Novice Question - S7 Vs 2B/2B+

[Guest h34ds]

Hi Guys,

 

Myself and my old man are looking into joining the Robin Hood community and we have had a look at some very nice examples.

 

I think for a starting point we are looking at getting a fully running set-up where some very minor detailing can be done, rather than serious work.

 

 

From reading there are pros and cons to various options/models/set-ups.

 

I was wondering if a few of you could give the pros and cons of the following cars:

 

The 2B (+) and the S7 and which would you go for if you had a choice of both mint examples with 2.0L Pintos - very well finished

 

 

Also what about price difference - resale, desirability of one over the other. E.g. If both versions were mint what price range would you expect

 

 

Apologies once again for the novice questions but we want to get it right

 

Thanks in advance for your help

 

 

 

 

[Snapperpaul]

I'll start the debate

2b very strong but considered a bit lardy, the chassis is effectively a roll cage, very safe

S7 no chassis, a stainless monocoque, I have one it did take a fair bit of work to get it where I want it and you should research on this forum for some minor issues

I like them, and there lighter

[Guest 2b cruising]

I have a 2b I bought as my first kit car last year.

I have so far only had mild works to do on it.

I have done cosmetic and mechanical work such as all new fibre glass panels and full colour change.

I have also gotten rid of the awfull Sierra dash. Good in a Sierra, not in the kit.

It has double front wishbones which I consider the best front set up.

This has also been modified by fitt the latest top wishbone that gives a greatly increased castor setting.

That has been the best money spent so far.

I have a Vauxhall engine virtually ready to go in to give vastly greater bhp/torque figures.

I am now pondering to complete this or change my mind and go Zetec/ Duratec instead. So many people doing this and I think parts will be more readily available in the future.

So for this year, apart from a stupid mistake of my own making, the car has proven super reliable and easy to drive.

I am still using the Vauxhall seats as supplied with original kit and they are extremely comfortable.

If it wasn't for the wind in your hair and the throaty sound, you could think you were driving a normal tin top.

Only other car I might consider at the moment would possibly be a Zero. That is only for the more modern cosmetic looks.

Other than that, a kit car is what you personally make it.

If you are spending a lot of money, you should first consider what you would like it to look and perform like, and how much those changes are going to cost before you spend your hard earned pennies.

It might be that it would be more cost effective to buy a cheaper car then improve it yourselves.

Edited August 10, 2015 by 2b cruising

[Guest janis]

I had s7 and now 2b..s7 i never get on the road propertly i love bouth of them..

I think u shoud drive bought and see yourself..a lot depends on build quality and money has gone in to it...i seen and drive some terrible 2bs before and seen and drive very nice ones..

U just need to see whats out there..and make sure paperwork is 100% and it says only robin hood in tqx book not sierra dutton etc..

[Guest janis]

And if u spend more money on kitcar now less u will need on upgrades...like zetec change is 2k but if u buy one now it will cost u only slightly more than pinto..gauge set coud be up to 400£ and seats coud be 400£ ut price on thoes kitcars with nice seats and proper gauves will be only weebit more expensive..some thing like that anyway..

[HAWKNORTH]

It's the build quality that is important. You will see poor examples of all the models. You will see good examples of all the models. So really what i'm saying is it depends on how the kit has been put together rather than it being a particular model. Mine is a 3A stainless mono, 18 years on the road and in better condition then when I first bought it.

[Guest mdav1970]

Mines a late 3A again mono chassis, chassis build is perfect, good welds. It's lighter than 2b and seems more modern to me.

[nicko]

I see you're in South Yorkshire, I'm in Sheffield and there's quite a few of us in the surrounding area. I've got a 2b, and you're welcome to pop round and have a look and a chat.

Nick

[Guest h34ds]

Hi Nick,

 

That is a very generous offer. We may well take you up on that.

 

We have found 2 cars that we are very interested in, but they are two ends of the spectrum, both I feel are very nicely done, and a few 'minor alterations' to make it "ours" would be all that is needed.

 

One is clearly a well thought out, well documented, very well finished and kept 2B with drivability in mind and a little more modest than the next which is an S7 that has been very well done, but lacks an in depth portfolio of all the work done. (concern is something goes wrong and we then struggle to trace what has been done, altered, modded which makes it harder to diagnose etc), It has been tricked up a lot more, but nothing silly and is a little more in your face.

 

 

I appreciate what Janis has said, and I agree whole heartedly, why spend £4k on a car to then spend another £3k Changing the engine etc when you can buy cars with the zetec in already for similar money.

 

 

I shall do a bit more research on both cars.

 

Is there/Are there any major issues that should always be checked with either model?

 

Thank you for all your help!

[HAWKNORTH]

The stainless mono chassis models such as the S7, 3, 3A can suffer from cracking in some areas. The most obvious one and easiest to spot is where the front cross member is attached to the body sides. its no great problem to put these right, but they do need to be spotted. The South Yorksish area members meet at the Red Lion in Todwick ( just of the M1 junction 31) first Wednesday of the month, with several kits usually turning up. Pop along and have a chat!

[speedtripledan]

2b is the stonger safer car, i was rear ended by a v8 jag doing 40mph when i was near stationary. I walked away and the car is still on the rd. Doubt a mono would have survived that and i would have been worse off for certain. Ive seen and repaired substantial cracks on a mono for some one. Personally i wouldnt touch one with a 10ft pole. Just my opinions of coarse

Edited August 11, 2015 by DanE

[Guest h34ds]

OK, thanks for that.

 

We will hopefully see you all there and have a bit of a chat and get some more advice! Thanks

[Guest russell555]

I got a 2b as my first kit car... Very happy with it and as others gave said.. If you don't like something,just change it...

 

Mine has given me 5 years of open top big smiles motoring with the only problem being running out of petrol... Doh!!

If you fancy a foray into Lincolnshire, it's still reluctantly for sale if you want a good look at one

[Guest russell555]

.

Edited August 28, 2015 by russell555

[Guest Barry Knowles]

hi mate. if you want to spend some time in stockport. will only be to happy let you drive my 2b. 2ltr pinto bike carbs. been told its well built.