GTMs/Cox cars anyone?

[Chris71]

Hi guys,

I'm afraid this is something of a repost, as quite a few people were able to comment on this in a different thread I did. But, just wondered if there were any people who didn't see the original and could add to it.....

Basically, I'm thinking about getting a GTM coupe, Rossa, or preferably a Rossa K3. I've heard a few horror stories of unstopable momentum-oversteer and generally dodgy handling, yet I've also heard people describe them as near perfect and go-kart like. Just wondered if anyone who's driven one could describe it! Also, would be interesting to get an idea of the sort of straightline performance I could expect - IIRC the metro GTi donor for the K3 does 8.5 seconds ish to 60 and 116mph? Presumably the K3 is a bit lighter and likely to have been tweaked somewhat, so sub-8 is relistic.

Just anything you can comment on really from handling and performance to reliability and usability.

PS On the unlikely event someone has one for sale, let me know

[GURU_1071]

chris

pm me your address, i was mooching through a magazine box last night and found some kit car mags with features on coupes and k3s (i think), id got them when i bought my coupe (which would be for sale, its just stuck in the garage)

you could also ring tim at mini mail, his daughter had owned a coupe and has just got a k3 - he said its very nice.

rich

[Chris71]

GURU_1071 said:

chris

pm me your address, i was mooching through a magazine box last night and found some kit car mags with features on coupes and k3s (i think), id got them when i bought my coupe (which would be for sale, its just stuck in the garage)

you could also ring tim at mini mail, his daughter had owned a coupe and has just got a k3 - he said its very nice.

rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks - You've got a message

Is it ok to say anyone sent me? - I've never dealt with mini mail before, so feel I should sort of introduce myself if that makes sense.

Did you get much use out of yours? - just generally interested to find out what they're like. I've got a list of various 'fun cars' and the GTMs consistently fall near the top and for a lot less money than the others based on a combination of [atleast] addequate performance, RWD, kit car insurance (a big thing at my age) and character.

To be honest I'm probably more tempted by the K3 on the account of the K-series in there and the open roof (sounds girlie but I enjoy it!!) but a coupe or to a lesser extent an earlier Rossa might be also an alternative.

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 30th October 16:16

[guru_1071]

Chris71 said:

Is it ok to say anyone sent me?

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 30th October 16:16

erm...... rich



i never used mine, bought it, remade the floor, got fed up with it and stuck it in the corner of the garage.

i think its still there.............

[ferg]

I can't speak for the K3, Chris, since I have only ever been a passenger in one, but my Coupe was great fun. It had a little bump steer at the rear, but just a twitch and it was all over. I never lost it, ever, and it was as confidence building as my Mini Pick-Ups only with twice the power!!!

Granted it's no Libra, but it cost me considerably less to both buy and insure.....

[Chris71]

I'd be tempted by a Libra - but that's quite serious money (for me) and it'd also brings cars like Chimeras, Elises, well spec'd Fisher Fury's etc. looming into the price range if I could afford it....

I like the coupe, but prefer the features of the K3 if that makes sense - if I could get an open, K-series (or better) powered coupe it'd be about perfect! It's a shame the K3 weighs so much more (550kgs plays 800 or so?!)

Seems to be largely a case of whats available when I have the money as there don't seem to be many about.

[ferg]

Chris71 said:

I'd be tempted by a Libra - but that's quite serious money (for me) and it'd also brings cars like Chimeras, Elises, well spec'd Fisher Fury's etc.

Hmmm.... VVC Libra's are commonly available for around £7K...is that Chimera and Elise money, fairly worn out I'd have thought. As for Furys... no comparison. They are just TOO different. Of course you get a proper roof with a Libra although there is the GTM Spyder for those of a hairdressing persuasion.

[Mr2Mike]

My uncle has a fantastic Cox GTM with a Metro Turbo engine in it. He's something of a perfectionist and the attention to detail in the car is amazing. He reckons handling is excellent, but it is a mid engined car and it suffers from the same handling traits that they all do, i.e. driving on the limit requires cat-like reflexes.

[Chris71]

Hmm, just found a few roadtests of the K3 online and they all seem to complain about uncommunicative steering and rear end bump steer. Does anyone know if there are common cures for these?

The bump steer must be a geometry problem, which is strange as I thought they were metro subframes at both ends?

[guru_1071]

i guess it will depend how they locked the steering off. can you fit mgf stuff??????

[Chris71]

guru_1071 said:

i guess it will depend how they locked the steering off. can you fit mgf stuff??????

Does that mean they actually still have the steering arms present? I assumed it was just a toe link that was doing it!!

Can certainly fit a 1.8 MGF VVC engine - think that might have to be done if I get one.

[Mr2Mike]

Chris71 said:

guru_1071 said:

i guess it will depend how they locked the steering off. can you fit mgf stuff??????

Does that mean they actually still have the steering arms present? I assumed it was just a toe link that was doing it!!

Can certainly fit a 1.8 MGF VVC engine - think that might have to be done if I get one.

Probably is a toe link, but unless the located the inner balljoint in exactly the same place as the end of the rack there is a good chance that bump steer could be a problem.

[guru_1071]

Chris71 said:

GURU_1071 said:

chris

pm me your address, i was mooching through a magazine box last night and found some kit car mags with features on coupes and k3s (i think), id got them when i bought my coupe (which would be for sale, its just stuck in the garage)

you could also ring tim at mini mail, his daughter had owned a coupe and has just got a k3 - he said its very nice.

rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks - You've got a message

Is it ok to say anyone sent me? - I've never dealt with mini mail before, so feel I should sort of introduce myself if that makes sense.

Did you get much use out of yours? - just generally interested to find out what they're like. I've got a list of various 'fun cars' and the GTMs consistently fall near the top and for a lot less money than the others based on a combination of [atleast] addequate performance, RWD, kit car insurance (a big thing at my age) and character.

To be honest I'm probably more tempted by the K3 on the account of the K-series in there and the open roof (sounds girlie but I enjoy it!!) but a coupe or to a lesser extent an earlier Rossa might be also an alternative.

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 30th October 16:16

chris, your message never came? - ones sent through piston heads are a bit hit and miss in comming????

if you want, email me direct at [e-mail]

rich