Not sure if this is the right place to ask such a question.

Been to the Autosport show at the NEC and liked alot of what I saw.

My question:

Any comments good or bad on the GBS (Robin Hood) Zero as a car to build/quality and their sales back-up, as I've really taken a fancy to one as a race/track day fun car away from my 205 Pug.

Thanks

Am building one. And it's a great build. Support is very good.

I considered one before getting the MK,they have moved on alot from the old Robin hoods and I have seen some really nice build zeros I think it all depends on the builder to the finished car as with all builds,but the cheaper kit price makes me think a more complicated build than say a Indy,there is a robin hood owners club with quite a few zeros being build might be worth joining and having a looks round search for RHCAR in google.

Not sure it's really a race car - but it would still be a bit of fun on a track. I built, and still have, an older Robin Hood - it was interesting to build, but a bit like making a jigsaw, but with some of the pieces missing, and no picture on the box lid to see what it should be like. A challenge, but on the road (in 1996) for less than £2500 all in.

A friend has just completed and IVA'd a GBS Zero. He had few problems and very good after sales support - I think they are making great progress in that department.

RH Owners Club and Register (Rhocar) Forums

[Edited on 17/1/11 by geoff shep]

If i was going to build a kit that would be the one.

IIRC it had a pretty good write-up in one of the Kit Car mags last year. If I find out which one I'll let you know.

have a look at http://www.rhocar.org/ it is a league ahead of any previous Robin Hood, good value for money and very similar to any seven chassis.
It comes with a lot more than most kits so is economical.
The new owners have done a good job and do provide good backup.
Have a look at the Rhocar site garage for photos

I had a very close look around all the kits that were at autosport and have to say I was not impressed by what saw of the Zero.

quote:

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Originally posted by theduck
I had a very close look around all the kits that were at autosport and have to say I was not impressed by what saw of the Zero.

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will send you u2u

yeah, why?

Lot more sheet metal work to do that the average 7, which is where they save quite a bit of money of course.

There back up and service is excellent. Im building one now and am happy with the kit and their service. At least they wanted my money which certain other manufacturer showed no interest in me. I wont name names but GBS offered excellent advice etc etc

*comments deleted and U2U'd instead.*

[Edited on 19/1/11 by FASTdan]

Thing to do when thinking about a kit is to weight up ALL the costs. It's no good having a low buying in price if it mens that you are going to have problems along the way, and it's no good asking people who have already got one whether they bought the right kit or not, because they are hardly likely to say they bought the wrong one.

But the thing that would put me off about the RH is the resale price. I know maybe you aren't thinking of selling it, but after you have had it for a while you will be, because you will probably wnat to buy or build another one, or you will find that living with a kit car doesn't suit you after all, or you move and there's no garage, or your family gets bigger.

When you've been on here for a while you will see that even the keenest owners have sold cars, sometimes more than once (no names mentioned)

sound advice I think... it is just a nerve wracking decision to make, when thinking of launching your life into car building, when it may not be just a hobby, rather a total obsession. And if it isn't, it isn't likely to get finished at all.

quote:

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Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
IIRC it had a pretty good write-up in one of the Kit Car mags last year. If I find out which one I'll let you know.

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Thanks for the replies.

Another question,

If I went for a Bike engined kit. For the IVA, could I use an aux. starter motor for Reversing to comply as seen on some bike engined mini's.

thanks

You can use an elastic band as long as it makes the car go backwards. A few kits use electric reverse systems and pass IVA so yours should be no different.

I've just finished building a GBS Zero and must say i cannot fault the kit or GBS.
I fully agree it doesn't involve getting part A out of the box and bolting it to part B
which fastens to assembly F, but what it did give me was hours of fun whiling away the hours
in the garage.

Spanner here, re design there... Ooohh, now what moments combined with YES! moments only
added to the experiance IMHO.
Would i build one again from GBS? simply put, yes, i would.

I ordered my kit at the Stafford show 2009, when GBS where "having issues" shall we say and
to be honest when i went to the factory i could quite honestly have swung for the fat #*!# who
was then in charge, but stuck with it and all was well.
Massive changes have taken place there since i collected mine in Dec 09 and the difference
in the premises, the business ethos and the kit quality is improving all the time.

