Caterham newbie / another 'which 7?' thread
Discussion
Although the thread above clearly states condition over mileage, to help assess value what is the mileage of the car in the advert?
Also budget to change the wheels.
Otherwise looks decent however, and I'm not clear on this, but is the tax disc in the pictures from 2008 when the current owner bought the vehicle? If so those pics are 5 years old and will not reflect current condition. Something to be wary of.
ETA - assume it's a 1.8k?
Also budget to change the wheels.
Otherwise looks decent however, and I'm not clear on this, but is the tax disc in the pictures from 2008 when the current owner bought the vehicle? If so those pics are 5 years old and will not reflect current condition. Something to be wary of.
ETA - assume it's a 1.8k?
ghibbett said:
Although the thread above clearly states condition over mileage, to help assess value what is the mileage of the car in the advert?
Also budget to change the wheels.
Otherwise looks decent however, and I'm not clear on this, but is the tax disc in the pictures from 2008 when the current owner bought the vehicle? If so those pics are 5 years old and will not reflect current condition. Something to be wary of.
ETA - assume it's a 1.8k?
Mileage is 18,750, first registered in 1999. What is wrong with the wheels? Also budget to change the wheels.
Otherwise looks decent however, and I'm not clear on this, but is the tax disc in the pictures from 2008 when the current owner bought the vehicle? If so those pics are 5 years old and will not reflect current condition. Something to be wary of.
ETA - assume it's a 1.8k?
In what picture can you read the tax disc, unless I'm missing something?? The current owner has only had it 2 years, it was the owner before him who bought it in 2008 from Caterham.
I've assumed it is a 1.8K, although I will check before making the trip.
As Framerate said, heavier wheels. Please note that I've not driven a Caterham on 16"s, however the difference between 14"s and 13"s was very noticeable to me.
Regarding the tax disc, it's the profile view. If you zoom in it looks like an '08' on the tax disc, although I could very well be wrong. Just trying to help.
Regarding the tax disc, it's the profile view. If you zoom in it looks like an '08' on the tax disc, although I could very well be wrong. Just trying to help.
ghibbett said:
Regarding the tax disc, it's the profile view. If you zoom in it looks like an '08' on the tax disc, although I could very well be wrong. Just trying to help.
Your help is appreciated as always Sir! I'll be sure to raise the query with the seller before making the trip.
carphotographer said:
Hey, thought I'd say hello as I'm in the same position and looks like we're looking at the same cars .
Off to PT Sportscars on Saturday.
Hmmm, an adversary... bring it on!! Off to PT Sportscars on Saturday.
But no seriously, hello mate! What are you looking at at PTSC then? Might see you there
Will I be bumping into you at CC as well? Got any 'favourites' in mind yet?Hi mate,
Wanted to view the green and yellow 05 road sport but as you know it's having the paintwork sorted. Like the look of the 06 road sport blue with white stripes with white wheels. Odd but that colour combination reminds me of my all time fave car .... Cobra 427 s/c.
The yellow with green stripe Caterham road sport 140 looks good value though unsure about the wheels , should be 13" but just too far.
Also the yellow 07 road sport owned by a mature driver looks good, but again a little far.
Jon
Wanted to view the green and yellow 05 road sport but as you know it's having the paintwork sorted. Like the look of the 06 road sport blue with white stripes with white wheels. Odd but that colour combination reminds me of my all time fave car .... Cobra 427 s/c.
The yellow with green stripe Caterham road sport 140 looks good value though unsure about the wheels , should be 13" but just too far.
Also the yellow 07 road sport owned by a mature driver looks good, but again a little far.
Jon
thequietone said:
Was over at CC south tody having a mooch - was really busy! Few other owners in 7's looking around too, we all come out when the sun's about!
Spotted this which may be of interest. Seemed tidy, LOTS spec 1.8 140, 6speed, big brakes, wide track and a smattering of carbon. Wouldn't tell me the price!?
Don't think it hit their site yet.
I've had another email from Dominic from CC today to confirm that the light blue Roadsport 150 VVC has been sold! Spotted this which may be of interest. Seemed tidy, LOTS spec 1.8 140, 6speed, big brakes, wide track and a smattering of carbon. Wouldn't tell me the price!?
Don't think it hit their site yet.
