road-going kit cars: when and where do you drive them?
Discussion
Hi, I am a newcomer to the site and I would be grateful for some informed opinion from those with experience.
I currently ride a motorcycle for fun and thrills but, after 15 years, am under increasing pressure from the Mrs. to give it up. A kit-car can be a replacement.
The problem I foresee is finding the space on the road to enjoy the cars performance. On the bike, I can work my way past traffic in convoys pretty quickly but, even in a fast kit-car, I can see it being forced to stay behind slower vehicles for miles before having an opportunity to start overtaking, because of its size (compared to a bike) and the lack of forward vision because you sit much lower than on a bike.
My question is, therefore, do you have to get up very early to get out onto quiet roads or do you drive for miles, held up by slower traffic, until you reach very quiet back roads where you can use the performance? Or, have I got it completely wrong (not yet having been in a kit-car on the road).
Billgee47.
I currently ride a motorcycle for fun and thrills but, after 15 years, am under increasing pressure from the Mrs. to give it up. A kit-car can be a replacement.
The problem I foresee is finding the space on the road to enjoy the cars performance. On the bike, I can work my way past traffic in convoys pretty quickly but, even in a fast kit-car, I can see it being forced to stay behind slower vehicles for miles before having an opportunity to start overtaking, because of its size (compared to a bike) and the lack of forward vision because you sit much lower than on a bike.
My question is, therefore, do you have to get up very early to get out onto quiet roads or do you drive for miles, held up by slower traffic, until you reach very quiet back roads where you can use the performance? Or, have I got it completely wrong (not yet having been in a kit-car on the road).
Billgee47.
billgee47 said:
My question is, therefore, do you have to get up very early to get out onto quiet roads or do you drive for miles, held up by slower traffic, until you reach very quiet back roads where you can use the performance?
Both. But if you're in the right frame of mind the typical 'Seven' type kit-car can be a very pleasant device to simply potter about in at moderate speeds, too, savouring the fresh air and sunshine.
One of the advantages of cars compared to bikes is that when you aren't able to travel at a pace that would endanger yourself or other road users, you're not sitting in black leathers and a full face helmet with your knees cramped up under your chin, feeling like a trussed-up and parboiled chicken.
It's not often you come across a kit car driver doing 30 miles an hour whilst he waggles his foot out the side of the cockpit to relieve the cramp.
ETA: Just checked your profile. Don't even get me started on the use of V6's, V8's or other boat anchors in 'Seven' type cars, but if you're planning to go down that route, you'd definitely better get used to travelling at a more relaxed pace...
Edited by Sam_68 on Tuesday 16th August 20:34
Kit cars are definitely fun to drive just like bikes are fun to ride. They are a different experience. I rode my bike every day to commute and yes you can coast past the queues in traffic and enjoy a good blast. Kit cars are the same but different, 
I use it to commute (50 miles a day) and you sometimes get stuck in traffic or behind someone, so its obviously slower than a bike, but then its either pose/stare value and "throttle blipping" fun or just a leisurely drive without the "everyone is out to kill me syndrome" of bike in traffic.
When on the country roads to be honest you just overtake slower stuff because like a bike you have the acceleration.
Mine has a 1600 engine ford X-flow and its fine for such a light car and What a sound!!! Remember Colin Chapman "performance through lack of weight".
My previous kit-car I ran for 7 years commuting and it always helped to get rid of the "work stress" so everyday was a good day. (except perhaps when it snows, then its very like a bike)
I use it to commute (50 miles a day) and you sometimes get stuck in traffic or behind someone, so its obviously slower than a bike, but then its either pose/stare value and "throttle blipping" fun or just a leisurely drive without the "everyone is out to kill me syndrome" of bike in traffic. When on the country roads to be honest you just overtake slower stuff because like a bike you have the acceleration.
Mine has a 1600 engine ford X-flow and its fine for such a light car and What a sound!!! Remember Colin Chapman "performance through lack of weight".
