Newbie seeking help..

[astradel]

Hi everyone. I'm looking to buy my first kit car soon and would be grateful for any feedback (price, spec. known problems etc) regarding the two cars in the following links;

http://www.sovereigncarsales.co.uk/Classic_gridpos...

http://www.sovereigncarsales.co.uk/Replicas_gridpo...

Many thanks

[ugg10]

As with all kit cars, it all depends on how it is put together and with what components.

You will be paying retail overhead for both of those cars as it is from a specialist dealer. Early Marlins were based on vauxhall running gear IIRC, this one seems to be a later one running sierra underpinnings with a 24v V6 cologne engine. Typical Marlins with sierra and Pinto engine go for around the £5k mark so there is quite a bit of premium on this one.

For the budget I would have expected you to be able to get one of the newer BMW based Marlins, probably with a 2.8 straight 6 or a decent rover v8 (possibly a 4.6), the sportster is slightly more sporty (hence name !!!) and IMO the better looking car.

Example, not as good a spec and needs tidying but £8k will go a long way for an engine swap and a refurb - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MORGAN-STYLE-MER... or this completed add on ebay with zetec modern engine http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marlin-Roadster-Zetec-/1...

The Burlington is a plan built car so built quality is even more important. Based on a triumph herald the running gear will probably feel right for the style of the kit. Not many of these come up for sale, last one I think was an Arrow and badged as an Aston martin style roadster. Info here www.turn-the-crank.com. This is a more typical spec/price - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C293135. it would also help if the company could spell the name of the car !

If you like the style you are not a million miles away from a proper Morgan, better residuals in the long term and a real classic - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C412952

Also this is almost within reach if it is a kit car you want, much better kit, better handling chassis and usually built to a high standard than the two you have chosen - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unregistered-SEBRING-MX-...

Hope this helps and with that sort of budget you should be able to find a really nice car, but may take a bit of patience.

[spyder dryver]

Hi there. The first thing to ask is whether the car is correctly registered. There are many older kits still running on the donor car V5. This can be bad news. The V5 should read "BURLINGTON" or "MARLIN", not Vauxhall Viva or Ford Sierra. You might be told that its "all OK" and "perfectly legal" but I would walk away.
And dont worry about "Q" plates.

[inkafone]

The Burlington doesn't have the best chassis although it does look very "period". The Marlin has a decent chassis but the engine,although very powerful,is a heavy lump. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C411359 looks good and has the "right" engine for this marque.