parkiboy
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 08:32 PM |
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Decision Time!
I have done alot of research on BEC and CEC cars and still cannot come to a clear decision as i know they both have there pros and cons!
Anyways ive come to a deal with a guy on an r1 mk indy i believe its the 5jj engine and its pretty much decision time, do i or dont i?
the only thing i am concerned about really is i am worried about reliability, the guy says the car has done a reliable 11k miles, and this concerns
me, because its done 11k in the car is it going to be at the time where things are going to be going wrong and possible requiring a new engine? I dont
mind spending a bit of time and money on a car i just dont want a money pit!
can anyone advise me on this?
thanks
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austin man
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 08:47 PM |
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Is the car known on the forum some one may be able to tell you about it if so. Either engine combination has plus or minus points, I drive a car
engine one and happy enough, will take the strain of all I throw at it all day long and as reliable as they come. If I wanted a trackday weapon I
would really consider a bike engine as they are more lively having said that the amount you see doing a few laps then coming off to cool down the car
engined ones seem to go on and on. Mine is mainly used on the road so more comfortable on the hearing and a better range in relation to MPG Im getting
30 or so
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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parkiboy
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:01 PM |
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i dont know if it is to be honest, this is the car in question http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858594.htm
I know a bec will not be as reliable as a cec i just dont want to buy something thats ready to go bang basically.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:12 PM |
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Bike engines last 50k miles easily if looked after, Honda's 100k they go wrong when abused.
In a car the enviroment is less forgiving as shock loads are greater on the drive train and you need baffled sumps etc to protect oil flow, adapt it
properly and you do not have a problem 
At the end of the day the gearbox is designed to take the power and torque, its just a fantastically packaged engine and gearbox using exotic parts
which shames most 'low tech' car engines.
Look after it, regular oil changes and no reason for it to be any less reliable than a car engine, I suspect they get a bad name as by there very
nature get hammered on the track and road, over rev a CEC and it will also go bang.
In short, do not worry.
Regards Mark
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richardR1
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by parkiboy
i dont know if it is to be honest, this is the car in question http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858594.htm
I know a bec will not be as reliable as a cec i just dont want to buy something thats ready to go bang basically.
Advert states that it has an English axle which would mean it is not actually an Indy as the Indy uses Sierra based independent suspension rather than
a live axle. Reg check also confirms it is registered as an older MK Locost and not an Indy. Personally speaking i think it is probably a bit
overpriced for a locost with an old carb R1. Was considering selling mine recently and was only thinking of asking a little more than that and mine is
a genuine Indy with a 2003 R1 5PW engine and only done 1500 miles in the car and 2000 in the bike.
MK Owners Club Member 1015
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flibble
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:15 PM |
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As long as there's no rattles etc, I'd say go for it.
I've given up thiinking about reliability, I've had a nearly new car go pop after a week, a brand new zx9 that died on the way home from
the dealer yet had a 20,000 mile fireblade that just kept on going with no effort and a 200,000 mile mx6 that wouldn't die despite being abused,
never serviced and having a badly thought out supercharger glued to it - it all seems to be pot luck!
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ali f27
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:20 PM |
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you may have heard this before but try to decide what you want use the car for bec will get you lots of bang for your buck and r1,s not to dear have a
go in it and you will then know what you want engine will be ok if it has been looked after clean oil etc remember all highly tuned engines which a
bike is need looking after but japanese enginerring is brill
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austin man
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:21 PM |
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Agree the V plate suggests Live axle ford escort based You could get a newer model Indy for that kind of price . Broter in law was looking to sell his
last year with a 200bhp zetec engine in for around 8K his is a 2007 I think and it goes like stink. Strengthened gearbox diff rebuilt etc. MK is only
just up the road from you see if they have a BEC to take you out in . I can arrange for a trip in a Car engined one for you as your only a stone throw
away
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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parkiboy
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:28 PM |
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so you dont think this is a genuine mk indy as its using the english axle? i might not rush into buying this then, i'm hoping to go to the kit
car show at stoneleigh this weekend so i suppose a few chats to owners would be a big help to me!
And austin man that would be great i would happily drive up for the pleasure of that, ive never actually been in a 7 i have just known since i was a
kid i always wanted one and now i have my own garage and old enough to get insure the time is now!
I am wanting an mk indy or indy r due to the workshop being so local and tbh i think they look the part!
Being a new member of this forum i am finding everyone very helpful thanks guys
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ali f27
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:31 PM |
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take up Austin mans offer had a look at car looks a bit dear i know a guy might sell his indy blade and i know it,s a nice car cos we built it
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austin man
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:33 PM |
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Just drop me a line I have a 1.8 zetec engine with carbs on in mine which is an Indy could also get you a run out in the bro in laws 2 litre 200bhp
Mine is possibly 150bhp just drop me a u2u to arrange
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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richardR1
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 09:36 PM |
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Definitely not an Indy with it having a live axle. Indy's started being produced in about 2002 ish i believe so the one you are looking at will
be an older kit than that.
