Anyone Driven A Marlin 5exi?

[Jabronirob45]

Looking to leave the safety of my current runaround to get another car I can get my teeth into (I've driven and restored Minis/Daihatsu GTti's in my short car career so far).
I was looking at kits but want something thats how do I say this... "prettier" than a seven style at the end of it all. I was accosted by the Marlin crew at the Autosport show and they said that its possible to complete a build for 10k and that they would attempt to fit any engine I wanted into the car.
Really I was just wondering how it would compare to an Elise for driver appeal/general dynamics?
My old Elise was great but felt gutless even when compared to my 92 Daihatsu GTti.
I was wondering if anyone had driven a 5exi with the Honda engine for opinions before I jump in and put a deposit down?
Although I would be tempted to see if they could manage to shoehorn a VAG 1.8 20v Turbo in there!

[meeja]

PH'er Black5 is building one.....

[RushV8]

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if you find the 5exi "prettier" than a Seven then fiar enough. My preference is the 7 style, especially the Dax Rush. As for squeezing in a VAG 1.8 turbo, I'd have thought it would just about go in (at least in my Rush you can squeeze in a V8 for good measure - with a few scrapped knuckles and hard to get at spark plugs !!)

Hope you find the right Kit / spec to build, and dont worry , I restored / beefed up a 1969 Mini Cooper, a Rally 1430cc Mini, and a Vauxhall Nova GTE, and then built a DAx Rush 4.6 ltr V8 and found the Kit a more pleasurable 6 months in the garage than any of the other 3, Oh and the end result looks better and is just a lot faster.

[m1spw]

Have you thought about a GTM Libra? Kind of similar looks to the 5exi, build costs are around £12k I think but you might be able to get one a bit cheaper now that GTM have brought out the Ballista.

[grahambell]

Don't know about the VAG 20 valve turbo, but they have fitted the underrated Rover 2 litre 16 valve engine - which comes with Torsen LSD as standard. Probably cheaper too.

[dann172]

I've got a 5EXI in my garage, so I can say it impressed me. It's a great car. I've only got a 1600cc K-series mind you, but with the car weighing in at under 600kg it's not slow. so I'd imagine the type-r version would be rather rapid...! I drove both the 5EXI and the elise back to back and just prefered the the 5EXI it was a more relaxed and smoother car to drive and more distinctive and unsual as well. The fact that its so easy to maintain and mess about with was also a factor. No doubt an elise would outhandle it when pushing to the limit, but for my fast road and relaxed track day use it's fits the bill.

>> Edited by dann172 on Tuesday 17th January 21:00

[jgmadkit]

A few people have got their 5exi's on the road now, take a look here

www.madabout-kitcars.com/phpdissbb/viewforum.php?f=8

I'm sure some builders will give you their opinions, they seem smitten with their completed cars.

John

[Jabronirob45]

I'm so glad I found this place!
So much better than other forums everyone seems so much more mature which is great.
I'll be looking into the Libra now as well.
The thing that attracted me to the 5exi is the fact that it seems so accessible and the guys really seemed to want to help and push the cars development forward. Offering to fit any engine for me for free is something I've never heard offered (maybe I misunderstood :-s).
I only say the 20v VAG engine as I drove a Grinall with one in and I can safely say it nearly broke my neck with pure acceleration, but I would be tempted by a nice K-Series on throttle bodies.
I'll start looking at it seriously and sorting out finances in the next month so any other advice you guys can give would be great.
And if I enjoy tinkering with a 5exi half as much as I did with my Minis I will be more than happy with the purchase.
I just really worry it won't be able to live up to my old Elise's handling.
And don't get me wrong I love the look of the Seven style cars but my Girlfriend has said she wouldn't step foot in one if I paid her. And since it will be her time thats being cut into with me building it I'd rather have something she can drive as well in the end. (If she can ever pry the keys from me ;-) )

[Fer]

Jabronirob45 said:

I'm so glad I found this place! So much better than other forums everyone seems so much more mature which is great.

Bottom!

Sorry, just redressing the balance.

Good luck with the search for new wheels. I changed to a Westfield last summer (old n tired, but still great fun) and sometimes have the urge to upgrade to something even sillier!

[RushV8]

You say your girlfriend wouldn't set foot in Seven : mine wasn't keen to first set foot in my V8 Rush either, but once in and 4 point harnessed up by me (which was fun for us both) she soon learnt about real acceleration / deceleration. She now loves flying pillion with me in the Dax and still screams when I really "give it rice". Still, whatever sort of kit you opt to build, I'm sure you'll both enjoy the experience (except the fact that while you're in the garage for hours in the evening / weekends she'll be spending up on QVC / mail order or down the shops)..... TIP make sure you set up a secure "Kit Building fund / bank account" otherwise there may not be enough dosh left for those "5exi" split rim alloys and decent rubber !! Good luck in your search for your ideal kit.

[ricola]

Jabronirob45 said:

I'll be looking into the Libra now as well.

Check the classifieds for mine
It's built, but will save you thousands and you can always tinker with kit cars...

m1spw said:

Have you thought about a GTM Libra? Kind of similar looks to the 5exi, build costs are around £12k I think but you might be able to get one a bit cheaper now that GTM have brought out the Ballista.

Sorry but that is completely unrealistic, you can't even buy the basic kit for that now. I daren't add up my costs but they were towards £20k. Also, with the Ballista being a turnkey only car at twice the price it won't be competing with the Libra.

Rich

>> Edited by ricola on Thursday 19th January 15:48

>> Edited by ricola on Saturday 21st January 09:37

[Bertram]

m1spw said:

Have you thought about a GTM Libra? Kind of similar looks to the 5exi, build costs are around £12k I think but you might be able to get one a bit cheaper now that GTM have brought out the Ballista.

A VAG 1.8T will fit in a Libra, that's for sure. More info (in Dutch, sorry) on my website www.gtmlibra.nl You will get the idae looking at the pictures, if you have any questions, please let me know.


Bye,

Bertram



>> Edited by Bertram on Saturday 21st January 07:22

[m1spw]

ricola said:

Jabronirob45 said: I'll be looking into the Libra now as well. Check the classifieds for mine It's built, but will save you thousands and you can always tinker with kit cars... Rich

Your car looks soooooooooooooooo good

[meeja]

m1spw said:

ricola said: Jabronirob45 said: I'll be looking into the Libra now as well. Check the classifieds for mine It's built, but will save you thousands and you can always tinker with kit cars... Rich Your car looks soooooooooooooooo good

Rich has a habit of building quality cars!

It gives the rest of us green eyes!

[dann172]

Spent a great day today driving a round in mine, what a fantastic day out, great roads, sun out, roof off, perfik...

[chris7676]

Thread ressurection.
Could anyone share experience of driving in on the track, particularly compared to the Elise ?

[stsa]

I own one, Its not been on the track yet...road legal from May 2012.

I built it with a VAG 1.8T 20v, and have to say the acceleration is awesome.

[Skyedriver]

Is this the car that became a Strathcarron?

[Ferg]

Some might say it's the shape Marlin stole from the rightful owners of the IP left over when Strathcarron folded....

[rhinochopig]

Why on earth would anyone call a car the 5EXI? It's a cracking looking little thing and if it handles as well as the original Strath. then it should be a hoot to drive. But that name must have put off an awful lot of people. Westfield were bad enough with their daft mega prefix, but SEXY