How do you justify building a kit

[Althalus]

I was looking at kit car pricing, how do you guys justify building a kit car when for £14,000 you can have a good nick S2 Elise? I was looking at the 5exi, but it is going to cost circa 12k to build one...

I'm still utterly in love with the phantom, but if it cost me 22k to build is it really worth the time money etc over something that looks as good and handles as well as the elise, vx220 honda S2000 etc etc..

[docevi1]

the thing about Kit-Cars is the desire to build something yourself, it may not be "better" than a production Elise but when you consider the rarity, the fact that you build to exactly what you want, rather than what will make commercial success (i.e. do you want some door pockets, or a nice dash?).

The cheap kit-cars such as the 7 replica's cater for the desire for cheap thrills, but things like the Phantom, Libra... cater for the owner who wants a bit more than the 7's but he can still build himself.

I do see your point mind, especially as when you consider you have to be fairly skilled to make one...

[Paul.B]

Hi. I've built three, here is why for each one.

1 - Tiger Cat E1. About £5.5k budget. Always wanted to try doing one and made the most sense as a learning project. Not the best kit on the market but one of the best budget ones. Great fun to drive and plenty quick enough. Sold after 18 months and about 7k miles for £5k so the residuals made perfect sense.

2- Ultima GTR. Find me a car that will do 0-100 in under 8 secs for under £40k and I'll have one tomorrow. Enough said?

3- Tiger R6. Built soley as a track-day car. Will have cost about £11k. Perfect for track hooning. Cheap to keep in tyres, brakes, spares etc. Will only weigh about 550kgs so a small reliable engine will make it plenty quick enough. (2.0l zetec giving about 170bhp) Built for a specific job, nothing else filled the brief.


Paul.B

[Ferg]

docevi1 so rightly said:

It may not be "better" than a production Elise, but when you consider the rarity...

Absolutely!!
Anyway, why does anyone buy anything when compared with anything else....?
'Twould be a sad place if we all bought the same sort of car.
I have a Libra.
Elises are all right, but they are more difficult to get into and don't have much room.
S2000s are alright, but I like the engine behind me.
MGFs are alright, but the ride's not much fun.
VX220s are alright, but the styling's a bit unfortunate.
Oh, and the insurance is cheaper.

[Althalus]

I'm just playing devils advocate here :P

I’m not really a fan of the sevens – they are really not usable for anything but playing (phaps in a few year!)

I really like the libra, aeon, phantom, 5exi etc...

And the ultima, wow! went round in one at goodwood - If only I had 40k!

[jamesg20]

also, i hate to upset anyone but a sorted westfield, ginetta etc and many more, will run rings round a s2 elise. I know this will be contraversial but its true. Observe carefully at your next trackday....

[Althalus]

Ahh, but I need somthing that I can use day to day, not just trackdays!

[docevi1]

Althalus said:

I’m not really a fan of the sevens – they are really not usable for anything but playing (phaps in a few year!) I really like the libra, aeon, phantom, 5exi etc... And the ultima, wow! went round in one at goodwood - If only I had 40k!

I'm not keen on the 7 either, to little styling and functionality, but for a pure sports car on a budget you can't deny their ability.

If you like the bigger kits, well, why not?

[Althalus]

I'm saving for the phantom

I just have a feeling I’m going to be saving for a while!

Besides once I have saved the money it comes down to a car or a house...
So it might be a while

I could always go on renting! I seems to make more sence tbh..

>> Edited by Althalus on Sunday 13th March 19:41

[Witchfinder]

The Phantom is perhaps the best looking original kit I've ever seen. I also think someone ought to do a DB-5 replica kit. That would be sweet!

My dreams of building a kit are long gone, destroyed by fatherhood and a realistic financial assessment. If I could afford it and find the time, I'd definately do it - not for the final product, but for the fun of doing it. Looking into the garage and saying to yourself "I built that" must give an incredible feeling of pride and achievement.

[Paul Drawmer]

There's no way I could justify building a kit car.





But I did it anyway. I get a big every time I go out in my Libra. It rattles, I haven't sorted the ventilation properly, I'm sitting a bit too high in the car, I haven't fitted the interior light etc etc.

BUT it goes well, and it gives me a buzz.

What's justification got to do with it? It's irrrational; there's a small step between a hobby and madness.

[steve_D]

Witchfinder said:

.....My dreams of building a kit are long gone, destroyed by fatherhood and a realistic financial assessment.......

That may be the case now but there is nothing to stop you doing it later in life. Ask me how I know.

Steve(age 56)

[Witchfinder]

steve_D said:

That may be the case now but there is nothing to stop you doing it later in life. Ask me how I know.

My real fear is that the Government will have banned kits in 20 years time

[cinqster]

Mine's more fun than my Elise - and better put together!

[Paul Drawmer]

steve_D said:

That may be the case now but there is nothing to stop you doing it later in life. Ask me how I know. Steve(age 56)

Spot on Steve.

Paul(age 58)

[Althalus]

Anyone got any pics of Stafford??
I don’t mind hosting them if you want to e-mail them over..
That black shelsey on TKC looks really nice! (and is quite affordable I believe

I knows its irrational, every time I look intro kits I want to build one more and more
Despite the fact the vx220 s2000 etc are probs a better bet!
I think it must be something in my mind set as I really wan to manage the build of my own house as well..
Something to do with getting exactly what you want?


>> Edited by Althalus on Monday 14th March 21:11

[nemesisv8]

You are right that from a cost point of view building your own supercar dosen't make sense. But when you spend quite a few months(19 in my case) building the car of your dreams it will more than make up for the financial hardship.

I have just finished my third car and will soon be looking around for my fourth project. If proving to yourself that you have the skills and staying power(not to be under estimated!!) to build something from the ground up is what your looking for then cost wont matter in the end. You'll just keep going till its finished, the money seems to work out eventually.

John

[spartan_andy]

I would say that fatherhood is all the more reason to do it. Gives you somewhere to escape to.

I have 2 daughters and at times i have 3 women telling me what to do( and the youngest is only 2 1/2) so i just dissappear to the garage.

JFDI you wont regret it

PS mine was bought for £200 as someone part built project and is proving a great learning experience for when i cough up a small fortune (for me anyway) for the next one

[liszt]

spartan_andy said:

I would say that fatherhood is all the more reason to do it. Gives you somewhere to escape to. I have 2 daughters and at times i have 3 women telling me what to do( and the youngest is only 2 1/2) so i just dissappear to the garage. JFDI you wont regret it

Seconded. I get to go and play in the garage one night a week and it makes for a nice hidey hole.

Plus you get to bang things with hammers and attack metal with an angle grinder. Makes you feel a lot better than arguing with a 3 yr old

[Paul.B]

Thirded here. "Look on the bright side dear! At least I'm not out down the bookies or in the pub all night!"

I get somewhere to do my own thing and she knows where I am. SORTED. Worth the cost for the harmony it brings surely?

Paul.B