V1 Deciding on a Donor for my Car Draumr

[TheAnesthetist]

Have you considered an Exocet? Donor NA/NB miatas are a dime a dozen and you could have a lot more fun in the meantime driving a Miata instead of a cobalt while you save up for the kit.

 

[G Atsma]

Have you considered an Exocet? Donor NA/NB miatas are a dime a dozen and you could have a lot more fun in the meantime driving a Miata instead of a cobalt while you save up for the kit.

Have you PRICED an Exocet??

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Have you PRICED an Exocet??

Unless you know something I don't, the most expensive Exocet kit is cheaper than the cheapest Goblin kit

 

[Joebob]

If anyone thinks the Goblin is hard to put together with the videos and second stage pictures, you have no chance with the exocet. Exocet turned Lonny's 11 wiring videos down to 1 paragraph.

Any questions? Good luck.

Joe

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Ok but how many wires on the Exocet do you have to thin/shorten/extend due to completely changing the layout of the vehicle? And how many on the goblin?

You must admit the goblin is an enormous electrical undertaking compared to plugging a stock harness into an Exocet.

Clearly I think the goblin is the better choice for what I wanted out of an exocar. I ultimately decided against an Exocet bc it seemed too easy to just swap components into a new chassis.

 

[Dale E]

I've been biting my tongue over this thread! It's very raw and I want it to start healing. This is I think the third thread topic Hayden*** has on the forum. Don't need a new topic to discuss, just continue on with the very first posted (but oh well too late -eh?). Hayden I was first to tell folks to support you in your journey, but I'm an old Cogger, and I have lost sympathy for your deflating of self worth in finances and schooling. When and if you ever get a Goblin kit and build or even buy one that needs work, this community will step in and help you out. We can help you fix the car problems we can not fix your life style. I'm in total agreement with @ Gtstorey - you can not afford this adventure at this time in your life!

Never quit dreaming though -- with hard work and good investment you can achieve what you dream.

Now some kit car information for you to consider. Someone suggested the Exocet (Miata based). It is the same or more than the Goblin in cost. Reference forum topic Events ---- Midwest Sevens and check the skeletal car in the pictures by @ Ross post #13. That is an Exobusa (motorcycle engine). This same company is responsible for the Exocet car and maybe 4 other models. The importer with the red Exobusa said it would be around 25,ooo$ (probably more to finish). Someone mentioned the Exocet wiring being a paragraph. The importer said on the Exobusa that the wiring harness from the motorcycle was used and sent to England and they did the wiring for the car at the factory there and sent it back totally loomed and all connections labeled. so maybe they handle the Excocet like that and one paragraph instructions would suffice??

The Seven type kits are in the 20,ooo$ range for a kit to roller. So, no kit car probably will be cheaper than the Goblin V1 (the V2 is not priced yet). The scratch built Locost Seven types maybe the cheapest, but you have to have the skills to weld, design, build and manage your time. Minimalist instruction except online and books. The cheapest Locost I touched was at Cresson Motor Speedway track event and was built for 2,500$. The guy used an old BMW donor he had had for 15 years or so, and scratch built the frame, and hand hammered the aluminum body panels. It was an awesome car and a very dedicated skilled builder.

So, out of all that, Hayden**** - keep dreaming, concentrate on your finances, work and education. Those are your first priorities of focus. Material things will manifest in due time!!

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Dale you are bang on about everything except that the exobusa is not the same as an Exocet. Different vehicle from a different company. The Exocet is designed and sold by the Atlanta-based company, Exomotive. Base model kit is $8000, making it substantially cheaper than a Goblin. I've talked to guys that built their entire Exocet for under $15k including the donor. For comparison, my goiblin kit alone cost over $16k.

But that's neither here nor there. Hayden....bud....we love your enthusiasm but this would be a terrible decision at this point in your life. I'm well over $20,000 so far into this project and it's not even close to roadworthy yet.

 

[Hayden2053]

Dale you are bang on about everything except that the exobusa is not the same as an Exocet. Different vehicle from a different company. The Exocet is designed and sold by the Atlanta-based company, Exomotive. Base model kit is $8000, making it substantially cheaper than a Goblin. I've talked to guys that built their entire Exocet for under $15k including the donor. For comparison, my goiblin kit alone cost over $16k.

But that's neither here nor there. Hayden....bud....we love your enthusiasm but this would be a terrible decision at this point in your life. I'm well over $20,000 so far into this project and it's not even close to roadworthy yet.

