Best value complete kit package

[Woody]

So rethinking how much I want to spend on a kit car and also fancy going down the self build route.
I'd look to buy a complete package from a manufacturer for ease of purchase, knowing that it will all go together and getting a brand new car at the end of it.

So far I've looked at Tiger, MK and Westfield.

I've priced them all up on a virtually identical spec.

>MK Indy R - complete package (inc. engine & box sourced separately) - £19k

>Tiger Avon - complete package - £20.3k

>Westfield Classic SE - Complete package - £23.5k

All above are:
>2.0 Zetec with throttle bodies all around 170BHP
>MSA type rear roll bar & stays
>Full screen & wipers
>Non LSD diff

Quality of build manual will also play a part.
>I know Tiger don't have a build manual as such, and already having the 'how to build an Avon book' that doesn't seem that comprehensive.

>Westfields manual seems pretty good, although reading a few recent build threads on WSCC they seem to be out of date in places - but most of the missing/altered info is available in the various threads.

>MK manual seems decent from what I can glean on various forums/blogs - reluctant to pay the £50 to download and have a look.

I know that Westfield also have discounts available at various times of the year on kits etc. so could save 10-15% by waiting for one of those which would drop the cost down quite significantly.

Other advantage of Westfield is they're only 45 minutes down the road from me, and their phone/email support seems pretty decent.

This would be my 50th present to myself in a couple of years so wouldn't want to layout that amount of cash and not get a decent product at the end.

Anyone have recent experience of building any of the above kits?

Any other complete kits I should look at?

[Kevp]

For my money - Westfield. Should be worth more at sell time. The WSCC build forum is very good.

MK under the current ownership seems to have come along a long way. They are keen & expanding their business. Probably offer a more personal relationship. They may also sell the Phoenix as a complete kit (as an alternative to a 7).

I thought Tiger had an on line (app?) build manual. I may be confused with another company.

Think MEVs are complete kits.

You really need to go to Stoneleigh (?!)....

Happy decision making.

[Turn7]

For me, thats way to much money for a kit.

Budget will always exceed expectations, and the end result rarely holds anything like the final parts cost.

Hate to put you off, but for the cars you are looking at, I would drop your initial budget, buy used and strip/rebuild to your spec.

Also means you dont have to go through the utter tedium and ball achary that is IVA....

[Frankthered]

Of the ones you listed, OP, I think I would look at Westfield personally - especially if they are relatively close for you - that's an added bonus IMHO!

Have you looked at GBS? I'm not an expert in these matters, but apparently they produce very decent cars these days and do offer full packages, AIUI.

Might end up being a significantly cheaper option?

[Woody]

Thanks for the replies guys - appreciated.

I had looked briefly at GBS - the only complete package they list is the 'Ultimate self build' with the Duratec but that's best part of £28k......

I might email and see what other options they do, plus would need to factor in getting it painted or wrapped if I went GBS.

[Turn7]

I know things have moved on ,but 28 large
For a Robin Hood ?!?!?



Any idea how much Caterham that would buy ?

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

What about second hand - then completely rebuild?

What you save you can spend on upgrages, e.g. LSD, 200+bhp engine spec, lighter wheels, better dampers.

Just shows how much costs have gone up in 20 years. My factory built megabird with every option ticked apart from carbon wings and image 3 piece rather than magnesium wheels was ~ 23K IIRC.

[Frankthered]

Woody said:

Thanks for the replies guys - appreciated.

I had looked briefly at GBS - the only complete package they list is the 'Ultimate self build' with the Duratec but that's best part of £28k......

I might email and see what other options they do, plus would need to factor in getting it painted or wrapped if I went GBS.

I noticed that, but also noticed that the Mazda version lists a "complete" kit for around £13k which seems a bit more palatable but I didn't mention it because you seem to be looking at Ford - I guess the Zebec would be somewhere nearer to the Mazda?

As for things having moved on, @Turn7, the GBS cars have pretty much zero to do with the old RH products, much better designs by all accounts.

It seems £28k gets you a Caterham with a 1.6 Sigma.

[Woody]

Frankthered said:

I noticed that, but also noticed that the Mazda version lists a "complete" kit for around £13k which seems a bit more palatable but I didn't mention it because you seem to be looking at Ford - I guess the Zebec would be somewhere nearer to the Mazda?

As for things having moved on, @Turn7, the GBS cars have pretty much zero to do with the old RH products, much better designs by all accounts.

It seems £28k gets you a Caterham with a 1.6 Sigma.

Yes I had noticed the Mazda kit - I've emailed GBS to see if that includes a donor pack etc.
If I went Mazda route I'd probably do the Omex upgrade that MK are doing to get 160 out of the 1.8.

The other appeal of the Westfield is that it already comes with a fully dressed engine with smaller altenator and raceline shortened sump etc.

[Woody]

Have spoken to GBS and it seems like the 'full Mazda package' is everything minus donor bits - so pretty much the same as the MK RX-5 package, but £3k more......

Regarding engine choice if I went used Zetec it looks like Specialised Engines could do a rebuild/remanufactured service for £1100 or Stage 1 for £1500 - so I could get an as new Stage 1 engine for less than £2k depending on how much I spent on the donor engine.
Throw on a set of DanST ITB's & should have a 180 bhp engine for £3.5k.....

