Having built my car from scratch over 4 years and then getting it on the road just before Xmas I must admit I have just got used to having it there in the garage and I can't say I think of it as being anything 'special' now.

The reaction the car gets when I take it out though always surpises me. People in cars wave, people point and smile. Whenever you stop people come over and talk to you about the car. Amazing how few people have seen a 7 in the flesh and most seem to think of them as being supercars from what they have seen on Top Gear etc

So what does everyone make of the reactions of the public to their cars?

When I've finished designing and building it I'll let you know

I'm pretty sure I'll consider it special.

After all the time it took to build my Locost, and get it thru IVA, its definitely "Special"!
OTOH, my dear wife has a very different opinion!!

I never tire if the reaction. People seem to treat you very well in this type of car - I get let out at junctions and generally shown courteous behaviour that I have never witnessed in a tin top. Even when driving like a bit of an idiot, I still find people are ok - unlike if you did the same in a Ferrari or similar!

The only downside is, I realised about 6 months after getting it on the road - it doe snot attract hot women. It attract middle aged men to come over, and ask you lots of questions and generally admire. Only once has it had a positive affect on the ladies, and that resulted in myself and a fellow forum member (Alex - Omega) being asked for a drink by a lovely mother daughter combo!

Never tired of the positive reclaim my Indy received it and about. People always want to stop and ask questions and I lost count of the number of people who sat in it.

My current 205 gti gets similar reactions, particularly from middle aged blokes who has one when they were younger.

My car isn't Special any more - but it is unique.

My biggest joy since building it has been the reaction of drivers of other unusual cars and the public at large.

The closest I came to any positive female attention was from a young lady who's young son (3yrs old at most) climbed into the car and stood on the drivers seat, swinging on the steering wheel making "bbbrrrrrmmmmmmmm" noises!

She was embarrased because I came back to the car just as she was telling him to get out in case the owner came back

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Originally posted by nick205
Never tired of the positive reclaim my Indy received it and about. People always want to stop and ask questions and I lost count of the number of people who sat in it.

My current 205 gti gets similar reactions, particularly from middle aged blokes who has one when they were younger.

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Simple way is to park up on a big shopping complex,, walk away ,,
Just watch the amount of guys making a detour to walk past and look

Yep my car is special .. just the weather and time to get out is the problem..

[Edited on 2/6/14 by johnemms]

Yes they are special, mine included. I never tire at looking at them, even the more basic ones (not saying which). Always some detail to be admired. So much individuality they are all works of art.

Mines Special - Special Needs

Having an e46 beemer as my daily car, the difference between how im treat in the mk compared to that is unreal!!!

In my bmw, people will make it as difficult as they possibly can for me to overtake, I dont get let out at junctions and people do just assume im a dick.
I drive my MK on the roads a lot, and i drive it hard (much more 'dickish' than i ever do in my bm!), yet people dont get wound up over it, they let me over take, they leave gaps for me, move over for me, flash me out, etc etc

however, i do get bored of the attention it draws. why people feel the need to point at me when im just driving along minding my own business i dont know. I've started pointing back at them now.
I'm also a bit bored of people waving at me who have no idea who i am, I'm all for being friendly etc, but come on.

The reaction I hate the most is that of little kids. they seem to think my roll cage is a climbing frame! and the parents are even bigger tawts for standing there taking a photo of their little brats swinging all over my pride and joy

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most seem to think of them as being supercars from what they have seen on Top Gear etc

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My car has had a lot of interest over the years, and one gentleman argued with me that my car WAS a caterham, and i obvousley
did not have a clue about what car i owned

then there are the others who are unable to comprehend i built my car "in a ridicusly small garage" Ian Stent quote
or that i actually DID build it from scratch
and then theres the arguments about what kit is it, now i just say "mine" and walk away

steve

When people say "nice car mate" I'm like a little kit and have to tell them that I built it.
Anyone can buy a car few build them
There is also a sort of hierarchy
Those that design & build from scratch
Scratch build chassis such as Ron or Haynes
Kit built ( trust me early Robin Hoods need skill determination and a little madness)
Then Westfield & Caterham
However I did notice at Stonliegh that many more kit manufacturers are producing bracketed chassis with in build support and after are to raise the quality of the end product.

My mother told me I was 'special' does that count?

I always viewed my Indy as special, even when it became my only car for a time. For some reason mine always sounded different to other BECs, but that may have just been me!

I always enjoyed the attention, but as said it was never from the foxy young things you might hope for! Equally, I never had kids climb over my car without my say so as the local kids loved watching me get the car out and warmed up on the drive. Since it was gelcoat and not painted I didn't mind, but I can understand those that do. After all, you wouldn't accept it with a "normal" car, so why is it OK with a kit car?

I'm also sure that once I've finished building my Sprite, I will view it as Special for some time, if not always, as I've built the car from the ground up to be the way I want. And I know there's not another one in the world, which either means I'm brave or stupid!

Yeah, my cars special alright.
So special that it demands all my time and loves it when I get the spanners out!

Sometimes I swear it breaks itself just so it gets to spend time with me alone in the garage.

Seriously, I still enjoy it when people wave, especially kids. Their little faces like they have just seen something awesome....

I do agree though it does attract middle aged men who want to ask several million questions just when your trying to set off again.

I also enjoy it when you take somebody out for the first time, especially when you can open her up. I've had screams, whooping, swearing the lot, even somebody grasping the rollcage and my arm so tight I had to scream......