F355 kits for MR2s

[Abso]

Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.

I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?

Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.

What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?

I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!

[1] Currently gracing the front page of:
http://www.powerhousesports.net/

[Carl Gibbs]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?

Can you get insured for people laughing at you? If so the premiums will be
sky high!

Post by Abso
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?

Seriously, you would never ever get back the money you spent on it. A kit
like the link you gave is gonna cost shitloads if you want it to look real,
as it gonna require a lot of skilled workmanship as well as the cost of the
kit. Look at other modified cars - they're worth no where near what was
shelled out on them!

Persoanlly i dont see the point of creating a look-a-like Ferrari, coz
you're gonna get into it and just be dissappointed. use the money it would
cost to buy a decent car in the first place. i reckon a nice Evo6 could be
brought for the price of the 'Toyota 355'!

Just my 2p

[Doki]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?
I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!
http://www.powerhousesports.net/

You won't fool anyone who's seen a F355 before, you won't get anything like
what you've paid for it if you sell it, and you'll pay a *lot* for it. Those
rather nice Ferrari wheels probably cost over a grand each. Tyres for those
wheels are liable to be an uncommon size, and will hence be expensive. Think
about it this way - most of the people buying tyres in that size will be
buying them for a Ferrari, so they won't be skimping. Getting the interior
right will be rather expensive too. It's not any sort of replica - a lot of
the proportions are wrong, and I suspect the MR2 is a lot shorter than the
355.

And it won't be faster than Matt's SAAB, even with the Ferrari bodykit :P.

If I were you I'd make something you have some hope of getting back what it
cost you to build - an MK Indy perhaps.

[Tim S Kemp]

Post by Doki
You won't fool anyone who's seen a F355 before,

surely the point is to make the MR2 into a beautiful car, which it does.
Anyone buying one to make people think you've got a fezza is kidding
themselves. Nice showpiece, nice car, not a ferrari.

[Paul Giverin]

Post by Tim S Kemp

Post by Doki
You won't fool anyone who's seen a F355 before,

surely the point is to make the MR2 into a beautiful car, which it does.
Anyone buying one to make people think you've got a fezza is kidding
themselves. Nice showpiece, nice car, not a ferrari.

I'm not a fan of replicas but I must admit the picture on that site does
look rather nice.

[Tony Bond]

Post by Paul Giverin
I'm not a fan of replicas but I must admit the picture on that site
does look rather nice.

The nicely done ones do look fine, I saw a few at Donington (kit car show)
3/4 weeks back.
Some had been done on the cheap, some not (£800 for real Ferrari rear lights
anyone ?), they were ALL laughable once they started up. You can't make a
Toyota sound like a Ferrari no matter how much GRP you stick to it ;)

[Mark S.]

Post by Paul Giverin

Post by Tim S Kemp

Post by Doki
You won't fool anyone who's seen a F355 before,

surely the point is to make the MR2 into a beautiful car, which it does.
Anyone buying one to make people think you've got a fezza is kidding
themselves. Nice showpiece, nice car, not a ferrari.

I'm not a fan of replicas but I must admit the picture on that site does
look rather nice.

Probably spent thousands on the fitting and painting as it's a "show"
car so if you bought a kit and fitted it yourself with a few hundred
on a respray it'll look like the waste of money it is. ;-)

Auto Trader every week - spend thousands on this car - £1995.00 some
people have no sense...

Bit like a pair of socks down your trousers, might pull in the looks
but you've nothing to back up the show with. :-)

Mark S.

[SteveH]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.

They look shite. All the proportions are wrong. Especially the wheelbase
and rear 3/4 view.

Would cost thousands to have professionally fitted, and no-one would
want to buy it off you once you'd got bored with people falling over
laughing at you.

[DervMan]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?

Well, there must be, heh!

Post by Abso
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.

To be fair, I don't think the performance is especially relevant unless
it'll match the real item and sound as good. These cars are meant to look
at.

Post by Abso
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?

Do it because you want to, because you can afford it, but _not_ for the
resale values!