There's also a local company who will do the same with the Mazda engine for similar price.....

Too many decisions!

But MK are looking the favourite as their complete kits appear to be better VFM.

Edited by Woody on Saturday 22 May 09:24

[andrew-494ym]

Have you seen the MNR VORTX? Made in Darley, near Harrogate N Yorks.
Quality kits, completely round tube chassis, inboard front suspension is standard, rear is an option, various running gear options, inc mx5 donor. This is mine.
Andy.

[sociopath]

Woody said:

Have spoken to GBS and it seems like the 'full Mazda package' is everything minus donor bits - so pretty much the same as the MK RX-5 package, but £3k more......

Regarding engine choice if I went used Zetec it looks like Specialised Engines could do a rebuild/remanufactured service for £1100 or Stage 1 for £1500 - so I could get an as new Stage 1 engine for less than £2k depending on how much I spent on the donor engine.
Throw on a set of DanST ITB's & should have a 180 bhp engine for £3.5k.....

There's also a local company who will do the same with the Mazda engine for similar price.....

Too many decisions!

But MK are looking the favourite as their complete kits appear to be better VFM.

Edited by Woody on Saturday 22 May 09:24

If it was me (and it was about 3 years ago) I'd look at getting a second hand Westfield from toybox. All the works been done, Dale and Andrew really put their cars through the mill before they sell them, and you get unlimited support afterwards.

I know prices go up, but in 2018 I got an immaculate 2016 car (2L zetec on jenvey TBs and omex ECU) with 3k on the clock for significantly less than the prices above.

I'm now moving it on (getting another toybox car) 10k miles later and Andrew has given me an excellent part ex deal.

Edited by sociopath on Thursday 3rd June 20:31

[Woody]

sociopath said:

If it was me (and it was about 3 years ago) I'd look at getting a second hand Westfield from toybox. All the works been done, Dale and Andrew really put their cars through the mill before they sell them, and you get unlimited support afterwards.

I know prices go up, but in 2018 I got an immaculate 2016 car (2L zetec on jenvey TBs and omex ECU) with 3k on the clock for significantly less than the prices above.

I'm now moving it on (getting another toybox car) 10k miles later and Andrew has given me an excellent part ex deal.

Edited by sociopath on Thursday 3rd June 20:31

Thanks for the reply - have looked at the Toybox stock (not been over yet though) and they doe seem to put work in to them.
Will give it some consideration.

[peterrosey1]

The other side of the coin is resale - not all kit car brands hold their value. So I'd always go with a well known brand for that reason. I built a Westfield Megabusa a few cars back and the support from Westfield was great - plus the forums on WSCC are excellent. Easy to build and fun to drive. Bear in mind that building any kit car will involve a lot of factory visits etc so being close to the factory is a big plus - if you're near Westfield it's a no brainer. I also think the fit and finish of a Westfield and the bodywork mouldings are very good - much more factory than many other brands. Plus endless upgrade parts available.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Woody said:

Frankthered said:

I noticed that, but also noticed that the Mazda version lists a "complete" kit for around £13k which seems a bit more palatable but I didn't mention it because you seem to be looking at Ford - I guess the Zebec would be somewhere nearer to the Mazda?

As for things having moved on, @Turn7, the GBS cars have pretty much zero to do with the old RH products, much better designs by all accounts.

It seems £28k gets you a Caterham with a 1.6 Sigma.

Yes I had noticed the Mazda kit - I've emailed GBS to see if that includes a donor pack etc.
If I went Mazda route I'd probably do the Omex upgrade that MK are doing to get 160 out of the 1.8.

The other appeal of the Westfield is that it already comes with a fully dressed engine with smaller altenator and raceline shortened sump etc.

If you go this MX5 route consider supercharging the MX5 motor.... Ours is 220bhp , linear torque, and if it ever goes bang ( which it shouldn't ) £300 gets you a new engine. 6 speed gearbox and LSD free if you buy the right running donor car for about £1,500

[Furyblade_Lee]

As others have said though, and not wanting to kill off the sale of new kits, but you have a decent budget and you want to sell it at some point not keep, that seems clear. So yes I would consider buying a used complete running kit, you can get one for way under £10k. Use it a bit, see what you like and dislike, then strip it back to a bare chassis over a weekend with a few mates. Then refurb it, and bolt it back together like a huge meccano kit. This way you could get a "new" kit for around £15k, still have all the fun of building your own car, and you will most likely recoup over 70% of your outlay minimum . That will not be possible with a new kit in todays climate. The 90's/00's heyday of being able to build one for £12k and sell it for £12k are long gone!

[Turn7]

Furyblade_Lee said:

As others have said though, and not wanting to kill off the sale of new kits, but you have a decent budget and you want to sell it at some point not keep, that seems clear. So yes I would consider buying a used complete running kit, you can get one for way under £10k. Use it a bit, see what you like and dislike, then strip it back to a bare chassis over a weekend with a few mates. Then refurb it, and bolt it back together like a huge meccano kit. This way you could get a "new" kit for around £15k, still have all the fun of building your own car, and you will most likely recoup over 70% of your outlay minimum . That will not be possible with a new kit in todays climate. The 90's/00's heyday of being able to build one for £12k and sell it for £12k are long gone!

Plus you dont have to go thriugh the total ballache that is IVA.....