Advise for a newbie
Discussion
A friend of mine is looking to buy a completed kit car and is currently considering a Robin Hood D2 (I think that's what he said) I have searched on the forum and Robin Hood seem to have been roundly slated. Are they really that bad for a newbie to the scene? He has fairly good technical knowledge and would probably use it as a stepping stone to future self builds.
Robin Hoods tend to be slated because they are built down to a budget and ter is very little real help from the factory once bought and paid for.
The up side is the largest single Owners club and a massive amount of help and advice on the web due to the numbers sold. The S2 (think I'm right)is probably not as capable as some other seven type cars but is one hell of a lot cheaper and as you say a good introduction to Kit ownership without the cost of a More expensively engineered car.
I had one and loved it, what do you expect for about three Grand?
HTH Nick
The up side is the largest single Owners club and a massive amount of help and advice on the web due to the numbers sold. The S2 (think I'm right)is probably not as capable as some other seven type cars but is one hell of a lot cheaper and as you say a good introduction to Kit ownership without the cost of a More expensively engineered car.
I had one and loved it, what do you expect for about three Grand?
HTH Nick
Hi there, and welcome to the kitcar forum, now the old joke is that "one day robin hoods will make excellent donors for sierra restoration projects".
Now to be honest I used to believe this, but it all depends what you want from the car, RH tended to be slated, for forging a path for averageness....they don't quite look like caterhams, but don't exactly not do, they are a 2 seater sports car, that isn't very sporty, they aren't the cheapest kit to build, but certainly aren't the most expensive etc, etc. It all depends what you are after, very much like your road car. If you want a no compromise all out sportster then they probably aren't for you if you want the fun of owning a kit, being different, enjoying your car for what it is and can do with like minded owners then it has to come fairly high on the list. Personally, for the same sort of money I'd be looking for a Tiger cat, but that's just me.
Now to be honest I used to believe this, but it all depends what you want from the car, RH tended to be slated, for forging a path for averageness....they don't quite look like caterhams, but don't exactly not do, they are a 2 seater sports car, that isn't very sporty, they aren't the cheapest kit to build, but certainly aren't the most expensive etc, etc. It all depends what you are after, very much like your road car. If you want a no compromise all out sportster then they probably aren't for you if you want the fun of owning a kit, being different, enjoying your car for what it is and can do with like minded owners then it has to come fairly high on the list. Personally, for the same sort of money I'd be looking for a Tiger cat, but that's just me.
As Nick says – damn good car for the money.
You could spend more on a ‘superior’ make but it won’t necessarily increase the size of the grin on your face when blasting down country lanes.
Nor will it necessarily buy you improved reliability.
The only shortcoming is that arguably it won’t go round corners quite as quick as other makes. If you’re not bothered about that – and I wouldn’t be – then tell your mate to buy it and enjoy.
Nick is a testament to the fact that Robin Hood’s aren’t that bad. He went on to build another kit and I bet it won’t be his last either.
Matt reckons that they’re not exactly sporty. He has a point, but a low to the ground, open top with little by way of refinement (like sound deadening for example) is going to make it feel like a resin rocket. The feel is enough for most folk.
Another point is that your mate will be able to sell the Robin Hood at any stage, without loosing out financially. Point being that he’s buying the car - not marrying it. So he can upgrade without applying for a divorce or loosing half his house. They are in demand, so selling with a view to moving up-market isn’t going to be a problem.
Den
You could spend more on a ‘superior’ make but it won’t necessarily increase the size of the grin on your face when blasting down country lanes.
Nor will it necessarily buy you improved reliability.
The only shortcoming is that arguably it won’t go round corners quite as quick as other makes. If you’re not bothered about that – and I wouldn’t be – then tell your mate to buy it and enjoy.
Nick is a testament to the fact that Robin Hood’s aren’t that bad. He went on to build another kit and I bet it won’t be his last either.
Matt reckons that they’re not exactly sporty. He has a point, but a low to the ground, open top with little by way of refinement (like sound deadening for example) is going to make it feel like a resin rocket. The feel is enough for most folk.
Another point is that your mate will be able to sell the Robin Hood at any stage, without loosing out financially. Point being that he’s buying the car - not marrying it. So he can upgrade without applying for a divorce or loosing half his house. They are in demand, so selling with a view to moving up-market isn’t going to be a problem.
Den
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