what's the "magic" ?

what's the "magic" ?

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Discussion

mattstead

Original Poster:

369 posts

253 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
In an attempt to create a new posting, that at least starts on the topic of "why we are into kitcars", I was trying to find out exactly what is is about 7's and cobras that make them SO popular? Sure if someone knew that it could be bottled and you could make a million...but as Sylvas Jeremy Philips once said to me (just before he sold the striker) "If kit owners do it [become kit owners] because they want to be different, and enjoy the attention; then why are there so many cobras and 7's"

Does make you wonder.

docevi1

10,430 posts

255 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
I would reckon it's for 2 reasons

1) the 7 style has a proven track record and every knows they are generally good handling, light cars.
2) the cobra looks nice.

It'll come down to working with a popular kit which is easy to build/understand and has a good "fan-base"/owners club to help you out.

spartan_andy

645 posts

254 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
IMHO Kitcar owners want something different from the standard eurobox that is available. In addition they want something that has got reasonable acceleration/performance but not too concerned with economy. The reason there are so many 7s about is they are easy to put together ny comparison to others and cobra's have a certain "Je ne cest quoi"(sp)

just my opinions don't want to upset anyone



PS good to see you back matt

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
Show the average man in the street pictures of a Striker (7), Ultima, Libra, Tojeiro (Cobra) and a Phantom.

I would almost guarantee that the majority would only pick the 7 and Cobra as being kits. It's what people know of as being kit cars.

I think that this means a lot of people who get into the kit car scene know of the 7s and Cobras and then decide to build one. They don't know about the others so don't consider them.

andycanam

1,225 posts

271 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
Arn't they both thought of as a little bit naughty?


For me the 7 is a practical replacment for a bike.

And the cobra has to be one of the best looking cars ever, even I (an unuasual man who dosn't like the E-type) think they are a thing of beauty.

RichardD

3,608 posts

252 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
LexSport said:
They don't know about the others so don't consider them.


This will be tested when I get round to attempting to sell my Sylva Fury. Am hoping that it won't get ignored since people don't know what it is..

Ex-Biker

1,315 posts

254 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
'7's are generally considered as cheap (or reasonably priced). People who don't know kits, know of '7's.

Cobra's are owned by old men who dreamt of the original when they were kids.

Just my opinion of course.

minimax

11,985 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
the attraction of my 7 style is that it is the fastest most fun for the least money. what can beat 110HP in a tiny tin shell with rear wheel drive & fully comp ins fo 7k miles for £300 p/a?


then there's the tail outs, the noise, the looks, the experience....blablablabla

meerkat

164 posts

274 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
andycanam said:
Arn't they both thought of as a little bit naughty?


For me the 7 is a practical replacment for a bike.

And the cobra has to be one of the best looking cars ever, even I (an unuasual man who dosn't like the E-type) think they are a thing of beauty.



Funny how opinions differ.....the Cobra does nothing for me.....it's certainly not ugly or anything, and I'm not saying I'd never have one, it just has no particular appeal to me....

Agree, also about E-type...again has no appeal to me..

Maybe I'm just wierd..?

chris_n

1,232 posts

265 months

Thursday 15th January 2004
quotequote all
Ex-Biker said:
Cobra's are owned by old men who dreamt of the original when they were kids.


Oi, I'm not an old fart!!!!

Personally speaking, reasons I chose a Cobra kit:

- One of the all-time good looking cars
- The fact it uses a V8 engine
- It's rear wheel drive (OK most kits are)
- Good choice of well-developed, well supported kits to choose from
- Good performance / handling while still remaining reasonably practical and safe
- Fairly simple mechanically
- As stated, a kit sets you apart from your average eurobox driver, or even the supposedly "cool" people slavishly driving around in their silver Audi TT's or SLKs. It distinguishes you as a proper enthusiast (I hope!). But at the same time, with Cobra replicas there is enough of a "scene" comprising other like-minded enthusiasts. It's nice to compare notes with other builders before, during and after construction.
- Hopefully a better chance than most kits of recovering a good portion of your money if you ever decide to sell it.

Think that about sums it up for me.

Chris