Kit Car Newbie needing advice

[Rousey2000]

Hi,

I am contemplating a kit car but have come to the decision that I will break any car before i drive it if I have to build it myself I am going to buy from the companies direct. Your probably wondering why I want a kit car then. I guess I just like the look of them and love driving. Budget as with most people is an issue as it will be an extra car and so I am drawn to the robin hood zero.

I am likely to go for the entry level which will give me 0-60 in under 6 seconds (i am told) which is enough for me.

Can someon offer their thoughts on my choice so far, am I making a mistake....., is it a good car....?

I will probably on use it for weekend blast down the country lanes and the very occassional track day.

Thanks.

[andyquantum]

Nothing wrong with buying a pre owned or ready built kit, I've not built one from scratch either but I appreciate the fact it's a bit different to most other cars and thats one of the reasons I own one.

You wont go too badly wrong with a Robin Hood, I wouldnt expect any build manual to be absolutely spot on anyway, so perhaps if you do decide you want to build one, get a mate involved and you can both add bits

Or look at a project needing finishing/rebuilding as it's a cheap way to do it

Robin Hood are quite local to me, they generally go to the usual shows and are fairly well respected. There are many other manufacturers out there doing similar, so might be worth looking around at width of kits, how you can fit into it, engine options and availability of spares before you jump into the cheapest new build you can afford

[Furyblade_Lee]

I am a bit Caterham fan, and the Zero is the closest thing visually out there. So close, i am sure that if they sell enough of them i am sure Caterham will be having a word in their ear... But i would like to see an independent review of one, and a report on the chassis design by someone who knows a thing or two. At first glance at Detling, the chassis looked little different to a Fury chassis in quality, but then I cannot see past the pretty powdercoat.

[Rousey2000]

Thanks both for your responses.

What do you mean by a 'fury' chassis. Are you wondering about the build quality of the car.

[Goochie]

I'm also going through the "research" stage and have avoided the Robin Hoods until now because I keep reading that they're heavier than the alternatives thanks to a slightly cumbersome chassis design.

Current favourite for me is the MK Indy.

Having said all that, I just did a google search for the Robin Hood Zero and found this great pic:

http://www.greatbritishsportscars.com/GBS%20Cars%2...

[madmatt1985]

looks like you and i are in the same boat. hears a few links of diffrent makes i found

http://www.mac1motorsports.co.uk/
http://www.mnrltd.co.uk/index2.html
http://www.thurlbysport.net/Trackline/tabid/59/lan...
http://www.mk-sportscars.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/se.html
http://www.caterham.co.uk/
http://www.tigerracing.com/catalogue/index.php

the second hand market is quite active so pre-owns arent a bad idear.
ull tend to find 2L engines (pinto or zetec), V8's, or bike engines. i think the robin are a 1.3L or a 2L.

the one that looks good to be for hassel free fun and mad as can be is the honda s2000 engine in such models as the "dax Rush" "mk indy"

hope that helps

[Wanchaiwarrior]

Also dont forget

http://web.mac.com/rawuk/iWeb/Raw/Home.html - Strker and Fulcrum
http://www.fishersportscars.co.uk/ - Fury and Menace
http://www.stuart-taylor.co.uk/ - Locoblade and Phoenix
http://www.formula27.com/ - F27

Those to name a few, but also check out here http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kit_cars_se...
This is from "Mad About Kit Cars" and is the page listing 34 results for '7' style cars

[Wanchaiwarrior]

But Im a Striker fan and there looks to be a nice one with a Ninja Engine in the classifieds, under 'bike powered cars', NTDWM

[gixermark]

the robin hood is probably an ok car... but will always suffer the perceived opinion as the lada of the kit cars - rightly or wrongly.. check the classifieds out - most lowcosts command more money than a robin hood..

If resale is irrelevant, and you plan to keep for many years - then this may not be so much of an issue.

The Striker, Westfield, Caterham etc will all command more money, be it because of brand and or quality of product and actual feel of the car... although sevens all look similar - in my experience there is a difference - best to try and blag a few rides before you part with your hard earned ??

Mark

[fridgeracer]

If you want a car (7 style) that handles well, start with a Caterham, then a possibly a Striker or Westfield.

