Colnago_Man
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:35 PM |
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Locost for the tall guy?? Newbie
Hello.
I'am currentely trying to decide on which locost kit is right for me, I have about £7000 to spent and to be honest they all seem very similar to
my inexperience eyes.
My biggest concern at the moment is my height, I'am nearly 6 Foot 3".
Any advice as to which kits to go for or avoid due to height restrictions.
Also could someone point be to good article explaining to pro/cons off the engine options being offerd by most manufactuers at the moment, eg
pinto/ohc/zetec. It seems bit of a minefield.
Thanks in advance.
John.
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Catpuss
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:41 PM |
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I tried an Mk Indy. I'm 6 foot 4 and more the well fed ox shape than bean pole. Length wise it was fine. Width was OK with a slight squeeze to
get in (mostly my hip bones and getting my thighs under the wheel).
The foot peddles seem to vary between tight to almost good enough spacing to wear trainers from make to make.
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Danozeman
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:41 PM |
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I have a Luego locost which i fit in treat. Im 6ft 13st and my seat isnt as far back as it could be. Probably got another 3
inches maybe 4 to go back.
The pedal distance will alter the room aswell, Ie how far back they are and how far apart for big feet.
As for the engine. Zetec is a good, lightish, quick cheap engine to go for... The 1.8s are cheap as chips and with the 2litre cams are just shy of
130bp.
Pinto's are easy and the 2litres can see nice power easily, but theyr heavy and tall.
[Edited on 2/10/06 by Danozeman]
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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Johnmor
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:42 PM |
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Luego viento
Accomodates tall and wide people as well as large engines to haul all the additional weight around.
Chasis quality is very good and every thing fits well.
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graememk
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:45 PM |
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i have an mk indy i'm 6'1" and 16 st and i can get in ok, its getting out thats the prob lol
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whitestu
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 12:51 PM |
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I'm 6'2" and fit in my Indy just right with Cobra Roadster 7 seats as far back as they will go.
With glass fibre seats I could easily be a couple of inches taller and still fit well.
Stu
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Agriv8
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:02 PM |
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MNR Votrx get my vote
i am :-
6'6"
38 inch inside leg
Size 13 feet
padded seats
> 15 stone
in out no problem ( even without removing my removable steering wheel ).
regards agriv8
[Edited on 2/10/06 by Agriv8]
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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Catpuss
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Agriv8
MNR Votrx get my vote
i am :-
6'6"
38 inch inside leg
Size 13 feet
padded seats
> 15 stone
Jess you must be shaped like a pencil
I'm 6'4" and around 19 stone.
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G.Man
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 01:49 PM |
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I am 6' 5" and now 15 Stone (lost 2 stone recently) and when I was looking for my car the MNR Vortx fitted way better than any of the
others...
Catpus, I am still fat at 15 stone, so either you are all muscle or...
[Edited on 2/10/06 by G.Man]
Opinions are like backsides..
Everyone has one, nobody wants to hear it and only other peoples stink!
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02GF74
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 02:26 PM |
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I sat in 2 other kits before bying my formula 27 that Ii could fit in.
the book chassis (like caterham dimenstions) far too small. tiger car not enough room for feet on pedal - that area is quite tight even in mine.
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shortie
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 02:34 PM |
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Probably best to try them all and see what you think, only one I have been in which was just not big enough was a Tiger.
I am 6ft 4in and 20 stone and very big build and I get in my Indy fine although as already mentioned it's tight on the hips in my fibreglass
seats.
Have to say MAC#1 and MNR have to be tops at the moment based on kit quality and customer service.
Rich.
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Agriv8
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 02:36 PM |
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Sorry Computer term a > is the same as greater than.
So I am greater than 15 stone
Very early on in the design phase MNR wanted to fit the larger driver into a STD size 7
ps loads of room down the bottom of the footwells ( even more on a BEC)
regards
Agriv8
[Edited on 2/10/06 by Agriv8]
[Edited on 2/10/06 by Agriv8]
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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whitestu
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 03:43 PM |
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I'd definately go along with what others say about trying all the different companies.
One of my buying criteria in addition to other things mentioned was to buy from a fairly successful company that didn't look as though it was
going to go bust.
I was choosing between Luego and MK, and luckily I picked the right one on that count.
Stu
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ReMan
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 05:13 PM |
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I bought the MK partly due to the foot room.
After I had had a bad Cateringham experience at Silverstone, where I had to drive barefoot
I at least wanted a car I could drive with normal shoes/trainers
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fesycresy
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 06:24 PM |
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I'm 6'5" and 17 stone (give or take 2 stone) and I can drive the car with my trainers on. The footwell is squared off as opposed to
the rounded MK, which gives a bit more room. I also modified my pedals to give a little more.
