Hi all, a real newbie here, both on the tiger/avon and kit cars in general!

I've been looking around for a while at the different 7 type kits, and tiger seem to fit the bill and jolly nice guys as well!

But what I can't decide on (probably as I don't know enough about them) is which one?

Avon or Super 6 or Cat e1?

I'm not looking at a screaming track car, just a fun road car so i'm probably going the pinto route which'll be more than quick enough (to start with!)

The Avon and Cat e1 are the same price so is there any reason to pick either?

Many thanks and hopefully this will be my first of many posts.

have you tryed an mk indy ?
gause thats the best

Now now, the bloke has picked Tiger, leave him to it!
Firstly welcome to the nut house. Secondly, no idea at all about the tiger range! But good luck with it anyway.

Hi and welcome . Have a good look at other make,s
MK
MNR
Mc1 ect ect
Go and have a drive - ride in them
Jacko

Cue Hellfire & BEC

Seriously though welcome, as posted previously there are a multitude of 7 type manufacturers out there so try and get a ride in them if you can, I was sort of restricted to the wide variety so decided to build my own You will spend rather alot of money on it when you add everything up at the end so you gotta like what you end up with.

You won't go wrong on here though great bunch of helpful guys.

Take care

Rich

PS if you're new to building don't forget your safety goggles and thick welding gloves.
PPS you may want to add your location into your profile so people know where you are and maybe offer you a ride

[Edited on 21/11/06 by RichardK]

The only thing i have heard against the Avon is the difficulty in fitting the bodywork BUT it is a nice looking car. Have a test drive in a tiger as i found that the foot well was too small for my size 11 feet!

From Tiger from what i knwo the Avon is a bit smaller n will be abit small over 6tf. but im told by tiger that the Avon has a better rear suspension setup.

Ring them up apart from the girl that answers the phone (Who is helpful but sounded very distracted bored and got a bit short with me when i started asking questions) they are all very helpful people

i wanted an avon utill i saw the bonnet gaps

like the others have said, there are plenty of kits around. Have a good look at the MK INDY BEC

Then make your own mind up.

Cat e1 has got that droopy nose cone that put me off.
Then again, I can't handle the huge gaps between the bonnet and the bodywork anyway towards the front.... And that happens on most of the Tiger cars...

Of those cars I'd definately go for the Super6... costs a bit though...

Thanks for the warm welcome! and suggestions

Sadly ive not driven any makes! Well other than when I was about 16 (a looooong time ago) in an old caterham which i can't remeber anything about other than it's still the most fun i've had in a car to this day (many years on)

I'm 5'10 size 8 feet and weigh about 9.5 stone, so don't think the Avon will be too small, but take the point/advice re having a drive. Someone mention the bonnet? Thats the bit I like most (the style not the poor fitting!)

I'm not the most mechanically minded (the last time I didn't take a car to a garage for anything more than a light bulb was about 15 years ago) but did used to tinker with Mini's and even managed an engine swap so i'm sure i'd get the hang of it (possibly!).

One idea was to get one part built (i can hear you all cursing me now), and finish off the more minor (make that easier!) tasks myself.

I've seen a company called Chester Sports cars who will build one to what ever stage/spec you like, either that or buy a second hand one, tinker till my hearts content and i've learnt a bt before having a go at building one from scratch.

What do ya reckon?

If that's the case, JoelP has his near(ish) completed car is for sale on here. £3k and it's use to tinker with and sva. If his isn't already that is, as I can't remember. Or mine for £8 when I fix the clutch noise out.

quote:

---

Originally posted by matt.c
i wanted an avon utill i saw the bonnet gaps

like the others have said, there are plenty of kits around. Have a good look at the MK INDY BEC

Then make your own mind up.

---

hi i am a tiger owner i am 6ft tall and i have a Avon. the body work was a pain
but it was not that bad .but if i had to do a tiger again it will be a cat e1 .my car has a 2.0L pinto and it is fast for now.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DIY Si
If that's the case, JoelP has his near(ish) completed car is for sale on here. £3k and it's use to tinker with and sva. If his isn't already that is, as I can't remember. Or mine for £8 when I fix the clutch noise out.

---

I've got a Cat-E1....its currently pinto powered but I've just got a zetec to go in it....My advice is to go try lots out....I didn't and whilst I love the car I'm still having issues, particularly with Tiger. Graham at Chester sportscars is great, really helpful and all round nice egg so give him a ring if your thinking about it. As to the other makes I can't really say.....Calvinix's GTS is a nice bit of kit - shape is nice and not too big/small - but ppl have had problems with GTS and not many have been built yet which would put me off a bit. I'm not a fan of MK's purely because they're so small....but then I've only seen one and it wasn't very well finished IMHO. Out of the Tiger range I don't know what I'd buy.....If I'm being honest I really like the cat's bodywork and hate the bulge in the Avon which would put me off....but then the rear suspension is a lot lighter in the avon. Depends what your after really.... If your looking at a 6 don't bother if you've got that much money by an R6 chassis, wishbones etc and bodywork and do the rest yourself......what ever you do DO NOT buy Tiger's donor pack they really rip ppl off by doing that.....bugs me. Fill in your location tab and have a ride in as many different ones as you can....at the end of the day they're all similar so its how well they're finished thats sets them apart really. If your anywhere near Aberdeen give me a shout and I'll be more than happy to give you the low down as I see it on the Cat and Tiger in general. Also see the Tiger owners club forum at: http://www.tigerownersclub.co.uk Good bunch of guys and will give you sound advice. Oli.

