MadaboutKitcars

Hi. I am looking to purchase myself a kit car in the next few months. I am looking for as much advice and guidance as I can possibly get to make sure I get something that I am happy with. I am a complete novice aside from reading posts on here and a few magazines here and there.

I used to own a series 2 Lotus Elise but due to financial commitments and excessive business mileage being put on it I have had to sell. I now have a BMW 3 series compact, Diesel that I use for work. Which is fun but I want something for the evenings, weekends and the odd drive to work on a nice morning. Oh, and maybe a couple of track days.

Ideally I would like one of the Caterham 7 style cars, although I also like the sylva fury’s ?. I would like it to have comparable acceleration to the Elise and obviously the handling will need to be awesome. I don’t really require out and out speed, just a nice driver’s car. It will live under a car port so will get some protection but I guess will need wet weather gear or a cover ?

I have a reasonable amount of mechanical experience but don’t currently have a garage to accommodate a build. So I would want a completed car.

I have a budget of aprox £5k. (Is this enough ?) I’ve had a good look on EBay and Pistonheads etc. But it’s hard to know if what you are looking at is any good. 2.0l Pinto or Ford ZTEC ??? It’s all very confusing because there are never any stats or reviews. The Robin Hood 2B looks OK and cheap but how does it handle, is it based on a good chassis. I am just getting more confused the more I look into it ?

So now you know what im after. My questions revolve round. What options do I have for somewhere round my £5k budget.

Kit Type?
Engine ?
Wet Weather Gear ?

Any advice / assistance very much appreciated. Even if it is to say. You aint never gonna get anything for that kind of money !!

Not sure where your located ( your can put it in your profile settings), by I would advise going to one of the shows first and have a look.

You have Detling in Kent in April and Stoneleigh (the biggest the shows get) in May.

Go and have a look, sit in. Then ask for builders/owners contact details and ask them them about the car.

For £5k, you may need to keep a keen eye out and wait a while. They do come up from time to time. For example there was a Marlin 5EXI turbo (kind of like your old Lotus Elise )for sale (around £5k if I'm not mistaken) a while back. Due to the guy going abroad.

Doubt you would get one at that price at the minute though. Maybe £7-9k.