My previous kit-car I ran for 7 years commuting and it always helped to get rid of the "work stress" so everyday was a good day. (except perhaps when it snows, then its very like a bike)
Interesting subject.
As others have said Kit Cars can be enjoyed every day in a variety of circumstances so long as they are set up right.
I agree with the various comments to avoid Big V8'S in kit cars far too much weight at the wrong end.
A well set up Zetec Ford or Red Top Vauxhall will accelerate just as well and handle a hundred times better. And I still have a 4.2 V8 Dutton. And as I have said before it is unsafe on the road. It only goes in straight lines.
One of my pals is driving to Spain in a wide body Vindicator and will enjoy every mile and every day of the trip. He will return in the same car. He will thoroughly enjoy the return trip and bring several cases of wine back with him there is room in kit cars of this type.
I regularly drive my Midas around Devon and my Robin Hood to and from events.
Commonly exceed 200 miles in a day in my Kit Cars around Devon and Cornwall thoroughly enjoy barrelling along in the lanes, round the hills, over the moors, then stop off for lunch home for tea and seen two lots of ocean in the day. The gourmet bit probably explains my rotund appearance!!
Kit Cars are a broad church there very different cars available in every shape size and power output. What you really need to ensure is that your choice suits you and is both tractable drivable, pretty weatherproof and reasonably comfortable. To that end as a general rule I do not fit loud exhausts because they are a pain on long journeys.
Really down to what you want to achieve with a kit car.
Go for one which is properly set up not too histrionic in character and drivable. Above all drivable, Some creature comforts tend to attract SWMBO and similar characters approval. And be a much better long term vehicle.
You will really enjoy such a car. Good Luck indeed!
As others have said Kit Cars can be enjoyed every day in a variety of circumstances so long as they are set up right.
I agree with the various comments to avoid Big V8'S in kit cars far too much weight at the wrong end.
A well set up Zetec Ford or Red Top Vauxhall will accelerate just as well and handle a hundred times better. And I still have a 4.2 V8 Dutton. And as I have said before it is unsafe on the road. It only goes in straight lines.
One of my pals is driving to Spain in a wide body Vindicator and will enjoy every mile and every day of the trip. He will return in the same car. He will thoroughly enjoy the return trip and bring several cases of wine back with him there is room in kit cars of this type.
I regularly drive my Midas around Devon and my Robin Hood to and from events.
Commonly exceed 200 miles in a day in my Kit Cars around Devon and Cornwall thoroughly enjoy barrelling along in the lanes, round the hills, over the moors, then stop off for lunch home for tea and seen two lots of ocean in the day. The gourmet bit probably explains my rotund appearance!!
Kit Cars are a broad church there very different cars available in every shape size and power output. What you really need to ensure is that your choice suits you and is both tractable drivable, pretty weatherproof and reasonably comfortable. To that end as a general rule I do not fit loud exhausts because they are a pain on long journeys.
Really down to what you want to achieve with a kit car.
Go for one which is properly set up not too histrionic in character and drivable. Above all drivable, Some creature comforts tend to attract SWMBO and similar characters approval. And be a much better long term vehicle.
You will really enjoy such a car. Good Luck indeed!
I am building a sevenesque car using MX5 Turbo as a doner and already own a Quantum 2+2 RS Turbo and have owned a Robin Hood and built and used a Autotune Gemini.
I use these cars for pottering and for a little blast when the mood takes, plus track days are fun in them although I never tracked the Hood as it was not as good as it could have been.
Cheap insurance and fun what more do you want?
I use these cars for pottering and for a little blast when the mood takes, plus track days are fun in them although I never tracked the Hood as it was not as good as it could have been.
Cheap insurance and fun what more do you want?
Best thing to do is post your where about's and I'm sure there must be someone close by to give you a passenger ride in one.
You will have to decide what you want from a kit car then use this to determine the spec which would best suit you.
If you would miss your bike then I would possibly want to go bike engined car as you will still get the noise .
I like to drive mine early morning or later at night as it's quieter to enjoy but I'm happy enough to cruise away at busier time's.