Post by Abso
I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!
http://www.powerhousesports.net/

Well, other people have commented that it "doesn't look right," however
we're a bit of a niche in here - most of the public probably won't be able
to tell the difference unless stuff is pointed out. Personally, if I saw
one on the road, I'd need to look twice. Even then, if I clocked it for the
impostor but if it made me look twice, <respect> to the person for doing it.

Would I, personally, do it? Oh yes. But I'd convert the MR2 to run a
diesel engine, first. :)

[Doki]

Post by DervMan
Would I, personally, do it? Oh yes. But I'd convert the MR2 to run a
diesel engine, first. :)

You're a sick sick man :P.

[Abo]

Abso raved thus:

:: Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
:: which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
:: wondering about insurance for such a car.

For the love of God, don't do it!

Abo

[Trooper]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?

Depending on how much of the original car is kept, a few of the
converted cars have been re-registered as kit cars and have a
considerable saving on the insurance premium, especially if the MR2 was
a turbo to start with.

Post by Abso
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?

You can get tatty Turbo for between 3-4 grand, how much does the kit
cost?

Post by Abso
I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!

Personally, I wouldn't do it. An MR2 turbo is not a dull car by any
means and adding more kit will only slow it down. I'd be suprised if
there much of a market for completed cars too.

Either get an MR2 and spend the rest of the money on a nice holiday, or
go for a 308 if you really want a Ferrari (but beware of the running
costs)

T.

[Michael Rodgers]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.

Don't do it. It's just as pointless as people who stick M3 badges on 318i's.

a) Anyone who cares enough to appreciate a Ferrari 355 or an M3 will know
enough to tell the difference between your tarted up MR2 and a 355, or an M3
and a 318i

b) Anyone who can't tell the difference isn't usually sufficiently
interested in cars to give a damn.

[Mark S.]

On Mon, 6 Oct 2003 01:21:15 +0100, "Michael Rodgers"

Post by Michael Rodgers

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.

Don't do it. It's just as pointless as people who stick M3 badges on 318i's.
a) Anyone who cares enough to appreciate a Ferrari 355 or an M3 will know
enough to tell the difference between your tarted up MR2 and a 355, or an M3
and a 318i
b) Anyone who can't tell the difference isn't usually sufficiently
interested in cars to give a damn.

Worse still the people who debadge a car - if it was any good they
would leave the badges on so by default it's the base model or a
diesel. ;-)

Mark S.

[Johnny]

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a £5k MR2 and dressing it up as a £60k super
car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading, but I'd
be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers who
specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to insuring
a sheep in wolf's clothing?
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and what
kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess the ideal
donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty bodywork, in
order that the price is as low as possible and the performance as good
as poss.
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and that I
wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of the
constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face value it
seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an otherwise dull MR2
and there must be plenty of people who would like to create the
appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano money?
I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!
http://www.powerhousesports.net/
--
Abso [at] ukrm [dot] net - ignore header email address

This is *by far* the best 355 bodykit for the MR2 I've seen, so much so it'd
fool me!!

Most 355 MR2's have tell tale signs, the most notable being the distance of
the pop up lights from the front of the car - this particular kit seems
pretty spot on in that respect.

Someone posted up a 355 MR2 on the BarryBoys site recently, while it was
decent, it'd fool noone - it even only had 2 exhausts instead of 4 !!!!

I agree with pretty much everyone else though, it's just not worth the
expense, and the majority of that expense would be lost when you eventually
sell the car.

[Abso]

Post by Johnny

Post by Abso
Ok, I've googled and read a few threads relating to these body kits
which convert a Mk2 MR2 into a Ferrari 355 look-a-like [1] but I'm
wondering about insurance for such a car.
I'm guessing that taking a #5k MR2 and dressing it up as a #60k
super car is likely to attract a certain amount of premium loading,
but I'd be interested to know how much. Are there certain insurers
who specialise in kit / replica cars who might be more amenable to
insuring a sheep in wolf's clothing?
Also, does anyone know how much weight such a kit would add, and
what kind of performance compromise would be introduced? I guess
the ideal donor car would be a grey import MR2 turbo with tatty
bodywork, in order that the price is as low as possible and the
performance as good as poss.
What about residuals and resale value? My car-nut friend maintains
that the economics of such a conversion just don't stack up and
that I wouldn't be able to sell it on for anything like the cost of
the constituent parts, but I'm not sure this stacks up. At face
value it seems to be adding a whole shitload of value to an
otherwise dull MR2 and there must be plenty of people who would
like to create the appearance of owning a Ferrari for Ford Mundano
money?
I'm not sure I'm really seriously considering this, but I do find it
kind of intriguing..!
http://www.powerhousesports.net/
--
Abso [at] ukrm [dot] net - ignore header email address

