New chap from Trowbridge

[Chawksey]

Hello all I have just joined the forum and I was after some advice on which kit to go for, bearing in mind this is my first kit in building.
I have wanted to build a kit car for ages and Iam now in the position to finally make a start.
I'm sure it's a age old question but what kits are recommended. I'm after something for mainly road use but with the occasional track day useage.
Funds aren't free flowing so it would have to be a gradual build
Any input from you guys/girls would be very much appreciated and I hope to see a few of you at some local meets at some point

Nick

[benchmark51]

Hello Nick,
Welcome to the club. It is difficult to advise you as everyones taste are different.
What type of kit do you like? Browse around the galleries and see what catches your eye.

My view is to start with something already built or part built. If you get something already
on the road you will get a feel for kit cars (or not) very quickly. Once bitten by the kit
car bug you can do as you like with it to make it your own.

Your about 20 miles away but there is a regular meet coming up on Sunday 12th, 8am in
Queens sq Bristol. Several of our members will be there scoffing bacon butties ect, so if you
can come along.

Dave

[Chawksey]

Thanks for your input Dave. I like the style of the Westfield/caterham. RTR do a couple of kits I like. I would ideally like the cobra replica but they are mega bucks.

I will see what I'm doing on the 12th and see if I'm in the area

Nick

[Camber Dave]

Hi Chawksey

Welcome to our club

Cobra style kits generally have big engines so plenty of power. They will also cost £25K to £50K to build. You don't see many on track as there are only 2 that are designed to do so.

There are over 40 variants of kits on the 7 theme – all slightly different and no doubt virtues. Remember that most weigh in at around 5 to 600 Kilo's so 180 BHP is plenty and 250 breathtaking even for track days.

The Westfield may or not be the best but it is the safest to buy and resell without too much risk. There are plenty of S/H bits on the net and pattern parts makers. It is probably the best all round.
Others to consider for track days are (in no particular order) the Sylva Striker, Aries, MNR, MK Indy R, RTR and Caterham. (Ex academy Caterhams are very light) and any that compete in the various 750 motor club races.

The Locost and now the Haynes Roadster are generally built from plans in books.  Build your own Sportscar for £250 by Ron Champion (ISBN 0-85429-976-9)(Locost) and & Build your own Sportscar by Chris Gibbs (Haynes ISBN 978 1 84425 391 3) The former (like the £250 tag) is well out of date using now unobtainable Escort donor bits. However it is full of good ideas for building any kit.
This has been replaced by the Haynes. It is about 10% larger so will accept almost any donor engine. The book is based on the Sierra as donor but as these parts are becoming rare, builders are adapting the chassis to take MX 5 And BMW donor parts. The value and tracking suitability of these is entirely down to the skill and care of the builder. Caveat emptor!

Mid-engine cars will soon start to become more common due to FWD donors but the weight distribution and suspension design is critical to track performance. A scruffy Elise will be cheaper than most kit builds but cost more to maintain. Needless to say they have good suspension, fabulous damping but soft springs and low power for the track but this is upgrade-able.

Personal preference covers the enclosed wheel cars. Skim through Mad about Kitcars website for some excellent pictures and having decided on a short list ask around and online. The Locost forum covers almost all home built cars and is the best source of technical info I have found.

Dave

[Iancider]

Welcome Chawksey,

This is a very friendly helpful club full of people with a lot of knowledge. 

On the question of which kit you have given us a lead - Westfield/Caterham or "7 likes" as they are often called after the original lotus 7 style.

An out and out track car will not be road friendly and a road car is potentially compromised on the track so you will end up with a hybrid that works reasonably well for both.  If you go down that route then a windscreen is highly desirable and that will allow you a roof and wipers for those wet days.  That is very important because you will only get a quarter of the use out of a sunny day only car.  Why?  Because you would not even think about going out for the day if there was any risk of rain at any time.  With a screen you will take your soft-top on the back and still go.

