HELP WANTED! it's not for everyone, but who IS it for?!

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:23 pm

The MEV Exocet takes everything that is brilliant about the MX5 and enhances it in certain ways - shedding 300 kg and totally re-styling it.

I'm about to start manufacturing these - mainly because I want one - but I know someone else is going to want one too.

So here's my request - please can you take a look at it and let me know who you think the target market is - and how should I market it?

THANKS A MILLION

www.exocet.co.nz

mr_pool_pool2000 · Post by **mr_pool_pool2000** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:35 pm

looks very cool how much would it set someone back?

do you need a donor car to go with or complete?

aidwano · Post by **aidwano** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:56 pm

Looks like its for guys like in the picture

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:21 pm

Hey mr pool pool,

I'm aiming to have the kit complete for NZ$10k, and you'll need an MX5 too - I paid $1500 for mine, and I've decided to put new bushes and ball-joints on and overhaul the brakes, which adds a bit more to that. Thinking of getting the subframes powder-coated too, as this will be the demo car.

Thanks for looking

biff · Post by **biff** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:01 pm

Nice looking Ariel Atom like car

Who is the market (In no particular order)
1) Someone looking for a toy, not a daily driver (let's face it you're going
to get cold and wet, this isn't Arizona)
2) Prepared to either get your hands dirty or have a lot more than a 10K
budget.
3) Experience would be handy, both mechanical and electrical - or a posse of
mate who have the smarts, and if that's the case you will definitely need a
Beer Fridge".
4) 99% are going to be male
5) Your going to need some space to pull down and store the donor, and build
the Exocet
6) A big healthy tool box would be an idea I guess

A heap of patience and the ability to think outside the square!
(Heck maybe this is the car for a woman)

-----Original Message-----
From: Exocet kit cars [mailto:mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 21 July 2011 7:22 p.m.
To: mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz
Subject: [MX5] Re: HELP WANTED! it's not for everyone, but who IS it for?!

Hey mr pool pool,

I'm aiming to have the kit complete for NZ$10k, and you'll need an MX5 too -
I paid $1500 for mine, and I've decided to put new bushes and ball-joints on
and overhaul the brakes, which adds a bit more to that. Thinking of getting
the subframes powder-coated too, as this will be the demo car.

Thanks for looking

------------------------
Exocet Cars Ltd (http://exocet.co.nz/)

---------------------------------------------

Sent from an mx5forum.co.nz topic here:
http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php?p=46336#46336

---------------------------------------------

[Posted via external email]

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:35 am

I would be guessing your target market is pretty much the same as those types of people that Fraser Cars sell to (www.fraser.co.nz) who maybe can't quite afford one, as those things tend to be up around the $30-$40K mark depending on specs.

So a guy, middle aged to late aged, just wants a toy for really fine weather and maybe the odd track day, and had the space in the garage to store it for the 8 months of the year he can't use it. As Biff said, it ain't Arizona.

Have you thought about having a turn key option, as that would open up your market a lot. Lets face it, most guys by time they get to that age can't be fagged stuffing around in a garage for the next 12 months.

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:58 pm

Cheers Donovan
I agree, it is a total toy! I admit - I thought the other day about keeping the heater from the MX5 too, but I think a jacket and beanie is the way!
I will definitely offer turn-key cars - the great thing is that they can be customised to whatever spec people want. No reason why a turn-key couldn't be offered for NZ$20k I reckon.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:25 am

thought about an add in the Classic Car Magazine?

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:29 pm

needs a turbo!

m4vr1k · Post by **m4vr1k** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:51 pm

Now that is a car that is crying out for a V8. Looks spectacular, a cheap and easy Ariel Atom. Someone who wants the feel of a motorbike without the likelihood of getting stuck under a stock truck....Does it have a place to put things?

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:47 pm

There's a guy in the UK building one with a turbo. Personally I like the idea of a supercharger. Mind you - at 300 kg lighter than the MX5, there's free power right there.
I spoke to the guys at Link at Speedshow on the weekend - I really like the idea of a new ECU, bespoke loom and even an electronic dash. Demonstrator No. 2 may well show off these extras.
As for somewhere to put stuff - if you left the passenger behind...
Seriously though, there's heaps of room in the cockpit - more than in the MX5, so soft bags can be accommodated.
Cheers for looking!

