Pros and cons of owning a beach buggy?

rapidresto · 06-06-2005, 04:29 PM

Oh now that the turdo kit for the fasty looks like it'll be going to pastures new and i'll only have a relativly fast fasty i'm getting a hnakering to own a buggy again.

This time it'll be one that actually makes it onto the road rather than sitting on the drive as a project

So whats the pros and cons of owning a buggy? it'll be our 2nd car (first being a goof) and wont get used that regularly (i only get chance to drive the fasty about twice a week), but it will be used for the occasional blast up to the midlands.

oh and it'll be parked under cover on the street

other than wet and cold what are they like in the handling stakes? worse / better than a bug?

any opinions gratefully recieved / ignored

06-06-2005, 04:40 PM

ahhh! I know this one!

buggy handling - depends on stiffness of the mounting of the steering column, how low (or high) tyre sizes, tyre pressures etc etc etc....generally much better than a beetle if you set it right...

with my standard wheels (crap AT tread 31x10.5's at the back, 215/75's at the front) the handling is marginal, the back is always threatening to let go in the damp etc etc etc, follows every repair to the road uck.

with 215/75's at the back and 195/50's at the front, it handles like a go cart... this is wothout lowering, with lowering it should be awesome, it is fantastically stiff on the front, virtually all suspension movement is from the sidewalls of the tyres.

I am toying with a hardtop to make it more secure leaving it places (although the doors will only be zipped on), I certainly wouldn't leave it on the street overnight, still to precious for that...

a quiet exhaust (i have found) makes the whole experience more pleasant, but you don't get noticed as much (even with a yellow buggy), I have kept the cannons, it's only 30mins to swap...

if you set it up properly, don't leave anything in it, fit a wheel clamp, have a roof, it should be ok!

looking at the weather mine will get some serious usage over the next 10 days

rapidresto · 07-06-2005, 08:51 AM

hmm, it's parked on a quiet street so i dont think i'll have too many probs there really, what about daft stuff like popping to tesco's any probs with leaving it in a car park etc?

07-06-2005, 09:05 AM

No problems parking in places like that in my experience. People (especially kids) tend to hang around and ask about it though, is it legal? Did you make it yourself? etc.

The only problem I ever hads with my rail was converting it to disc brakes. The front wheels kept locking up, so I couldnt hit the pedal as hard, therefore actually increasing the stopping distances!

Stick with drums all round!

07-06-2005, 10:21 AM

i've swapped my cylinders round (front to back) and fitted a 22mm single circuit Master Cylnder, still locks the front first...

09-06-2005, 07:01 PM

is the insurance a problem parking it on the street? I sort of have a driveway (actually paved area in front of the house) that one could just about fit on..

09-06-2005, 07:22 PM

i insure mine with roadsure they dont ask where you park it mines on my drive under a tarp