Kit car virgin
Discussion
Morning all, I am looking into selling my TVR and building a 7 kit. I have two companies near me, MK Sports Cars and XCS Designs. I would be greatful if anyone who has had dealings with either could give some feedback. Please message me if you don't want to put it on here. I am particularly interested in any experience with the XCS suspension which is there USP.
Many thanks,
Trev.
Many thanks,
Trev.
Hadn’t heard of XCS before, so I had a look. The suspension system looks quite clever, but it is only available on their 427 model - it isn’t on their 7-type car.
Also, looking at the pictures of the 7-type, I’d say they’ve lowered it as far as possible to make it look low and wide. Check out the front suspension - the lower spring collar is wound to the bottom of the shock body and the only travel left is taken up by the bump stop.
Also, looking at the pictures of the 7-type, I’d say they’ve lowered it as far as possible to make it look low and wide. Check out the front suspension - the lower spring collar is wound to the bottom of the shock body and the only travel left is taken up by the bump stop.
Edited by Nigel_O on Tuesday 16th April 11:02
Cant comment directly on either company.
I can comment more generally having built two kit cars and renovated several other vehicles.
Be sure your motivations are right for going down this route - the time required is not insignificant - even for a well designed kit.
The cost and faff of getting the car through IVA for registration is annoying.
You may well find it more cost effective to buy a car built by someone else and correctly registered...then treat it as a fun project to modify to your taste.
Having said all that - being given a pile of brand new shiny parts and spending the time bolting them all together is incredibly rewarding
I can comment more generally having built two kit cars and renovated several other vehicles.
Be sure your motivations are right for going down this route - the time required is not insignificant - even for a well designed kit.
The cost and faff of getting the car through IVA for registration is annoying.
You may well find it more cost effective to buy a car built by someone else and correctly registered...then treat it as a fun project to modify to your taste.
Having said all that - being given a pile of brand new shiny parts and spending the time bolting them all together is incredibly rewarding
Speaking of experience from a long time back now, the MK was a Locost derivative and the Dax Rush was a far more thoroughly designed high quality offering. I don't know how much that still holds true.
MK now uses MX5 running gear, no bad thing as the front upright on the MX5 has great camber compensation which will really move the game on from Cortina or Sierra struts used previously.
The Dax, now XCS, has a properly clever front end geometry and a purpose built knuckle that works really well in practice, I suspect at an increased cost vs the MK. I drove one many years ago and it's very effective, but I haven't driven an MX5 derived Locost so I can't compare. Suspect you'll need to drive both and see what you think.
Sadly neither website seems to contain a pic of the chassis to judge how well they've been designed under the skin.
For looks, I'd rather the XCS but obv that's subjective.
MK now uses MX5 running gear, no bad thing as the front upright on the MX5 has great camber compensation which will really move the game on from Cortina or Sierra struts used previously.
The Dax, now XCS, has a properly clever front end geometry and a purpose built knuckle that works really well in practice, I suspect at an increased cost vs the MK. I drove one many years ago and it's very effective, but I haven't driven an MX5 derived Locost so I can't compare. Suspect you'll need to drive both and see what you think.
Sadly neither website seems to contain a pic of the chassis to judge how well they've been designed under the skin.
For looks, I'd rather the XCS but obv that's subjective.
tegwin said:
You may well find it more cost effective to buy a car built by someone else and correctly registered...then treat it as a fun project to modify to your taste.
Having said all that - being given a pile of brand new shiny parts and spending the time bolting them all together is incredibly rewarding
Having bought a few cars and restored them over the years and built a Caterham from a new kit I can concur that it's much nicer not having to deal with rust, seized nuts and bolts, haphazard wiring, sheer mechanical stupidity and general bodgery.Having said all that - being given a pile of brand new shiny parts and spending the time bolting them all together is incredibly rewarding
Just looked at XCS, the Dieci looks massive compared to a Caterham assuming they're genuine photos not CGI.
The Cobra may feel like an extreme TVR with less comfort and finesse.
Edited by Skyedriver on Tuesday 16th April 19:20
Turn7 said:
OP, what are you hoping for as an end result ?
Good question.I want to build a fast fun car to get back into doing a few track days. I did quite a few in my Chim but just fancy a change. I have watched so many videos of different builds and have decided to aim for around 250bhp so probably have to be something like a Mazda turbo. I am not keen on the bike engine's. I know I could probably buy one for less than it will cost me to build it myself, but I have got the time to do it now and I do like a challenge.
If you can't now get the CC&AR suspension on the 'Seven' model, only the 'Cobra', it may be a moot point, but I'd definitely suggest driving one before you decide.
It's a very clever system, but the one thing it can't do (no geometric suspension system can) is separate out single wheel bumps from roll and pitch. When the website is talking about how the system deals with bump movement, it really means dive or squat, where both wheels at one end of the car are in bump or heave at the same time.
The practical outcome to this with the CC&AR system is that when you hit a single-wheel bump, the suspension tries to resolve it part as 'bump' movement and part as 'roll' movement. In the example I drove (which was many years ago, when the project was under Dax's ownership), this resulted in a slightly odd-feeling sideways 'rocking' motion when you hit a single wheel bump. It might not bother you (you might not even notice it), but it felt strange to me. You can intuitively feel that the roll and pitch geometry are 'decoupled'.
Not intended as suggesting that the system is in any way bad, just that it felt (to me) a wee bit... unusual.
It's a very clever system, but the one thing it can't do (no geometric suspension system can) is separate out single wheel bumps from roll and pitch. When the website is talking about how the system deals with bump movement, it really means dive or squat, where both wheels at one end of the car are in bump or heave at the same time.
The practical outcome to this with the CC&AR system is that when you hit a single-wheel bump, the suspension tries to resolve it part as 'bump' movement and part as 'roll' movement. In the example I drove (which was many years ago, when the project was under Dax's ownership), this resulted in a slightly odd-feeling sideways 'rocking' motion when you hit a single wheel bump. It might not bother you (you might not even notice it), but it felt strange to me. You can intuitively feel that the roll and pitch geometry are 'decoupled'.
Not intended as suggesting that the system is in any way bad, just that it felt (to me) a wee bit... unusual.
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