Best Car for £6500-£7500

[DamienCBR]

Hi all,

I have just written off my CBR600RR and have now re-evaluated my life and think that 4 wheels might be a better idea but still want to have fun. I have an Alfa 156 as a company car and the wife has a Corolla so this will be weekend fun. I am still umming and arring about 2 seats or not becuase i have a little girl, 18 months old.

I have driven a Caterham 7 at Brands hatch round the indie circuit and loved it. What is the difference between a Caterham and Westfield and others? What should i buy and why?

All help welcomed.

Cheers

D

[boRED S2upid]

For what its worth I think its generally regarded that Caterham is up there as the best Kitcar manufacturer with Westfield a close second. Although it all depends who has built the car and to what standard. For example theres an MK Indy with a Honda S2000 that the owner will argue is probably faster, handles better, is better specd than many a Caterham or Westfield.

£7500 should get you a good example of a Westfield. If your after a Caterham with that budget in mind its going to be an old one.

I had Westfield for a while although it was an old one and poor quality. But it was the most exciting car ive ever owned. If you do it you won't regret it.

[ferg]

boRED S2upid said:

For what its worth I think its generally regarded that Caterham is up there as the best Kitcar manufacturer with Westfield a close second.

Wow. Generally regarded by whom???
I think that Caterham's product is great, but they can't be regarded as 'Best Kitcar manufacturer' because of the percentage of cars genuinely built from kits. And I mean 'kits' not virtually built cars.
AND Westfield could do with selling more of their original designs before I'd consider them..'Best'..or even' Close Second'.....

I'd be thinking more 'Ultima'........or maybe 'GTM' ...or perhaps 'GD'....

[Furyblade_Lee]

If you want a genuine "toy" I'd suggest firstly you ask yourself wether you want weather equipment or not. If you do not, then i suggest you go the whole hog with a lightweight bike-powered car, MK, Fury, Striker ect. If you want a screen and weather gear then a car-engined Westfield or Caterham would be top of my list. I am not knocking locost's ect, but if you have a sensible budget then i'd go for one of the big two. If you can stretch to 8k ish then maybe look at a Libra, not as hardcore as a Seven but can be used as a daily driver. My little girl would not get in my Fury Fireblade as it was a bit mad but she LOVES my Libra!

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Monday 24th July 20:07

[Jon Ison]

£6500.........

www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=47735

[DamienCBR]

Jon Ison said:

£6500.........

www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=47735

Looks really tasty, but what are they like, it is a mine field for a newbie looking at all the different makes and prices.

D

[Jon Ison]

Don't let me sway you, get back on locostbuilders where there is a very active MK following and ask them.
BTW it was recently kit car of the year.

[andygtt]

I've been hugelly impressed with my Indy Kit (which has cost me £6.5k to build with a high spec and R1 engine)....

definatelly worth a look if your after a 7 type car.

[DamienCBR]

andygtt said:

I've been hugelly impressed with my Indy Kit (which has cost me £6.5k to build with a high spec and R1 engine)....

definatelly worth a look if your after a 7 type car.

Just had a look at your website and noticed the MK Indy was a replacement for the bike....me too. I think i have narrowed it down a little to MK Indy, Tiger Super Six, or if i can get one a Westfield.

D

[Jon Ison]

Where you at ? MK owners tend too meet almost every sat at the Mk workshops for coffee, bacon buttys and a trye kick, you would be made welcome, given endless runs in owners cars as we/they all like too show there cars and you could see the chassis etc under construction.

[DamienCBR]

Jon Ison said:

Where you at ? MK owners tend too meet almost every sat at the Mk workshops for coffee, bacon buttys and a trye kick, you would be made welcome, given endless runs in owners cars as we/they all like too show there cars and you could see the chassis etc under construction.

I am in maidstone kent.

D

[busa_rush]

boRED S2upid said:

For what its worth I think its generally regarded that Caterham is up there as the best Kitcar manufacturer with Westfield a close second.

Where did you hear that ?

[boRED S2upid]

busa_rush said:

boRED S2upid said:

For what its worth I think its generally regarded that Caterham is up there as the best Kitcar manufacturer with Westfield a close second.

Where did you hear that ?

The voices in my head told me

[pdw709]

I would also consider a Raw Striker.

This is a very light, well made car ideally suited to a Motorbike engine.
Its got a great, well sorted chasis, and the car and its derivatives have a great racing heritage.

Check out the RAW website: www.rawengineering.co.uk/default.htm

Its also slightly different looking than a standard se7en replica which personally I think adds to its charm.

I'm biased of course..........but we all are. Funny how people always recommend the car that they currently own/are building!

[DamienCBR]

pdw709 said:

I would also consider a Raw Striker.

This is a very light, well made car ideally suited to a Motorbike engine.
Its got a great, well sorted chasis, and the car and its derivatives have a great racing heritage.

Check out the RAW website: www.rawengineering.co.uk/default.htm

Its also slightly different looking than a standard se7en replica which personally I think adds to its charm.

I'm biased of course..........but we all are. Funny how people always recommend the car that they currently own/are building!

Thanks for that i am not overly bothered with the bike engine side of things but notice they do a 1600 and 2000. Are they similar prices, adn can you buy factory built??

Cheers
D

[pdw709]

DamienCBR said:

pdw709 said:

I would also consider a Raw Striker.

This is a very light, well made car ideally suited to a Motorbike engine.
Its got a great, well sorted chasis, and the car and its derivatives have a great racing heritage.

Check out the RAW website: www.rawengineering.co.uk/default.htm

Its also slightly different looking than a standard se7en replica which personally I think adds to its charm.

I'm biased of course..........but we all are. Funny how people always recommend the car that they currently own/are building!

Thanks for that i am not overly bothered with the bike engine side of things but notice they do a 1600 and 2000. Are they similar prices, adn can you buy factory built??

Cheers
D

Raw specialise in the Toyota 4AGE engine from the MR2/Corolla GTi. These are a modern, light weight high reving engines with power from 122bhp to 250bhp. Check out the engine page on their website: www.rawengineering.co.uk/RAW_engines.html

I believe RAW do indeed sell turn-key cars, best to give Mel Coppick a ring (01432 371 169) or check out the website.
However for the price range you quoted (£6500-£7500) I d'ont believe you will be able to buy ANY factory built kit, for this price you will have to self build.

Phil