gbr zero has anyone built one

[hootsno1]

Hi all
im looking to build a 7 the wife has set me a tight budget, only £6500 as we have just bought a new house, i have a 2.0 sierra for my doner car so i have to make this car come in on budget any tips and advice welcome.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Not built / driven one but if I was in the market for a 7'esque it would be on my shortlist, purely for the fact of having grown up near Caterham I still have to look more than twice to tell the difference! Especially if you paint all the ally bodywork like a Caterham. With some good components on it like quality protech shocks, wilwood brakes, LSD, Zetec tuning AND a proper chunky RAC rollbar (not the McDonald's straw-esque bracing of the standard one) I would imagine it would be quite a tool. MK Indy would be the other choice.

[singlecoil]

Have you ever hear the term 'false economy'?

One of the reasons why the GBS car is cheaper than the others is that you have to do a lot more yourself, the main difficulty is making the bodywork up out of the flat, cut to size sections they supply. Check the price of the MK Indy, and if there is anyway at all that you can stretch to the small amount extra then you will be glad you did (especially when you come to sell it).

If you can go a bit more, then the MNR is worth it.

[Vindi_andy]

I presume you are talking about the Great British sportcars Zero. If you want to know about the Zero get over to http://community.rhocar.org/index.php? This is the best place to ask about these as robin hood became GBS and there are several people buildig/runnign Zero's

[singlecoil]

Vindi_andy said:

I presume you are talking about the Great British sportcars Zero. If you want to know about the Zero get over to http://community.rhocar.org/index.php? This is the best place to ask about these as robin hood became GBS and there are several people buildig/runnign Zero's

You are right that doing that will give him lots of info on the Zero, but it isn't really the best place to get a comparison, if that's what he wanted, seeing as the people there have alreay committed to that make and may not have enough, or even any, experience of the others.

[qdos]

If you are looking for a budget build then why not have a look at the Sonic 7 from MEV. It's Focus based though so the Sierra donor will be of no use but check it out. It's not a Seven but it's so refreshing and more modern.



I'd most definitely recommend going to Stoneleigh this weekend then you can see all the cars and speak with the manufacturers AND the folk who have built them too

Edited by qdos on Monday 26th April 16:38

[Furyblade_Lee]

Singecoil, have you ever built or worked on one in your workshop? What do mean by make the bodywork yourself out of flat pre-cut pieces, all the bodywork or just the chassis panneling?

[singlecoil]

Furyblade_Lee said:

Singecoil, have you ever built or worked on one in your workshop? What do mean by make the bodywork yourself out of flat pre-cut pieces, all the bodywork or just the chassis panneling?

I've certainly have done some of the bodywork on the 2B, and it was not a pleasant experience. If you look at pictures of the various Robin Hoods you will see there is very little glassfibre, most of it is done with either mild or stainless steel, which starts as flat sheets which it is mostly down to the builder to bend to shape (not too difficult with the mild steel, but the stainless is very difficult to get a sharp bend with).

I've looked at various pictures of Zeros before posting this, and the amount of GRP seems to vary, some appear to have steel inserts in the middle of the rear wings (these wings have to be made up by the builder, fun factor very low) and some are all GRP. I can't tell whether the scuttles are GRP or painted bent steel, same with the bonnets.

If it was me I would find the extra and get an MK at least, or find a bit more and get the MNR (will make a substantial difference when it's time to sell in order to start a new project)

[hootsno1]

thanks all for your input i will be going to stoneligh this weekend and have a good look

[greengreenwood7]

Mark, depending which day you go to Stoneleigh you could do worse than look up a pal of mine - Tony B, he'll not be on the Robin Hood stand but with us on the Southern Kit Cars area - which is in area 59 - far end. He built his about 18 months ago, 1st attempt at building and i'd say he's done a good job, nicely presented car. He'll give you a good insight into how long, any issues etc etc. So is you see a mixed bunch of guys/cars: tigers, westie, robin hoods - that'll be us!
chrs Mark G

[Ferg]

greengreenwood7 said:

Mark, depending which day you go to Stoneleigh you could do worse than look up a pal of mine - Tony B, he'll not be on the Robin Hood stand but with us on the Southern Kit Cars area - which is in area 59 - far end. He built his about 18 months ago, 1st attempt at building and i'd say he's done a good job, nicely presented car. He'll give you a good insight into how long, any issues etc etc. So is you see a mixed bunch of guys/cars: tigers, westie, robin hoods - that'll be us!
chrs Mark G

This type of post makes me smile.

