the name GMSV (specialised vehicles).
One of the things he really wants to do is a new version of the Rocket. Watch this space.
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