I'm thinking around the cost of starting a self-design/build. The main question I have is have most of you found it more worthwhile to buy a crash damage/MOT failure donor or buy the parts seperately? I think I'm likely to be using front and rear hubs/carriers, engine/box/drivetrain/turbo/gear linkages etc. Really it seems like I'm basically just re-shelling the running gear so buying parts seems the costly way?

if you're happy using the running gear from one particular type of car and it works for you, then buying a donor is the way.
for me though, i'm building a car with a modded capri back axle, sierra gearbox, vauxhall engine, esocrt steering rack, and bedford front uprights. a donor would have been a waste of time lol.

i think thats the way you've got to look at it

[Edited on 11/8/10 by blakep82]

It is by far the cheaper option to buy a whole donor.
In my experience the little things like brake pipe to flexipipe spring clips and many other weird and unexpected parts can cost more than a donor car when bought separately + you will have bits left over that you can sell on.
You also get an age related Reg plate, all in all a win win situation

Hmmm yes, fair points there, especially about he plates. Yeah I'm planning on building from a single model (MKII MR2 Turbo, as I know the engine/parts very well) into an atom-stylee chassis, hoping to knock the weight down to 5-600kg.

yep, so if you're going to use the engine gearbox steering etc from the same car, get a donor

And sell all the stufgf you don't use on fleabay, the rest weigh in for scrap and probably pay a hefty chunk of the purchase costs
Or go out for a few beers on the proceeds, my favoured approach

First time round, I bought a donor, in the end I used less of the bits than I expected to, and it was a pain in the ass dismantling the bits etc.

This time round, I bought the parts I needed directly rather than a donor (mainly from a sierra) whilst the parts themselves cost a bit more, the time saved, and not having to dispose of a stripped sierra shell was worth the extra.

If you have the space, and the means to dispose of the waste, and the patience to ebay the bits you don't need, a donor could still be worth it.