A 1st time IVA pass for me was the icing AND the cherry on the cake... so heres to my 1st season
as a Kit-Car driver!

Nick.

mines on order having visited their premises and spending much time deliberating. Ignore the comments about sheet metal work as its now all done, I cant wait to pick mine up!

Ok

I am about to place an order for my Zero.

Any advice whether to have the chassis powder coated or galvanised.

Powder coating costing some £240 for the chassis which I believe is not as long lasting as Galv. but not knowing the cost for this.

Although Galv would be bright and shiney, but I would paint it black.

[Edited on 6/2/11 by sooty]

I pick mine up in a fortnight and went for the powder coating

Hi there.
Go for the powder coat. Have you considered having the chassis coloured something other than black?

Geoff.

No dont paint. soo much work its unbelieveable. I painted mine. I now have to touch up in some places. Plus it took like 3 days.

Powder coating will cost more than the complete rolling chasis will be worth. £40 per ton

Thanks for the replies,


But what about Galvanising instead of Powder coating. Would this have more protection for the chassis.

thanks

quote:

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Originally posted by interestedparty
Thing to do when thinking about a kit is to weight up ALL the costs. It's no good having a low buying in price if it mens that you are going to have problems along the way, and it's no good asking people who have already got one whether they bought the right kit or not, because they are hardly likely to say they bought the wrong one...

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quote:

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Originally posted by sooty
Thanks for the replies,


But what about Galvanising instead of Powder coating. Would this have more protection for the chassis.

thanks

---

quote:

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Originally posted by kb58

quote:

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Originally posted by interestedparty
Thing to do when thinking about a kit is to weight up ALL the costs. It's no good having a low buying in price if it mens that you are going to have problems along the way, and it's no good asking people who have already got one whether they bought the right kit or not, because they are hardly likely to say they bought the wrong one...

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You really think so? I find it's the other way round, that people LOVE to complain about things - especially on-line when they're anonymous.

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A mate of mine has a buisness that makes decorative and ornate security fences/gates etc for very expensive houses. He swears the best and only way to make carbon steel fabrications stay looking good for a long time outside is to galvanize and then powder coat over the galvanizing.

Cheers

Fred W B

We just had that very process applied to our security door. A typical doors lasts about 5-yrs and rusts away, then it's another $80-$160US for a new one. For $200US we had this one stripped, galvanized, and powdercoated. We'll see how long it lasts this time.

[Edited on 2/8/11 by kb58]

quote:

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Originally posted by sooty
Thanks for the replies,


But what about Galvanising instead of Powder coating. Would this have more protection for the chassis.

thanks

---

OK Guys,

Thanks for all your comments and tips etc.

In the end I finally decided not to go for a Zero. Weighing up the overall costs for the Car when completed and then the IVA costs fail or pass, also comments from friends who already have Kitcars IE Westfields and Robin hoods.

I've gone for a Robin Hood already completed, SVA'd and good condition. Which I can modify as when and how I want over a period of time and enjoy the thrills now rather than 5 or 6 months when the summer is coming to an end.

Again thanks for help shown.

Tel

I hope it wasn't a 2B or one of the older monocoque abortions. Unfortunately the (well deserved) reputation of the older models has rubbed off onto the zero with a lot of people suggesting it's crap when it really isn't a bad car at all.

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeRJ
I hope it wasn't a 2B or one of the older monocoque abortions. Unfortunately the (well deserved) reputation of the older models has rubbed off onto the zero with a lot of people suggesting it's crap when it really isn't a bad car at all.

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quote:

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Originally posted by sooty
OK Guys,

Thanks for all your comments and tips etc.

In the end I finally decided not to go for a Zero. Weighing up the overall costs for the Car when completed and then the IVA costs fail or pass, also comments from friends who already have Kitcars IE Westfields and Robin hoods.

I've gone for a Robin Hood already completed, SVA'd and good condition. Which I can modify as when and how I want over a period of time and enjoy the thrills now rather than 5 or 6 months when the summer is coming to an end.

Again thanks for help shown.

Tel

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I built a robin hood 2b for some body what a joke of a kit and what with all the mods that have to be done and the extra expense to make it look something like nice

Could have bought a westfield mk mnr etc

still i wish you well with you're robin hood end of the day it's you're choice