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:22 pm

I see you have an article in Autocar's online E-newsletter that gets emailed. out.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:54 pm

I have just seen this on Trade Me as well, competition for your kit

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 110287.htm

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:08 am

Thanks Donovan for sending me the enewsletter. I met those nice guys at the Speeshow last weekend and had a chat with them. Great they wanted to run that news story.

As for the competition - I think there is room enough for all of us! That particular car is a seven replica - a classic shape, but one from 1957 - the Exocet is something a little different and more up to date! I calculated that to buy everything you need from them is about $23k, so I'm pretty well priced at $11.5k inc GST

broomfish · Post by **broomfish** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:57 pm

Nice to talk to you at Speedshow. Looking forward to trying some intake designs on your exocet, make sure you drop me a line once your at that stage.

I remember a lot of years ago going to a track day at pukekohe and they had a kit car their being displayed that had been built in 'budget' and 'performance' versions. the performance one was running a rotary and the budget one was running a hunter or Viva or similar engine (i did say it was a lot of years ago) that was a good comparison, would be good if some one built a base standard one using the standard MX5 parts, seats, wheels etc to campare against a flash one for your future displays

Kiwibirkin · Post by **Kiwibirkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:23 pm

Nice looking car if you can get this on the road for NZ $15k inc cert you are on a winner I think as it will make a great track-day car, toy, day out cruiser on a fine day (plenty of them in NZ) I have a lotus 7 replica and use it for 8 months of the year full on and the winter months drive it on the odd fine day.

Fraser are not your target market a self build kit will cost you NZ $40K and turn key car with just the basic options (same as the kit) is $47K and well spec'ed Fraser kit will cost you well over $55K, I know I own the Lotus7.co.nz site with plenty of owners of these cars on the forum and none have built for 30k.

Your target market is the home built lotus7/clubman guys who build there cars from plans even these cost NZ $20k on a tight budget with cert so like I said if people can build these for NZ $15k on road you would be getting a
a fun car for that price that would be able to be driven in NZ for a good 6-8 months of the year.

If you want to ask over at my Lotus7 forums for there opinions too feel free to drop by at http://www.lotu7.co.nz as we deal with clubman cars too and your car would be a clubman style car.

Good luck with the project.

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:31 pm

Thanks Kiwibirkin - I will definitely swing by lotus7.co.nz
I think the $15k is possible, if you don't get carried away with replacing a whole load of bits from the donor!
In the UK most people who make these actually end up making money from the donor by selling the parts then don't need on eBay - no reason why the same couldn't be done here with TradeMe...

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:35 pm

Cheers Broomfish,
Good to meet you at Speedshow. The first Exocet on the road here will be a pretty standard version I think - albeit I haven't been able to resist replacing bushes, ball joints, tie-rod ends, getting the sub-frames powder coated, bling wheels from Tire Rack with grippy Kumho tyres etc. I want it to look the part!
Definitely scope for a few minor mods though, air intake and extractors...

Exocet kit cars · Post by **Exocet kit cars** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:41 am

Thought I'd bring this thread up to date, now that I have the first NZ chassis well on the way to being Exocet No. 1.

I now also have an ad on trademe for the kits.

The rolling chassis has all the brakes lines and clutch lines plumbed in, pedal boxes and steering column in. The drivers seat will go in so you can sit in it - try it for size (I'm 6'3" and fit comfortably).

I mocked up the body panels the other weekend for the 4 and Rotary Ardmore Showdown - this car looks good in the flesh!

exocet.co.nz

Seakiwi · Post by **Seakiwi** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:42 pm

Well I guess I am one of those older guys that want to give this a go. So far my donor is stripped of all the extra body and the kit is due mid May. I'm in Stillwater and meet a few from here buying my surplus panels. It's my forth MX5 so I qualify as a fan!

Follow the link To the builder forum from Exocet.co.nz and look under Exocet for Kiwi build 2, that's mine. Will keep it up to date weekly. So far the projected cost of $15k looks to be very realistic, my donor has generated around $1500 salvage with more to go so will net me somewhere around $700.

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:10 pm

Are you stripping the blue on on TM?

Seakiwi · Post by **Seakiwi** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:51 am

That would be me. So far it's going well.

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:06 am

And you're an absolute pleasure to deal with, welcome to the forum

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:14 am

Seakiwi wrote:That would be me. So far it's going well.

Still have the guards?

Seakiwi · Post by **Seakiwi** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:02 pm

Born_disturbed wrote:
Seakiwi wrote:That would be me. So far it's going well.
Still have the guards?

On TM for this Saturday. Cheers