Your advice on kit cars please. I need help..
Discussion
Morning all.
I could really use some advice please.
I'm in a little bit of a predicament, I'm a huge fun of tracks days and have been taking part for sometime. It's got to the stage where I want to step it up a notch. Currently, I am tracking one of my current road cars which is a 997 C2 S. As much as I love using it, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's really not an ideal choice for someone who wants to get pretty serious about it.
OK, so I've been going through all the options from a 5k starter (e36 M3 etc) to a 240 Ariel atom, and now for the last few weeks I've been looking at kit cars like the MK Indy and of course Caterhams.
I don't want to spend a fortune as if I crash it I don't want huge bills, I would like an element of reliability - doesn't have to be great, but I really can't be bothered with heavily modified turbo like reliability. Must have epic handling, speed and something that overall gives you serious bang for your bucks and puts you right in amongst the elements. I will be buying a trailer but would still like to have the occasional summertime outing on the roads.
So far, I have been seriously drawn to the R1 MK Indy or the Westfield Megabusa. As an example, I really like this and I would say for my purposes it's slightly over the top of what I want to spend.
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
J
I could really use some advice please.
I'm in a little bit of a predicament, I'm a huge fun of tracks days and have been taking part for sometime. It's got to the stage where I want to step it up a notch. Currently, I am tracking one of my current road cars which is a 997 C2 S. As much as I love using it, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's really not an ideal choice for someone who wants to get pretty serious about it.
OK, so I've been going through all the options from a 5k starter (e36 M3 etc) to a 240 Ariel atom, and now for the last few weeks I've been looking at kit cars like the MK Indy and of course Caterhams.
I don't want to spend a fortune as if I crash it I don't want huge bills, I would like an element of reliability - doesn't have to be great, but I really can't be bothered with heavily modified turbo like reliability. Must have epic handling, speed and something that overall gives you serious bang for your bucks and puts you right in amongst the elements. I will be buying a trailer but would still like to have the occasional summertime outing on the roads.
So far, I have been seriously drawn to the R1 MK Indy or the Westfield Megabusa. As an example, I really like this and I would say for my purposes it's slightly over the top of what I want to spend.
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
J
Edited by HonahonT350 on Tuesday 4th December 08:46
Heatherj said:
Is this something I will need to fiddle with as that's just not for me? looking to get in a go, any problems and it's to a garage. If you are considering something bike-engined and can get up to me near Oxted I will take you out in my R1 Phoenix which I use for sprinting. You will know within 10 minutes if you live with a bike-engined car ( BEC ) , you will either have a) a stupid grin visible from outside the crash helmet asking me where you csn buy one, or b) be crying about the noise, gearbox, lack of torque, power delivery, not very fast,
unsuitable for the road blah blah blah which apparently some people do.
Although I have not met one who stepped out of mine in 9 years!
unsuitable for the road blah blah blah which apparently some people do.
Although I have not met one who stepped out of mine in 9 years!
Although if you want hassle free and a garage who will no quibble look after it for you then I would point you straight towards Caterham Cars and a decent 7, although you will probobly need at least £12k private sale to get a "quick" one you'd be happy with on track. £20k is better though...
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Tuesday 4th December 13:57
I think if your already into track days bike engine is the way to go, its definitely the most fun i've ever had on the track....
although if you wanted something that shouldn't need to much messing with I would look at a decent fuel injected car engine,
as long as you find a sorted car and maintain it properly what ever engine/spec you choose it shouldn't be unreliable, there is a few choices about but I can't see you going wrong with MK/Westfield
although if you wanted something that shouldn't need to much messing with I would look at a decent fuel injected car engine,
as long as you find a sorted car and maintain it properly what ever engine/spec you choose it shouldn't be unreliable, there is a few choices about but I can't see you going wrong with MK/Westfield
I've got a Zetec engined Westfield (widebodied), 45 Dellortos (approx 180bhp) Cosworth MT75 box, Cosworth diff, RAC roll cage, Brake bias valve, TRS Harnesses, Intertrim seats, OZ wheels with Toyo r888s. Yours for £10,750 (half the price of an R300 Caterham!) If I wanted to sell it! 
