Please find below a selection of common questions we are regularly asked. As new questions arise we will endeavour to add them to the list.
"There are a number of kits available in the UK. Why the choose the Doon?"
The all new Doon is not a simple copy or minor modification of an older design but has been designed from first principles to produce a buggy for this millennium. Having been involved with the construction and restoration of numerous beach buggies for over 15 years, it has been easy for us to analyse the good and bad points of previous buggy designs.
These experiences have led us to take the classic buggy design back to first principles and re-design a brand new buggy kit for the modern day. Or as we like to think of it, the humble beach buggy has now evolved. A number of the features we have employed in the all new Doon design can be seen on the Features page.
At Doon we are confident of the design and finished quality of our own kits and consequently we actively encourage potential customers to contact the other buggy manufacturers in the UK to compare their kits with ours before making their final decision.
"Which VW Beetle models are suitable for donor vehicles?"
All air-cooled VW Beetles 1200, 1300, 1500 and 1600 model numbers (any with a torsion bar front suspension in either ball-joint or king & link-pin form) are suitable as a Doon Buggy donor vehicle. Particularly look for donor vehicles registered before the 1st January 1973 as these will also be Road Tax exempt.
VW Beetle models designated 1302 or 1303 utilise a McPherson Strut front suspension which cannot be used on the Doon Buggy kit. However, these models generally have superior IRS rear suspension and and can be modified by changing the front headstock to except the earlier torsion bar suspension. This service can can be completed, by VOLKSMAGIC, our UK agent.
"Which parts can I use from the donor vehicle?"
The Doon has been designed to utilise as much of the original donor vehicle as possible to help minimise cost. The Doon kit can use the main chassis, suspension, brakes gearbox, engine, steering column, gauges, switch gear, fuel tank, bonnet locking mechanism and rear lights. You could also, if you were so inclined, use the original seats, wheels and tyres although common sense dictates that new custom ones are possibly a better way to go!
The amount of original parts used depends on the condition of the donor vehicle and those parts. However most standard replacement parts are still available today at very reasonable prices.
"What other parts are needed to finish a Doon and do you supply them?"
Assuming the chosen donor vehicle is in a relatively sound and useable condition then the only other parts that are required to complete a Doon buggy are front headlights, front indicators, rear lights and indicators, seats, wheels, tyres, rollover bar and wet weather gear. At Doon we can readily supply headlights and rear lights as well as having the capacity and knowledge to source and supply most other parts for the customer. However the supply of hoods and rollover bars are, in our opinion specialist areas of work and more detailed information is provided below.
"Do I have to spray the kit?"
NO. Our kits utilise gel coats which are ready coloured and when delivered come fully polished and trimmed. Therefore the cost of a new Doon kit compares very favourably with the cost of a decent re-spray on an older buggy shell and could provide a viable alternative.
At Doon we double gel all our shells, (2 layers of coloured surface) and even triple gel in areas of high polishing such as corners and rounded edges. This means that even if the kit unfortunately gets scratched it is likely that in most cases the mark can be polished out without passing through to the Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP or Fibreglass) layers beneath. In addition this helps prevent the GRP fibres from being seen through the gel coat, a problem that can be seen on many GRP manufactured kit cars.
"How many colours are available?"
We offer over 500 colours and can supply most British Standard (BS) or RAL (European) colours and on request we can provide our colour charts to potential customers. Our gel coat suppliers have recently added their colour cards to the internet and can be viewed by clicking the links below.
We have made the decision to have the the gel coat mixed individually for each kit we sell, which allows us to offer the large range of colours available and ensures we only use the freshest possible gel in our body shells, for the best possible results.
At Doon we DO NOT charge any extra for colours that differ from the 'traditional' standard blue, yellow, red, white and green - their standards, not ours. We would like nothing more than to see every colour on the charts represented by at least one of our kits, (we can dream!).
"Can you supply metal flake or metallic finishes?"
