Many new builders

alackofspeed · #1 13th August 2007, 21:52

I've noticed that there haven't been any new faces on the board in a long time.

I wonder if Marlin aren't shifting kits, or if people aren't finding the board?

Does anyone have any ideas?

John.

Patrick · #2 14th August 2007, 07:14

Not been that many new Sportster builders recently either. Maybe there's a lot of none internet users buying cars at the moment!

Jon@JNRacing.co.uk · #3 14th August 2007, 07:43

Marlin arnt selling many at the moment, its very quite with the Sportsters and 5EXi's

Ex-Biker · #4 14th August 2007, 12:17

I haven't heard of any new owners.

There was a prospect asking on PistonHeads last week. I was expecting him to introduce himself on here.

I wonder if kits are getting like tin tops, where people expect major changes or new models every 3-4 years?

I have to say, knowing there have been a fair few sold, it is a surprise how rare it is to see one at a show etc.

Jon@JNRacing.co.uk · #5 14th August 2007, 12:36

i think the kit car industry is quite at the moment anyway, which doesn't help. I'm hoping that all the exi kits out there now will be complete by april so all you builders with your cars will come to our launch to show them all off.

peterux · #6 14th August 2007, 21:29

Looking at the viewing figures i sometimes get the feeling there are lots of people visting this forum regularly but not posting or commenting.
Whether they are builders or potential builders we will not know unless they show themselves.

I hope Marlin are selling kits or else they will go bust.
I picked up my Sportster chassis in April 2004 and i'm still not finished so there may be a lot of part built kits out there making slow progress. At that time they were selling one Sportster chassis per month. If that rate carried on there would be about 40 chassis out there which if true would bring a constant business in parts and body panels etc.

Anybody out there lurking want to reveal themselves?

I'm envious of you 5exi builders that can complete your builds in 4 weekends!!

alackofspeed · #7 14th August 2007, 22:23

I'm yet to meet one of the superhero "4 weekend" builders, but when I do, I'll glady buy he / she a drink!

So far my kit has taken me 1 year 4 months!

I have a suspicion that kit car sales are a bit like soft tops, and good sales coincide with a sustained spell of good weather.

Ex-Biker · #8 15th August 2007, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by alackofspeed

I'm yet to meet one of the superhero "4 weekend" builders, but when I do, I'll glady buy he / she a drink!

So far my kit has taken me 1 year 4 months!

I have a suspicion that kit car sales are a bit like soft tops, and good sales coincide with a sustained spell of good weather.

4 weekends - no problem. Most of my kit building time has been mid week!

Jon@JNRacing.co.uk · #9 15th August 2007, 09:15

Im hoping to have ours finished in 18months, but thats pushing it, will be machically finished within a year though. Cant wait to drive it with brakes rather than just a handbrake that doesn't work.

Off Topic:
Is anyone going to Trax, &/or Eurofest?

alackofspeed · #10 15th August 2007, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon@JNRacing.co.uk

Off Topic:
Is anyone going to Trax, &/or Eurofest?

Nope, but I'm going to the Llandow trackday, and in the absence of a decent track car, I'm just going to provide a mobile chicane with my shopping trolley daily driver.

limpabit · #11 15th August 2007, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon@JNRacing.co.uk

Off Topic:
Is anyone going to Trax, &/or Eurofest?

I'm hopefully going to Trax. If the weather holds. This is because I was hoping for a track day at Donny. But that's not happening. So was hoping for a little spin at Trax. Hopefully not the 360 degree kind.

Jon@JNRacing.co.uk · #12 15th August 2007, 16:23

well i was hoping to be going to trax this year with our exi,but that was a year ago when we hadn't even got the kit, so a lot has changed since then. Next year after easter I should hopefully be at many shows, would be good to have a get together at such events and even have a club stand etc

marlinturbo · #13 15th August 2007, 19:54

bloody weather is not helping us or marlin.

i have hardly taken mine out this year grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

if poss i will go to the llandow trackday so i hope to meet more 5exi owners then.

there are a lot of cars "nearly" finished...

In April 2006 I went to Castle Coombe open day. The car attracted a lot of attention then. I hope in April 2008 I can persuade you all to attend for us to go on track together. I am confident it will raise the profile of the car.

The marlin racing efforts are also important. I hope to attend the next race with video camera and record the latest efforts. I'll post them up when done!

SDMC001 · #14 15th August 2007, 20:44

If Marlin are having a bad time sales wise, i dont thinkl there alone. Maybe next year will be better if we see the sun for more than a few days at a time.

steve

alackofspeed · #15 15th August 2007, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlinturbo

I hope in April 2008 I can persuade you all to attend for us to go on track together. I

John, I'm not too far from you, and the moment I'm confident my car is okay for the track, it'll be on it whenever time and money permits. My first "track" day will be on an airfield (such as Keevil or Hullavington) so I can spin in relative safety, then I'll put it around Combe.

Having only done 3 track days, 1 in an s2000, and 2 in a Golf, I need to hone my skills a bit first! I've been around Combe, and reckon it could bite fairly hard if the car or driver aren't up to scratch.

I'm working as hard as I can on my car, so hopefully a track day isn't too far away!

Cheers,

John.

alackofspeed · #16 16th August 2007, 10:15

On the back of this thread, I've been contacted by a potenital builder, who the board will allow to can send PMs, but not post! Very odd!

DavidH · #17 17th August 2007, 11:43

fingers crossed now able to post

yeah am going through the final stages of heart winning over mind. sorting out budgets, build logistics etc.

Patrick · #18 17th August 2007, 12:05

Hi David! Welcome to the forum

Thrustyjust · #19 17th August 2007, 16:04

Thanks Ex-Biker.It's me.I have been to see Mark last Friday at the factory.They are in the process of moving and has told me of a 12 week delivery on a car.I am in no rush as to sorting the car,as I can't clear the mortgage until summer next year.I am going to sort the donors I need in the meantime,which will be a type R car.My mum has the perfect donor,but sadly she loves her Type R too much to see me dismantle it.I have looked for the pdf's for parts lists and can't seem to find them.I need to know what the pricelists are to allow the wife to breath over it and I need the donor parts list.I have a friend in the buisness,who is looking for a Rover 200 at the moment,so hopefully be starting soon.[QUOTE=Ex-Biker;8491]I haven't heard of any new owners.

There was a prospect asking on PistonHeads last week. I was expecting him to introduce himself on here.

QUOTE]

DavidH · #20 17th August 2007, 16:30

Welcome, fellow new-comer. Sounds like there will be a few of us starting builds over the next few months.

Tempted as I was by the type-R engine option I suspect I will build with a 1.6k series to start with from a donor to keep costs down. May plan to change it later for something a bit more powerful. Has anyone else changed engines at all yet how easy is it to go from say a 1.6k to a 1.8VVC?

Oh pricelist are here http://www.marlinsportscars.co.uk/do...0Pricelist.pdf