This is *by far* the best 355 bodykit for the MR2 I've seen, so much
so it'd fool me!!
Most 355 MR2's have tell tale signs, the most notable being the
distance of the pop up lights from the front of the car - this
particular kit seems pretty spot on in that respect.
Someone posted up a 355 MR2 on the BarryBoys site recently, while it
was decent, it'd fool noone - it even only had 2 exhausts instead of
4 !!!!
I agree with pretty much everyone else though, it's just not worth the
expense, and the majority of that expense would be lost when you
eventually sell the car.

Thanks all for your views and rest assured, I'm not going to do it. It
was an idle flight of fancy based on dreams of arriving in a Ferrari
355 but I agree that to do so accompanied by the purr of a 2l jap
engine would be totally lame.

[SteveH]

Post by Abso

Post by Johnny
I agree with pretty much everyone else though, it's just not worth the
expense, and the majority of that expense would be lost when you
eventually sell the car.

Thanks all for your views and rest assured, I'm not going to do it. It
was an idle flight of fancy based on dreams of arriving in a Ferrari
355 but I agree that to do so accompanied by the purr of a 2l jap
engine would be totally lame.

For some reason I thought you were going for / already had an FTO?

YKIMS - they're a fantastic car.

Either that, or a Blaney-mobile 200SX Turbo.

[Abso]

Post by SteveH

Post by Abso

Post by Johnny
I agree with pretty much everyone else though, it's just not
worth the expense, and the majority of that expense would be lost
when you eventually sell the car.

Thanks all for your views and rest assured, I'm not going to do it.
It was an idle flight of fancy based on dreams of arriving in a
Ferrari 355 but I agree that to do so accompanied by the purr of a
2l jap engine would be totally lame.

For some reason I thought you were going for / already had an FTO?
YKIMS - they're a fantastic car.
Either that, or a Blaney-mobile 200SX Turbo.

Yes I have had an FTO Mivec for a couple of years and it's great, but
the novelty's wearing off - time for a change. I fancy something
really excessive, like a 911 or Subaru WRX Sti but atm I'm really just
window shopping around autotrader looking for ideas. I like the looks
of the Merc SLK but am I right in thinking they're chickwheels?

It'll be a while before I decide on anything as I've got to get shot of
the bike, the 306 and the FTO before I go shopping.

[Carl Farrington]

Post by Abso

Post by SteveH

Post by Abso

Post by Johnny
I agree with pretty much everyone else though, it's just not
worth the expense, and the majority of that expense would be lost
when you eventually sell the car.

Thanks all for your views and rest assured, I'm not going to do it.
It was an idle flight of fancy based on dreams of arriving in a
Ferrari 355 but I agree that to do so accompanied by the purr of a
2l jap engine would be totally lame.

For some reason I thought you were going for / already had an FTO?
YKIMS - they're a fantastic car.
Either that, or a Blaney-mobile 200SX Turbo.

Yes I have had an FTO Mivec for a couple of years and it's great, but
the novelty's wearing off - time for a change. I fancy something
really excessive, like a 911 or Subaru WRX Sti but atm I'm really just
window shopping around autotrader looking for ideas. I like the looks
of the Merc SLK but am I right in thinking they're chickwheels?
It'll be a while before I decide on anything as I've got to get shot
of the bike, the 306 and the FTO before I go shopping.

FFS what's wrong with you? Black Supra TT, 6sp Manual, rear wing removed,
alfa/lambo style split-rim 'cup' alloys, quad exhausts, slightly lowered.
You could get the Supra for about £2,500 on top of what you'd get for the
FTO.

p.s. I have patented this design so I'll only allow a few of you to do it
else it won't be fair 'cause I don't have enough money for mine yet.