I am still wavering whether to go Indy R or MNR...

I read the MNR comprehensive kit list and see you can get a full starter kit for £8995

How near to roadgoing will that get me, Im will be fitting a bike engine & probably a ZX10 or 12 or 14 if I can get one.

Ontop of the spend for the kit, what will I need to budget in...?

Wheels/Tyres
Engine
Loom
Seats
IVA
Harnesses and so on...


What else ???

I like the concept of MNR with their kit, its more of a complete kit and removes the burden of sourcing fixings etc etc.

I am fairly handy with vehicles but have never ventured near a kit car, so please accept my virginity in this area.


Any help would be appreciated

£ 9 k eek and then you need to source engine and other bits plus pay for SVA??

how much can you buy a finished MNR?

maybe that is how mcuh they cost, but does seem a lot - you are into Caterham or Porsche Boxster money there.

I know building a kit can be finanacial suide but that is not the be all and end all.


here you go:
MK INDY Yamaha R1 (2009) £ 8.5 K

MK GT1 GSX1300R Hayabusa (2005) £ £9,700

Caterham 2.0L Zetec £ £8,750

not meaning to put you off, but that is my opinions - wait for some MNR owners to reply.

[Edited on 16/9/09 by 02GF74]

For £9k I'd be wanting every single bit and bob included including an engine. That just doesn't add up to me I'm afraid.

Where did you read £8995 for the RT starter kit?

The RT Inboard comprehensive starter kit is £3950

http://www.mnrltd.co.uk/p_cars_rtinboard.htm

[Edited on 16/9/09 by maximill666]

you wont get much of a road going MNR for £3950

i estimate mine to have cost around £15k to build

I built mine using the cheap starter kit (inboard) and sourced exerything else individually and mine is tested and on the road for just over 9K and im very happy (some of the bits were bought with upgrade in mind) but i think I have a better car for it as I dont seem to have suffered from some of the things like bending paddle shifts (as i have an AB perofrmance kit)

I would fully recommend MNR as they are very helpful and knolageable

Get yourself down to Stafford show this weekend and have a look at a few finished cars, have a chat with the builders and blag some rides if you can. It'll be worth the trip if it means you get the car you really want in the end.

adrian

Mine was on the road inc SVA, tax etc for a few quid under 8K

From my understanding the comprehensive kit your talking about is Mazda based and includes ALL the donor parts to build the car, including Mazda engine and box.

Talk to MNR, they will give you a price based on the spec, the more you choose, the more you pay. Much the same as all the other kit manufacturers.

Apologies the kit Ive read about is £7995 and not £8995 in my first post. Vortx Super...

No mention of an engine included, must be all the rose jointed suspension parts.

Everytime there is a show on Im nightshift, so Stafford is off...

It appears given the replies Ive got, that a budget of £8000-£9000 should put a fairly decent MNR on the road then....

It would be helpful if a list of all other parts you need - additionally to the kit was available, or is that the kudos of kit car building.....

My query is more about how much cash I need (roughly) to work with to produce a good standard car. The spec I have more or less got in my head.

Mine was an RT kit (deleted now) the last one with Sierra uprights

On top of that a Sierra and a zetec, both off ebay.

MNR supply every last nut and bolt for a clean build.

I believe £7995 will get you the kit and everything needed from the MX5

Our MNR with bike engine and full cage cost us in the region of 13.000 GBP.
I think that you would struggle to get a bike engined car on the road for much less than 10-11k.
And this is the RT inboard, not the RT Super that you mentioned.
Besides the kit, engine and the donor bits there is still quite a lot to buy for any kit (battery, fluids, buts and bolts, instruments, switches, wires, wheels, tires, filters, reverse, etc...
I have a list of parts I used, but its in Hungarian I am afraid. But it came to 12.500 GBP without the really small nuts/bolts, etc...
Realistically, to get a nice, bike engined car built (without IVA) would cost in the region of 10-12k.
This is from my experience...
Gergely

WESTFIELD?

My Indy's a ZX12 and just about finished and I reckon with the IVA and registration and everything else included it will just sneak in under £10K.

That's for average stuff in terms of shiny bits, nowt too extravagant and used some donor parts but have used new hubs, Bigg Redd refurbed calipers, R888's that kind of thing. Certainly not the most bling car out there but far from a shed too!

[Edited on 16/9/09 by eznfrank]

I think i had one of the first full kits and i believe they have now got better as it was missing key parts i paid for myself. My R1 RTIB started at 9k no reverse but with engine loom and clocks and moved to about 10-11k. You will need bolts major suspension brake etc are supplied but i have still used a lot more £50-100, rivets, rivnuts, fluids are another £100, trim which costs more than you imagine especially with delivery as mine came with none.

Knowing what i now do i could quite easily shave £1k off my build price. Check some members build diaries out for parts you may not have even considered but will need and question what is included under each category when getting prices.

