Strathcarron Vs Marlin/Koolkaar 5EXI
Discussion
While they do look almost identical, as ferg says, the chassis and running gear are completely different, so they're definitely not the same car.
As for whether or not Marlin obtained the body moulds from Strathcarron...
There was recent talk of Strathcarrons still being available to special order, though in view of what happened with that car I don't know if it's true.
As for whether or not Marlin obtained the body moulds from Strathcarron...
There was recent talk of Strathcarrons still being available to special order, though in view of what happened with that car I don't know if it's true.
Knowone said:
The Strathcarron was bought by a company in Cornwall.
They are currently developing it, fitting a 235bhp Honda engine and will be launching it shortly (no date yet) as a limited production model. Not a kit car and they have no plans to offer it as a kit car.
Strathcarron are still going under the control of martin miles, ex director of the orginal firm, who I don't think is from cornwall, development work is going ahead but not with a honda engine.
Knowone, your partly right though, not a kit car and I doubt ever will be.
I've covered this before elsewhere on these forums but here goes again, Strathcarron custom built aluminium honeycombe chassis, modified triumph engine, sequential gearbox, lsd, prodrive suspension, reynard design handling etc. etc.
Marlin 5exe, tubular chassis, rover engine, rover dash, rover gearbox, rover, rover, rover, rover.
I know which I prefer, and which I have sitting in the garage at the moment.
Paul
Sorry should have added Peugot 206 front Lights
>> Edited by holins on Saturday 15th May 19:44
I test drove the Strathcarron a couple of years ago, before the company went belly up. A friend actually bought one, but had more problems with it than you could list. It was a shame really. As people have said, on paper it had a lot to offer, but the costs of developing the chassis and mechanicals for the Strathcarron meant that the company was doomed from the start. If perhaps the company had started with the idea of using the K-series engine, they may still have been in business and sold a lot more of what was really a very good car. I had a new Elise at the time, and Strathcarron wanted more money than I paid for the Lotus for their car, when at the same time specifications and detail were still being finalised. Although they made a very fair promise that if customers bought a car, they would get any upgrades, it makes for a bit of a pain of an ownership proposition.
Still, if the firm is rising from the ashes, I wish them well.
Still, if the firm is rising from the ashes, I wish them well.
Xm5eR said:
So, what do you rekon Graham.
Could you do a head to head? There seems to be quite a lot of interest in the 5exi (I really would need to rebadge it).
Whoops, seem to have missed progress on this thread for some reason.
Head to head would certainly be interesting, but there are practical difficulties regarding insurance (for private car) and venue.
Obviously need to get everybody in same place at same time, which could be easier said than done, especially as I'm not sure what I'm doing from one week to the next at the moment.
A test track might be best for this type of thing, but sadly that's beyond PH's budget.
Have to give it some thought.
PS. If you did get a 5exi you could simply leave the badges off.
Xm5eR said:
Are they pretty much the same car or is it just the GRP moulds that are the same?
If so, its a bit of a bargain. A nice rover turbo engine would move it along a treat!
Hey, big business oportunity!!!
Who want's to help me take some moulds off my Libra.....I reckon we could undercut GTM!!!
ferg said:
Are they pretty much the same car or is it just the GRP moulds that are the same?
If so, its a bit of a bargain. A nice rover turbo engine would move it along a treat!
Hey, big business oportunity!!!
Who want's to help me take some moulds off my Libra.....I reckon we could undercut GTM!!!
We could fit a Duratec engine. Hey Presto - new kit car on the market!
BTW. Does that make me a partner?
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