Due to the modern nature of the design of the Doon kit, we CANNOT offer metal flake or metallic finishes. One of the key design features of the Doon which sets it apart from other kits is the finished return edge around the whole of the main body shell. To apply metal flakes correctly requires a piece of specialist spray equipment which is too large to fit under the moulding for our return edge. However, we feel that the benefits offered by the return edge in terms of strength and neatness of finished product far outweigh the ability to offer metal flake finishes.
That said, we can readily offer our kits in plain white unfinished form, at a reduced cost, which can then easily be sprayed in a modern metallic or retro old fashioned metal flake finish.
"What are your payment terms and how can I pay?"
Payment can be made by cheque or cash. Payment can now also be accepted by debit or credit card through either PAYPAL or NOCHEX (web based payment enablers) although all costs and surcharges associated with these companies must be covered by the customer.
Doon require a 50% deposit to confirm an order. Full payment is required on delivery or collection of the kit although be aware that if paying by cheque please allow 5 days to for the cheque to clear before the kit can be released.
Doon understands that unforeseen circumstances can occur and consequently any orders can be cancelled prior to collection or delivery of the kit. However if manufacture has already begun a 25% re-stocking charge will be applied.
"Do you supply rollover bars?"
No, not directly. As with most kit cars during the manufacture and build stage various differences in dimensions can occur. Therefore in our opinion it is very difficult to build a standard roll cage that will fit within all the necessary tolerances while still looking good in the car. It is for this reason that we suggest you have a roll cage or roll hoop made and fitted specifically for your vehicle. We can help you find a suitable manufacturing shop or offer the service through VOLKSMAGIC. Price will depend on size and complexity of the cage.
In the promotion of road safety, Doon recommends that at least a single rollover hoop is installed to help reduce the risk of injury in an accident.
"Do you supply hoods?"
As with rollover bars, hoods are very individual items and should be tailored specifically for the vehicle once it is complete. Doon can help you with a list of competent hood manufacturers.
"How much shorter is the Short Wheel Base (SWB)?"
The standard VW chassis needs to be shortened by 390mm (or 15 3/8 inches) to accommodate the SWB Doon kit. Chassis shortening is a specialist job and requires a certain degree of knowledge on exactly how, where and what to cut and weld.
Doon can offer competent welders advice on how to shorten a chassis or alternatively the work can be undertaken by VOLKSMAGIC, our UK agent. Price depends on the quality and condition of the donor chassis.
Doon can also supply a simple adapter plate to allow fitment of the Doon kit to the chassis of numerous other SWB buggies (or any other VW based kits) which have a 14.5 to 16 inch chassis chop and are in need of re-bodying or repair.
"Are Doon's available in left hand drive?"
The simple answer is yes. We offer a left hand drive version of our kit at no extra cost which simply utilises a different dashboard layout.
"Do you deliver?"
Yes, we can deliver kits most places in the UK. Delivery costs are dependant on distance, calculated from Dudley, West Midlands. Please e-mail or call for exact prices on delivery. We also have a car trailer that can be borrowed, free of charge, for those wishing to collect their own kits. The trailer will require a £100 returnable deposit and must be returned within 1 week.
We can also ship any where in the world but please be aware current shipping rates to the USA can almost double the cost of the kit.
"Can I build one myself?"
Mechanically the VW Beetle is very simple and is ideal for anyone who has some basic knowledge of how a car works. You should, however, never consider building a buggy without a good workshop manual (we can recommend the Haynes series of manuals).
In addition Doon recommends the ‘Dune Buggy Handbook’ and ‘How to modify Volkswagen Beetle suspensions, brakes and chassis for high performance’ by James Hale, available through Veloce Publishing, for additional invaluable information.
It is also a good idea to join a local buggy club for assistance, encouragement and, if all else fails, a shoulder to cry on.
"How much do they cost to insure?"
As with all car insurance the actual costs depend on driver age, experience and past number of claims. How ever there are a number of specialist insurance companies such as Adrian Flux, Graham Sykes and Footman James who all offer a great service for specialist vehicles. All that said insurance costs on a limited mileage policy are normally much less than that of a normal car, being as low as £100 in some cases.