curious:...Kit car?

[southwind25]

So,,what does everyone here say...when they get asked the first primary question wherever they go..

"so....is it a kit car"? :skep:

[sporqster]

So,,what does everyone here say...when they get asked the first primary question wherever they go..

"is it a kit car"?



for my Locost:

"well, sorta, 'cept without the kit."

[BusaLoco]

Well, mine is a kit car.
Keep in mind that the Lotus Seven was spawned as (and Caterham, Westfield and others have built their their business models on) "kit" cars.
Actually most people ask me "how old is it"?

[slngsht]

even if they ask me what it is, I usually say "it's a Kit car, replica of a Lotus 7"

[sporqster]

even if they ask me what it is, I usually say "it's a Kit car, replica of a Lotus 7"
Very authentic replica too, right Maz?

[Al Navarro]

I say, "It is in the US for legal reasons...but in the UK you can buy a Se7en turnkey and drive it out of the dealer's showroom."

[BusaLoco]

I say, "It is in the US for legal reasons...but in the UK you can buy a Se7en turnkey and drive it out of the dealer's showroom."

The operative word is "can" .
The fact is that these cars have always been sold in "kit" form and it's nothing to be ashamed of.

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/showroom/starter_kits.html
http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/se.html

… and Jeremy would know this for sure! …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xu67zA5V5M
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kgoIPgNLyE

[slomove]

Actually I like the question...I just say "yes" which is invariable followed up by the question "wassa engine?" and I just say "Ford Focus" which is technically not true because my engine is from a Contour but easier to understand.

Anyway, that satisfies 98% of people who are not interested in details anyway. For the remaining 2% who may ask from the beginning if it is a real Lotus 7 or Caterham I may strike up a conversation. Did I mention that I am not too much into socializing? :d

Gert

[BobDrye]

It's easy for me. I just say that it's a technical research project that is based on a Lotus 7. Then answer the questions!


http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1194984845_avatar_6301.gif

[slngsht]

Very authentic replica too, right Maz?

Supersized.

[BusaLoco]

Supersized.

Yup, Se7eN Litres!

[slngsht]

Yup, Se7eN Litres!

Yes, a Se7en liter LS-7 will be a very nice touch. Maybe next year.

[Boxologist]

Actually I like the question...I just say "yes" which is invariable followed up by the question "wassa engine?" and I just say "Ford Focus" which is technically not true because my engine is from a Contour but easier to understand.

Anyway, that satisfies 98% of people who are not interested in details anyway. For the remaining 2% who may ask from the beginning if it is a real Lotus 7 or Caterham I may strike up a conversation. Did I mention that I am not too much into socializing? :d

Gert

sotta the same way. i just give 'em a dumbfounded look when they ask if its dangerous or if i scared of other cars or trucks. i'll just say "its just a car"

[BusaLoco]

Speaking about dumbfounded looks, when they ask "wazza engine" and I say it's a motorcycle engine, well you can imagine the glazed over expressions!

Then comes the curiosity:
... Well, where's the chain? ... It's got a drive shaft right there.
... Well, where's the transmission? ... That will be it right over there!
... What kind of a bike engine is it? ... A 1300cc Suzuki Hayabusa.
... Well, why didn't you go with a Harley ... Because I wanna go fast!

It goes on and on!
It's just hilarious!

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1222984515_SR7 at ABFM 1.jpg

[powderbrake]

Generally it's:

Q: What is that?
A: A replica of a Lotus Model Seven
Q: Is it a kit car? (and /or) Did you build it?
A: Yes

At this point, by the look on their face the next question is either

Q: What is a Lotus?
A:An British sportscar, built in the 60's.

or from people who know what a Lotus is:

Q: Cool ! What kind of engine is in it?
A: A Honda

The knowledgeable ones then ask
Q: Which Honda engine ?
A: S2000
Q: Coooool !

Then ewe generally get into weight and frame ( everybody thinks a kit car frame is from some other car) and other mechancal components.

Occasionally some old fart (like me) will ask " how do you fit the VW engine in that small space behind you?" They just can't imagine a kit car that isn't powered by a VW, so I sometimes tell them the VDUB engine is in the front.

Some version of this conversation goes on almost every time I stop for gas. I enjoy talking about the car, and hearing about their cars. If it's someone with a kid, I generally ask the kid if he wants to sit in it. The kids love that, and their parents do too.

[solder_guy]

( everybody thinks a kit car frame is from some other car)

I like the story of the guy looking under the Seven saying to his friend, "Well it definitely is not a Pinto!"

:d


I sometimes tell them the VDUB engine is in the front.

:rofl:

Rob

[xflow7]

I say it's a kit, but as alluded to by someone else that invariably leads to "What's the chassis?" and the ensuing discussion that it does not use a donor chassis. Relatively few people understand when you say it's a Ford Kent or Crossflow, so then I'm into explaining that it's a Pinto engine, but no, not the OHC one, etc, etc and eventually I always end up with, "It's basically a Formula Ford engine," which doesn't usually illuminate anything for anyone but satisfies them as it sounds racecar-y and more impressive than "Pinto."

I get, "Is it real or is it a kit?" fairly frequently, which of course are not exclusive.

A friend of mine took his Zetec-powered Caterham into a Ford dealership to have them scan the codes when his fuel system was acting up. The woman at the counter just could not get her head around why this gentleman with the funny looking car was at the Ford dealer asking to see a technician. Finally to get anywhere with her he had to resort to, "Look, it's a Focus with a body kit." :jester:

[roll a 7]

Is that based on a VW? No.

[slngsht]

Nobody has ever confused my dual 3" exhaust with a VDub :D

[BobDrye]

Nobody has ever confused my dual 3" exhaust with a VDub :D


If you go naked they can see the engine.

:banghead:

[xflow7]

Nobody has ever confused my dual 3" exhaust with a VDub :D

I figured that was the sound your car made at idle:

VDUB-VDUB-VDUB-VDUB-VDUB...

:crazy:

[JBH]

Twice now, mine was called a "buggy" which I think is intended to mean "dune buggy" I gotta say, that is a conversation killer for me and I revert to the shortest possible answer: NO!

Then there was this stunningly beautiful girl that asked what it was...totally mesmerized, I think I said something like it's a buggy. Want a ride? :)

[sparecr]

When I get asked if its a kit I say, "yes but do you realize but even when Lotus sold them they were kit cars?" which leads to further questions but I enjoy it. My car is baged as a Lotus, has a Lotus Twin Cam, and is such an early Caterham I sometimes just wuss out and play along like it is a Series 2. Sorry John D. and JW.

[xflow7]

Another common one is, "Is that a Morgan?"

I'm dying to come across a Morgan somewhere so I can run up to the owner and say, "Oh wow. Is that a Caterham?" :jester:

[scannon]

Another common one is, "Is that a Morgan?"
:jester:

I get that one quite often. I reply, "no, its a Caterham 7 and it doesn't suffer from termites either", which usually gets me a blank look.
:7fume:

Skip

[Kitcat]

When (frequently) asked if it's a kit car, I say it's a hand built race car that I have gotten certified for road use.

Then the other standards: How fast will it go (it will out run almost anything at the track) and how much did it cost (new ones can cost $70K, but I got mine used).I have found that telling the truth (100 mph & $22K) just produces way too much disapointment.