As of much else besides a car to enjoy there isn't much else for me to do, just attempt at getting a better job and keep working as much as possible to afford the fun things

 

[Hayden2053]

investment

I don't have good luck so besides paying someone to invest for me my best investments would be a certificate of deposit or the savings account I have

 

[Robinjo]

I'm still waiting to find any vehicle anywhere that didn't run when parked.

I had an old Opel GT that I got for free that did not run when parked..... I'm sure it did for the guy that gave it to me but still.

 

[ah.b.normal]

I've been biting my tongue over this thread! It's very raw and I want it to start healing. This is I think the third thread topic Hayden*** has on the forum. Don't need a new topic to discuss, just continue on with the very first posted (but oh well too late -eh?).

Saddened I can only "LIKE" This post once! (But one man/ one vote is the best rule.)

 

[Hayden2053]

Anyone know roughly how much it costs to change a automatic 2.2L cobalt to a manual? Not including shifter for the car and just the things to take it out and make it a manual when putting it into the Goblin. Just throwing some other around and doing some thinking

 

[TheAnesthetist]

I can't say from personal experience but thats not going to be nearly as easy or cheap as it sounds. You'd need a bunch of parts. New trans, obviously. Also cables, pedals, clutch master cylinder, etc. You'd also have a bunch of electrical systems that wouldn't be happy about the change either. There are also slight differences between the AT goblin kits and the MT ones.

 

[Hayden2053]

I can't say from personal experience but thats not going to be nearly as easy or cheap as it sounds. You'd need a bunch of parts. New trans, obviously. Also cables, pedals, clutch master cylinder, etc. You'd also have a bunch of electrical systems that wouldn't be happy about the change either. There are also slight differences between the AT goblin kits and the MT ones.

Ok thank you I will look at manual NA donors instead. Thank you

 

[Ark :D]

Ok thank you I will look at manual NA donors instead. Thank you

How far are you from Romulus, MI? This one is listed as an automatic, but it's a Cobalt SS so unless it's a 2.4 NA, it's manual. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Ottowa Lake, MI? SS/SC. Doesn't run, can definitely be talked down. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Troy, MI? SS/SC Actually, looks like a 2.4 NA. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Pontiac, MI? This one will make you frown, but is a perfect donor for you. The price is right. CLICK

Noticing a theme here? I'll be blunt: you have very low income and very low savings. If you don't want to get partway into this project and fail, you'll have to settle for a non-ideal donor. Pick one of the above and make it happen. Since I am running out of decency, I will make this my last post on the topic. I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

 

[Hayden2053]

How far are you from Romulus, MI? This one is listed as an automatic, but it's a Cobalt SS so unless it's a 2.4 NA, it's manual. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Ottowa Lake, MI? SS/SC. Doesn't run, can definitely be talked down. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Troy, MI? SS/SC Actually, looks like a 2.4 NA. The price is right. CLICK

How far are you from Pontiac, MI? This one will make you frown, but is a perfect donor for you. The price is right. CLICK

Noticing a theme here? I'll be blunt: you have very low income and very low savings. If you don't want to get partway into this project and fail, you'll have to settle for a non-ideal donor. Pick one of the above and make it happen. Since I am running out of decency, I will make this my last post on the topic. I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

I am settling for a non ideal donor, a manual NA is not ideal but if it is cheaper to get a manual verses
auto then switch it to a manual then it is just common sense to go with the manual NA. I know I have a low income and there is not much to do about it besides wait now since I have applied but I'm working hard at trying to get what I can where I can.

 

[Ark :D]

I am settling for a non ideal donor, a manual NA is not ideal but if it is cheaper to get a manual verses
auto then switch it to a manual then it is just common sense to go with the manual NA. I know I have a low income and there is not much to do about it besides wait now since I have applied but I'm working hard at trying to get what I can where I can.

So what's your critique on each of the donors I posted? Third one fits your criteria.

*edit* Trans is messed up, offer $500 and take her home.

 

[Hayden2053]

So what's your critique on each of the donors I posted? Third one fits your criteria.

*edit* Trans is messed up, offer $500 and take her home.

Very high mileage and transmission needs some work that would be a few extra hundred, I have plenty of time I just needed to know if it was work to swap auto to manual to help cut searching some. Thank you and i will add these to the list of consideration

 

[Gtstorey]

If you don’t have any other prospects for a job other than wait, you need to be saving money for a trade school, not a toy.

 

[Hayden2053]

If you don’t have any other prospects for a job other than wait, you need to be saving money for a trade school, not a toy.

i put in a application for a decent place so just waiting to see if will hear anything, if I dont by end of July ill look somewhere else probably. Yea I know I'll probably need extra schooling for a decent pay but figured id try before going into major debt