Stage building seems attractive until you do it.  You wont get to enjoy the car until it is completed and has been through the IVA that might be three of more years and many give up in that time due to unexpected life changes.  As Benchmark says second-hand gets you instant wheels with zero learning curve and within a year you will want to modify or upgrade and you are then a kit car builder.  Secondhand can be cheap or at least very good value for money.  Come along to one of our meets and you can see the cars and talk though the many options and all of the different experiences we have had. You can be sure of a warm welcome and lots of guidance - Sunday, Queens Square is the next and you will find us parked opposite Mill Avenue - unless it is chucking it down of course!

Regards
Ian

[Moleman]

Hi Nick & welcome. Not much more to add as most of it has been said already. I will add if this Sunday is going to be crap then you can always come see us the following Sunday on the 3rd Sunday meet. There will be quite a few options you will be able to see if the weather is good. 

['The Gaffer']

Hi Nick and a warm welcome to our club.

I can't really add to the brilliant advice above other than to say if it were me I'd defiantly go for pre build and sva'd Iva'd car. Just the hassle of getting a kit legally on the road would discourage me these days. You will have plenty of time to personalise later. That's just me though, some get more pleasure out of thebuild than the drive.

What ever you decide, have fun

[paintman]

Hi Nick and welcome to our club.
I'm local to you at Frome as are a few of us.
Why not come to the meet at Shearwater Café on Sunday 19th at 2pm and meet a few of us. (see posting....3rd Sunday club meet)
If you want to try a "7" type of car I could take you for a drive if you want.

Tony

[YellaBelly]

Hi Nick.
Welcome to the club. It's pretty much all been said really, speaking from my experience, I went down the self-build route which had many high points but lots of lows too. I took me 7 years to build and although it was a real achievement of which I feel proud, the hassle and the IVA mean I would choose a registered car which I could use and fettle from day one next time. Whatever you choose you will get loads of encouragement from the guys in the club.
Good luck.

[Bulldog Bri]

Hi Nick.

Better add my 2pennies worth as well. Like YB above, I to have been building a 7 from scratch and although its been a long road in getting there I'm pleased I've done it. I've built Kits from manufacture's re-built kits that had already been on the road, so to build from plans was the ultimate challenge. Yes the IVA is a pain and if your gonna go down that route keep a grand in your pocket on top of your budget for the test. I doubt I will be doing another this way but wouldn't want to put anyone off from having a go if they've got the patience and time (and £'s) to do one. there are also half built projects out there where other's have fallen by the wayside and had to give up (this could save a few pennies).

Once your a car is IVA'd this puts value on the car over one that was built pre IVA/SVA. I estimate mine will be on the road for around £5k all in.

I just don't want to see the IVA put an end to kit building, it's a great pastime to have and needs to be kept alive to piss Brussels as we're about the last country left still doing it everywhere else has to import our finished cars.

If you've got the time, patience, knowledge and money to do one, go for it. there's loads of advice out there. The grin on your face will be bigger than those that buy ready built

[Chawksey]

Wow thanks for the welcome and all responses guys. I used to live in Frome till a few months back what a small world.
I think it's just the initial cost upfront that puts me off buying a pre built one. I'm a engineer by trade so would kind of like to start it from the floor up and making any improvements along the way, but I do value all your inputs and might be able to get to either meet shearwater or Bristol and will be picking some of your brains

[bluehornetrider]

Hi, welcome to the club.  I also looked at building a few years back and was heading for a bike engined seven style  and mnr with mx5 running gear w seemed the best compromise, I was looking for an engine that I could thrash about in with great acceleration and low weight. I might still go this route but have 2 other projects on the go at the moment.

[Iancider]

Chawksey,

It is worth taking a look on e-bay or pistonheads for unfinished projects - there are quite a few.  They generally sell for less than the cost of the parts but much of the work is done.  This is a good hybrid route.  Its quite cheap and quick so you get on the road quickly.  Just make sure you can still obtain parts.  There are many members here who will talk you through this if you turn up to one of our regular meets and of course you will get to see the results.

Ian