MK Owners Club Member 1015
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TimC
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 05:39 AM |
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Not wishing to start a riot but if you want a predominantly track car I think it's a good bet over an Indy - the original Indy rear suspension
has flawed geometry and you'd likely be better off with the live axle. If you want a road car, the state of our roads plus natural topography
mean that independent suspension is preferred. Also, my personal view is that BECs are great on track but irksome on the Queen's highways. In
summary, this could be a really good track and occasional road car or a very frustrating tourer.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 07:00 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TimC
Not wishing to start a riot but if you want a predominantly track car I think it's a good bet over an Indy - the original Indy rear suspension
has flawed geometry and you'd likely be better off with the live axle. If you want a road car, the state of our roads plus natural topography
mean that independent suspension is preferred. Also, my personal view is that BECs are great on track but irksome on the Queen's highways. In
summary, this could be a really good track and occasional road car or a very frustrating tourer.
I'd agree with that - decide for yourself if the price is right but the live axle is better than the original Indy for the rear set up.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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parkiboy
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 10:52 AM |
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I've decided I'm not going to rush into this, I'm going to go to the kit car show at stoneleigh this weekend and have a chat to some
owners, it will give me a clearer view on what I want and should be looking for! I may even find one for sale there!
Thanks for all your comments
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Hellfire
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 11:23 AM |
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If you want to try both CEC & BEC back to back on the same day, I live just round the corner from Andy (Austin Man) and own a BEC. We could quite
easily all meet up and would happily take you for a spin, so you can compare both side by side and make your mind up. 
Let either me or Andy know if you're up for it.....
Phil
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Proby
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 11:52 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by richardR1
Definitely not an Indy with it having a live axle. Indy's started being produced in about 2002 ish i believe so the one you are looking at will
be an older kit than that.
As he says, it's all in the name. 'Indy' came from 'independant', which a live axle is not.
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bi22le
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 12:09 PM |
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CEC and BEC was a decision I had to make and I took the plunge originally and went BEC.
I wanted to use it mainly for road but build up the number of track days per year as I get comfortable with money. I also wanted the closest thing to
a bike without the 2 wheels so this fits the part.
I crashed the BEC, another story, and now have a CEC. In heinsight I think it was a good move. The BEC was flawless but I always had that niggling
feeling of reliability and that it is pulling something twice what it was designed to do.
Considering I am covering a good few miles a year including trips to europe I am happy with my CEC. It still goes bonkers fast and is not as effected
when carring a passenger. I also dont have the worry of it going majorly wrong.
Obviously things can still go wrong with a CEC but my mentallity will tell me its bad luck instead of inevitability.
Good luck with the hunt and choice and take your time. I went in a few BEC and CEC before I chose an engine and chassiss type.
Other things that were deciders were:
I commonly have some one else in the car
MY CEC was over £2K less
I mainly do road miles.
HTH
Biz
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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Custardpants
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| posted on 4/5/12 at 09:17 PM |
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Best thing to do is go out in both and try a few cars. I almost regretted not going CEC until I went through the hindhead tunnel with a number of
caterhams - they all sounded a bit boring in comparison to a Busa really.
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Furyblade_Lee
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| posted on 5/5/12 at 12:14 PM |
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My R1 (5PW version) has just clocked up over 30,000 miles in my Phoenix, owned and driven by 2 sadists, me and Jim Giblett. Apart from several sets
of £20 Barnett clutch springs ( I do lots of powersliding and donuts at kids charity events and have a very aggressive LSD ) , 1 set of clutch plates
( (20,000 miles )and 2 stators failing traced to a dodgy battery wire, and me not loctiting a bolt causing cooland loss into the oil sump , it is
still in rude health and about to embark on a year of sprints.
They are pretty reliable i'd say.....
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cosmick
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| posted on 5/5/12 at 02:21 PM |
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Are you going to Stoneleigh? I will gladly give you a ride in my car if you want to see how a BEC goes. U2U a phone number and I will return mine if
you want to meet up. Sunday looks best for weather.
If it can't be fixed with a hammer then its probably an electrical problem.
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brookie
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| posted on 5/5/12 at 04:52 PM |
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im also not to far from doncaster im in south kirkby m8 and i got a mk indy withe the carb fire blade engine in it if u want taking for a spin and a
chat m8
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parkiboy
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| posted on 5/5/12 at 05:36 PM |
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so many offers lol! all sounds great guys ill see how i get on at the kit car show tomorrow and if i'm still unsure ill take you up on your
offers! However i am pretty set on a CEC now as for what i want it for it is going to be better for me! Mainly road use with the occasional track day,
but mainly plenty of long distance journeys to the coast etc. i will also 9/10 times be carrying a passenger so the extra torque would probably be
handy!
My heart said BEC as i love the sound, the lightness and a bet the sequential poo is great fun but my mind knows the CEC will be the better car for
what i want. i'm thinking of going for a zetec and tuning to around 200bhp.
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Furyblade_Lee
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| posted on 5/5/12 at 07:25 PM |
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Dont rule out a BEC, especially if you get a chance to ride in the Hayabusa Westy...
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