Best kit car HELP please?

[jimmyb]

Having always wanted to get to know the ins and outs of cars I have decided to look into buying and building a kit car. In an ideal world would go for an ultima but a outside cost bracket and b more importantly i dont think its suitable as a first build . Pref upto £20k.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

[Colvette]

Check out Parallel designs - as I understand it, they bought the rights to the Lamborghini Diablo blueprints from Lamborghini, and now make a car which is visually identical to the more expensive model. The kit costs around £13K, I think...

Also - there is another company (can't remember the name) which makes a re-body for the MR'S' (MR2) to make it look identical to a Ferrari 360. Factory built cars retail for <£20K, so the car and the kit should cost you way less and be easier to build than a full kit. To up the performance, there are various "Drive in natural, drive out turbo" kits available which take the somewhat lacklustre performance of the MR2 up to around 300bhp, which considering the lightweight nature of the car should mean that the performance is more toward the status of the original.

Let us know how you get on!

[Ferg]

I suggest that you don't buy a replica.
Be different.
Get an original design.
That's all.

[grahambell]

I agree with Ferg, go for an original design, especially as there are some belting original designs available.

As Ferg knows better than I do, GTM make some great little cars: http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=112...

Another original kit I can thoroughly recommend is the Murtaya: http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=112...

Or if you're really set on an Ultima type car, a cheaper but no less impressive alternative is the Aeon: http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=112...

All three are well designed, well made kits that can perform well on both road and track and can be built within your £20k budget.

[tribbles]

It all depends on what you want from the kit.

There's a kit car show in Castle Donington middle of September - it'll be a good chance to see what's available, and have a chat with some of the manufacturers.

I went for an Aeon; it's 99% complete (being painted at this moment, then it's engine mapping and finally SVA). As grahambell mentioned, it's similarly styled to an Ultima, but a lot cheaper. http://www.aeonownersclub.com/ to see some others.

(Cue RazMan )

[Ferg]

tribbles said:

As grahambell mentioned, it's similarly styled to an Ultima,(Cue RazMan )

It's like a poor man's Ultima isn't it, Raz??

[jimmyb]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions everyone the aeon is interesting not sure about the looks though.

Does anyone know much about these. I like the classic looks.

http://www.marlincars.co.uk/marlin_sportster.php

[tribbles]

His isn't, really - but the Aero model has many of the same styling aspects as the Can-Am. Although there's significantly more cabin space in the Aeon, but more engine space on the Can-Am.

[tribbles]

I've not had any experience with the Marlin Sportster - I would imagine in terms of space, practicality and performance, it's not to dissimilar to a 7-style car (LSIS).

(As I like unique things, I would go for a Sportster instead of an LSIS).

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Marlin will be at Donington.

Edited by tribbles on Sunday 26th August 18:18

[jimmyb]

Sportster is what im thinking of it looks good on black

[Davi]

jimmyb said:

Sportster is what im thinking of it looks good on black

No idea what they are like as a "first build" effort, but I have to agree the sportser is a cracking looking car - like a 7 derivative, only without looking like "yet another 7". Certainly if I were in the market for that sort of car, I'd look at the Marlin over any of the other 1001 sevenesques.

[Streethawk!]

Colvette said:

Check out Parallel designs - as I understand it, they bought the rights to the Lamborghini Diablo blueprints from Lamborghini, and now make a car which is visually identical to the more expensive model. The kit costs around £13K, I think...

I want to build a Parallel designs Diablo in a few years

[Furyblade_Lee]

Genuine £20k? No question, Hawk Stratos. Also you will be able to sell it for more than that easily if you do it properly.

[Chris71]

I'd be very tempted by a V6 GTM libra, or maybe, one of these,

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/229807.htm

I agree on the whole, that originals are preferable to replicas, but I would still sell organs for a decent GT40 replica, might be able to get one for £20k?

Erm, continuing the mid engined sports racer idea, how about an Aeon?

http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/12097/aeon1.j...

[neilrallying]

There are lots of great cars available at the 20k price bracket for a self build.
Graham Bell has already been kind enough to mention our car, I would suggest getting along to a show like Donington to see what takes your fancy.

Have a really good chat with the people responsible for the car and ensure that you think you could get on well with them during the build, and most importantly get along to the factory and drive the demonstration car as ultimately your choice will be driven by the car matching a blend of your requirements including styling and performance.

Kit cars are fantastic and the feeling of driving something that you have built yourself is tremendous.

Do your research right in the first place (including very careful budgeting for your build as the bills can easily run away with you once underway and that 20k budget can get swallowed very swiftly) and you will have a superb experience.

Neil.

[Snake the Sniper]

The first question should be this: what do you want the car for/to do? Weekend hooning at the redline, or lazy country evenings out in the sunshine? Then, what type of car, ie the more classic look, such as the Marlin, or the more racer type, such as the Westy XI replica? More modern, perhaps the Aeon (there are different versions), the Murtaya, assuming I've spelt that right, or maybe the K1 attack? Although I'm not sure on the price of that one. The GTM Libra is nice and can come with the KV6 engine, which isn't too bad.
One you've picked out a few cars that look right, then you need to look at the engines. Do you want screaming mentalist bike engines with sequential 6 speed boxes, or the big lazy rumble of an American V8? Or something else, such as the Subaru boxer in the Murtaya thingy? You may have to balance the two up to get what you want. Ie, I prefer classic looking cars and I love bike engines, but the two don't tend to go together to produce a good car. Given a choice I'd go classic looks with a classic engine, but it may be different for you. You may well want a 7 with a RV8 in it. Above all, try more than one car out (and that means driving it hard too) before parting with any hard earned, as you'll regret it if you miss a car you later find and love.

[vojx]

Furyblade_Lee said:

Genuine £20k? No question, Hawk Stratos.

Sorry, but i just cant help myself.

Edited by vojx on Tuesday 28th August 17:46

[Ferg]

Snake the Sniper said:

The GTM Libra is nice and can come with the KV6 engine, which isn't too bad.

or to put it another way.......

Ferg who has driven both the V6 and VVC Libra said:

The GTM Libra is nice and can come with the KV6 engine, which is really just a bit too heavy for something conceived as a lightweight sportscar. You are constantly aware of it, too.

I know V6 Libra owners like them, but they really aren't for me!

[Snake the Sniper]

I didn't say it was great, just not too bad! He may prefer to have the sound of the V6 rather than the nimble-ness of the 4 pot.

[Furyblade_Lee]

How much do you think a Hawk Stratos will cost then??? I costed it at 20K with paint and Donor Alfa V6 (Kit 13k and 2k for genuine wheels, 5k for the other bits). Gery Hawkridge is one of the most genuine blokes in this industry.