He did however confirm the spec list for the blue Roadsport 140 just in:
1.8 K-Series @140bhp
6 speed Caterham gearbox
Uprated front brakes
Wide track front suspension
Black Pack
Leather seats
4 point race harnesses
Track day roll bar
Battery master switch
Carbon dashboard
Push button start
Momo quick release steering wheel
Full screen and weather equipment
Heater
Carpeted interior
Lowered drivers floor
£15,495
It really ticks EVERY single box and more!! The only thing not to like is that it's over my budget. Hmmmmmm....
Smiffy7 said:
I've had another email from Dominic from CC today to confirm that the light blue Roadsport 150 VVC has been sold!
He did however confirm the spec list for the blue Roadsport 140 just in:
1.8 K-Series @140bhp
6 speed Caterham gearbox
Uprated front brakes
Wide track front suspension
Black Pack
Leather seats
4 point race harnesses
Track day roll bar
Battery master switch
Carbon dashboard
Push button start
Momo quick release steering wheel
Full screen and weather equipment
Heater
Carpeted interior
Lowered drivers floor
£15,495
It really ticks EVERY single box and more!! The only thing not to like is that it's over my budget. Hmmmmmm....
"They don't put pockets in coffins"He did however confirm the spec list for the blue Roadsport 140 just in:
1.8 K-Series @140bhp
6 speed Caterham gearbox
Uprated front brakes
Wide track front suspension
Black Pack
Leather seats
4 point race harnesses
Track day roll bar
Battery master switch
Carbon dashboard
Push button start
Momo quick release steering wheel
Full screen and weather equipment
Heater
Carpeted interior
Lowered drivers floor
£15,495
It really ticks EVERY single box and more!! The only thing not to like is that it's over my budget. Hmmmmmm....
Get it bought!
Right then, just back from our day of Caterham viewing. I have narrowed it down to two, one from S&C and one from CC and I would welcome your advice!
First stop was S&C to view the BRG Roadsport 130 and the Audi Green Supersport 135. I was put of the roadsport due to it's condition mainly, the main example being the fitment of the aftermarket exhaust system which was rubbing on the side panel, and the whole side panel really needed doing (all of which they agreed they could put right I might add).
So in the end I decided to strike a deal of the Supersport as the bodywork was generally in better condition and was only on 13K miles, although the drivers side panel which they said had been resprayed still had one or two small patches of bubbling paint. Link to the ad again here:
http://www.sevensandclassics.com/showroom/coming-s...
Pics here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ejtagrk25bio2zd/vCRg0FA...
A couple things I disliked: the front suspension components/wishbones, coil springs uprights had a fair amount of corrosion; cloth seats.
So we concluded the deal as follows:
£14,995
7 months MOT plus fresh MOT once expired
Fresh major service including cambelt & sump foam
New rear arches with protective rubberised undercoat
1 day free driving tuition with Wil Arif round Brands
£500 deposit
Deal stands until 6pm today, so I don't know how much of the above still stands
Then to CC to view the Roadsport 140. No add yet but see pics here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/91oclqla2gb8vx7/givgiLP...
Spec list as follows:
1998 & 28K miles
140BHP
Weather gear
Leather seats
Harnesses
Heater
FIA roll bar
Carbon dash
6 speed box
Wide track
Uprated brakes
Brake bias valve
Adjustable suspension
Battery switch
Start button
Lowered drivers floor
14" minilights
The body work was less tidy than the Supersport 135, as you can see from some of the close up pics. The di-dion arms has quite a bit of corrosion. However, the front suspension components were very tidy. It didn't take me long to be completely sold by the spec list. The exhaust didn't have a cat so Dom agreed they would need to change that. As the car was not prepared for sale I was not able to test drive it sadly, but I was inclind to believe him when he said coming from a 1.6 135BHP 5 speed into a 1.8 140BHP 6 speed you really wouldn't want to go back! So on that basis we struck the following deal:
£15,495
12 months MOT
Fresh service including cambelt and sump foam if required
New exhaust
New screen if require (tiny chip in driver's vision)
Add mesh grille to the front '7' grille
Add missing poppers to the boot cover
Wiring and loose 12v sock under the dash to tidy up
£2,000 deposit subject to test drive
By this point I was beaming! I then asked if I could look at the history. He disappeared and came back 5mins later and dropped the bombshell that it didn't have any!! Apparently, they sold the car 5-6 years ago and it had history. It has now come back to them and the owner has somehow lost it! It has the invoice for the last service 200miles ago and a service book, which appeared not to be the original, which had the previous two services stamped.
Should I walk away???