Seat position is important, I've the mac1 mulsanne type seats and fit no problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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fesycresy
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 06:41 PM |
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Sorry, forgot to mention I've a mac1. Missed the part about the engine choice so here's a simple guide:
crossflow: Moses tuned these
pinto: old, heavy (seriously !), slow
zetec: newer, heavy, slowish
xe (red top): old, heavy (got a soft spot for these and had good power out of them so not going to say slow)
duratec: new, light for a car engine - 7k total build ? may be not, but wait to be proved wrong
bike engine: wehey, light, sequential box, excellent power to weight, cheapish
So there, summed up get a bike engine, you only live once, and when you're fed up of living get a car engine 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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Colnago_Man
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 08:15 PM |
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Thanks for the kind welcome and the advice.
I'd love to climb into as many cars as possible but living right up in the Northwest I seem to be miles from all the factorys. The
totalkitcar.com car show at Brandshatch looked great but is a 650 mile round trip and the one in Exeter next month is about the same. 
Will the Harrogate show be on next year too? Are they any locost manufactuers in the Northwest? I have spotted MNR at Harrogate (only 100miles away)
but no others.
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Agriv8
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 08:21 PM |
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If you want to try an MNR there are quite a few arround you just pop up a request I am sure you will get some offers.
regards Agriv8
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 08:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
bike engine: wehey, light, sequential box, excellent power to weight, cheapish
Less torque than a flymo and no reverse gear! One thing I will say for bike engines though...they work very well in bikes
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ReMan
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| posted on 2/10/06 at 09:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Colnago_Man
Thanks for the kind welcome and the advice.
I'd love to climb into as many cars as possible but living right up in the Northwest I seem to be miles from all the factorys. The
totalkitcar.com car show at Brandshatch looked great but is a 650 mile round trip and the one in Exeter next month is about the same.
Will the Harrogate show be on next year too? Are they any locost manufactuers in the Northwest? I have spotted MNR at Harrogate (only 100miles away)
but no others.
Your never going to be near many out there in the best bit of England, but its only a couple of hours down to Sheffield for MK and MAC1, get yer
arriss down there and get deciding, then youve got lots of winter to be building
Just to say, I am BEC fan, but I'm also a Lake district fan, visit every year without fail, BUT, if you are in a particularly hilly bit with
much in the way of narrow roads, then a car engine may be a better bet for clutch durability, torque and reverseingness
[Edited on 2/10/06 by ReMan]
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twybrow
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 10:47 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by G.Man
I am 6' 5" and now 15 Stone (lost 2 stone recently) and when I was looking for my car the MNR Vortx fitted way better than any of the
others...
Catpus, I am still fat at 15 stone, so either you are all muscle or...
Well i am 6'6", 13 stone, and 38" inside leg - that is pencil like! Still big feet/shoes make small cars a nightmare. RAW Striker
seemed very generour for foot room when i sat in one...
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DarrenW
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 11:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Colnago_Man
Thanks for the kind welcome and the advice.
I'd love to climb into as many cars as possible but living right up in the Northwest I seem to be miles from all the factorys. The
totalkitcar.com car show at Brandshatch looked great but is a 650 mile round trip and the one in Exeter next month is about the same.
Will the Harrogate show be on next year too? Are they any locost manufactuers in the Northwest? I have spotted MNR at Harrogate (only 100miles away)
but no others.
Mac1 cant be too far away from the Lakes (Sheffield, Handsworth). If you travel east you can have a sit in my Mac#1. Only problem is the seat is
bolted down so not adjustable.
MNR is a fantastic ride out, excellent scenery and great roads. They are outside Harrogate so may be closer than you think.
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Colnago_Man
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| posted on 9/10/06 at 01:29 PM |
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Thanks for the replies and offers of a 'sit in'. You all right MAC1,MK and MNR are reachable in a couple of hours from the Lakes so I
should get my butt into gear and go.
I'am a little put off by the shape of the MNR scuttle and and dashboard so I may discount them on this alone.
The MK Indy is looking favourite at the moment but I'am having trouble putting on a complete build price, I can see the cost of their deluxe
start kit and it looks a good deal. My problem as a newbie is knowing just what exactly else I need, obviously I understand I need
engine/gearbox/ancils plus a fueling and cooling systems interior etc... but the MK pricelist makes it difficult to see just what required.
For this reason I'am drawn towards Tiger kits, although they dont seem to have a large fan base on this site there 'packages' system
appeals to me as a newbie.
I know some of the die-hards on here would say it takes some of the fun out of it if your told exactly what to build and when.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 9/10/06 at 04:25 PM |
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Ultimately the cost comes down to how much you can afford to spend and obviously you don't have to buy everything off one manufacturer. I
suppose the initial decision is quite difficult as no two manufacturers kits are comparable pricewise.
You probably need to list out items included in a basic or deluxe kit from someone like MK and then try a get a comparable price for those same bits
from other manufacturers.
Just ignore my ramblings though if you've already done this exercise.
Phil
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G.Man
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| posted on 11/10/06 at 06:51 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
bike engine: wehey, light, sequential box, excellent power to weight, cheapish
Less torque than a flymo and no reverse gear! One thing I will say for bike engines though...they work very well in bikes
ZX12R MNR Torque : 91.4lb @ 7750 rpm
Vauxhall corsa 1.2 torque 82lb ft
Don't belive the BS talked about Bike engines...
Opinions are like backsides..
Everyone has one, nobody wants to hear it and only other peoples stink!
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