And, so...what do YOU drive?

[Dangerous Doug]

Does anyone else get as annoyed as I do with the term "kit"?

I parked at a coffee shop at Seascape (Aptos, CA) and noticed a woman walking nearby who was intensely looking over my Cobra. She seemed to be admiring it, and just as I shut the engine down I heard a man's voice yell out, "It's a KIT!" to which she replied, "Yeah. I knew it was a kit!"

I glanced over my shoulder to where the man was at and he was standing next to an older looking common blob of a SUV. Really? That's what they're driving? I hope he has an original Cobra in the garage at home...

Some people naively ask if my ERA 289 FIA is a "kit", but I usually refer to it as a "replica". This couple seemed to be purposely denigrating it with the term. I've been into Cobras for 15 years, and though I know by sheer probability when I see a Cobra it will likely be a replica, I still give each car a good look over before I decide it is not an original and I would never call someone's Cobra a "kit".

Perhaps it's that VW-based "kit car" stigma that bugs me.

Anyone else cringe a bit on the "kit" term?

DD

99% of the people admire the beauty and styling of my Cobra, and then go nearly orgasmic when I start it up. I like these people. The other 1% I can live without.

[fordracing65]

Mine is a kit car through and through and proud of it, who cares what they call it, you should hear what they call me, do I care, no, and you shouldn't either...

[DanEC]

I can understand it being irritating to someone - fortunately it doesn't bother me much. I basically bought a pallet car from ERA and built it although I bought the rear from ERA and I had Keith Craft build my engine. I figure that qualifies it as a kit in a lot of people's minds. The originals were not much removed from a kit, the chassis and body being sourced from AC and Shelby installing the drivetrain.

Probably the best response is to just climb in, fire it up, and rumble off into the sunset. A big, loping V8 rumbling through a minimal exhaust system will leave the most obstinate of them weak in the knees whether they want to admit it or not.

[sea2jet]

I just tell them I'm blessed to be able to afford the 95K to join the club😁

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

Does anyone else get as annoyed as I do with the term "kit"?

Not really, but I sure do freak out people when I come up to their Cobra replicas and say "that is a nice (insert manufacturer here) Cobra replica


Bill S.

PS: I did have a run in with a gentleman with a 32 Ford roadster (fiberglass Speedway motors kit ) that I was parked next to at a charity event who told everyone how my car was a kit, but his was hand built to exacting standards. . He got 10% of the folks to buy in to it, the other 90% shook their heads and walked away. I can only imagine what they were saying to each other when they did

[Dimis]

You do realise that "they" dismiss it at such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win".

It is what it is.. Celebrate it and above all enjoy.

In life don't let the buggers get you down.

Ps. As to answering your question in the title -- I sold my daily driver & now I ride a bicycle. Yep, a boring, 25year old, 26inch, slightly rusted, well patina-ed bicycle. And yes I enjoy it almost as much as my kit car

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Dimis

You do realise that "they" dismiss it at such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win".

It is what it is.. Celebrate it and above all enjoy.

In life don't let the buggers get you down.

Ps. As to answering your question in the title -- I sold my daily driver & now I ride a bicycle. Yep, a boring, 25year old, 26inch, slightly rusted, well patina-ed bicycle. And yes I enjoy it almost as much as my kit car

LOL, you ride a bike...brave man, In AZ you might melt or your tires would...

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Dimis

You do realise that "they" dismiss it as such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win"...... .....

Bingo! Exactly how I've dealt with it on this site for over 15 years. Good advice.

[olddog]

Your falling into the political correctness speak trap. When I was a kid, it was "sticks and stone may break your bones, but words will never harm you." Today we have changed our language, and people's feelings are still getting hurt. In fact, hurt feelings are an epidemic.

Let's be perfectly honest. A Cobra is a psychological extension of your penis that you can show off to everyone, and you are complaining because 1% of the people do not praise it appropriately???

Get over it, and enjoy life. Riding in a Cobra is a true joy. Stop allowing and looking for minutia to annoy you.

