decision time

[mark]

Road legal, definitely

You wont regret it!

I found the whole process very straight forward, the dvla can be a pain and there are lots of things to think about for iva but nothing to difficult really, this is how my journey went:

step 1 - I wrote to dvla re chassis no. few days later it was on the doorstep

step 2 - read peoples build diary's and posts who have passed iva, make notes about certain failure points on these cars

step 3 - book iva, bend over to make extortionate payment, take it like a man

step 4 - panic you don't have enough time to get the car finished for test

step 5 - work hard get it done, having a deadline helps

step 6 - wake up iva test day to find out its raining, have a little cry & come to terms with the fact its going to get wet at some point! arrive at iva, pass first time drive back with stupid grin on face

step 7 - drop in at dvla on way back from iva, they wouldn't inspect it and made me make an appointment to go back 9 days later, swear at them, mutter under your breath and walk out

step 8 - attend dvla inspection get numbers checked etc etc all ok, take document to lady at the counter and receive tax disc, excellent , watch women drop file of all my receipts etc and embarrassingly pick them up realise that in her haste to pick up my receipts she forgot to charge me for registering the car, say thanks, smile, make sharp exit before she realises

step 9 - go and get number plates made up, fasten them to your car and go and have the most satisfying first drive of your life!

step 10 - blow engine up at track day, install more powerful one over winter

[aerosam]

If i may make a statement for the opposition..... ahem

I'm building a track day only car as the last car project i did (Ford Capri) never got any regular road time (except when my daily driver broke down). It really bugged me that all the time and effort I'd put into getting it through it's MOT, all the money I'd spent taxing/insuring it was going to waste while it sat in the garage. It did less than 1000 miles in a year, so I sold it.

I decided from the outset that my locost was going to be a track day animal, If it was a road car obviously the build is more difficult, IVA costs the same if not more than a years insurance - or for arguments sake, more than 5 track days at £100 a go. And when it's finished, it requires no annual MOT and no tax/insurance, so if I don't use it for a month or more - it costs me NOTHING.

I know when the time comes to sell it, it won't be worth as much as a road registered equivalent, but that has never been the point in me building it.

I know track use is hard on brakes/tyres and the like which means they will be replaced more often, but that will probably cost less than the fuel to use it on the road regularly.

If you are going to build a car that has such performance, and only ever drive it on public roads at legal speeds, maybe your wasting your time, get it on track where you can really unleash it. And for goodness sake don't fool about on the roads, cos that's just plain stupid.

One other major consideration I had, once you spent all your time and money building your car, how comfortable would you be parking it in a regular car park and leaving it all day? What if somebody damages it, or worse, it gets stolen?

So, my vote is track use only.

[K4KEV]

Road anytime....like Handy says out for a country run about with other like minded 7 drivers or just a blast out by yourself when the weather is nice. Track days would just be a bonus to legally let rip.

[AshG]

it was snowing when i went for my iva. still drove it there though

[JakeH]

thanks for the advice and info fellas, think iv come to a conclusion and am going to go road legal! the only thing i am still considering is like 'aerosam' said, shelling out for tax and MOT to do very little milage.

on the trailer note iv just bought one anyways, college tutor had a nice 2 ton galvanised caravan chassis for sale which is nice and low to the ground, iv told him i'll have it got a bargain at £100 delivered so going to make some ramps and put a decent bed on it, should serve me well.

whats the IVA costing nowadays, i seem to remember reading about £500 somewhere, but that could be my brain playing tricks again.

also when should i apply for a chassis number?

Ta very much

Jake

[aerosam]

Jake, I also built a transporter trailer from a caravan chassis, here's the build blog:

http://www.locostcartrailer.blogspot.com/

[spud69]

Jake in my opinion you have made the right decision, although track days are great fun and you can really drive the car the way it should be you will also have a lot of fun blasting around the country lanes in a group of other roadsters or a summer nights drive out. Think you'll do more miles than you think and at least you will have the option.

Build it as a road legal car from the outset then you always have the choice at the end of the build. The main benefit of the IVA is that the car gets a thorough going over by an inspector and afterwards you can be pretty confident that you have a well built roadster that you can thrash about with yourself or family and friends.

All the Best....Andrew