F355 replica's

[Ex-Biker]

I've noticed on other 'gassing station's' talk about converting MR2's into Ferrari's, but not on here.

Is it not a kit?

Needless to say, the comments have not been that favourable. Things like "it looks ok until you park it next to a real one" and "it's too high, too narrow and too long"

Anyone got any thoughts?

Anyone built one?

Anyone want to?

[Mr2Mike]

No way, horrible contraption that serves no purpose other than posing. The MR2 is a nice car in it's own right, why slap huge mounds of GRP on top to try and turn it into something it isn't.

Have you seen the rear wheel spacers they use? Very scary, certainly not what I'd want on a performance car.

The last point is that they cost a fortune to make, money which could much better be put into a decent kit car.

[Sparks]

Mr2Mike said:

<snip> The last point is that they cost a fortune to make, money which could much better be put into a decent kit car.

Or put into making the MR2 unique (subtle bodykit) and improving the braking, handling and power (320 is easily obtainable).

Much better than the naff 'bolt on' replica kits.

Now a 246 Dino replica (proper kit) is a different matter.

Sparks

[tesser53]

Hi, Just joined so new to all this forum thing.
So this maybe old hat but I think that all the people against Replicas are missing the point as using something like an MR2 which can be bought,run and maintained at a reasonable cost with the looks of a Ferrari is the best solution. sure we would all love to have a 'real' Ferrari but who wants the running costs that go with them, plus they have no spare or boot space! Also how many of the anti's have modified their 2's to look different?Why not have the looks - which on kits like the Extreme are very acurate(taking account of the difference in dimensions)and are NOT hard to build and usually cost LESS to insure than an original MR2 and nowhere near the cost for a real F355! For years people have been building XR's and Cosworths from 1100 Escorts and 1600 Sierras because they can't AFFORD the real ones, plus look how many Lotus 7's and Cobra copies there are around with just a 1300 or 2000cc engines under the hood!
Sure if I had the money I would have a REAL F355 but not for everyday use! But coming back to the real world I would rather have a replica Ferrari than spending a fortune on a TRD kit which in my opinion looks ugly from some angles! Just my view - all those who I have read against have not really costed out building a 'rep' which is why they make inaccurate remarks! Remember - 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' so live and let live!

[deathbyfish]

Gazboy said:

It would be cheaper to buy the Ferrari, if you went the whole hog with the full kit, which includes a very fiddly job moving the lights further towards the nose, obviously the Fez will cost more to insure and service, personally I would have an Esprit V8.

i would like to see you find a ferrari for less than 10k and then theres insureance!

i am building a 355 replica, i'm sure to get loads of abuse for it but who cares! anyway first reason for doing it was i wanted a practical kit car that looked nice. you find me a more practical car with £250 insureance (i,ve already got it insured!). i do have an old ginetta g31 which is quite practical but it looks a bit weird and rattles and leaks and acctually costs more to insure.

the kit i have is about 6 1/2 foot wide at the back, and for some stupid reason i've measured the wheel arches found out i could technicaly fit 16" wide wheels so now i've got some 14" wide centerlines and am currently looking for some tyres! (i have no idea what it will do to the handling but i'll find out sooner or later!).

all of the original pannels of the car except the roof and the doors have been compleatly removed. not to mention the back behind the engine has been chopped off compleatly! this has lost a hell of a lot of weight.

really the kit i'm using is a bit crap (i've had to make the kit into a flip front because a privious owner cut the bonnet up!), the pannels dont fit very well and thers a lot of fillering to do. and its taken a lot of time to get this far, but hopefully when its done it'll be better then the other 355 replicas (or possibly just weirder!).

if i have time later on i'll post some pics.

[pwig]

You are doing it to 'pose' and therefore you are 100% shallow.

You are using a car to make you look better.


If you want a good handling car, just keep it looking standard.

If you want to drive a car to look good, then you are just as bad as the max power crew.

[andygtt]

I personnely wouldn't do one, but flaming someone just because they would is a cheap shot.
Also insinuating they have issue just because they are is quite frankly petty and I'll leave the rest of my views behind on that.

IMO the ferrari looks much better and is also much more exclusive than the MR2.

Surelly you guys must have the same views on the cobras and lambo kit owners?

[huwbertus]

So let me get this right.

