Newbie Looking at MEV Sonic 7's

[Rusty789]

Hi all, I've long aspired to build a kit car, but really don't fancy the "Norm" (Caterham style).

Locally I've seen a guy driving what turns out the be a MEV Rocket, not sure if he's on here but I'd loved a passenger ride if you are! (I know the reg of the vehicle, but don't want to put it on an open forum.)

Looked up MEV and basically fell in love with the Sonic 7, the aggresiveness of the lines, the stance and I've let my imagination go a bit on what it goes and handles like!

On RTR's website, the standard kit is £3,999 + VAT, on top of this what else do I need to get it through it's IVA on a new reg, not age related? I understand the majority of the components need to be "New" or "Remanufactured".

I've made a list from what I can see on the optional extras:

• Seats
  
• Exhaust
• Wiring Loom & IVA Light set

This brings the kit up to just shy of £6k, not really an issue because it will be bought and built in stages any way! Basically have I missed any costs from my rough figures? (I'm aware the IVA test costs itself but I'm not factoring that). Obviously the donor car will have a value, but that can vary quite epically!

The plan is to get the old man involved and share the costs a bit

I'm aware these cars are probably fairly brutal, but I'm sure I'll be okay, this is what I'm currently driving albeit it currently in the bodyshop! (Along with a barge of a Nissan Navara as a daily)



Any advice welcome & passenger rides will be greatly appreciated, I'm based on the border of Hampshire and Berkshire if any members are local.

[airforceone]

They are great kits, but don't be fooled into thinking that £6K will get it built, finished and IVA's
on a new plate. The IVA, first registration and first years tax will be almost £1000. I would budget closer to the £9-10K region but I'm sure that a sonic builder will give you more info.

I have a rocket, and they are fantastic on the road. You will love building and driving it on completion.

Good luck.

[martinw]

Hi there - and welcome to the forum .

There are some additional bits that you will need - the Wilwood pedal assembly is essential, and you'll need calipers and discs for the front (assuming that your donor has appropriate focus calipers and discs for the rear). Things have changed a little since I built my Sonic, as mine has cortina front uprights rather than the "standard" fabricated steel uprights now. I've got Wilwood calipers, where the most common choice now is Hi-spec.

And buying the kit is only a part of the equation; my donor (a cat D write-off) cost me in total around £700 (including auction fees and delivery); there a lots of "sundries" that you'll need - wheels and tyres, brake pipes / hoses and fittings, steering wheel etc. etc. Before I stopped counting I had spent around £9k on the Sonic....so as airforce says, £6k won't be the final figure. Don't get me wrong, I didn't spend massively more, but then mine has a bog-standard 1.8 engine . And I'm not trying to put you off! More than happy with mine - and it has just completed 2 years on the road; still haven't seen another on the road other than at a meet or kit car show, and that makes it pretty exclusive   .

Martin

[roadtrackrace]

Choice of donor car is important. There are loads of them out there and they vary in price quite a lot.

For £500 you can find a MK1 1.8 Focus with rear disc brakes that hasn't been to the moon and back. It will probably even have an MOT. If it has the rear discs it will almost certainly have alloys and with a set of 25mm wheel spacers on the front and 50mm on the back these can also be used on the kit if you are sticking to a budget.

Make up your own brake lines and you can genuinely use the original flexis from your Focus on the Sonic 7. You can use most of the wiring, the dashboard and the switchgear from the donor car as well.

You can also use the original pedal assembly by removing the brake servo. it's a bit of messing around but a day's work will save you £245.

If you complete your car within 12 months of collecting it from us and return it to us, you will be entitled to a free IVA thus saving you £450.

Shop around for 2nd hand seats don't bother with a seat runner unless several different people with different leg lengths are driving the car.

With this in mind, you can still build a Sonic7 for 7K. Add £1000 for posh wheels, clocks and a Wilwood pedal box and add another £1000 if you want a new engine and subsequntly a new plate.

RTR