New (and poor) member looking for an exocar frame, e.g. Sylva- Riot

[Meesha]

Hey Guys. This is a great forum you've got here. I only wish there were more cars, and bare frames.

I am looking for a very simple, but well built frame. Something similar to the Sylva Riot or perhaps, the MEV Rocket.
I have limited exposure to the exocar world, so if there is something else out there, please let me know.

Thank you for the help.


-Meesha:spin:

[ViperJustin]

What are your plans (or ideas)? Which engine/trans combo? Intentions (street/track/both)?

Your best bet would be to contact the companies directly. Where are you from? That may help in your search as well.

[Meesha]

Thank you ViperJustin for the quick reply.
To answer you question, I am trying to figure out how to build a cheap, Simple, possibley motorcycle powered, exocar for the teen/early 20's group in my area.
It may just be me, but there seems to be a lot of markup in all of the kits that I can find. Not to mention, anything more then $10,000 total is too much. I know that is a shoestring budget, but I would like to see if a simple 600cc-1100cc 2 seater could be built for as little as possible. It doesn't have to be the best at anything. It just has to be 1. Fun, and 2. Street legal.

What do you guys think?

-Meesha

[ViperJustin]

Well, the fact of the matter is: youre not going to be able to get into a car, ready to go, for under 10k. I just dont see this possible by buying someone elses frame and doing it. If you built your own frame, from tools and equipment that you already have access to, then yes, its possible to get under 10k.

I was just reading a thread about the Superlite Roadster on the Lotus forums. Of course, the Lotus guys felt threatened about the fact that a car that can be built for under 30k would stomp a mudhole in their asses. But they complained at the fact that "why it costs 16k (more now) for some steel and fiberglass...". Now if your are fabbing it yourself, then yes. No problem. But they dont account for: man hours in construction and labor; tools and equipment needed to build such a car; building reusable, quality molds to do the fiberglass; renting or owning the floor space needed to build these cars; etc.

The fact of the matter is that MOST people dont realize how much it ACTUALLY costs to build a car. Think about how many Ford Focuses or Toyota Carrolas are made PER DAY!!! Granted, they have to sell a hundred thousand cars to get their R and D costs back, but thats only 6 months to them. Most, if not all kit car manufacturers are building a few dozen cars AT MOST per YEAR!!!!! Say 20 cars sell a year. You need to be able to pay for tools (30k), equipment (100k+), employees and yourself (???), shop space (???), etc.

Thats why these frames cost 10k or more just to get started. Your best bet would be to look at a Sonic7 or a TR-42. The Sonic has been proven as a fun little ripper and the TR-42 is just a few months away from rolling out. Im sure there are others but in general, most of the cars on this sight can be built in your garage for 20-30k.


PS-This isnt an attack on you or anything. Im just tired of seeing the same "I want Ferrari Enzo performance for fifty bucks" attitude that people have for the kit car world.

[ViperJustin]

And another thing...

You can get a basic engine and trans combo for the same price as a 600cc sportbike engine and tranny. The 600 may have 100 hp at 14000 RPM, but itll only make 50 pounds of torque at most. And to make your car street legal, youll need reverse. Theres another grand for that. So it adds up quick if you want to use a sportbike engine. A basic Nissan, Honda, Mitsu, or whoever engine/trans package would be the same price. Not a K20 or anything like that, but a simple engine that would make about the same power as a bike engine that would be MUCH more reliable overall.

Just my $.02

[thebionicman]

Good post Justin!

Meesha I can't see it happening for what you are budgeting. Of course anything is possible if you are planning on building it all yourself. When the Midlana book is done there will be a manual on building a mid engine car as well.

I am a DIY guy but I know that I don't have the time or the patience to build a frame.

I hope you can come up with a way to build a car for your budget. I would head over to the Locost forums and see what some of those builds have cost.

[Meesha]

Thanks for the input guys.
Hey ViperJustin, I am not looking for Ferrari Enzo performance for fifty bucks. I am just trying to fill what I see as need in my local "toys for big boys" market. There just is not a lot of options available for under $10k. Other than an older crotch-rocket.
I will just keep looking. If you guys think of anything, I am all ears.

Thanks for you time.

-Meesha

[ViperJustin]

Just to give you another reference...

Where can you find a vehicle that costs under 10k that is two passenger, higher than normal performance (aka-not a kia or something like that), and has sporty looks?

You cant even buy a Polaris Razor for under 10k.

Your best bang for the buck is to buy a racing kart (tons of fun and can be had for under 5k ready to go).

So I think 20k for one of these cars is amazingly cheap. You can have one with 300hp or more for 20k with a LoCost.

[pook]

I know there are more than a few Lotus 7-ish cars built over on Locost.com using R1's and Busa's for power? They sell a few books on Build your own sports car I think that's the title. The problem with a mid BEC is going to be the cost of a working chain diff, Its going to eat up 20% or better of your budget where a 7 can use a drive shaft and normal diff (like the dwarf cars use).
Its a thought?

PooK

[reality_storm]

Hmmm why couldn't you build for under $10k if you kept your expectations in check? How about a Kawasaki ninja 250r engine powered reverse exo-trike? Could get that engine for less than $500 used, or my plans to use a Suzuki sx4 engine 150 hp, $1000 delivered to your door). Obviously performance will be affected, but you upgrade later if you had to.

[Karlo]

www.Midlana.com is not an ExoCar but it would get under $10k if you are handy.

[ViperJustin]

Hmmm why couldn't you build for under $10k if you kept your expectations in check? How about a Kawasaki ninja 250r engine powered reverse exo-trike? Could get that engine for less than $500 used, or my plans to use a Suzuki sx4 engine 150 hp, $1000 delivered to your door). Obviously performance will be affected, but you upgrade later if you had to.

A Ninja 250 can barely get out of its own way... There are lawn mowers that put out more power...

[pook]

www.Midlana.com is not an ExoCar but it would get under $10k if you are handy.

Forgot about that one, Going to be a neat car by a great builder! is it done?
PooK

[martkat]

A Ninja 250 can barely get out of its own way... There are lawn mowers that put out more power...

I could use a better lawnmower :wave:

[Meesha]

Thanks for the ideas. I will definately look into the Midlana project.
I do agree that the 250 is too underpowered for what I am considering.

Any more ideas guys?

[karan]

Hello everyone welcome to car forums.....i m new in this forum i want to say hello to all of u.

[Meesha]

Welcome to the forums Karan!

[karan]

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