rag1998

Just started reading your blog, very detailed reports I should say, enjoying it, but looks like its mostly used for track days, rather than cruising?? Weather in Austin varies highly, say a day/two of snow in a year, 2 months of below 40's, mostly bright summers with 2-3 months of above 90 temps and occasional rain. Will be driving with the weather gear(top at least) in place, as I am not planning on a bald/sun burnt look. Already lost half my hair and fiancée is complaining(go figure)!!! :deadhorse:

Thats great info, appreciate that. Just called up Dick Brink @ Texas Motor Works, he was very helping and filled with tremendous amounts of knowledge, chatted close to 45 mins on the phone about 7's . Will be meeting him on May 8th to look at a few of his cars. Looking forward to meeting him and another member that weekend in KC.

How does an S2K compare to Caterham, Birkin, Stalker for all weather road use and occasional tracking? Does one of the kits have an advantage over the other for my usage? Sorry about my stupid Q's, Please bear with my ignorance!!

Austin is also luckily turning out to be a very good motor-sports hub with tracks in Houston, Dallas, College Station, San Marcos and F1 circuit under construction right here. Hoping F1 circuit will be open for club racing, the convenience of driving from home to the track and back is just unbeatable. :hurray: Thats a big ouch with the first, glad you found the right one. Fiance, is definitely not like the first, she is glad that cars and racing makes me happy, but at the same time is not herself into HPDE's, trying to change that and get her into the world of thrills and joy, will have to see that goes after marriage. Read a lot of good reviews about Dick Brink in couple of forums, I will call him up today to get some accurate quotes. Thanks the info, I would have been waiting on the email forever. Thanks everyone for your knowledgeable responses, glad that I found this forum :cheers: Please keep them coming, more I learn the better

Want to but, getting Married on May 27th and will be out of the country from May 18th until June 20th

Thanks for the info Jack, just looked at their website, sadly they are closed on Saturday, which is the only day I am planning to be there!! Will call them up tomorrow and see if they will be available by any chance that weekend..:cheers: Thats what I was looking for, price for a completely done V6 is just right under my budget, which is great :cheers: Will try to find out if there are in Houston/Dallas..

Wow thanks for being very upfront, that says a lot about this forums integrity :hurray: Not ready to get one yet, and don't get me wrong I am not a big fan of rotaries, but as you were mentioning I can swap and still be way under budget. Will have to see and get a ride in one first, will try hitting up Houston/Dallas this weekend to meet some members and rides.

How much does a built Super Stalker cost? Looked at their website but didn't find complete pricing info. Same for Birkin's, sent an email to Dick Brink, didn't hear back yet.

Thanks for the input. I will most likely be going the used route unless, I could get a Berkin/another reliable brand in 35k budget Haven't even seen one in flesh yet :leaving:

Always love hearing from experienced guys Tried that a couple of times on several occassions, every time she made me return them / she returned those items, I am fine with that since she saves and I spend :jester: Will have to see if that changes after marriage!!!(not loooking forward to it changing)

Thanks for the info, how much does a new Birkin run and how does it compare with a Caterham? any articles/link?

Right! Told my fiance couple weeks ago about my interest in a 7 and showed her pics of Croc's car. She called me up yesterday and was asking how much I could get for the vette, explained to her and she is like "ok, then why don't you sell the vette and get the car you showed me the other day"!!! That put a smile on my face Just I have too many commitments at this point!! Posting my vette up for sale, so will see if I could make a quick sale, you never know!

Yes saw Croc's post, loved the car, looks like all I have to do is add weather gear to it. But I cant buy it right now, getting married next month and hell's breaking loose already :willy_nilly: Looking at more like 7-8 Months down the road, unless I win a lottery ticket in the mean time

Thanks for the info, I have a cheap second car with AC, auto and comfort which I drive rarely but might have to take that out for those 100F days. That is good to know about insurance, does Hagerty have mileage restrictions? Thats great, I would love to come check them out, will let you know when I can make it. BTW, I will be making a road trip from Des Moines, IA to Austin, TX via Bentonville, AR. Road map here So if anyone with a 7 lives in that travel path and is comfortable showing their rides, please let me know :cheers:

Love Alcantara, that looks great combined with carbon fiber! What seats are those? Padding on the seats looks thin, is that how you wanted it to be?

Hello all, This is Raghu from Austin, TX, new to the forum and less is more concept, currently own a Corvette C6 my daily driver, loved it for most of the time, but its time for a change. Have my eyes set on a Caterham/Lotus 7, and want one BADLY!! Forgot to add: I am considering a 7 to be my daily driver(to and fro from work is 10 miles), might sound weird but I like to drive my cars and enjoy every moment, also occasional track miles say 6 track weekends a year. Have a few Q's and would love to get your opinions. 1. Reliability? - I am not mechanically/electrically/green paper sound, what type of regular maintenance does a 7 need and how much will it run for maintenance issues? 2. Love driving my cars, put close to 22K miles on my Vette in an year with 2K track miles, regular fluid changes, brake maintenance etc and few issues covered by warranty. Would the 7 be able to do the same for me? 3. I am 5 11", 155 pounds and wear shoe size 10/11. Vette has a Cobra Suzuka seat which is very tight(got it cheap, specs on the seat ), and I drive in it for 40 miles a day but that doesn't bother me much, so assuming that I shouldn't have any issues with the 7. Agree? 4. Owners in Austin/Houston/Dallas, any recommend shops that can work on the 7? For thing's that I cant fix? 5. Insurance? I am 25 with an accident on record, which insurance companies will insure a kit? approx how much will it run? any tips? 6. Registering in Texas? any issues/ things I should consider? 7. Financing? Heard that many companies wont finance a kit car. Experience with any companies? who does/doesn't? 8. Budget max 35K, of-course less the better , considering the answers for some of the above questions like reliability, daily driving etc, what kit's should I consider? Cost? used/new? 9. Most important: Any owners in Austin, TX, that can show me around the car. Never seen one :devil: Sorry for my long list of questions, just want to be sure about what I might be getting myself into Any help is appreciated :cheers: