So how fast is my car actually gonna go, i am lookin at maybe a 1.4/1.6? is insurance gonna change a lot between these? (i am only 17)

I wouldn't worry about speed, Tombrod.
As fast as the donor car anyway.
I WOULD worry about insurance though.
Search the threads on here for the horror stories.
Large 3 figure sums were mentioned.
You may not even get a quote.

ps. mine is £125 fully comp, but I am an old fart with a clean licence for 12 years

good luck.

i phoned adrian flux last year for a quote on a seven type car - i was 18 at the time with a clean license, but no no-claims, and the quote was £560 fully comp, and it didnt matter what engine i used, anything up to a 2L. i find with these cars, its not the top end spee that is the key, its how quickly you get there whch amazes me!
good luck
Tom

The insurance doesnt differ too much between a 1.4 and 1.6, it goes up a couple of hundred quid for a 2.0l. You will be paying near the top end of the 3 figure sums for insurance, but i pay that for my normal car anyway (1.25 fiesta). Also by the time you have finished building your car it will have gone down a bit.

Talking of speed, i went in a tiger, and we did 90 down a country road (private of course!) and you wouldnt want to spend too much above 100 really because of the buffeting you get. Like tom said, its how you get to the high speeds, the cars i have been given rides in all had brilliant acceleration. I know i never get above 100 except on the motorway, and i dont plan to do too many motorway miles in my 7!

If this is your only car then insurance higher, if you have a everydaycar or access to one then all the better, also limited mileage policy brings the price down. Just have a good ring round.

Speed thing is all about the complete package. Even if straight line speed is less cornering and braking will beat nearly everything on the road, most people talk about the Elise as light weight but it rather lardy compared to even a Pinto based "7" with steel wheels/screen/iron uprights. Keep it light and it's real world speed will be very good.