Been weighing up various options of stuff to replace the S.

After over 10 years of modifying cars, I have spent lots of money turning a nice road car into a quasi racing car.

And with roads being possibly the worst place to drive a car enthusiastically, I am failing to see the point in having a fast/nice daily driver and I can use my push bike to commute.

So I have been looking at kit cars.

What the users call a BEC (Bike Engined Car) seems the most appealing.

Most of these are 7 based replicas that use bike engines.

450kg (wet) and 180bhp with 6 speed sequential transmission is the norm.

So, i'm all genned up on the different types of 7 and different types of diff etc that you will need, the only problem is that i've come accross these XTR²s.

Reviews seem quite good TBH, sure, i'll have to rpelace the chain ever 5000 miles and the engine will need a rebuild every 10-12k miles, but I really don't care about that.

What I want to know is will they make you feel like an F1 driver?

Any other reliable input appreciated.

Ta.

 

I've driven the XTR2 and the XTR4 (the 1.8 Audi engined one). And nearly bought an XTR4 a few years ago.

Though they can be road registered they are not that easy to drive on the roads, speed bumps will cause real issues and the fact that you are so low down makes your visibility to other road users, combined with the speeds you can do quite dangerous.

On track they are different beast altogether, almost like a much cheaper version of a Radical.

When I was recently looking at replace my 2.0l zetec powered Westfield, I looked at a few BEC models and test drive a couple. My thoughts were that yes, the six speed sequential box does make you feel like a racing driver, but that for running on the motorway or long runs that the high revving nature of the engine means they are an absolute pain to drive for long distances.

In the end I went from thinking I was going to have a BEC to buying a well known Westfield sprint / race car with 2.0 Vauxhall red top in it. We just remapped it this week and it is putting out 185 bhp at the wheels, over the winter once the race prep has been finished it'll be at about 215 bhp we think. You can get to the point where there isn't a great deal between a CEC or a BEC performance wise.

You need to drive both, and many variants of both. Each car is different and they all vary a lot. Opinion is always very split between BEC or CEC and usually quite divisive.

You also need to think very carefully about where you will use it, how often and what for as that will help guide you as to what to really look at.

 

Wow, awesome post, Thanks!!

Not worried much about the noise, I had a 70mm T1R pipe on the S and will happily use earplugs.

Appreciate the lack of other road user visability bit though - something I hadn't at all thought about.

It's main purpose will be track days and an adrenaline pump for the 3 nice Sundays a year we get when everyone is watching a big football match.

If I only did 2000 miles per year, I wouldn't care as I would hope they'd be epic.

XTR4 for sale on PH too

 

I think you'd be better off with a 7 if there's *any* road use involved.

7s are silly enough on the road but those things are another level up, you simply will not get it to work even on the best and emptiest of roads in this country or any other.

 

Yep, or an Atom.

Lotus 2-11 would be my choice!

 

Atoms are rediculously expensive for what you actually get.

I priced up a Turbo Hayabusa engined 7 replica that would have a built engine and over 600bhp/ton. Came in at £10k less than the cheapest Atom.

 

I think one of the good things about s2ki is the varied cars that people on here now own, combined with experiences of others that have been driven.

You honestly do not need 600bhp / ton! With that kind of power two things will happen, firstly you'll spend every track day stuck behind someone in corners after mullering people on the straights and secondly you'll kill yourself at some point!

What have you test driven so far to give you an idea of what you want? What budget do you have? Do you want some pointers as to cars to look at?

As Graham says, you will simply not get the opportunity to enjoy an XTR on the roads over here. For using it on track days you'll need to tow it there and back as you'll need spare tyres etc and at some point you'll have an off. Trust me, from experience it is tricky to get home from a track day when your car leaves on a flatbed back to the manufacturer and you then have to get home a different way!

 

Tend to agree. A 200 ish bhp Caterham is a complete weapon, and not much touches them on a trackday. I also agree it would become pretty boring if everyone just becomes and obstacle. I've seen that with the KTM mob.

 

at killing myself. You obviously know me

I don't think you need 600bhp/ton either, it was just an example about Atoms being over priced for what they are.

Pointers? Absolutely required please. The idea is to grin and be exhausted after a 2 hour blast. I would also like to do some hillcimbs.

The light weight of a 7 means that track expense on brakes and tyres should be massively reduced on what a full size car would be.

Budget is upto £15k at a stretch, £13k being more realistic and £11k meaning I can personalise with some new parts.

Found this on PH, not bike powered, but seems a good example.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2098228.htm

 

oh dear