Today, there is no shortage of fast cars on the car market. If money is no object to you, you could have yourself something like a that of a Ferrari SF90 Stradale or a Lamborghini Aventador. For those of you who a little less well-off, you could bag yourself a Mustang GT500 or a C8 Corvette. Still too pricey? In that case, why not consider something like a Golf R or a Civic Type R.
But, what if the bottom tier options are a little too slow for your liking? What if, you want a supercar for Subaru WRX money? If you are up to the task, why not consider getting yourself a kit car?
Before you say something demeaning, you should take a look at how kit cars have changed for the better in recent years. Long gone are the days where a knock off manufacturer sends you a poorly constructed kit with poorly written instructions. Today, there are a variety of companies that are dedicated to ensuring that you can build yourself a legitimate track monster.
Let's take a look at the many reasons why you should consider getting yourself a kit car.
The Materials Are Actually Good And Fit Perfectly
Historically, kit cars have not exactly been the vehicle of choice for people who care about aesthetics. Years ago, people would make Ferrari Testarossas by sourcing the chassis from a Pontiac Fiero. While this may seem like a great way to acquire a budget sports car, the fact was that the panels did not exactly mesh well. As a result, the proportions of the vehicle were a little off to say the least. Additionally, the "Ferrari" still had the engine of a Fiero.
Today, kit cars are an altogether different story. Companies like that of Factory 5 Racing and Caterham, provide enthusiasts the opportunity to build and drive their favorite classic cars. They give consumers the ability to then fit those cars with modern conveniences, engines, and other components.
If classics are not really your thing, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of other options to choose from. Purpose built track cars and hypercar builds are currently becoming quite popular in the automotive community. Basically, their purpose is just to get you around a track as fast as possible.
They Are Now Easier And Cheaper To Build Than Ever Before
Arguably, the best thing about new kit cars is how easy it is to put them together. They come with instruction that show you build the car in a step by step fashion. Apparently, it is so easy, that Donut Media likens the process to that of building IKEA furniture. Since most builds require no welding or metal cutting, they truly are built with everyone in mind.
The next best thing about most of these cars, is that you can get yourself a really fast car for an extremely affordable price. For example, the DF Goblin sources its chassis, engine, and transmission from the sporty little Chevy Cobalt SS. The body is an extremely lightweight tubular design that encompasses the cabin area.
When you take these components and put them together, you are left with a car that has "a better power to weight ratio than the Z51 Corvette". The cherry on top is that you can build it in about 250 hours and it will only cost you around $10,000.
As With Everything, There Are Some Negatives
As with everything, building a kit car does come with its negatives. For starters, unlike a normal build project, you can't drive a kit car until it is completely finished. This means that you're going to have to put in all the necessary time before you can ever hit the road.
As mentioned earlier, some of the amateur builds can take around 250 hours to complete. While that isn't too bad, the problem comes about when you want a more complete build. With these, you could be looking at over 2,500 hours worth of your time. Obviously, not everyone has that kind of time (or patience) to dedicate to a car. For those of you who are married, you'd probably have to choose between either your spouse or the car, as you're probably not going to be able to give both the attention they deserve.
The last item on the docket is the costs associated with completing your kit car. Even though these vehicles can truly be a bargain for what you are getting, the fact is that they still do cost a good chunk of money. After all, you're still looking at paying between $10,000 and $50,000 no matter what you choose. Additionally, you're gonna need tools and paint; so if you don't have those, you're going to have to cough up even more dough.
If You Got The Time And Desire, This Path Is Right For You
While some of these factors may spoil the fun a bit, they shouldn't deter you if you were seriously considering going this route. Building a kit car is an awesome learning experience and will allow you to truly know your car inside and out. More importantly, you're going to feel so proud and accomplished once you complete your build.
One day you'll be looking at your car in the driveway and you'll probably start smiling to yourself while your reminiscing about how you built that car. Yes, your neighbors will think you're weird, but who cares? You'll be happy and who can put a price on that?