Hi there, I've been directed to this site from PistonHeads and told it's the place to go to find out about locosts, so hello all

I've decided to take the step into locost ownership and have been hunting around for a suitable (pre-built) car, it seems that all the various makes have their own advocates, and so I'm largely basing my decision on budget constraints! I'm looking at the £4-5k mark, and was wondering what is generally recommended? I apologise if this is a particularly ignorant question!

What do people think of this example? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/798677.htm It seems fairly priced if it's in good condition, and the zetec is presumably a step up from the more common pinto. I thought I'd get some expert opinions before I wade in though!

Thanks!

Hi and welcome to the Forum,

Congrats on deciding to go for a KitCar in general, but it's the wrong engine and gearbox for me personally...

BEC is the only way...

Thanks for the welcome

I was thinking about a BEC, I'm not averse to the idea, but they seem to be a fair chunk more expensive to buy unfortunately. Plus I already own a GSXR so I've got one silly revving vehicle already

I don't know anything about Tigers so I can't comment on the car. But if you want a BEC then it doable. There must be plenty of blade/ZX9 cars around for your budget these days. Like this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/869066.htm

you should be used to it then bec for men cec for wimps

What I would say is try and get a ride in both types.

I was pretty much seet on buying a BEC from the start, my dad owns a CEC and even though it is a pinto it is a fantastic car in my opinion.

But BEC is just nuts and thats what I was after some thing different. After all if I want to drive a CEC I jump in my tin top

But really worth trying both out and seeing which is for you.

as above dont know about that car so cant comment.

YQUSTA

quote:

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Originally posted by YQUSTA
What I would say is try and get a ride in both types.

I was pretty much seet on buying a BEC from the start, my dad owns a CEC and even though it is a pinto it is a fantastic car in my opinion.

But BEC is just nuts and thats what I was after some thing different. After all if I want to drive a CEC I jump in my tin top

But really worth trying both out and seeing which is for you.

as above dont know about that car so cant comment.

YQUSTA

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It looks like that car has had an engine swap at some point- there's a big blanking plate on the nearside chassis, presumably to cover up the hole for the previous exhaust headers.....

Welcome to the nut house!

If you've not already been in one then get a ride in a BEC to decide that (not if ) you want one. It took me about 30secs to change my plans from Zetec to BEC.

That Avon looks like it might have had a Pinto in at some point (exhaust hole on the o/s?). They also use the complete Sierra rear sub-frame I think, so they tend to be a bit heavy (for a 7).

MNR, MK and Mac#1 all have thier fans.

adrian

Thanks for all the replies everyone, what a great response Seems the BEC is popular here I had spotted that Indyblade before, but it's all the way in Mersey, so not very practical to get there really. Plus I neglected to mention that the car will be my main form of transport, so it needs a slight nod at practicality! (Not too much though, as I walk to work & live near a tube station, so can get by without a car.) If anyone is near Watford and would like to volunteer a passenger ride I'd be more than up for it though!

With regard to the Tiger I mentioned, I wondered about that exhaust hole, I just presumed the kit came like that, sounds like I was wrong though! It also sounds like the kit is quite heavy, but is this not the case for all the Sierra based kits?

edit: forgot to mention that my brother used to own a 1.6 k series Caterham, and I thoroughly enjoyed trackdays and the like in that, so anything similar/better is what I'm after! (Although I understand most kits will be heavier & less sophisticated.)

[Edited on 21/2/09 by Mellow Matt]

A well set up caterham is quite an impressive track day car if driven well, regardless of engine.

If you don't get the offer of a rideout in the next month or so and also haven't bought a car, then do yourself a favour, get to the Stoneleigh KC show, beg someone to take you out in a BEC, and get ready to have sore cheeks (from grinning like an idiot - not pooping yourself!)...

In fact, ask "Loco R1" if he wouldn't mind taking you for a Quick spin...

[Edited on 21/2/09 by Steve Hignett]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mellow Matt

With regard to the Tiger I mentioned, I wondered about that exhaust hole, I just presumed the kit came like that, sounds like I was wrong though! It also sounds like the kit is quite heavy, but is this not the case for all the Sierra based kits?

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There is a monthly meet at Baldock usually on the 1st Sunday of the month, only 20mins north from Watford.