As another general question, should I be worried about superficial marks/dings and bubbling paint in the body work, or is it generally expected on 7s of this age? Looking around the showroom I noticed it on others.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
First stop was S&C to view the BRG Roadsport 130 and the Audi Green Supersport 135. I was put of the roadsport due to it's condition mainly, the main example being the fitment of the aftermarket exhaust system which was rubbing on the side panel, and the whole side panel really needed doing (all of which they agreed they could put right I might add).
So in the end I decided to strike a deal of the Supersport as the bodywork was generally in better condition and was only on 13K miles, although the drivers side panel which they said had been resprayed still had one or two small patches of bubbling paint. Link to the ad again here:
http://www.sevensandclassics.com/showroom/coming-s...
Pics here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ejtagrk25bio2zd/vCRg0FA...
A couple things I disliked: the front suspension components/wishbones, coil springs uprights had a fair amount of corrosion; cloth seats.
So we concluded the deal as follows:
£14,995
7 months MOT plus fresh MOT once expired
Fresh major service including cambelt & sump foam
New rear arches with protective rubberised undercoat
1 day free driving tuition with Wil Arif round Brands
£500 deposit
Deal stands until 6pm today, so I don't know how much of the above still stands
Then to CC to view the Roadsport 140. No add yet but see pics here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/91oclqla2gb8vx7/givgiLP...
Spec list as follows:
1998 & 28K miles
140BHP
Weather gear
Leather seats
Harnesses
Heater
FIA roll bar
Carbon dash
6 speed box
Wide track
Uprated brakes
Brake bias valve
Adjustable suspension
Battery switch
Start button
Lowered drivers floor
14" minilights
The body work was less tidy than the Supersport 135, as you can see from some of the close up pics. The di-dion arms has quite a bit of corrosion. However, the front suspension components were very tidy. It didn't take me long to be completely sold by the spec list. The exhaust didn't have a cat so Dom agreed they would need to change that. As the car was not prepared for sale I was not able to test drive it sadly, but I was inclind to believe him when he said coming from a 1.6 135BHP 5 speed into a 1.8 140BHP 6 speed you really wouldn't want to go back! So on that basis we struck the following deal:
£15,495
12 months MOT
Fresh service including cambelt and sump foam if required
New exhaust
New screen if require (tiny chip in driver's vision)
Add mesh grille to the front '7' grille
Add missing poppers to the boot cover
Wiring and loose 12v sock under the dash to tidy up
£2,000 deposit subject to test drive
By this point I was beaming! I then asked if I could look at the history. He disappeared and came back 5mins later and dropped the bombshell that it didn't have any!! Apparently, they sold the car 5-6 years ago and it had history. It has now come back to them and the owner has somehow lost it! It has the invoice for the last service 200miles ago and a service book, which appeared not to be the original, which had the previous two services stamped.
Should I walk away???
As another general question, should I be worried about superficial marks/dings and bubbling paint in the body work, or is it generally expected on 7s of this age? Looking around the showroom I noticed it on others.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Edited by Smiffy7 on Sunday 16th March 01:58
Sounds like you had a fun day! My first thoughts are that secondhand caterham prices are stronger than I thought, both of these sound a bit more than I'd have expected (I just sold a 1 year old Academy race car for less!), of course there is a little premium for buying from a dealer (with the aftersales service that provides).
Paintwork on an older car is bound to have some bubbling and chips - I had my 2003 Roadsport resprayed 3 years ago and already it is looking tired in places so on a 98 car it really is to be expected.
Don't discount a 135 bhp 1600 over the 140 1800, the 1600 k is a very sweet and revvy engine. The 6 speed box is a popular choice even though it can be tiring on long motorway journeys due to the lower top gear. I've never had a 6 speed, currently I have a special 5 speed with bespoke ratios which is brilliant (IMO).
On spec I'd pick the 1800 I guess (it sounds like it has most of the rightbits already), but the prices of both seem a little high to me, maybe thats just because there aren't many for sale at the moment and the sun is shining!
Paintwork on an older car is bound to have some bubbling and chips - I had my 2003 Roadsport resprayed 3 years ago and already it is looking tired in places so on a 98 car it really is to be expected.
Don't discount a 135 bhp 1600 over the 140 1800, the 1600 k is a very sweet and revvy engine. The 6 speed box is a popular choice even though it can be tiring on long motorway journeys due to the lower top gear. I've never had a 6 speed, currently I have a special 5 speed with bespoke ratios which is brilliant (IMO).
On spec I'd pick the 1800 I guess (it sounds like it has most of the rightbits already), but the prices of both seem a little high to me, maybe thats just because there aren't many for sale at the moment and the sun is shining!
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