Too often these type of "I'm thinking of buying a..." threads turn into a sea of improvised negativity.
Here is a post telling the OP EXACTLY where he can find someone who ACTUALLY knows what building one is like.

TOP POST!

[singlecoil]

Ferg said:

Here is a post telling the OP EXACTLY where he can find someone who ACTUALLY knows what building one is like.

That's very true, but what it doesn't do is provide a comparison with other makes, and I for one would have thought that that was what the OP really needs, rather than a detailed account of building one specific car.

[Ferg]

singlecoil said:

Ferg said:

Here is a post telling the OP EXACTLY where he can find someone who ACTUALLY knows what building one is like.

That's very true, but what it doesn't do is provide a comparison with other makes, and I for one would have thought that that was what the OP really needs, rather than a detailed account of building one specific car.

I COMPLETELY disagree.
The guy has spotted a car in his budget and he wants to know about it. That's what he asked. Mark's pointed him in the direction of someone who will tell him what he needs to know.
I really don't get why threads that say "I'm thinking of buying 'A' what do you reckon?" End up with people saying "You'd be better off with 'B'". Surely there are plenty of threads on here about WHICH '7'-alike to buy, aren't there? The search function is working isn't it?

It's pretty cool that you you know better about what the OP 'needs' though.

[singlecoil]

Ferg said:

singlecoil said:

Ferg said:

Here is a post telling the OP EXACTLY where he can find someone who ACTUALLY knows what building one is like.

That's very true, but what it doesn't do is provide a comparison with other makes, and I for one would have thought that that was what the OP really needs, rather than a detailed account of building one specific car.

I COMPLETELY disagree.
The guy has spotted a car in his budget and he wants to know about it. That's what he asked. Mark's pointed him in the direction of someone who will tell him what he needs to know.
I really don't get why threads that say "I'm thinking of buying 'A' what do you reckon?" End up with people saying "You'd be better off with 'B'". Surely there are plenty of threads on here about WHICH '7'-alike to buy, aren't there? The search function is working isn't it?

It's pretty cool that you you know better about what the OP 'needs' though.

Well I'm very happy to disagree with you, and my disagreement is TOTAL.

First of all, what is the point in asking for opinions about a particular product if the respondents are not allowed, as you would have it, to compare that product with anything else? How on earth could they answer? What would a non-comparative answer mean?

For instance, let's suppose I ask whether the Dows '83 is good. How would you respond? Yes, it is good? What would that mean, though? The only useful answer is whether or not it's better or worse than other vintage ports in a similar price range. If someone knew of another port which would cost a little more but was very much better, should he stay quiet? If I was the one asking I would hope he would speak up, and I think most others would too.

I suppose to match the tone of your response I need to finish this with a sarky remark

Edited by singlecoil on Tuesday 27th April 19:59

[thescamper]

singlecoil said:

Ferg said:

singlecoil said:

Ferg said:

Here is a post telling the OP EXACTLY where he can find someone who ACTUALLY knows what building one is like.

That's very true, but what it doesn't do is provide a comparison with other makes, and I for one would have thought that that was what the OP really needs, rather than a detailed account of building one specific car.

I COMPLETELY disagree.
The guy has spotted a car in his budget and he wants to know about it. That's what he asked. Mark's pointed him in the direction of someone who will tell him what he needs to know.
I really don't get why threads that say "I'm thinking of buying 'A' what do you reckon?" End up with people saying "You'd be better off with 'B'". Surely there are plenty of threads on here about WHICH '7'-alike to buy, aren't there? The search function is working isn't it?