Overall i am impressed with what you get my priced up Tiger i almost bought was £13-16k and i dont think that was complete, then i saw the MNR was far more reasonable better quality and lighter. Ive had my troubles but we are talking about building a car so its expected and i would definitely buy another.



Adam

I think there are no miracles... yes, you can get a Caterham, Westfield, etc... cheaper second hand with a comparatively weak engine. But if you want to build a bike engined car yourself from any one of the kit producers, you are looking at the figures quoted above. A true Locost might be cheaper of course.
Anyway, an MNR or MK Indy R would be very close in price I assume...
All I know is if I were to build a seven type kit, I would buy and MNR again... I am satisfied...
Gergely

If you want to build cheaply, recondition parts yourself, ebay engine, cheaper wheels, tyres, etc, I reckon you can build an MNR for 8-9k.

If you want engine from Malc, Toyo's, alloys, new uprights, digidash, paddleshift, silicon hoses, & the rest..........10-15k should do it

I reckon mine was about 12-13k

you won't get a Caterham with the same performance for that money.

Look at the difference in the cost of a fuel filler cap to see why some cost a lot more !!

You could buy used, I thought about it. But you will then spend £??? to make it the car you wanted in the first place.

MNR will be no dearer than a MK etc of similar spec.

GeorgeM

My MNR inboard with R1 and reverse, wheels, tyres, custom seats, savage switches, fluids, engine tuning etc altogether cost me £13k give or take 500 quid

if i had the time i'd do another

although i'd get CEC and screen, weather gear etc to make it more usable for longer tours.

MX5 engine with turbo would do

its down to who you feel more comfy parting your cash with at end of day.
other builders near you with either?

I was anticipating being on the road with an MK/MNR for near enough £9000.

If I go the R1 engine route, that appears to bring the cost down. As does not going for paddles..

And staying with a standard roll bar, as opposed to the full cage I wanted.


Also using certain reconditioned parts should help.

I dont mind cleaning & prepping parts after all my current toy is a Lada which keeps me fairly busy.


Thanks for the replies I need to go think a bit more about how to do this.

RT+ is fully rose jointed. they are quick too!

save a few quid & get the RT. Only difference is the inboard rose joints. The poly bushes will last longer & are much easier to set up.
Handling is still superb.

I too would build another. Prob with full cage.

Be nice to have a Mazda with full weather gear & screen, but only if I could keep the R1 too

GeorgeM

I WOULD NOT GO FOR THE MNR THIER AFTER SALES ASSISTANCE IS NOT WORTH A TOSS AND THE FRONT UPRIGHTS ARE MADE OUT OF DOGSHIT, THEN WHEN THAT GOES PAIR SHAPED THEY WILL JUST FOB YOU OFF AN INDY WILL BE A LOT BETTER OPTION IN MY EYES IF THAT SHEDS ANY LIGHT.

oh dear....

so im not the only one to be spoken to by a very rude and arrogant guy when ive rang MNR but on a positive side they made my mind up about what car i will build next

a mk middy or another indy

First off I don't work for MNR

I dare say we can all find good & bad about all of the kit suppliers.

Any problems I have had, have always been resolved
to my satisfaction, that includes changing items because
I changed my mind. They even swapped out seats for
me a year after I purchased them.

I was ready to spend my money with MK at Stoneleigh 3 years ago.
Their attitude toward me made me look elsewhere. Fortunately.

I think the best way to choose what is best for you is to visit the
factories, after looking at cars BUILT by their OWNERS.
A visit to a show is a must.
See how YOU get on with the kit suppliers at the factory.

They ALL make mistakes. They ALL have good & bad days.

Good luck choosing

GeorgeM

I have built an MNR, and would build another one anytime.
Their customer service is first rate. Any emails are responded to promptly, even the tons of questions I had. Any calls are picked up and answered by Chris and/or Marc. They have helped with my specification, changed it when I changed my mind, kept all their promises and deadlines...
When my front lower wishbones bent because of me incorrectly seting up the shocks, they exchanged it free of charge saying they could have explained it better...
In fact their customer service is one of the most important reasons I would suggest MNR to anyone.
Of course this is only my experience, but if you take a look at this forum, the good experiences outweigh the bad ones about 99 to 1. Pretty good score to me... :-)
I was looking at buying an MK at the beginning, and have very good experiences with them as well. At the end I went for the MNR because of the specifications, suspension, chassis design.
Take a look at both, visit the factories, see the cars being built, talk to real owners about their experiences and decide.
You could save a few quid by sourcing a 2000-2003 R1 off ebay, by sourcing all your cooling tubes and hoses from a scrappy, making your paddle shifter yourself (paddles are MUCH better than conventional shifters in a BEC I think), buy cheap wheels and tires...
Go for the RT inboard unless you want to race.
Talk to Chris and Marc about the kit contents, they will make you a full calculation that will be in line with your budget I am sure.
Gergely

[Edited on 17/9/09 by Gergely]

thanks gergely,


I have felt a bit cheesed off about the whole project since I discovered my £9000 is a bit tight. I can go more, just means I have to hide my spending beyond £9000 from the better half.... ahem.