If I wanted to buy a secondhand car ready to go, I would look at the above, or a car based on a book chassis, such as a live axle Stuart Taylor.

[CanAm]

Wanchaiwarrior said:

Check out here http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kit_cars_se...
This is from "Mad About Kit Cars" and is the page listing 34 results for '7' style cars

From the link above; average time to build a Robin Hood 609 hours (worst example 2000 hours!), average time for a Caterhan 112 hours. Seems there is an awful lot of fabricating, welding and fettling involved with the RH, whereas the Caterham is almost like a big Meccano kit. I would read ALL the reviews quoted by Wanchaiwarrior above very carefully before making up your mind.

[dhutch]

I did a lot of looking about at kits, for several years.
- Got to know the guys at MK quite well, talked with a bloke with a mac1 who was building an MNR.

Theres a lot of good kits out there.

In the end i just didnt have the time, so i bought a prebuild, 1991 cvh engined westfeild.

Cost me £3750. Very tidy car, goes like stink, great full to drive, no build time. Think about it! :P

I'd still like to build a car, and maybe i will in the future. But for now i just dont have the time or the money, so a prebuild car the way in for me.
- There where a hell of a lot of very nice cars around the £6k market, i didnt have the extra 2k, but if you that opens up 3/4 cars, zetec engines, bec, anything really! Bar a cateringvan

Daniel

[Rousey2000]

dhutch,

you have hit the nail on the head. Unlike most of you guys on here I have neither the time or the inclination or the ability to build my own so I will be going for a factory built and driving it straight out of the showroom, or buying in the classifieds. My concern about buying in the casifieds though is basicaly about buying a car from someon I don't know who has built it at home.

Someone else on this thread points out that the zero looks very nice, which to be honest is the factor that drew me to it. Also I saw a kit car on the road the other day and it looked smaler than I remebered them looking. (it was tiny) I do want something with some road presence.....

Thnaks all for your help

[Goochie]

Rousey2000 said:

.........I do want something with some road presence.....

Just paint it orange/yellow and drive with the lights on all the time like most bikers do.

[dhutch]

Goochie said:

Rousey2000 said:

.........I do want something with some road presence.....

Just paint it orange/yellow and drive with the lights on all the time like most bikers do.

I have to admit im not a fan of the trend for dark navy blue!
- IM more than happy that mine is bright yellow, and has a fairly loud exhast.
- A freind from my placment year who has one recomended airhorns be fitted!

I do also put the lights on at the very first sign of dusk.

Its not really an issue to be honest, although motorway driving in dusky spray is a bit of an eye opener.


Daniel

[Wanchaiwarrior]

CanAm said:

Wanchaiwarrior said:

Check out here http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kit_cars_se...
This is from "Mad About Kit Cars" and is the page listing 34 results for '7' style cars

From the link above; average time to build a Robin Hood 609 hours (worst example 2000 hours!), average time for a Caterhan 112 hours. Seems there is an awful lot of fabricating, welding and fettling involved with the RH, whereas the Caterham is almost like a big Meccano kit. I would read ALL the reviews quoted by Wanchaiwarrior above very carefully before making up your mind.

I apologise if anything was read out of what I posted more than what I meant it to be, it was meant as just a list of different '7' style cars, nothing more than to aid the OP in his research.

[CanAm]

No, I thought it was a very good link and full of useful comments on a whole range of cars by actual builders - that's why I suggested the OP should read it carefully.

[adamramoth]

Buying a Robin Hood Zero is an excellent choice of a 7 derived kitcar. You wont find a better deal out there and with the option of a stainless steel chassis, you cant go wrong. Cheap and very good quality, Adam

[h4muf]

adamramoth said:

Buying a Robin Hood Zero is an excellent choice of a 7 derived kitcar. You wont find a better deal out there and with the option of a stainless steel chassis, you cant go wrong. Cheap and very good quality, Adam

That`s not what the sva examiners at notts told me.

Apparently 2b`s are more favorable than zeros regards build quality

[qdos]

If any of you are still wondering what to build then come to Stoneleigh Kit Car Show this weekend Sunday and Monday. Biggest Kit Car show in the world. thousands of owners to talk to plus halls full of manufacturers

It's near Warwick