After many years of saving (and spending said savings on something else), a few years of lurking on lists and forums and generally pretending, I have put down a deposit on a KIT! It is a second-hand Luego Velocity which has been started and sold by two owners, one being the chappie I am buying it from. I have had to leave a deposit as I have not been paid my annual bonus yet and British Gits say that it may be March before we do get it
Anyway, kit is as follows: Luego velocity chassis ('standard' width, not Xt) with front & rear wishbones, uprights and brakes fitted. 2.0 litre Zetec engine and MT75 box in place but no mounts made (propped on timber), new prop, sierra diff. Driveshafts cut down and sleeves fitted, just need welding. Luego single master cylinder pedal box, windscreen, Sierra steering column and a brand-new radiator of undetermined spec. GRP nosecone, front/rear wings (cycle fronts), rear panel (crap finish to GRP, may use ali), scuttle, bonnet and footwell top and pre-cut ali sidepanels. Luego wiring loom & a set of steel Sierra wheels. The LH engine mounting plate has been mauled, someone has fitted some (in my view) unnecessary interior ali panels so I think they'll come off. The GRP is gel coated in red but is a little 'travel worn', having been through 2 owners now (exactly as I expected it would look, near enough mint but with 1 or 2 tiny marks) so it may need a spray job. But all in all a blummin' good value package in my view. Mort, the guy who was selling it told me he'd had countless timewasters who looked and left without telling him whethger they wanted it or not, which I find altogether too rude & bizzarre for words. This was a terriffic value package and the vendor was as nice as hell, I can only assume that the other potential buyers were looking for a factory-fresh lego set, not a kit car.
Anyway, although I am chuffed to little pieces and back again it has left me with the following dilemmas.
1) Do I use the Zetec or the Citroen XU 16v I was going to use if I bought new from Luego?
2) Do I use the MT75, which has an ali case, presume this means lighter weight than the reconditioned type 9 in my garage, or is the T9 still a better bet?
3) Do I upgrade to Xt spec, which means wider front & rear wishbones & rear wings?

P.S. Should've said further up, when the outcome of the which engine/gearbox debate is decided, i'll either have a 2 litre Zetec, 2 16v Xu's and/or a Type 9/MT75 gearbox for sale so watch this space!

[Edited on 22/12/03 by Browser]

[Edited on 22/12/03 by Browser]

I'd be sticking with the Zetec if I was in your position, assuming it has the necessarly conversion bits (or you're happy to run the factory injection). Luego already have mounts for Zetec in the XT which should fit your car.

Also IMHO, I wouldn't worry about upgrading to XT spec. I would suggest you get the car on the road first with the bits you've got then think about the upgrade.

Chris

I agree with all chris's comments. no need to really upgrade to the xt, doubt itll give much. If you end up racing you can upgrade later but its just more cost to factor into your already low budget.

Update on the above, picked it up Tuesday, YAY! Neighbors arer going to think I get paid too much as we changed our 'main' car yesterday for an '01 Citroen Xsara Picasso and we ditched our runabout in January for a '94 Renault 19. Oh well, at least the kits paid for.