Crap Metro into Audi TT look a like = OK
Decent MR2 into Ferarri look a like = NOK

So what constitutes a good replica based on a single donor where the original floor / chassis and running gear is used?

[meeja]

huwbertus said:

So let me get this right. Crap Metro into Audi TT look a like = OK Decent MR2 into Ferarri look a like = NOK

Who says a Metro conversion to Audi TT is OK?

Personally, I think some of the MR2 - 355 conversions look exceptional (apart from the rear wheel spacers )

Unless of sourse, as someone has already said, you park it next to the real thing!

They are just not my cup of tea.

[pwig]

No replica is OK unless you can't buy the car anymore, then it is _just_ about acceptable.

GT40's were ok, until the new GT came out now they are just naff.

Cobras with V8s in a cool.

Anything else can fook right off.

[peter450]

"So this maybe old hat but I think that all the people against Replicas are missing the point as using something like an MR2 which can be bought,run and maintained at a reasonable cost with the looks of a Ferrari is the best solution."
what point is being missed? ppl buy a real ferrari for 2 reasons
1 because they are enthiaust drivers an want a good drivers car with performance an flair
2 to pose an show off in having little interest in anything on the car other than the badge

spending all that money to make a mr2 (a good car as it goes)into somthing it clearly is'nt y is that being done? if you want a good drivers car get a nice second hand lotus or even do a few not to expensive upgrades to the mr2 its a good drivers car, turning it into a wannabe ferrari basically tells everyone your a number 2 reason ferrari owner but without the cash to actually buy one it sends out a very "look at me" an "me too" message an thats y most ppl find the idea tacky an tastless an most ppl will react to it accordingly

i don't mean any rudeness in this post i dont know you an you could be a very nice an decent chap but most ppl who see you driving around in somthing like that will make the above asumption but if your cool with that go for it an enjoy

[deathbyfish]

does that mean all the bug and hot rod people are the same as the max power crew.

i used to read a lot of beatle magazines and i still read a few hot rod magazines. theres at least 50% of the hot rod pople and 75% of the beetle pople dont do much to the engine ect and just do it to have a nice looking car.

this is the reason i'm doing it,and like useual i have to be diffent!

there is a guy on here somewhere thats built one of these that accelarates faster than the real thing! i wont be going to that extent although it might get a supercharger when i can afford it.

[pwig]

Yes.

If someone drives a car to make them look better, rather than for driving enjoyment, they are just as bad as the Max Power crew.

[gemini]

one for sale when I was looking about t'other day

[zetec_s6]

What's wrong with building a replica of a car that you really like the style of but can't afford the real thing?

Why build a replica Cobra for £20k when you could have a real one for 10 times the price.

[anonymous-user]

pwig said:

Yes. If someone drives a car to make them look better, rather than for driving enjoyment, they are just as bad as the Max Power crew.

I tell you what Pwig, shall we all call you a for buying a knackered old BMW to make yourself look like a balding middle aged sales rep?

Different strokes for different folks. Cars mean different things to different people. I wouldn't every go for an MR2 based Fezza rep, but I may one day build a Ford GT rep. And it'll have a hell of a lot more in common with the Le Mans racer than any cynical "retro" thing churned out by Detroit.

No real offence intended, I just get narked sometimes by the incredibly small minded attitude taken by some people on this site.

[chrisx666]

You can get a reasonable Ferrari Mondial for 10-13k and it would be the real thing. Or maybe a 308 for 16-18. The replica route seems pretty strange considering, but there you go. Even insurance and parts prices are pretty good on these older cars.

There are some fantastic looking (and performing) original design kit cars out there nowadays - much more fun than a replica IMO.

[zetec_s6]

A Ferrari Mondial looks even less like a 355 than an MR2 convertion. Surely this thread is about Ferrari 355s not any old Ferrari you can buy for 3 times the price?

I personally wouldn't build one as I don't think they look right but it's a personal choice. There are plenty of production cars, not to mention kit cars, on the road that I can't understand people buying but I don't go up to owners and tell them.

[chrisx666]

3 times the price? The 355 copies on Autotrader range from 12500 to 19000.

I just don't agree with putting badges from another manufacturer on a car - it's like putting someone else's picture in your chat room profile and lying about your age..

[zetec_s6]

If you just want to drive a Ferrari you'd might as well buy a real one. But if your dream car was a F355 but you don't have £50k+ for a real one why not build a replica.