Mid-engined Kit Cars
Discussion
I've been looking into kit cars (for the road, maybe trackday in the future) for a while now and want something bought before the spring with a budget of £10-20k.
I've been looking at front-engined like Westfields and Tigers with car engines, but I've now seen a road-legal Spire GTR with Kawasaki engine for sale on PH and was wondering what opinions are on buying a mid-engined car for those like me who have have both never driven kit cars and never driven mid-engined cars (and rear wheel drive cars as well)?
From my research it seems they (mid-engined rear-wheel drive cars) require more driving skills than other types of cars and when things go wrong without stability control it's extremely hard to regain control unless you are a pro driver. That's what once put me off a Toyota MR2 and the fear of uncontrollable snap over steer for someone like me who tends to drive hard. My only experience is a 1,500KG 350hp Subaru which is obviously 4wd and when the back-end came out it was largely controllable for me until it regained traction / grip. So I wonder if I am taking a big risk with jumping straight into a mid-engined kit car and should opt for safer option of a front-engined Westfield?
I've been looking at front-engined like Westfields and Tigers with car engines, but I've now seen a road-legal Spire GTR with Kawasaki engine for sale on PH and was wondering what opinions are on buying a mid-engined car for those like me who have have both never driven kit cars and never driven mid-engined cars (and rear wheel drive cars as well)?
From my research it seems they (mid-engined rear-wheel drive cars) require more driving skills than other types of cars and when things go wrong without stability control it's extremely hard to regain control unless you are a pro driver. That's what once put me off a Toyota MR2 and the fear of uncontrollable snap over steer for someone like me who tends to drive hard. My only experience is a 1,500KG 350hp Subaru which is obviously 4wd and when the back-end came out it was largely controllable for me until it regained traction / grip. So I wonder if I am taking a big risk with jumping straight into a mid-engined kit car and should opt for safer option of a front-engined Westfield?
Edited by Kafee on Saturday 7th December 13:08
Not all mid engined cars, kit or otherwise, are created equal. There can be a very big difference.
In fact, the most benign handling mid engined cars are better than the most snappy front engined cars, although, all other things being equal, most front engined/rear drive cars are more forgiving on the limit than most mid. The Honda S2000 is known for being a little unforgiving for a front engined car and has certainly been known to snap. Some Cobra 427 replicas are known for being such a handful, it's possible to spin one in a straight line! On the other hand, there's the Porsche 986/987 Boxster/Cayman, known for being about as benign as a mid engined car has ever been, and certainly does not have a reputation for scaring people.
I drive a Toyota MR2 Roadster. As many have said, it's a great 8/10ths car, but not such a great 10/10ths car. However, the MX5, while being a bit of a blunt instrument next to the MR2 - lacking the 2's handling finesse, is an obviously friendlier car to drift, not something I have ever dared try in my 2.
Another thing to bear in mind, is that, for example, a Westfield that hasn't been set up by an expert could still handle like a pig. Even if it has been set up, if it's got less than ideal spring and damper rates for your intended use, it may still not be very good. Kit cars, by their very nature, are such bespoke things, literally built by one individual for that individual's taste (or lack of understanding), that there is no universal metric that can be applied.
I would say either get whichever car takes your fancy, and then change/refine suspension and handling to suit and have fun with that creative/investigative process honing the car to its limit, or, if you're more the kind of person who likes to know exactly what your gonna do before you do it, then research, research, research. Find out what rep the Spire has in terms of handling.
Honestly, my MR2 can be a bit twitchy sometimes, and a right handful if you try your luck in the wet. Sometimes I'll be driving round thinking how iffy it would be in inexperienced hands on a spirited drive in the wet. You say you have no experience driving RWD cars. I had two RWD cars before I came to the MR2 (my first mid engined car), but all my other cars have been FWD.
How would I have coped if I'd gone straight from nothing but FWD cars to the MR2? Honestly, with my heavy right foot and enthusiastic driving style, I would've disappeared through a hedge backwards by now. The experience I gained in my two previous RWD cars (BMW E36 328i manual and 130i manual) taught me the art of sideways in a safe manner.
In fact, the most benign handling mid engined cars are better than the most snappy front engined cars, although, all other things being equal, most front engined/rear drive cars are more forgiving on the limit than most mid. The Honda S2000 is known for being a little unforgiving for a front engined car and has certainly been known to snap. Some Cobra 427 replicas are known for being such a handful, it's possible to spin one in a straight line! On the other hand, there's the Porsche 986/987 Boxster/Cayman, known for being about as benign as a mid engined car has ever been, and certainly does not have a reputation for scaring people.
I drive a Toyota MR2 Roadster. As many have said, it's a great 8/10ths car, but not such a great 10/10ths car. However, the MX5, while being a bit of a blunt instrument next to the MR2 - lacking the 2's handling finesse, is an obviously friendlier car to drift, not something I have ever dared try in my 2.
Another thing to bear in mind, is that, for example, a Westfield that hasn't been set up by an expert could still handle like a pig. Even if it has been set up, if it's got less than ideal spring and damper rates for your intended use, it may still not be very good. Kit cars, by their very nature, are such bespoke things, literally built by one individual for that individual's taste (or lack of understanding), that there is no universal metric that can be applied.
I would say either get whichever car takes your fancy, and then change/refine suspension and handling to suit and have fun with that creative/investigative process honing the car to its limit, or, if you're more the kind of person who likes to know exactly what your gonna do before you do it, then research, research, research. Find out what rep the Spire has in terms of handling.
Honestly, my MR2 can be a bit twitchy sometimes, and a right handful if you try your luck in the wet. Sometimes I'll be driving round thinking how iffy it would be in inexperienced hands on a spirited drive in the wet. You say you have no experience driving RWD cars. I had two RWD cars before I came to the MR2 (my first mid engined car), but all my other cars have been FWD.
How would I have coped if I'd gone straight from nothing but FWD cars to the MR2? Honestly, with my heavy right foot and enthusiastic driving style, I would've disappeared through a hedge backwards by now. The experience I gained in my two previous RWD cars (BMW E36 328i manual and 130i manual) taught me the art of sideways in a safe manner.
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