Check out www.sg7kitcars.co.uk

Normally a good selection of cars, the people are great and probably someone that would take you out for a ride too.
John usually posts a reminder on here just before the meetings.

I have just seen this on Piston heads.

Look at my avatar

Does that look familiar? I had wondered what happened to my old Cat. It has been through a couple of hands since I sold it.

It was first SVA/registered with a 1600 Pinto, hence the hole for the exhaust and it wasn't made with all new parts as the current owner is stating that was just the registration Ipswich DVLA gave me and I wasn't going to argue.

It has home made throttle bodies and did have and Emerald ECU and turned out 150bhp at Emerald when the engine was brand new.

Contact me offlist if I can be of any other help.

[Edited on 21/2/09 by Schrodinger]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mellow Matt
Thanks for all the replies everyone, what a great response Seems the BEC is popular here I had spotted that Indyblade before, but it's all the way in Mersey, so not very practical to get there really. Plus I neglected to mention that the car will be my main form of transport, so it needs a slight nod at practicality! (Not too much though, as I walk to work & live near a tube station, so can get by without a car.) If anyone is near Watford and would like to volunteer a passenger ride I'd be more than up for it though!

With regard to the Tiger I mentioned, I wondered about that exhaust hole, I just presumed the kit came like that, sounds like I was wrong though! It also sounds like the kit is quite heavy, but is this not the case for all the Sierra based kits?

edit: forgot to mention that my brother used to own a 1.6 k series Caterham, and I thoroughly enjoyed trackdays and the like in that, so anything similar/better is what I'm after! (Although I understand most kits will be heavier & less sophisticated.)

[Edited on 21/2/09 by Mellow Matt]

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Even a stripped out tin top with no back seats etc will be FAR heavier than any 7 kit. So a 7 that is "heavier" than another will not be such a big deal will it? They are all pretty light comparitively.

[Edited on 21/2/09 by RK]

Thanks for all the further replies, helpful stuff Are there any particular problems one should look for when buying a kit, or more specifically a Tiger?

Having read around the site constantly since joining, and readjusting my priorities, I'm now thinking a BEC might be a good idea...

Is the difference as significant as people seem to make out though? For example would the difference between a 600kg 130bhp CEC and a 500kg 130bhp BEC make the BEC more worthwhile (in terms of performance & general maintenance & hassle, all other things being equal)? Bearing in mind that this would be my first proper performance car, and the fact that at the moment I have limited mechanical skills! (I'm only a young 'un )

Again I apologise if this is a question that has been asked before, or is a bit stupid! Everyone seems pretty friendly here though so I thought I'd double check everything!

(edit: have just read this thread: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=105041&page=&contribmessage=none and it's pretty informative, but any extra advice would be nice!)

[Edited on 23/2/09 by Mellow Matt]

2 years into a cec in canada, and i think you can't go wrong in the UK with anything. There is so much help not far away that there is bound to be somebody to give a hand. It only takes money, don't forget.

Heheh that's true. I've been reading the various CEC vs BEC threads on here, and it seems the main reason people reject BECs are because of reliability worries. But then the BEC advocates argue that they're perfectly reliable as long as they're sumped properly and maintained. And then the CEC advocates say they know # number of BECs that have blown up lol It seems an eternal debate!

For argument's sake, if a bike engine completely lunched itself, what kind of money are you looking at to replace the lump with another (nothing fancy, for example just an old 'blade)?

I am probably the only one on here who gets physically sick playing those F1 video games because of the constant engine noise. I certainly don't want it in a car I'll be driving.

I bot myself a BEC about 3 months back. You could use them for everyday IMO. Its no diff to your gixxer. At low revs it just sounds like a sporty car with a straight through (well mine does). It only gets 'F1' like or loud when you gas it above 7k floored.

Mine witll pull from 1700rpm and 6th gear at 30 to 40 is low revsn & quiet

Bike engines a p*ss easy to work on - only pain if you intent to have it as an everyday motor is the lack of reverse. Fine for 99% of driving but parallel parking is an issue

I think there brilliant though. You'll soon learn your way around one. I came from being a biker and moto crosser to this. Guys on here helped massively and I soon learnt my way around one

Goodluck with the purchase

Thanks Dean, that's pretty encouraging