PS.
My top tip is to choose a supplier/manufacturer who lives closely to you. You'll need they're support and the closer to hand the better!

Maybe it's just me but I like the Avon bonnet lump! (it is just me isn't it?!)

I was smiling when I knew Tiger had a depot 5 miles from my house.....

Then two weeks ago they went and closed it

I'm SE London/North kent, so unfortunately Caterham are my nearest now!

Oliwb, can you expand on the problems your still having with Tiger?

As people have said the Avon 'appears'to have better suspension options at the rear.

So any SE London/North Kent Avon owners out there?

Marshall, what power do you get from the 2l pinto?

I was in a similar position and had decided on a Tiger or MK. When it came down to it i chose the Cat E1 and have a lovely example. Been really pleased with it ever since.

As regards to power from a 2.0l Pinto mine is running twin 45's and on the rollowing road was pushing out 130bhp and 130 torque, which he said was good for a standard engine.

D

Other than the look and size, what are the differences between Avon, Cat, Super six etc etc?

Ive got an avon and ive been very happy with it. The body gaps are neat and the body fitted well. I think the problems have been down to some of the first kits, and bad workmanship. If you like the look etc go for it, tiger have been nothing but helpful and the tiger crowd nothing but brilliant. Those are the reasons I choose. Tell me how many tiger owners do you see on the other kit car manufacturers sections saying dont buy their kit car buy tiger instead???? We're too busy enjoying our crowd and our cars to waste time viewing their sections. The only problem of owning an avon is the negative press that mainly comes from people not having one and only repeating the bad experiences of relatively few particularly in our section. So if you fancy it get one if not, no worries.

Also built an avon and was generally happy with the quality including the bodywork, its wasnt a perfect fit but with a little fettling was totally acceptable. The Avon handles very very well.
Mac

quote:

---

Originally posted by ab54666
Other than the look and size, what are the differences between Avon, Cat, Super six etc etc?

---

I built a Super Cat and was very happy with it, I started in May 2001 and SVA'd it in feb 2002. The Tiger owners list as previously mentioned are a great bunch most of the time and there are some local groups who organise get togethers and most will take you for a spin. Tiger also has a branch in Plumstead, whether that's any use to you I'm not sure. The current Cat has a very similar nose to the original Six so doesn't droop so much.

I don't really want to elaborate too much on the troubles as its all still a bit of a mess....suffice to say mine is built and on the road and I love it to bits....in terms of the quality in general its very good but there are little things you'll come across which are a bit crap and seem like an over sight on Tiger's part. I would echo other ppls feelings....have a go in as many as you can and then make your decision. I found the Tiger owners to be fantastic and Tiger themselves about average for service until I hit mega problems. Their back up was very good at the time of building with regard to explaining most bits...the manual is less than useless though and I got the "never seen/heard that before" alot which isn't helpfull....On the whole I think that most of the suppliers seem to be much of a muchness. Everyone has small gripes with them at some point. The main thing to say though is that I WOULD build another Tiger, I just wouldn't buy it from Tiger again! I'd go to chester sportscars and I would do as much of it myself eg. paneling, upholstry, donor parts etc etc etc.....Plenty of Tiger owners near you though so get in touch with some and have a look for yourself....Oli.

Ok,

I have to admit the MK Indy does look good......

Website isn't up to much mind you.

Do they do a windscreen?

Yes, they can supply a windscreen.

Phil

And they're not that small either. I'm 6'3" and fit with space behind my seat. I could do with a slightly wider seat, but only because I have a wide chest/shoulders. More a problem with the seat than the car though.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Schrodinger
Tiger also has a branch in Plumstead

---

As andrew.carwithen says I fitted in my Avon with space to spare.(6'4" I went in Batmans MK which I thought was cavanous. I miss my car especially as I see it running around here quite a lot.
Hay Andy, sorry I had to dive off from the Exeter show, how are things?
Did you like the way I managed to pass the Chimaera off as a Kit car
Actually it is a glorified Kit car. A bit agricultural.
The lads on this site are much better that the TVR lot. Most of the owners around here are bigger than the average american and need 5 litres to pull them along. I've tried to point out that the most cost effactive way to impove performance would be to go on a diet. That went down like a lead balloon.

Which ever car you go for GO BIKE ENGINE!!

[Edited on 27/11/06 by Lightning]