Which CEC for maximum speed & reliability
Discussion
I'm in a predicament. Last year I rented an Ariel Atom for a track day and fell in love with the speed and 'openness' (??) of the experience.
I was banned from super bikes with the birth of our first daughter, so it was the closest feeling I have since experienced. I know have a commuter car and getting the typical itchy feet. I could probably get around 20,000 for my car, so I'm leaning towards a 5k commuter car and a 15k toy.
I would still want to use the car around once a week for the commute (30m roundtrip) and for small trips here and there and of course track days - so it will be used. Importantly though I'm looking for something that will make me laugh out loud on acceleration so has to be very quick. I also have very, very limited mechanical skills and no real tools.
So I've been doing the normal piston heads thing of flicking through the classifieds trying to figure out 1) what is well screwed together, 2) ridiculously quick and 3) can be used for my needs - i.e. used often and not always garaged.
I've seen a few V8 engined cars which sound nice! Also a few MK turbo'd cars. Whether these are bang for your buck I don't know, so thought I would post up to you knowledgable folks to hopefully point me in the right direction, even if that is 'don't touch one if you can't fix it'.
Thanks!
I was banned from super bikes with the birth of our first daughter, so it was the closest feeling I have since experienced. I know have a commuter car and getting the typical itchy feet. I could probably get around 20,000 for my car, so I'm leaning towards a 5k commuter car and a 15k toy.
I would still want to use the car around once a week for the commute (30m roundtrip) and for small trips here and there and of course track days - so it will be used. Importantly though I'm looking for something that will make me laugh out loud on acceleration so has to be very quick. I also have very, very limited mechanical skills and no real tools.
So I've been doing the normal piston heads thing of flicking through the classifieds trying to figure out 1) what is well screwed together, 2) ridiculously quick and 3) can be used for my needs - i.e. used often and not always garaged.
I've seen a few V8 engined cars which sound nice! Also a few MK turbo'd cars. Whether these are bang for your buck I don't know, so thought I would post up to you knowledgable folks to hopefully point me in the right direction, even if that is 'don't touch one if you can't fix it'.
Thanks!
A left-field suggestion: I had to sell my BEC after my Son was born as we needed a practical family car.
After I'd sold it I realised I missed it too much, but another was out of the question as I needed something fun but that had a little more practicality than the Westy. Roof and ability to fit a child-seat.
Faced with a similar decision, I ended up going from a Westy BEC to a Evo VII RS. It's the closest I've found to the Westy in terms of 'fizz'. No sound deadening, very twitchy, brutal - even in kit car terms - acceleration, and yet supremely practical. Even compared to an Elise it feels extreme.
I appreciate it's not wind in the hair motoring, but I would try one as a left-field option. It's not as a good as KC in terms of handling, but it gets closer than anything with 4 doors and a roof has any right to.
Even EVO likened it to a 4 door Caterham R500.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/3...
After I'd sold it I realised I missed it too much, but another was out of the question as I needed something fun but that had a little more practicality than the Westy. Roof and ability to fit a child-seat.
Faced with a similar decision, I ended up going from a Westy BEC to a Evo VII RS. It's the closest I've found to the Westy in terms of 'fizz'. No sound deadening, very twitchy, brutal - even in kit car terms - acceleration, and yet supremely practical. Even compared to an Elise it feels extreme.
I appreciate it's not wind in the hair motoring, but I would try one as a left-field option. It's not as a good as KC in terms of handling, but it gets closer than anything with 4 doors and a roof has any right to.
Even EVO likened it to a 4 door Caterham R500.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/3...
rhinochopig said:
A left-field suggestion: I had to sell my BEC after my Son was born as we needed a practical family car.
After I'd sold it I realised I missed it too much, but another was out of the question as I needed something fun but that had a little more practicality than the Westy. Roof and ability to fit a child-seat.
Faced with a similar decision, I ended up going from a Westy BEC to a Evo VII RS. It's the closest I've found to the Westy in terms of 'fizz'. No sound deadening, very twitchy, brutal - even in kit car terms - acceleration, and yet supremely practical. Even compared to an Elise it feels extreme.
I appreciate it's not wind in the hair motoring, but I would try one as a left-field option. It's not as a good as KC in terms of handling, but it gets closer than anything with 4 doors and a roof has any right to.
Even EVO likened it to a 4 door Caterham R500.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/3...
Certainly an interesting idea - though can't seem to find any for sale! After I'd sold it I realised I missed it too much, but another was out of the question as I needed something fun but that had a little more practicality than the Westy. Roof and ability to fit a child-seat.
Faced with a similar decision, I ended up going from a Westy BEC to a Evo VII RS. It's the closest I've found to the Westy in terms of 'fizz'. No sound deadening, very twitchy, brutal - even in kit car terms - acceleration, and yet supremely practical. Even compared to an Elise it feels extreme.
I appreciate it's not wind in the hair motoring, but I would try one as a left-field option. It's not as a good as KC in terms of handling, but it gets closer than anything with 4 doors and a roof has any right to.
Even EVO likened it to a 4 door Caterham R500.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/3...
Trixman said:
Certainly an interesting idea - though can't seem to find any for sale!
The VIIRS, VIIIRS, and IXGT and RS models are essentially the same as the sprint so look for these. The sprint was a UK specific model, which was based on the RS; effectively the Grp-N motorsport version. The sprint added the GSR interior (Recaro) slightly higher boost and rod bolts, and that's about it. But most RS models are fitted with the GSR interiors these days, and have some level of mods from mild to wild anyway.
Mine for example has raised boost, GSR interior, uprated pads and discs, Grp-N diff controller, and EXE-TC suspension. It compares well with my old BEC in terms of b-road performance.
Check the MLR (Owners club) as there are always a few RS and GT models for sale.
jason61c said:
Though again can't find one to buy, I remember contacting GKD when they first launched as I did like the idea of BMW power plant. Still appeals actually if I could get the M3 engine in there on budget, but doubt I could at 15k or less.Surprised this hasn't come up: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3914947.htm
Can't imagine you'll get much quicker for less, seems like an awful lot of metal for under £10K.
ETA: sorry, just noticed 'reliability' in the title.
Can't imagine you'll get much quicker for less, seems like an awful lot of metal for under £10K.
ETA: sorry, just noticed 'reliability' in the title.
I know an R300 which sold for £15k. Just dont look at the Caterham dealrships. I have 2 friends considering selling up, one a Kawasaki green Superlight R tuned to 200 bhp for £16k and another a similar car but highly modded with genuine carbon rear tub and 210bhp. Thats nearer £20k, but I am sure in the autumn private sale a superlight R or R300 should be be do-abl for £15k.
jason61c said:
Trixman said:
Really???? Their site says from around 12 for the normal one plus you have to donate a lot of the parts?
You'd have to shop around but yes, £12k for a decent spec, with handling and power to match ANY seven style car.
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