[JWilly]

Originally Posted by olddog

Your falling into the political correctness speak trap. When I was a kid, it was "sticks and stone may break your bones, but words will never harm you." Today we have changed our language, and people's feelings are still getting hurt. In fact, hurt feelings are an epidemic.

Let's be perfectly honest. A Cobra is a psychological extension of your penis that you can show off to everyone, and you are complaining because 1% of the people do not praise it appropriately???

Get over it, and enjoy life. Riding in a Cobra is a true joy. Stop allowing and looking for minutia to annoy you.

Does this mean I can tell people my pecker has a 90 inch wheelbase?

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by JWilly

Does this mean I can tell people my pecker has a 90 inch wheelbase?

If it bothers you that they say you have a kit car...

[mtrain2000]

Originally Posted by Dimis

You do realise that "they" dismiss it at such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win".

This.

I always get people asking [with a smirk on their face], "is it real".

I reply, "is yours"?

Sometimes I just say, "yep, its as real as it gets", and let them ponder it.

[mptech]

Attended an enjoyable Cars and Coffee last Saturday morning with a 200+ cars and talked to car guys all morning. It was a beautiful morning so I decided to stop at a local Hot Rod store to pick up something. I was about 30 feet from the counter looking at some parts, when I heard one on the employees tell another one "Mike's outside drooling over that Cobra". I know Mike (employee) and the comment made me feel good and I was about to go outside and talk to him, based on this comment. Then some a$$-clown at the counter says "Yeah, but it's just a Kit Car" in a condescending tone. I said "Excuse me, it's a Factory Five, I built it. It has a custom designed chassis and suspension. It's not a Kit". (I could already feel this wasn't going to go well with THIS guy).
He said (again in a demeaning manner "Well, does it have a CSX number?"
I was done and left. I let him get to me. And I didn't talk to Mike (I really regret that).
I think he was driving a Monte Carlo "Intimidator"(?), wonder if it was real or a sticker, don't know. but I allowed him to ruin my morning.

[Joe's Garage]

Originally Posted by mptech

,,,Then some a$$-clown at the counter says "Yeah, but it's just a Kit Car" in a condescending tone. I said "Excuse me, it's a Factory Five, I built it. It has a custom designed chassis and suspension. It's not a Kit". (I could already feel this wasn't going to go well with THIS guy).
He said (again in a demeaning manner "Well, does it have a CSX number?"
I was done and left,,,

It sucks when someone with obvious knowledge on the subject calls it for what it is.

From the FFR website -
"The Factory Five Mk4 base kit is the best selling vintage replica in history. The kit comes with all of the parts you need to build your car except for running gear from a 1987-1993 Ford Mustang donor car. You can also use parts from 1995-2004 Ford Mustangs."

"The Mk4 Complete kit gives you everything you need to build your car, in one big package. The only things you’ll need are the engine/transmission/rear end, wheels/tires, and a paint job. When we say everything, we mean it. We include things like hood hinges and a complete custom chassis wiring harness. We also make it easy for you to use the engine of your choice with a variety of available headers and engine/transmission mount assemblies.
Here’s a list of what comes standard in the Mk4 Complete Kit."

Call it whatever you like, but when the manufacturer labels their product as a "kit" then no amount of parsing of words and spinning semantics will change the fact that what you have came from a kit.

[GT Trooper]

I do understand being annoyed with the "it's just a kit" knuckleheads. Sometimes I consider saying something to them but I know they wish they were driving something as nice. I'm certain in most cases they are not.

[LMH]

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Yup, and it's our fault.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Never though about that one...

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Quite chuffed I dare say..!

Particularly when they smugly and honestly reply -- Nah! It's Real!

[1985 CCX]

Funny stuff
Was at a show the other night with a friend with coupe.
Guy came running up, that a GT40.
He was so convinced he started announcing the car. Lol

Kit is relative term and we all have a definition. A full explanation usually clarifies the cars.