Elfin Hell!
12-09-2005, 03:42 PM
#51
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Theres an Elfin versus Exige story in the latest Wheels Yearbook thats just come out.
Mind you I think the Radical is ugly as hell. But it's un-be-f**king-leivably fast. Theres a V8 version out there!
Mind you I think the Radical is ugly as hell. But it's un-be-f**king-leivably fast. Theres a V8 version out there!
12-09-2005, 05:18 PM
#52
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When we were driving the Elfin we stopped off for petrol and saw the mag. I bought it at the airport on the way back.
Yes Radical have a V8 made from two Hayabusa heads on a custom block but A) it won't be cheaper than the Elfin B) you can't register it.
Yes Radical have a V8 made from two Hayabusa heads on a custom block but A) it won't be cheaper than the Elfin B) you can't register it.
12-11-2005, 01:59 PM
#54
And this is not a kit car. It is a road registerable turnkey car from a bespoke manufacturer with an impeccable racing heritage.
The latest 8 cylinder Elfins have some nice engineering from Harrop on the uprights and brakes, but the chassis is far from elegant. Its strong, functional and easy to fabricate but not elegant. No doubt it would be an entertaining car to drive, but is getting away from the lightweight clubman formula and aimed more at the second hand Porsche market.
Race wise, Elfins current owners have done very little racing, and what they have done is nothing groundbreaking. Comparing race results PRB's have been 2.5 seconds quicker than the Elfin at Phillip Island, and 6 seconds quicker at Winton. Winton shows how much of a difference a bit of handling can make. In the NSW clubman challenge the sole Elfin has only run near the front of the grid at the start of the reverse grid races.
Elfin are marketing guys so you expect them to highlight Elfins racing history. Its just a shame that history was made by completely different people in completely different cars. The name on the box is the same, just the contents are different.
my 2cent for free.
Chris.
12-11-2005, 04:05 PM
#55
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Originally Posted by chris_barry,Dec 12 2005, 08:59 AM
This isn't really the case. Elfin's current owners purchased the brand name around 5 years ago and have no engineering link to the Elfin company that Gary cooper built.
He also showed us the old notebooks used by Gary to design Elfins. They are oil stained and tattered. All the specs are in imperial and very few of the designs are actually specified by year and model so finding the drawing for a particular part for a particular model is a matter of hunting and finding. Pete is in the process of redoing the specs in metric and filing them.
I guess what I'm saying is that owner ship of the name may have changed but along with it went a lot of very passionate people and all the heritage of the Elfin company.
12-11-2005, 04:12 PM
#56
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Oh, and don't get me wrong, this is not a PRB vs. Elfin thing. I went to the drive day because it was an opportunity to experience something different and a bit unique. Same as the experiences I've had at PRB and at Clubman drive days.
If Roaring Forties ring next week and invite me to a track day I'll be on the first plane. I'm an auto-engineering slut!
If Roaring Forties ring next week and invite me to a track day I'll be on the first plane. I'm an auto-engineering slut!
12-11-2005, 05:15 PM
#57
No probs. Its actually good that Elfin are maintaining and buying up older cars and preserving their brands Heritage. Its just a shame the way they rubbish PRB and the other clubman manufacturers who have been in the market a lot longer than Elfin's current custodians.
We get "suspects" looking at PRB's who ask why on earth Elfin are so vocally anti PRB. You have to wonder why they are even worried as the new Elfins are targeted at a different market/budget.
Chris.
We get "suspects" looking at PRB's who ask why on earth Elfin are so vocally anti PRB. You have to wonder why they are even worried as the new Elfins are targeted at a different market/budget.
Chris.
12-11-2005, 06:43 PM
#59
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I kinda did when I asked about the weather protection of their basic clubman. It was more sarcasmn than rubbishing but I felt the need to quickly change the topic.
12-12-2005, 03:00 PM
#60
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I'd say that the Elfins are about $60 - $70k too expensive. Not sure wwhy they copsat that much ... afterall it uses most of Commodore hardware you can get one of those for $45k (from a delater). So what do you pay the other $100k for?
The problem that the Elfin has is this:
http://www.radical.net.au/flash.html
You an get one of these for $80 to $100k and I can't see the Elfin coming anywhere close to it it terms or performance.
The problem that the Elfin has is this:
http://www.radical.net.au/flash.html
You an get one of these for $80 to $100k and I can't see the Elfin coming anywhere close to it it terms or performance.
If you think the efin doesnt deserve a price tag of over 100K then why is the radical deserving of its price tag since it has a smaller engine (from a bike), less power, less development and cant be driven on our roads?