Some questions about buying and owning.

[Gingerbread Man]

I may hopefully be in a position soon to look into buying a Caterham (July onwards).

I have a few question to be cleared up before hand and to get a better grasp about Caterhams. I will be using this as an only car for a while.
I've read and herd of many people who have and still do do this. If times get hard, I'll buy a cheap barge to run about it, but for now I'm planning on it being my only car. - People who have run a seven as an only car for some time, please put your hands up, I'd love to hear your views and experiences on this.


1. Where are the best places to look into/ buy a Seven? I'd take a stab at PH, Blatchat and Autotrader. Any secrets I'm missing?
If I went for a private buy I'd get the best value for money, but is the lack of warranty a big issue on a Seven. Sounds a stupid question even as I'm writing it, but can most parts be replaces easily and fairly cheaply?

2. Budget is 8K rising to 12K max at a push (Insurance is an unknown at the current time and I may have to take a bit out of this if I can't afford it out of savings).
Not 100% on the upper end yet but there is a rough idea. Buy the looks of things I'm looking at early to late 90's. Engines ranging from 1.6 / 1.7 Crossflows and the odd 1.8.

Any engines/ eras to stay away from?

3A. I'm 21 with 3 points for speeding. Is this going to be a problem come insurance time?
The list of insurers I've noted down for getting quotes are;

Adrian Flux
MSM
Eggar Lawson/Competition Car Insurance
Haggerty
Footman James

If I'm missing some, please say!

3B. Out of interest - Kit car insurance. In what ways is this different to normal insurance? In a, 'every kit cars different' way?

4. I would be planning (hoping) on doing my own maintenance and fiddling where's necessary. I'm looking forward to learning about how the car works. Are most things possible to fix/ fit/ replace if you have the time?


Just a few questions. As I've said, owning a Caterham may never happen. My Mother would like to cast her eye over one before she donates some of the budget. Where's best to do this? Is it easiest to pop down to Caterham themselves and have a nose?

David

[Gingerbread Man]

dreamer75 said:

You could pop to Caterham and have a look, or find a local Blatchat meet and look at their cars - where are you based?

I'm based in Petersfield, Hampshire.

[Gingerbread Man]

caterhamnut said:

If you can bring your mum up to Godalming, she can look at ours, and myself and Tessa can tell her how safe and reliable they are, and how we used ours as an only car for 5 years or so, racking up over 100,000 miles in the process.
Have a look at
www.mycaterham.com 

I've looked at your site many time. Didn't realise you were on here.

I'm in Petersfield so Godalming is only 30 mins away. I'll put forward the suggestion. Thanks. I'll be in contact.

[Gingerbread Man]

dreamer75 said:

There's a meet at the Phoenix in Hartley Witney twice a month, usually a good turnout there - is that too far to go?

Not too far to go at all. Used to have a local in Hartley Witney during college.

[Gingerbread Man]

I've noticed a few Caterhams with side impact bars.

Do you have to have a full cage for these to fit?

[Gingerbread Man]

fergus said:

Gingerbread Man said:

I've noticed a few Caterhams with side impact bars.

Do you have to have a full cage for these to fit?

However, a full cage stiffens the chassis up no end... And gives you extra confidence in terms of safety, but each to their own, etc..

Thought a full cage would prove a pain in the ass to use day in day out?

[Gingerbread Man]

I've had an insurance quote through MSM on a 1.8L Zetec engined one. 10K miles per year. Me only for £750.

Bearing in mind that I may get a 1.6 and I'll add a parent or two onto the insurance quote, I'm seeing good figures


From research, I'm basicly looking for a;

1.6/ 1.8L K series.

De Dion as opposed to Live.

5/6sp.



Would a 1.8 over a 1.6 benefit me when using it everyday. I'll quite often have a passenger on board.

It seems that 1.8's in my range aren't as common but if one pops up, worth the extra over a 1.6 in real world terms?

[Gingerbread Man]

StuartMcGILL said:

David,

I've sent you an e-mail with a spreadsheet/ list of who I spoke to for insurance. (2004, 1.6 k series, 23 year old, only car, with commuting, 7000 miles annual mileage).

I ended up going with MCE but as Nathan says Sureterm were also very competitive for me as were Osbourne and Sons and also MSM.

If anyone else wants a copy of this please let me know.

Cheers

Stuart

Edited by StuartMcGILL on Wednesday 20th August 11:47

Received. Thanks for that, I'll get studying.