Radical costs?
Discussion
The question is, v's an Elise or Exige where is a Radical likelly to be more or less expensive?
Insurance
Servicing (intervals?)
Fuel
Depreciation
Parts/labour
I can stretch to a SR4 or a used SR3 but wondering how much it's going to cost to run. Oh, and the car would definatly be used on the road (if I were just going to run a car for the track I'd get a used single seater)
Thanks in advance.
Insurance
Servicing (intervals?)
Fuel
Depreciation
Parts/labour
I can stretch to a SR4 or a used SR3 but wondering how much it's going to cost to run. Oh, and the car would definatly be used on the road (if I were just going to run a car for the track I'd get a used single seater)
Thanks in advance.
The Radical is a totally different car in almost every way to an Elise or Exige - how much road driving are you realistically expecting and how hardcore are you (and be honest bearing in mind lack of heater etc as well as low ground clearance and far stiffer suspension).
They cost relatively little to run, it is primarily a track/race car so there isn't as far as I'm aware a service schedule as such. The 1500 engine variant needs a regular refresh after 30 or so hours under track conditions. Factory provide excellent support and parts in my experience, labour rate is I think about 45 an hour (plus vat?).
Road insurance, I think DannyLT got his insured for 300 a year on a limited miles policy?
They cost relatively little to run, it is primarily a track/race car so there isn't as far as I'm aware a service schedule as such. The 1500 engine variant needs a regular refresh after 30 or so hours under track conditions. Factory provide excellent support and parts in my experience, labour rate is I think about 45 an hour (plus vat?).
Road insurance, I think DannyLT got his insured for 300 a year on a limited miles policy?
Heater and stiff suspension? What makes it hardcore is the engine bolted into chassis, straight cut and low-geared drivetrain, lack of rain protection and the fact that it will draw excess plod attention regardless of how you drive! Great for an occasional sunny bimble, but nowhere near as practical as an S1 Elise for mixed journeys and driving to trackdays (which I also have).
Otherwise fuel consumption (with FI at least) at road speeds is probably above 20mpg and insurance is very reasonable
Otherwise fuel consumption (with FI at least) at road speeds is probably above 20mpg and insurance is very reasonable
Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting to use the car in the same way - I'd intend to keep the Elise (and the Smart..).
Interested in comparativve finger-in-the-air cost between Elise/Exige territory and Radical - if the Radical on circa 5000miles a year road (Sunday bimbles and odd sunnyday commute plus to/fro/trackdays (some on the continent).
This 'engine rebuilds afer 40 hours' stuff sounds very worryingly expensive.
Interested in comparativve finger-in-the-air cost between Elise/Exige territory and Radical - if the Radical on circa 5000miles a year road (Sunday bimbles and odd sunnyday commute plus to/fro/trackdays (some on the continent).
This 'engine rebuilds afer 40 hours' stuff sounds very worryingly expensive.
I've used mine on road and track with little problem. It's standard 1300 Hyabusa except on carbs. They require a bit more TLC than an Exige but you get a *much* better driving experience on track. Like most things, there are pros / cons and as long you're prepared to accept that, no probs.
Radical's make great value used buys, speaking as someone selling his £40k car for £25k now.
(see Radical ads here)
I've had an Elise (ok) and Exige (great) in the past but they haven't given me the lifetime memories the SR3 has. What price do you put on that?
Radical's make great value used buys, speaking as someone selling his £40k car for £25k now.
(see Radical ads here) I've had an Elise (ok) and Exige (great) in the past but they haven't given me the lifetime memories the SR3 has. What price do you put on that?
I couldn`t agree more with the above comments....it really is an experience to be had... if you are in a position to do it.....then it`s a must! I think the engine rebuild costs quoted above are based on it being driven hard...ie redline through gears, heavy on the box etc. They are an extreme road car as Danny and others have stated...........but worth it!
chris sideways said:I think track day use is less harsh, since there's no need to wring it out the whole time, and there are always pauses when you are waiting behind other cars. Certainly after a year of track days my engine had full compression and bugger all leak down. I had it refreshed anyway since the crappy water pump had failed and I wanted to make sure all was fine.
Think you will be very lucky to get 40hrs between rebuilds!!!Unless it's all road use that is.
Not all mid-engine, bike powered track-day cars need £4000 engine refreshes... 
And not all cost a fortune to maintain either...
Best Regards,
Steve
www.turner-auto-design.com
>> Edited by coramlmp on Saturday 29th January 23:44
And not all cost a fortune to maintain either...
Best Regards,
Steve
www.turner-auto-design.com
>> Edited by coramlmp on Saturday 29th January 23:44
Don't know about frequency, but I've been told (as quoted in the thread above) that it's £4000.
Steve.
www.turner-auto-design.com
Steve.
www.turner-auto-design.com
Beware uninformed comment then!
In my experience it doesn't cost anywhere like £4k for the refresh. It depends how you've used the engine of course, muppetty buzzing and snatching the wrong gears all the time might get you to this level of cost. Mine and Danny's refreshes last year cost in the region of £16-1800 if I remember correctly. Of course, you normally take the opportunity to get the whole car thoroughly inspected, plus adding a few of the latest spec tweaks. That would take the bill higher of course.
It all depends on what you are comparing to. Sure, there are cheaper ways of going round the track, but I look at it another way: the SR3 works out way cheaper than my GT3 for regular track day use - for a start it hardly uses brakes and tyres in comparison, and is way way quicker.
In my experience it doesn't cost anywhere like £4k for the refresh. It depends how you've used the engine of course, muppetty buzzing and snatching the wrong gears all the time might get you to this level of cost. Mine and Danny's refreshes last year cost in the region of £16-1800 if I remember correctly. Of course, you normally take the opportunity to get the whole car thoroughly inspected, plus adding a few of the latest spec tweaks. That would take the bill higher of course.
It all depends on what you are comparing to. Sure, there are cheaper ways of going round the track, but I look at it another way: the SR3 works out way cheaper than my GT3 for regular track day use - for a start it hardly uses brakes and tyres in comparison, and is way way quicker.
I agree with you, mine isn't road legal and apart from the novelty factor of driving such a car every so often on the road I personally couldn't see the point.
As a very quick track car it is great value in my experience. And if you don't like trailering, give it to a man with an artic lorry!
As a very quick track car it is great value in my experience. And if you don't like trailering, give it to a man with an artic lorry!
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