I want to make a few general comments about Kit Cars in general, as well as Quanta in particular. I've been interested in Kit Cars all my adult life: my elder brother built a Rochdale in the mid sixties...I have owned 2 Spartans, a Rickman Space Ranger, a Marlin Berlinetta and two Quanta...a saloon and now an H4. All of these cars, I would say have design compromises, reflecting the desire of the designer to achieve his aim within manageable limits: "manageable" in the broadest sense. I have an H4 because, as others have commented, I wanted something a little out of the ordinary, even if the basic idea is broadly along the MGB, MX5 track. I like Roadsters (this is my 4th) but the H4 has the brilliant Targa roof...45 seconds this afternoon from full coupe to open top: far more room inside than my beloved Marlin..with a decent boot and a twin cam ford engine, returning almost sensible mpg, the whole maintainable at rather less than Porsche prices. In short a great car, with character, soul and all the mod cons (electric windows, ford-chubb locks, power steering) without which, as Paul Moorhouse remarked to me "Kit Cars can be such a pain". So...my BIG idea for Quantum is update the H4 design to accept later Fiesta mechanics and power. Post 2002 donors should bring the chance of lower road tax due to reduced emissions and the sheer numbers and variety of Fiestas out there would allow for anyone to build to any specification they might want...with the ability to maintain the car themselves and to update / upgrade over time....which is where Kit Cars began..isn't it?
On Oct 11, 6:11 pm, Carvey <[email protected]> wrote: > Just thought I would also add my 2p worth. > > The majority of kits that are bought at the moment fit into two > categories, either a replica or a track/Occasional use fast road > car. > > Quantum has never been a replica company so I think they should keep > away from this. > > Therefore i think you have to look at the past and current models to > see which direction Quantum should go in. > > This is just my opinion and i might be wrong but I don't think that > the Xtreme will ever complete with Westfield and Caterham just because > of the kudos of these names. I also don't think that it will compete > with the smaller lotus 7 type cars on the track due to its extra > weight. Its all down to power to weight ratio and therefore the > Xtremes sales pitch of being more spacious is missing the point with > the majority of the people who are buying 7's at the moment. > Hopefully the new owner can change this. I also think they need to > catch up on the bike engine scene too. However if i had to buy a > Lotus 7 type car as a daily or summer car i would buy an Xtreme as I > think its the best option for this use. > > The Napier is never going to compete with the pure track cars for the > same reasons as above name and way to heavy! > > Therefore i think this rules out the pure track/ fast road design! > > The Sunrunner was out of date before it started you can tell this from > the slow decline of buggy replicas in the industry. The lack of sales > also point to this. > > Therefore no buggy! > > The Saloon was successful because it was so multi use. I built one age > 17 because it was an ideal first car with the bonus of cheap > insurance. Other people would have bought one because it had four > seats, it had no metal parts, it had a massive boot, it could be > diesel, 1.0L to RS Turbo powered. It therefore appealed to a massive > market. > > The 2+2 was the same as the saloon but maybe slightly more niche due > to the convertible roof. However it was around to compete at the > right time with the mx5, mgf's etc. Also the Zetec introduction > helped. > > The H4 was i guess was supposed to be a compromise between the saloon > and the 2+2, but had some rather questionable design floors with > regards to water getting in, water getting out and it also didn't > build on the success of the monocoque in the saloon. It was however > successful due to the modern donor vehicle and engine options > > So I see it as two success stories, two nearly and two failures. > > Now there are two more things that need to be taken into account that > are true for the saloon, 2+2, H4 and Xtreme and also to every other > kit car sold. > > Everyone who buys a kit car wants something that does was a standard > production car does but also that is different to the norm. > > Every person who bought a 2+2 and H4 could have bought a MX5 or MGF > and got the same blue print. Everyone who bought a saloon could have > bought a Ford Escort and got the same basic idea of a car. They > didn't because they wanted something away from the norm. > > The final reason was the price. Building a 2+2, H4 or saloon was > comparable in price when the car was first introduced to buying the > equivalent previous model tin top second hand. > > So finally to answer the question... > > The MX5 is still selling like hot cakes so update the styling of the > 2+2 probably down the same direction as the H4 with more curves and > space for bigger wheels. Inside go down the same route as GTM and > produce a 2+2 specific dash/ interior that doesn't give the car a > date. Finally update the running gear to a current car that is not > only available on the road but also there are so many on the road that > they should be found in every scrap yard. I would therefore go focus > on this. I would also get away from using donor parts that let people > know what it really is. So no focus rear lights etc. > > The success of the focus also shows that the standard four seater is > still needed today. Instead of appealing to a smaller market with the > saloon with estates etc aim for multi function again. If a saloon > style car could be built that appeals as a family car but also has the > engine options to compete with the quick Audi/ BMWs i would think it > would sell well. It would need to have a modern smooth design again > using very modern available mechanics. I would therefore go with the > focus or the Mondeo with this. Again keeping away from donor > identifying parts. > > Final thoughts, > Other successful blue prints that the kit car industry is yet to tap > into are the light weight, many miles out of one tank smart car idea. > Which with a fibreglass monocoque this should be easy! > > Finally the off road town car like the X5's where the introduction of > a fibreglass monocoque could take tons of the weight and therefore > reduce the need to have 3.8L engines and massive petrol bills. > > Like I said just my opinions > > Stuart -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Quantum Owners Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. 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