Whats the deal with all the various variants of the 'same' car kits that you can choose between.

Apart from the engine, which you can source from almost anywhere. The badge, which must be a snob thing. What are the major differences between all the looky likey cars? is it primarily price? the styling seems very similar and customisable to me.

 

Price and Pedigree do come into it. Caterham purchased the rights from Lotus to the Seven so to be honest they are the closest to Colin Chapman's original. All but one Seven replica use a space frame chassis, some being better than others.
I don't want to upset anyone but imoa Westfields are junk. The quality of the chassis and general engineering is poor. Caterhams are better but again imoa not much. My personal choice in would be Robin Hood 3rd, Tiger 2nd and Quantum 1st.
The Quantum is without doubt the best engineered/quality Lotus Seven replica on the Market. True it is more expensive than most kits but well worth it.

 

Would disagree completely with you on that one, have been building a Westfield for two years and would not say they are 'junk' , did lots of research before buying it and would say that in terms of engineering robin hoods and the like are shite compared to the standards seen in a Westy. Have been to many kit car shows and of all the cars that are there the ones that look the worst are always the seven look-a-likes (apart from Westfields and Cateringvans)

Mike

oh yeah good choice of kits!! hmmmmm

yeah and im sure quantums are the most expensive kit!!

 

Mike, atomic said they DIDN'T want to upset anyone Bring your Westie to Le Mans and we'll see how well engineered it is

 

Like I said imoa and maybe Junk was a little harsh. I agree with you about some of the builds at shows but the engineering/build quality of the kit components from the factory are far better than the Caterfields. This is my Second build so I do have some experience with what I'm saying.

Some of you maybe interested in the build diary of a Quantum Xtreme below.

http://www.davebence.co.uk/quantum_xtreme/

 

Robinhood.........
Anit the Quantum that BIG ugly thing?
How much do these weigh???

 

The Robin Hood SS Chassis are far better than the Caterfields in both design and quality. They are also more rigid.

Quantum's Chassis takes 3200Nm to twist it 1deg out of alignment where as the Caterfields are about the same at 1800Nm.
Weight, depends really on the spec but about 600kg max. Mine should be in the region of 530-550kg.
To help reduce the weight I have Titanium Drive Shafts, Carbon Fiber Propshaft, Billet Calipers and Drilled solid disc's all round. Carbon Seats and Split Rims Alloys.

If you have ever read a review of one of the Xtremes in the Magazines they always say they are by far the best seven type cars they have seen/driven.
At the end of the day it

 

I doubt it VERY much..........
To get to this weight in such a big car, especially with a pinto engine wold require a LOT of effort...........thoughs wheels/tyres look like they weigh at least 16Kg/each.
I've had a look to see what the weight's are but there seems little information on the subject??????????
Could you let me know how you managed to get the car down to that weight????
Or where i can find out this info?

I have a westfield that weighs 530kg & this has only been achived buy the use of a race chasis/body, lots of carbon fiber, 13" wheels with ACB10's etc.........

 

What is a pinto?

 

They're all crap in torsion unless you fit a cage.

Only frame ofreference I have between quantums and westys (apart from quantums being feckin ugly, esp the back) is that the corner speeds quantums can maintain (on sticky tyres) is generally lower than corner speeds my old westy could maintain on ordinary road tyres. Draw your own conclusions.
(I've used corner speeds as there was generally nothing on trackdays faster than the twin engined westy in a straight line! )