VAL113R

Quite an interesting post this turned out to be. Seems there are a lot of mixed opinions on this.

The first revision kits were very poor. The didn't move the headlights forward as pointed out on this thread. There was a load of other things which made it look wrong.

The new kits are spot on and it would be very difficult to tell the difference. (from the outside)

They're just as wide as the real thing, they're just as long, everything is perfect apart from a couple of things which may give it away.

The first thing is the the door lock. On the real thing there is a round lock on both doors for you to put your key into. On the MR2 there is a door skin which goes over this.

The next thing is above the rear window the MR2 has a third brake light. The 355 does not have this here, but instead in the engine cover.

The last thing is on the real 355 the piece on the engine cover which has F355 F1/GTS/Spider etc on it is actually made of black mesh. On replicas most people either paint this black or stick carbon fibre on it.

Many of you might thing what's the point in building a replica? Well firstly that's what it is a Replica, not a 355, a replica. I love mucking about with cars. I've currently got a wrx with a Sport bonnet on it. Most people take one look and assume it's an N/A they think the FMIC is a grille.

My MR2 is a turbo, but I've chosen not to fit a dump valve to it. Got enough of that with the Scooby. It may not be as fast as a real F355, it may not sound identical to a F355. But as I've said it's a Replica. If I wanted an F355 I would go out and buy one. They're affordable to buy, but not to run.

VAL113R

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

do you have any pictures of your car so far? whats the build cost so far? id love to own one, not sure id build one myself

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I've heard the old "they are the same width/length" thing a few times now..

Is this really the case?

Just imagine that terrible day when you pass or (god forbid) pull up next to a real 355

I could think of better things to blow £15k on

VAL113R

That's the thing it's cost me about half that. Let's just say I've landed on my feet.

Slate me all you like, it doesn't bother me. I'm confident that once I'm finished from the outside even you would find it difficult to tell the difference.

@shaggy1973

The car goes into the garage next week. I dropped the kit off today to them.

As I've said I got most of the bits cheap. You would expect to pay about £10k to convert an MR2. They sell for £11k upwards, just check out ebay or autotrader.

dsmith

I know people who spend in excess of £15K / year playing golf and/or buying golf kit - which baffles me completely.

Personally I'd say hats off to anyone who's prepared to put the effort into creating something themselves. Be fecking dull if we all drove Ford focus.....

VAL113R

http://www.355kits.com/

there is a comparison of the kits available

site has not been updated for a few years to be honest so some of the points have been improved upon

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I'm not slating 'you' I'm just questioning your idea.

I'm just interested in what makes someone want to have one? I'm not having a dig, I'm just genuinely interested in how you would feel to be seen driving it?

I can appreciate the look of the mr2 based cars, they are good looking. If anything it's the Ferrari badges that will spoil it (if you see what I mean)

A ferrari is a 'look at me' thing (and it will get everyone looking) so you obviously want the attention in the car? I can't help feeling there will be a lot of nasty attention too.

Anyway, good luck with it and hopefully any negative comments you get now will give you extra incentive to make it that bit better than the rest!

VAL113R

Perhaps I am underestimating the attention that the car will bring me ?

I've thought long and hard about what colour to go for and due to the attention thing have decided to go black rather than look at me red or yellow.

The car won't be a daily driver, I've got my Scooby or Mini for that.

I don't know what made me want to convert the car ? I seen some pictures of the conversion nearly 2 years ago and thought it was really nice.

I've had 2 years of people telling me it's a stupid idea, but it's made me want to do it more.

Last January I got the chance of a damaged MR2 with only 50k miles on the clock in very good condition so thought I'd go for it.

I will get pictures once it's finished and we can see how real looking it is then. It will probably be a month or so as it's 50 hours labour to fit the kit !

cheers

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

what are they charging for fitment of the kit? is it something they have done before? you see im very interested id definatly consider getting one, just looked at a couple on ebay, what do you search for on autotrader?

itd be nice to see some before and after pictures

VAL113R

The places who supply the kit usually charge about £1500 for fitment.

I've not really got my price from the garage yet, but he's a mate so I know he'll sort me out.

For reference there are quite a few sites with information if you're interested

www.extreme-cars.co.uk
www.mr2kits.co.uk
http://www.extreme-sportscars.com/
They've got a 360 kit just developed for the Pug 406

cheers

wedmonds2

This site is someone i know..... Has lots of pictures

http://www.turbobungle.com/pages/bun...erraripag.html