It's pretty cool that you you know better about what the OP 'needs' though.

Well I'm very happy to disagree with you, and my disagreement is TOTAL.

First of all, what is the point in asking for opinions about a particular product if the respondents are not allowed, as you would have it, to compare that product with anything else? How on earth could they answer? What would a non-comparative answer mean?

For instance, let's suppose I ask whether the Dows '83 is good. How would you respond? Yes, it is good? What would that mean, though? The only useful answer is whether or not it's better or worse than other vintage ports in a similar price range. If someone knew of another port which would cost a little more but was very much better, should he stay quiet? If I was the one asking I would hope he would speak up, and I think most others would too.

I suppose to match the tone of your response I need to finish this with a sarky remark

Edited by singlecoil on Tuesday 27th April 19:59

Surprise Surprise, someone providing an opinion on something they have no experience of. My interpretation of the OP was 'I want to build a Zero, what do I need to know?' wheras the answer he got from certain quarters was unsubstantiated opinion. Although from certain quarters thats what we always get opinion served up as knowledge.

There are certain people on here that should be running in this next election coz they are incapable of answering the question that was asked.

[singlecoil]

thescamper said:

My interpretation of the OP was 'I want to build a Zero, what do I need to know?'

Why 'interpret' it, you could just read it-

hootsno1 said:

Hi all
im looking to build a 7 the wife has set me a tight budget, only £6500 as we have just bought a new house, i have a 2.0 sierra for my doner car so i have to make this car come in on budget any tips and advice welcome.

The tips and advice he got from me were that he needs to look at some other cars.

[Paul Drawmer]

singlecoil said:

The tips and advice he got from me were that he needs to look at some other cars.

And this was in response to the original question: "gbr zero has anyone built one"

[singlecoil]

Paul Drawmer said:

singlecoil said:

The tips and advice he got from me were that he needs to look at some other cars.

And this was in response to the original question: "gbr zero has anyone built one"

No, it wasn't. It was in response to

hootsno1 said:

any tips and advice welcome.

[greengreenwood7]

.......For instance, let's suppose I ask whether the Dows '83 is good. How would you respond? Yes, it is good? What would that mean, though? The only useful answer is whether or not it's better or worse than other vintage ports in a similar price range.............

Hardly a worthwhile anology. But if you choose to use that the possible answers should be reflective of the question: Yes i've drunk an '83 on numerous occasions, i found it best when decanted atleast 3 hours before drinking. Question answered, point made - END OF....


.......If someone knew of another port which would cost a little more but was very much better, should he stay quiet........
Presumes that the reposter has a full and wide knowledge as a sommelier, because without that full, varied and indepth knowledge it is merely a personal opinion, a matter of taste if you will.

I'm with Ferg on this, so many threads turn into a sideshow that does nothing to answer the original question. Why stop at promoting X over A, or Z over B? Why don't we give the guy a definitive list of 7 Style cars in our personal order of preference and tell him to stop wasting his time.

[singlecoil]

Another person making the point about people needing to be ‘qualified’ before they are allowed to have a valid opinion on a subject.

You and the other protestors feel I shouldn’t comment on the GBS Zero because I haven’t actually built one. But it’s precisely because I do know something about them, i.e. that they are more difficult to build, and the resale value is lower, that I wouldn’t ever build one anyway.

Have any of you, including the OP, stopped to consider why the Zero is cheaper? The question is valid because the OP hasn’t put forward any other reason why he is considering this car. Could it be that the GBS people are very clever, and have found a way of making a car that is equal to the others, but at a lower price? Or is it more likely that they aren’t providing as much for the lower cost? If so, what is it that is lacking in the GBS kit? I’ve already made a point about the need for the builder to make parts out of sheet metal that other manufacturers provide in GRP, but is there anything else?

My opinion is that the OP needs more information before he can make ‘an informed choice’, and only speaking to people who are going to restrict their replies to the car in question is not going to provide that.

Here’s a quote from John Ruskin that might have some application (or it might not, that hasn’t really been dealt with yet) in the context of this thread-

“There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.”