Very capable on track and loads of fun on the road too. BEC cars are fine but from my experience are hateful on the road and just dont have the torque I'd like from a car. (Bike engines are for bikes IMO!) The thing with kits is that its all about the build and the parts used. If you want a car purely for the track then it doesnt matter what it looks like, it's how it drives... personally I like a good looking car whether its for track or road!
Here's my westy!
Very capable on track and loads of fun on the road too. BEC cars are fine but from my experience are hateful on the road and just dont have the torque I'd like from a car. (Bike engines are for bikes IMO!) The thing with kits is that its all about the build and the parts used. If you want a car purely for the track then it doesnt matter what it looks like, it's how it drives... personally I like a good looking car whether its for track or road!Here's my westy!
Furyblade_Lee said:
Although if you want hassle free and a garage who will no quibble look after it for you then I would point you straight towards Caterham Cars and a decent 7, although you will probobly need at least £12k private sale to get a "quick" one you'd be happy with on track. £20k is better though...
I agree with Lee; for the most involvement, you will need to keep the weight down to 500Kgs. The sheer nimbleness of a properly set up lightweight is what makes the grin.Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Tuesday 4th December 13:57
I would think that it might be worth you thinking about what garage you would use to maintain the car, and get something that they are familiar with working on and setting up. There are specialists in running track day cars for customers, and it would be worth seeking out someone in your area and asking what they are experienced in supporting. (provided it's under 500Kg!)
Don't dismiss a CEC Westfield until you have been in one. I have been a passenger in some very quick cars in my time, however, a Duratec engined Westfield that I was in stands out. We were at a sprint/handling circuit and this car was out on track pretty much all day soaking up all the abuse that could be thrown its way and coming back for more. As for speed, well all I can say is have you ever been in a car that when accelerating turns your stomach over like a hump back bridge?
If youre into track days is there any way to blah a ride in any cars that match your spec? That way you can at least create a short list. Oh and for personal preference I would look at cars with a full roll cage as the added sense (and reality) of safety can make it easier to chuck into a corner when you don't know for certain if you're going to come out the other side facing the same way!
If youre into track days is there any way to blah a ride in any cars that match your spec? That way you can at least create a short list. Oh and for personal preference I would look at cars with a full roll cage as the added sense (and reality) of safety can make it easier to chuck into a corner when you don't know for certain if you're going to come out the other side facing the same way!
I was in a similar boat having a couple of fast road cars. I tracked one of them and decided the following:
A. I couldn't really enjoy myself as I didn't fancy wrapping £60k round a barrier
B. it ate tyres and brakes
So I went out and bought an MK Indy R R1. Apart from the fad that I would mind less if I destroyed it and it is cheap as chips to track its way more fun. The fact that its raw, direct and pure out in the open makes it for me. It also corners like nothing else I own.
Just make sure the engine (and car generally) is track ready (baffled etc). I didn't and blew and engine. New engine, full track prep and its spot on now. Not all BECs have been built with track in mind.
Here she is.....
At home
at cadwell pre lightweight wheels and semi slicks
I also trailer mine to circuits by the way. Virtually an identical situation to you. Final word from me on bike engined cars....corners. Simple as that. I spend most track days thinking, "jeez, I can't believe it went that quickly round that corner AND it feels like it can go faster" which means I spend most trackdays adding a it more speed on certain corners. My favourite game of the year.
A. I couldn't really enjoy myself as I didn't fancy wrapping £60k round a barrier
B. it ate tyres and brakes
So I went out and bought an MK Indy R R1. Apart from the fad that I would mind less if I destroyed it and it is cheap as chips to track its way more fun. The fact that its raw, direct and pure out in the open makes it for me. It also corners like nothing else I own.
Just make sure the engine (and car generally) is track ready (baffled etc). I didn't and blew and engine. New engine, full track prep and its spot on now. Not all BECs have been built with track in mind.
Here she is.....
At home
at cadwell pre lightweight wheels and semi slicks
I also trailer mine to circuits by the way. Virtually an identical situation to you. Final word from me on bike engined cars....corners. Simple as that. I spend most track days thinking, "jeez, I can't believe it went that quickly round that corner AND it feels like it can go faster" which means I spend most trackdays adding a it more speed on certain corners. My favourite game of the year.
Edited by _Leg_ on Wednesday 19th December 08:40
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