Bike engined cars
Discussion
Have been looking through the classifieds of Pistonheads recently and am getting a real notion of some of the bike engined kit cars.
I don't have a general model in mind but what are the pros and cons of a bike engined car vs one with a car derived engine?
Are the maintenance of the bike engines a costly part of these? I would be planning to do trackdays and no doubt it'd be well serviced but would like to know of any pitfalls.
I don't have a general model in mind but what are the pros and cons of a bike engined car vs one with a car derived engine?
Are the maintenance of the bike engines a costly part of these? I would be planning to do trackdays and no doubt it'd be well serviced but would like to know of any pitfalls.
OK, everyone is backing off from this one, here's my opinion, its biased I love bike engined cars.
As above, £ for smile nothing (on wheels) will come close.
They allegedly have a reputation for blowing engines and gearbox's, I personally don't find that to be the case drawn from my experience of been involved in one way or another with BECs since the late 80's.
The lack of reverse on a lot of cars puts people off, I personally don't find it a problem either, its a price I'm happy to pay for the sheer joy of driving the things.
They are not motorway cars but not many 7's are ? Take one down the lanes or on track and they shine. That's why I own one, I'm told that 6k revs at motorway cruising is annoying, maybe it is, I have a tin top for motorway work, the BEC is a toy. That said I have done Le mans twice two up with camping gear in a BEC from the north of England which involved plenty of motorway work.
I'm told there no good in town ? Personally again don't find slow pottering about town a problem.
I love the 6 speed sequential box that comes for free.
I like the soundtrack.
My advice on buying one would be if possible look at the owners club for that particular car, see if its a known car, get as much info as possible on the car, the builder befroe you travel, also and it applies to any kit make sure its registered properly to, there seems to be a few bike engined sierras about at the moment.
People try to convince me there is a down side to owning BEC's, they have still to convince me of one I'm afraid, when I look at the big picture which involves bringing £££££'s into the equation, my own personal toy budget I cannot get near the thrill of owning/driving a BEC.
I have supercar performance up to around 125/130mph for peanuts.
As above, £ for smile nothing (on wheels) will come close.
They allegedly have a reputation for blowing engines and gearbox's, I personally don't find that to be the case drawn from my experience of been involved in one way or another with BECs since the late 80's.
The lack of reverse on a lot of cars puts people off, I personally don't find it a problem either, its a price I'm happy to pay for the sheer joy of driving the things.
They are not motorway cars but not many 7's are ? Take one down the lanes or on track and they shine. That's why I own one, I'm told that 6k revs at motorway cruising is annoying, maybe it is, I have a tin top for motorway work, the BEC is a toy. That said I have done Le mans twice two up with camping gear in a BEC from the north of England which involved plenty of motorway work.
I'm told there no good in town ? Personally again don't find slow pottering about town a problem.
I love the 6 speed sequential box that comes for free.
I like the soundtrack.
My advice on buying one would be if possible look at the owners club for that particular car, see if its a known car, get as much info as possible on the car, the builder befroe you travel, also and it applies to any kit make sure its registered properly to, there seems to be a few bike engined sierras about at the moment.
People try to convince me there is a down side to owning BEC's, they have still to convince me of one I'm afraid, when I look at the big picture which involves bringing £££££'s into the equation, my own personal toy budget I cannot get near the thrill of owning/driving a BEC.
I have supercar performance up to around 125/130mph for peanuts.
It must have been, oooh, almost a week since the last time someone asked this question?
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…and don’t come back until you’ve read them all!
Perhaps it would be an idea for the Mods to sticky this subject, in the best interests of Jon’s blood pressure and so that we can all get on with our lives?
Sorry everyone I seem to have set something off in here! 
Bit of a dilemma for me as I'm currently racing but it seems to be nothing but money..
The prospect of having a car mainly for trackdays and the general hoon on the road is something thats tempting.
Picking trackdays as I fancy and not having the 'pressure' of the feeling of doing an actual racing championship might be better for me.
Bit of a dilemma for me as I'm currently racing but it seems to be nothing but money..
The prospect of having a car mainly for trackdays and the general hoon on the road is something thats tempting.
Picking trackdays as I fancy and not having the 'pressure' of the feeling of doing an actual racing championship might be better for me.
Sam, I love both! As I have said before, my mate's Caterham R400-and-a-bit-more really floats my boat. But I know my £9k R1 Phoenix can lap just as fast as his £30k Caterham, and my engine costs £600 not £6,000 like his does! I do love car engines as much as bike engines but financially for me it is more cost effective to run a BEC as a toy. I can fix it without my Wife ever knowing it broke. Which it doesn't anyway.
Bugger, you got me involved again...... ;-0
Bugger, you got me involved again...... ;-0
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