Guinness
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 08:53 AM |
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Converting a BEC to an (almost) daily driver
I'm begining to realise that my Indy spends far too much time in the garage, and too little time on the road / track.
I've also seen two Caterhams out and about when I've been driving my tin top on business and I can admit to a tang of jealousy.
I think I have two, maybe three options:-
1. Sell the Indy, buy a Caterham that has full weather gear, screen, roof, doors, heater etc. and probably a car engine! 
2. Modify the Indy, fit a Mangoscreen, wipers, the new weather gear from MK, fit a heater and possibly a reverse.
3. As 2, but include a car engine! Gulp!
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Mike
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BenB
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:03 AM |
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Reverse is over-rated.
A screen makes a huge difference for longer distance driving- much more civilised.
Personally I'd go for option 2 (except forget the reverse mechanism)...
Keep it BEC 
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scootz
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:08 AM |
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Why not just buy a rain-suit and be done with it!?
With that and a helmet, you'll be able to face any weather!
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:10 AM |
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I love BEC's, but I think using one every day would get a bit tiresome - using any 7 daily would probably get a bit wearing, but a BEC
especially so.
Adding all that weight to a BEC would be like blunting a knife.
If I was doing all that work I'd want to be sure it was a good enough end product and with wet weather gear etc. being made by someone else it
might be worth buying a 2nd hand cateringvan once you factor in all the costs.
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Guinness
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:15 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Why not just buy a rain-suit and be done with it!?
With that and a helmet, you'll be able to face any weather!
I've driven the Indy in really heavy rain before, in my ski gear and helmet. Whilst it's OK, it's not the sort of thing I can turn
up to a meeting wearing!
I think what stops me using the Indy so much is the prep time to go. First effort is getting it out of the yard, putting my jacket, helmet and gloves
on each time.
A new remote / electrically operated roller shutter door is on the cards for the garage which should help the getting it out bit.
The weather gear would allow me to just jump in it and go. It would also mean I could park it up and just leave it, without worrying about it raining
when I'm out and about.
Cheers
Mike
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:31 AM |
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for a reverse you could strap several CO2 fire extinguishers to the front, activated by cables you could use them to "jet blast" you
backwards like on Brainiac.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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Davey D
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:36 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
for a reverse you could strap several CO2 fire extinguishers to the front, activated by cables you could use them to "jet blast" you
backwards like on Brainiac.
Haha amazing!! i bet that would make a few people walking down the street jump in fright 
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coozer
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:37 AM |
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I'd go the car engine root Mike, not sure why but I'm I think they may be better than bike engines in cars
I have a electic shutter door on my garage and it makes live very easy, I can activate it coming up the street and just drive straight in!
Have you considered a car port type thing to keep it dry? I noticed you have the weather gear already in the car, the brolly must work wonders
No hard top available from MK??
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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TimC
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:52 AM |
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Yup - I'd have a Toyota 4age road car if I was going to have one.
TC
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contaminated
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 09:59 AM |
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I'd forget it and buy that Quantum on ebay for £1200!
I've just taken all the weather gear off mine and fitted an aero screen. I only ever used the weather gear once, on a trip from northern ireland
to kent. It did keep me dry (ish) but visibility and misting up were so bad that in future I'd rather get wet!
Regarding a reverse, I'd agree you don't need one generally - although I was grateful for mine when I had to reverse half a mile down a
lane because of the four cars coming the other way the other day!
Having said all that, these guys do some really nice weather gear.
http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/
[Edited on 29/7/08 by contaminated]
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whitestu
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 10:10 AM |
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For the kind of use you are suggesting I'd go for something like an Elise.
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BenB
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 11:20 AM |
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For something totally practical I'd go for a Mondeo It all depends how far you're prepared to compromise....
To be fair whether it's a BEC or CEC the main issue with a Seven with full weather gear is getting in and out. It makes getting into an Elise
seem positvely refined!!!
Softbitsforsevens easy-in hood helps though (a design similar will be appearing on a DIY hood very soon).....
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phoenix70
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 11:58 AM |
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I would say you are really looking at option 1 or 3, living on a daily basis with a BEC would be hard and using it daily you will find the missing
reverse gear a problem particularly if you are going to lots of different places for meetings.
But for me I would probably sell the Indy and buy a small sports car (e.g. Elise,MR2,VX220 etc.)
My 2p worth.
[Edited on 29/7/08 by phoenix70]
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02GF74
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 02:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by contaminated
I'd forget it and buy that Quantum on ebay for £1200!
says he has have over £15,000 worth of receipts for the car!!!
... and that is expensive, ther are 2 others for less than £ 600!!
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zilspeed
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 03:28 PM |
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A quantum or a GTM Rossa K3.
(Obviously the GTM, seeing as I had one myself.)
Commuting ? Check
Business use ? Check
Hard Top ? Check
Good Handling ? Ohhh yes...
Trackable ? Definitely.
Motorsport ? Yep.
I have one pot from my short and inglorious motorsport career. First in class, road sports cars up to 1400CC - GTM Rossa K3.
Cruelly under rated on the second hand market compared to all of those sevens ? Absobleedinlutely.
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contaminated
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| posted on 29/7/08 at 03:33 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by contaminated
I'd forget it and buy that Quantum on ebay for £1200!
says he has have over £15,000 worth of receipts for the car!!!
... and that is expensive, ther are 2 others for less than £ 600!!
I don't know much about them really - Fiesta based? Quite like the look for the money. I know one of the CBS guys has one with a ZVH Turbo in
it.
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procomp
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| posted on 14/8/08 at 08:17 AM |
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Hi
from the list of requirement's listed. It sound to me like a Lotus Elise fits the bill perfectly.
And they are now down at the sort of money you would struggle to build a decent kit car for. There's plenty of choice on specs and conversion
work already been done by people. I have a few mates with them as every day motors. Except one he finds it hard to fit all his plumbing gear and tools
in to it so usually uses the van for work. But uses his Elise for every thing else in all weathers.
Just a thought.
Cheers matt
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