David Jenkins
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| posted on 23/12/15 at 04:47 PM |
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I think that there may be another factor in the decline of kit cars - most people I know who have built their own cars are "of a certain
age" who, in their early days, were taught how to use tools and make stuff. This may have been in school (like me) or in their working careers
(also for me, in my very early working days). How many kids since the 60s or 70s have had much exposure to the pleasure of building things? Not that
many, I suspect.
Obviously there are exceptions - I know that there have been a few young builders on this forum, and good luck to them, but most I've met have
been late 30s, many much older. Some of this is to do with having built up a career so that they have some spare cash, but mostly (I believe)
it's because few younger ones have had exposure to the fun of making big and complex things with their own hands.
It's all a bit depressing, really...
Never mind, soon be Christmas!
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twybrow
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| posted on 23/12/15 at 05:03 PM |
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I would throw into the mix the impact that the Haynes (car and forum) had had on LCB. This forum has suffered from very little investment/updating,
meaning it now does not work well on mobile devices, which is an oversight imho. There have also been some very public altercations on the forum over
the last few years, and that has helped to push regulars away. Honestly speaking. Lastly, as annoying as it can be, the default answer of 'use
the search button' has meant many people shy away from asking questions, so the front page just is not as interesting as it once was. Shame as
LCB was my second home for quite a while, but it just isn't what it once was..
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daniel mason
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| posted on 23/12/15 at 05:08 PM |
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I agree David. I was one of the younger ones when I sold my 1st mnr,(mid 20's) which I bought mid build and took to Mnr for sva. I then decided
it would be fun to build one so bought another Mnr in kit form and plonked a Honda S2000 f20c lump in it. It was pretty early in the build where I
realised I didn't have the skills needed,or the time as the limited skills I had meant every job took twice as long as it should.
In the end It never made it through the the Iva and was sold as a track car to France.i was pretty happy to see it go really even though I had
hundreds of hours invested in it.On the plus side the car was faultless on track for the buyer and other than pads and oil it needed nothing.
I can't see myself building another unless I ever have children wanting to build with me, and I now much prefer competing on the hillclimbs than
I ever did building!
[Edited on 23/12/15 by daniel mason]
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 23/12/15 at 06:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
I would throw into the mix the impact that the Haynes (car and forum) had had on LCB.
I look at that forum occasionally - it looks even less lively than this one!
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beaver34
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 11:05 AM |
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Facebook groups & social media is why forums are slowing down, i use them far more than this forum now
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Sam_68
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 12:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
When the forum started there was plenty of "locost Builders" building from scratch, as the years have gone on I think far less people
build from scratch and buy kits
Bu doesn't that just reflect the peak and decline of the 'Locost' trend, the same that all trends and fashions peak in popularity,
then decline? The 'Locost' phenomenon was big, but not without precedent - some people will remember Staniforth's Terrapins and
'High Speed, Low Cost', or the books on building yourself an Austin 750 special, from the 1950's, or plans-built cars like the JC
Midge and Burlington Beretta.
Prior to the Ron Champion book, not that many people built from scratch - kits were much more popular - and we're simply returning to that
position now that it's sunk in that a large amount of time and effort is required to make really big savings over a kit-built project. For most
people with busy lives, kits make more sense in terms of the balance of time spent vs. cost vs. skills required vs. satisfaction gained; it's as
simple as that.
The scope of this forum has expanded to reflect that over the years - with sub forums added to cater for the various kit marques -which I think is a
good thing. But perhaps it's only really apparent once you're 'through the door' so to speak. Would a change of the
forum's name help attract broader interest, I wonder?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 12:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Sam_68
Would a change of the forum's name help attract broader interest, I wonder?
I've had people ask me if I was a brickie or a plasterer when I was wearing my LocostBuilders T-shirt...
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907
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 02:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by Sam_68
Would a change of the forum's name help attract broader interest, I wonder?
I've had people ask me if I was a brickie or a plasterer when I was wearing my LocostBuilders T-shirt...
How strange !
Where your trousers half way down your a*** at the time ?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 03:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 907
How strange !
Where your trousers half way down your a*** at the time ?
No, that's quite a different story that I'll tell you another day... 
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mark chandler
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| posted on 24/12/15 at 05:14 PM |
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There is a bit of a theme, people build them, drive for literally a few miles then sell .... Usually at a loss so interest wains.
Quite often they even get chopped up for bits.
The long term posters are the ones that derive pleasure through the driving, time for everyone to get on the track and play.
If I had £5000 - £8000 to spend I would purchase a road car, under £1000 then MX5
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