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[J6collins]

This is the great response I received from David at zcars. I have not ordered anything but every time I email them they give me a quick response. Minitec is a different story, I haven't got a response to any of the three emails I sent.

I would say in the past the kit was sold on the basis the DVD (from ZCPE, the last ZC company) would work as YouTube does today, where so many people record themselves doing essentially anything. Lets not go into too much detail there

However where ZCE differs is we are trying to ensure we are more upfront so that some customers who operate on a limited budget do not buy the kit under false pretences and then hit obstacles that are difficult to overcome and in a few cases can become disillusioned as the months and in some cases years pass by and then sell the kit and car losing £000s. Of course I would like you to buy a kit but I would make the following points:

· It is easier to follow the DVD if you have the appropriate tools and facilities. It is not impossible without them, but it will take longer obviously.
· In the past, the kits were not always spot-on in terms of identical production, as the jig was not true and there was margins of error by a degree or a few mm. It should also be said the donor shell can be in a state of disrepair, or be long past its prime, so the frame may not fit perfectly. This would require some skill to compensate. Its like the Haynes manual undo the [seized as if it is welded on] bolt, but does it tell you how to get around the issues when you hit an obstacle.
· We are now manufacturing with finer tolerances and will film a few short clips to be made available to help overcome some of the usual problems, such as when the frame is true but the shell is not, so the brackets are not flush in terms of the angle where the shell meets the bolt-in frame.
· We now offer services breaking out the different stages and can share the build. It costs more and takes longer and we have to factor in transporting the shell. This could be done by aligning another trip to transport a car where one of the journeys might be an empty run. I would say, this is really only viable if you didnt like a particular stage (wiring for example, or mounting the frame). It wont work well if we fulfilled 7 stages and you took on 3 for example.
· Everyone starts off with limited automotive experience at some point, but it is a question of the kind of person you are. If youre determined and want to learn, then building your own car will give you a wealth of practical experience, perhaps with a few challenging moments which you overcome with tenacity or you get some assistance.
· Give some thought to being able to afford the kit and the cost of the overall build. If you buy the kit and then are likely to be limited for funds at some point, ensure you are comfortable with that, as it could become an issue for you if you dont finish the car and you have a lot of money tied up in something with a much lower resale value should you run out of money, time or patience. If you are going to do this, ensure you complete it and it is you that gets to enjoy it. Please dont buy it, then give the opportunity to someone who you dont know to come along and buy it at knock-down money and they call me and buy the bits they want to complete your project.

Regarding the wheels, 13s are better. If you keep the standard front brakes, I believe the rears should be fine as we used 12 x 4.5 on our Fiabusa (see facebook) for the shakedown which are the same rear setup and fitted fine.

I dont mean to put you off, but we will help you build it if you get stuck but we cant help you if you run of time, patience and cash. If you have any questions please let me know.

Regards

David