To self-build or to kit...?

[acra]

Hi guys, just pondering the choice between going for a self-build or buying a kit....
I'm definitely in the mind of a 7-style car, for it suits both budget and style I'm after.

I've got the good old book by Mr Gibbs, and have been looking at the more reasonably priced (read cheap budget!) kits too, namely the GBS Zero (formerly RobinHood http://www.robinhoodsportscars.co.uk/Custom/index.cfm) and a few others.

Does anyone have any experience with GBS? Thing is, with the book and a self-build, I'd know exactly what needs doing before getting started (i.e. all of it!) but with kits, I'm not entirely sure how much is pre done, and how much needs buying, fitting etc.

Also been looking at Saturn Sports Cars' offering, thinking of the complete package (http://www.saturnsportscars.co.uk/store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=58) and wondering the same things (how much is pre done, and how much needs buying, fitting etc.).

Any pointers, or am I just having a tired ramble? :P

[K4KEV]

You need a list of questions that you want to address and nab Andy from Saturn and give him a grilling .....chances are there will be no questions he cannot answer .....kit form or totally from scratch is a matter of preference on your part one way or another ......just do it;)

[Andy_B]

And your abillities ...can you weld ? have the gear to do so ...all can be learned quickly but you then have the outlay of a decent welder/gas/wire grinding discs etc etc ...makes me think a pre fab would be easier/cheaper...less baw ache...BUT...then you have the man make fire moment when you look at all your pics and remember every last weld and joint that you did so well...getting the chassis rolling....then the engine firing...all help to do so can be found on this very knowledgable (spelling shite) forum .thats my favorite bit !!

[ozzy1]

The other thing to consider is the time frame you expect to build it in.Much quicker to buy the kit and get straight into assembling it.

[twinturbo]

Some people Slate GBS , Don't know why as the cars are good value may be something to with management history after the RH Sports Cars years. They have become more expensive over the years. You do tend to get almost everything you need in a GBS kit.

Tiger had a reasonable chassis pack offer last time I looked.

I bought a second hand chassis which has required reworking, when I do my next car it will probably be from a Saturn "Deal" .


TT

[acra]

Well, I can't yet weld, but am willing to factor the time in to learn...

I like the look of the Saturn kit as it's so close to the book, but I'm in two minds - I love the idea of the complete self-build, but I also like the idea of the kit! :O too many choices! :D

Only thing with the saturn kit, I'm not keen on the narrow and tall looking rollbar, but I'm sure that can be specced differently.

Thing with GBS is recently their website has changed, and now it seems the only kit they offer is the basic version, which looks more expensive for what you get than Saturn's offering.

I'll continue my research, but cheers for the posts guys!

[mark]

Well, I can't yet weld, but am willing to factor the time in to learn...

I like the look of the Saturn kit as it's so close to the book, but I'm in two minds - I love the idea of the complete self-build, but I also like the idea of the kit! :O too many choices! :D

Only thing with the saturn kit, I'm not keen on the narrow and tall looking rollbar, but I'm sure that can be specced differently.

Thing with GBS is recently their website has changed, and now it seems the only kit they offer is the basic version, which looks more expensive for what you get than Saturn's offering.

I'll continue my research, but cheers for the posts guys!

Andys roll bar is only tall because he is so tall, at 6ft 7 a standard looking rollbar would probably be level with his head once he had a helmet on! he made it tall purely for safety

You can fit any shape rollbar you like at the end of the day, thats the beauty of the haynes, you build it exactly as you want it :)

[baz-r]

gbs mass produce kits that bolt together where as the roadster is more total self build or buy in parts with only one full kit supplier
almost two opersit ends of the kitcar market realy
best place to ask would be locostbuilders as people could be a bit bias in here :rolleyes:
i would ask your self what experance/skills you have, what tooling you have and the quility of finished car and would you see the project trough.
the roadster isnt so cheap if you have to buy loads of tools a good welder and have to pay people to the bits you cant but is if you have loads of skills and can do almost everything youself :D

[twinturbo]

I could probably have built a Zero by now, and cheeper... :rolleyes: And to be honest may have been happy. But it would have been my 3rd bigest purchase ever, two houses purchases trump it.

TT

[les g]

i would ask on locostbuilders
there are loads on there building zeros
the quality seems to have gone up ten fold under the new management
they also had good reviews in CKC lately
you could fone richard at gbs he will tell you more
The Haynes as already said is more of a self-build car than a kitcar
and i,m sure Spud will give you good advice on what he offers
cheers les g

[snapper]

For info on the Zero try Robin Hood owners club as GBS is the new company that bought Robin Hood then developed there own car, the Zero.
My friends and I have built 5 cars and are building 2 more, 4 Robin Hoods and a Locost, now building a Haynes and a GTS, we generally buy a pre built chassis, wishbones and uprights then bodywork, from this point on it's all up to the builder.
We have access to very good welfare and fabricators but it all adds cost and time.

[twinturbo]

Does anyone know the story of the Monocoque RH? was there some problem with them not being strong enough for SVA???

TT

[MarkB]

In a word............. "pants"

[AshG]

there are a few lads in my local club with gbs zeros. at first i wasn't sure but they have certainly sorted out all the quality issues they were having in the past. if you want a kit at the cheaper end of the market its certainly a good strong contender. both of the zeros in my club are knocking on the door of 200bhp and seem to handle the power just as well as the roadster

[Talonmotorsport]

Does anyone know the story of the Monocoque RH? was there some problem with them not being strong enough for SVA???

TT

Would that be the Robin Hood Light weight? I've been asked by a few people on the RHOC to make a chassis solution to sort the problem so it can be used but have heard nothing back. It was made of pre bent ali sheet which is bonded and riveted together much like a filing cabnet. I know of 2 that are on the road with alot of reinforcement around the diff and suspension mounts where it is prone to tearing! The concept of the design is sound it's just the design needs alot more work, I understand it was ment to be a track day only car.

[twinturbo]

Yeah that's the one.