BEC running costs?
Discussion
Thinking of getting a Stuart Taylor locost built in about a years time (can't build it myself, don't have the space, tools or time.) Looking to spend around £8K, with an R1 engine or similar. Basically, all I want to know is how fragile are they mechanically. Do they go wrong loads, or are they pretty reliable?
Also, what sort of spec am I looking at for 8 grand, being built by someone else?
Also, what sort of spec am I looking at for 8 grand, being built by someone else?
What are you looking to do with the car, just for road use or trackdays etc too?
Out of a group of myself and 4 friends who all have BEC Westies / Locosts and do regular trackdays (probably around 100 trackdays between us in the last 2 years & maybe 15k road miles), we've had 2 actual engine failures which were both mine, one was my first trackday and a newbie error on my behalf not lockwiring the sump plug so it escaped half way round Anglesey depositing the oil and I ran a bearing, the other was a broken drive gear on the crank on an engine that had done around 20 trackdays plus about 4k on the road - not sure what caused that one but ho hum. Other than that, I think one other engine has been replaced because the gearbox was on its way out, but other than that I cant think of any BEC specific failures we've had which is pretty good going considering the abuse they get on track (100 trackdays = maybe 12k track miles?)
Overall Id say they, like any kit car, are as reliable as you make them. If they are poorly maintained or built then they will fail a fair bit but likewise if its built and maintained well they are pretty robust, and I don't think that BECs are any less reliable than a CEC (mechanical reverse boxes excepted - general advice is to avoid if you possibly can).
As to what you'll get with £8k, if you buy one second hand you'll get a decent car for that, but if you are paying someone to build it new then you're going to struggle on that budget unless they charge you sod-all labour as you will be looking at spending that amount on parts alone realistically.
Chris
Out of a group of myself and 4 friends who all have BEC Westies / Locosts and do regular trackdays (probably around 100 trackdays between us in the last 2 years & maybe 15k road miles), we've had 2 actual engine failures which were both mine, one was my first trackday and a newbie error on my behalf not lockwiring the sump plug so it escaped half way round Anglesey depositing the oil and I ran a bearing, the other was a broken drive gear on the crank on an engine that had done around 20 trackdays plus about 4k on the road - not sure what caused that one but ho hum. Other than that, I think one other engine has been replaced because the gearbox was on its way out, but other than that I cant think of any BEC specific failures we've had which is pretty good going considering the abuse they get on track (100 trackdays = maybe 12k track miles?)
Overall Id say they, like any kit car, are as reliable as you make them. If they are poorly maintained or built then they will fail a fair bit but likewise if its built and maintained well they are pretty robust, and I don't think that BECs are any less reliable than a CEC (mechanical reverse boxes excepted - general advice is to avoid if you possibly can).
As to what you'll get with £8k, if you buy one second hand you'll get a decent car for that, but if you are paying someone to build it new then you're going to struggle on that budget unless they charge you sod-all labour as you will be looking at spending that amount on parts alone realistically.
Chris
Locoblade said:
Overall I'd say they, like any kit car, are as reliable as you make them.
Absolutely! - this is the key.
As Chris also suggests, 8k might be better spent on a previously owned car (since you're not planning to build yourself). With proper selection, this should mean that you can get one with all the problems ironed out that you might encounter with a new-build.
Have you had a look at the PH classifieds?
Cheers,
N
i have a blade powered locost and have done 10k on the road and 5 or six track days i dont keep count,and my only failure of the power unit as that after the 2 years of full throttle gear changes the gearset now needs replacing(it may cost as much a £200)the engine is still strong and stupidly quick.
no good for touring the highlands with the family though
no good for touring the highlands with the family though
Not going to be touring in it as such. I'm only 20, and I want a decently quick car that isn't a hot hatch for about the same money. Plus I love the idea of bike engined kit cars so it seems the only sensible way to go. I'll have another car for when its freezing cold or whatever so...
like to see you insure it for any decent mileage tbh, good luck with that
rsc in forfar will build you a locoblade ready to race for 5500. sva is possible for a few hundred more so about 6 all in i guess.
if serious, speak to trevor on 01307 460394 and tell him rob sent you
>> Edited by 16vastra on Tuesday 3rd August 21:31
rsc in forfar will build you a locoblade ready to race for 5500. sva is possible for a few hundred more so about 6 all in i guess.
if serious, speak to trevor on 01307 460394 and tell him rob sent you
>> Edited by 16vastra on Tuesday 3rd August 21:31
Erm, from the bitter experiences that several people on the Yahoo BEC list have had with the above, I would strongly recommend avoiding RSC. AFAIK nodody has received a car from them despite having paid £2-3k deposits well over a year ago and being promised cars on countless occasions only to be let down, to the extent that everyone seems to be actively seeking refunds and abandoning the idea of ever getting a car from them 
Chris
Chris
Chris,
That's very interesting.
I met the guy last year at Knockhill. A friend and I were interested in the product so he brought a part built one to KH for us to see when we were there for a track day.
We weren't too keen on the look of the car and I felt that I didn't really hit it off with him.
The friend I refer to actually said he'd seen an example on the road a couple of weeks ago and it looked ok. IIRC, he spoke to the owner at a petrol station and all seemed to be well.
Can you refer me to any specific messages on the BEC list which state the facts of peoples’ disappointments?
Cheers,
N
>> Edited by Numptie on Thursday 12th August 11:56
That's very interesting.
I met the guy last year at Knockhill. A friend and I were interested in the product so he brought a part built one to KH for us to see when we were there for a track day.
We weren't too keen on the look of the car and I felt that I didn't really hit it off with him.
The friend I refer to actually said he'd seen an example on the road a couple of weeks ago and it looked ok. IIRC, he spoke to the owner at a petrol station and all seemed to be well.
Can you refer me to any specific messages on the BEC list which state the facts of peoples’ disappointments?
Cheers,
N
>> Edited by Numptie on Thursday 12th August 11:56
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