I have noted all thats been said, and follow the various threads on this forum anyway. Research means far less heartache & wasted spending...

I am more swayed toward MNR now than when I first posted the thread.


thanks

I am surprised and disappointed by the comments from Grub-as far as we are aware we have never supplied, or spoken to him.
MNR prides itself on customer service and a quality product.
The uprights we supply ,are an uprated version of the original Raceleda units-we heard of some previous Raceleda breakages, and therefore actively improved their strength and manufacturing process.
These enhanced MNR units are being used on many race and road cars-we have had no reports of any failures-there have been two instances of breakage since, both where after effects of heavy frontal impacts that that resulted in the upright snapping due to balljoint lockout after the wishbones have initially bent on impact. these cases both showed a clean break of the upright and rodend damage consistent with over articulation of the suspension. Clearly, they are not designed to withstand such force.

Anyone with any concerns -please contact us, and we would be happy to discuss any issues.

Best Regards

The MNR Team

MNR keep their eye opn the ball, well done !

Why not buy one ready built saves alot of hassle and get the previous owner to loose a shed load of money not yourself

quote:

---

Originally posted by disco_biscuit
Why not buy one ready built saves alot of hassle and get the previous owner to loose a shed load of money not yourself

---

You will want to drive one, trust me
There is nothing quite like building your own car i highly recommend the frustration, late nights and cocks ups for the few and far between glorious moments you realise what you have achieved plus you never know the possible bodges a previous owner may have done just to get a car on the road.

Buy mine !

Thats a nice car for the money

quote:

---

Originally posted by bassett
You will want to drive one, trust me
There is nothing quite like building your own car i highly recommend the frustration, late nights and cocks ups for the few and far between glorious moments you realise what you have achieved plus you never know the possible bodges a previous owner may have done just to get a car on the road.

---

Mine was factory built! It was used for there shows.

also the car in question was a factory built car with the defective uprights factory fitted which one would have thought after so many breakages and common knollage to most people that want to hear it why havent all the cars been recalled for the asaid fault and fitted with the upgraded part before the worst could happen with such a major component liable to fail,just a thought

Grub, if only you put as much effort into your English spelling and grammar as you put into rubbishing MNR.

The uprights in question were NOT made by MNR they WERE made by Raceleda. As such, any "unfit for purpose" issues lie with the manufacturer who as we know has gone AWOL. I am sure that speaking with MNR they would be more than willing to discuss replacement of these items with the newer improved versions if customers wish, with some sort of cost improvement.

If as you say it is common knowledge, each owner will no doubt be able to speak to MNR about the issues without you resorting to trashing a company, which, if MNR have any sense, could result in you being sued.

May I suggest you resort to trashing the manufacturer in future to stay on the right side of legal.

[Edited on 18/9/09 by G.Man]

mine is also up for sale on pistonheads!
Rescued attachment mnrbl.jpg

ah rubbishing

too right gman. i had great service from mnr both emplyees and the guys who spend lots of time there

I cannot sit and not comment on this. I think MNR is a reputable company, run by very professional individuals.

I have been bugging them for the past few years, always coming up with some new proposal from my side. Chris has always been open to my ideas and extremely patient with me! Especially considering the fact that I haven't ordered my kit!!

Stop, smearing the name of this company. You have no right to do so, from what I can understand on this thread.

Like everything in life, some folk like a particular product and others hate it...


Thanks to the internet the world is a smaller place allowing people like us to read and research before commiting to anything.

I have just trashed a hotel on tripadvisor, with very good reviews , and have also upset a lot of folk who have gone there for years.

However I think there is a way to deliver critiscism, and not merely rubbish whatever it is....

My thread has been hijacked thanks

quote:

---

Originally posted by T66
I have felt a bit cheesed off about the whole project since I discovered my £9000 is a bit tight.

---

i would start a new post.then you may get the know from the people you want to know it from

Is Grub connected with MK in some way?

If so then the nature of his posts and their pi55 poor grammar and spelling are only hurting one company IMHO....MK themselves!

If I were them I'd reign this chap in before he does any further damage. People would do well to remember they're on an open/public forum, not in the pub!

For MNR's part, good to see a polite and what looks to be factual response.

Kit: Super spec is above what a regular Joe will need. Go to RT+ and save for some other shinning bits!

MNR: I've bought their kit due to reported quality and customer care.
Remeber I bought from Portugal, without even seeing one in flesh. They were / are top people!

When I crashed, they promptly helped me.
When someone else in the forum burned his car, they offered to rebuild.
When another one broke the nose due to incorectly mounted suspension, they did offered a new one.
When I found that I had some wrong parts on my kit they sent new parts very quickly.

Joao