You will have to decide what you want from a kit car then use this to determine the spec which would best suit you.
If you would miss your bike then I would possibly want to go bike engined car as you will still get the noise .
I like to drive mine early morning or later at night as it's quieter to enjoy but I'm happy enough to cruise away at busier time's.
when i bought mine the intention was to provide a decent driving experience that i was missing as i no longer use a car to go to work.....so teh idea was to have a toy that the Mrs and i could potter around teh countryside in and have a shandy and a bite to eat. Reality is that she hates the car and i found after a while that driving for the sake of it became a chore - ie/ to get from wher ei live to decent roads always menat doing teh same 20 minutes of so of tedium.
fortunately the one side of ownership that i hadnt thought about was 'club' life....what started off as a small group has evolved into SKCC - southern kit car club and through the loose club structure there's run outs just about every weekend across the patch. For me getting up early (ish ) and meeting up with some pals for a 'spirited' drive followed by banter over a brekkie is now a fundamental part of teh ownership experience. we get out on the roads between 6-7, earlier if we're doing a long one and blat until brekkie - after that i personally accept that teh drive home will probably be busy: horse boxes, boot fairs etc.
i know you'r in teh midlands so less easy to do, but we pop over to france a few times a year for a day or a weekend, or do a road trip. brilliant fun.
no point in getting into the CEC/BEC debate, you'll find what you wnat, but have to agree with the posts above - a decent 4 pot is teh way forward. and as for the odd slower car - well perhaps thats fate reminding us all that there are erm speed limits and sensible limits to be aware of ( plus gives a chance to shift down a gear and floor it )....
fortunately the one side of ownership that i hadnt thought about was 'club' life....what started off as a small group has evolved into SKCC - southern kit car club and through the loose club structure there's run outs just about every weekend across the patch. For me getting up early (ish ) and meeting up with some pals for a 'spirited' drive followed by banter over a brekkie is now a fundamental part of teh ownership experience. we get out on the roads between 6-7, earlier if we're doing a long one and blat until brekkie - after that i personally accept that teh drive home will probably be busy: horse boxes, boot fairs etc.
i know you'r in teh midlands so less easy to do, but we pop over to france a few times a year for a day or a weekend, or do a road trip. brilliant fun.
no point in getting into the CEC/BEC debate, you'll find what you wnat, but have to agree with the posts above - a decent 4 pot is teh way forward. and as for the odd slower car - well perhaps thats fate reminding us all that there are erm speed limits and sensible limits to be aware of ( plus gives a chance to shift down a gear and floor it )....
1600cc caterham - until you learn how to drive a car really fast & safely on the road.
2000cc Caterham after that, you'll never need any other 'fast' car.
Both of the above will sort out the fastest bike on a 7 type road - and yes it's real frustrating to get held up by a t
t on a big bike who can't ride it properly, and who's ego is toooooo big to let a car overtake him.
Hope this helps
2000cc Caterham after that, you'll never need any other 'fast' car.
Both of the above will sort out the fastest bike on a 7 type road - and yes it's real frustrating to get held up by a t
t on a big bike who can't ride it properly, and who's ego is toooooo big to let a car overtake him.Hope this helps
I go the Alps and Monte Carlo every year with AdiT, 2,500 miles in 10 days, just like one big Trackday!! :-)
But also pootle to the shops, and even loaded it up with tools once and went and installed a gas cooker when my van was in the garage.
I don't think you will be dissapointed by the performance of a fast sorted kitcar. AdiT can vouch for this , not many Superbikes get past us in the Alps... A Superbike as you know and a fast kit are 99% of the time superior to the driver/rider so they will get you safely down the road as quickly as your brain can drive. Particularly a bike-engined variant will give a biker the same kind of rush you get from a bike, even the same noises! Get yourself a ride in on ASAP. They are not for everyone, sone say they are too noisy etc but they are no harsher than a bike itself.
But also pootle to the shops, and even loaded it up with tools once and went and installed a gas cooker when my van was in the garage.
I don't think you will be dissapointed by the performance of a fast sorted kitcar. AdiT can vouch for this , not many Superbikes get past us in the Alps... A Superbike as you know and a fast kit are 99% of the time superior to the driver/rider so they will get you safely down the road as quickly as your brain can drive. Particularly a bike-engined variant will give a biker the same kind of rush you get from a bike, even the same noises! Get yourself a ride in on ASAP. They are not for everyone, sone say they are too noisy etc but they are no harsher than a bike itself.
Don't know your whereabouts but in the last two weekends I've driven my (forty year old Spitfire based) Hurricane around four hundred miles on casually picked back roads mainly between N. Wilts and High Wycombe. It's only got a mildly breathed on 1300cc but what it lacks in grunt it makes up in grip, fantastic handling and soundtrack - I regularly get held up on Stokenchurch hill behind big sports 'bikes. Doesn't matter if it's in the wet or dry either - most of the last couple of weeks driving have been top down, heater on (looked on as wussy in some kit car circles!) t-shirt weather. It's also great to just relax and enjoy, especially after a challenging section of road. You might find that you don't feel the need to overtake everything you come across - I certainly can't with mine but you'd be surprised at the fun you can have with just eighty brake horses...and it becomes more of a challenge which can sometimes be rewarding in its own way.
I can endorse most of what's said above - I have a 1660cc x-flow in a Locost, and it's heaps of fun round the Suffolk lanes and back-roads. It can out-corner most ordinary cars on the road, and out-accelerate a very large number of them. There may be better sevens out there (many!) but I get a grin just about every time I go out in it. The biggest thing about a seven is that you don't have to go silly-fast to have fun, because going round tight corners without slowing down is what they're all about. Slow drivers are rarely an obstacle as overtaking is so easy.
It has to be said though that a seven is harsh, noisy, anti-social and has little or no weather protection - pretty much like a bike!
It has to be said though that a seven is harsh, noisy, anti-social and has little or no weather protection - pretty much like a bike!
Another Libra owner here that enjoys the short morning blasts just as much as the long leisurely treks. I drove a 10 hour round trip to Goodwood for the Sunday Service meeting recently. Perfectly capable long distance cruiser and then when the twisties arrive free of traffic you can have a lot of fun.
AdiT is Adrian! He has a Fury R1 and is one of the guys who goes touring with us each year. Next year will be our 8th year several of us have toured together, various routes and in 2010 there were 16 of us down to Monte Carlo, mainly kitcars but also Clio V6 and an R1 bike and Fazer bike. It is just a bunch of mates, not an ABTA bonded holiday. Unfortunately after a few experiences travelling with complete donuts who drive dangerously and behave badly after a few too many beers we only invite people we know personally. Not being elitist but spending 10 days with people you want to beat the st out of after 3 sort of ruins the holiday!!! We trust the judgement of fellow tourers with new people they want to invite and so far so good. Its quite stressy touring and sometimes brings out bad traits in people, we do not organise the trips for profit and I guarantee NOBODY gets as much driving as cheaply as we do the way we do it, organised trips are joke in comparison. We generally to 10 days / 2,500 miles for around £1,250 including ferries, toll roads, accommodation, beer and food. And you name a road in the Alps or German Black Forest we have Probobly done it!
But we are always willing to advise or help people do their own thing with a bunch of mates, just ask!
t out of after 3 sort of ruins the holiday!!! We trust the judgement of fellow tourers with new people they want to invite and so far so good. Its quite stressy touring and sometimes brings out bad traits in people, we do not organise the trips for profit and I guarantee NOBODY gets as much driving as cheaply as we do the way we do it, organised trips are joke in comparison. We generally to 10 days / 2,500 miles for around £1,250 including ferries, toll roads, accommodation, beer and food. And you name a road in the Alps or German Black Forest we have Probobly done it!But we are always willing to advise or help people do their own thing with a bunch of mates, just ask!
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Thursday 18th August 09:36
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