Caterham pending. Directions needed.

[Doc007]

Hello there. I have decided to buy/build a Caterham 7 Roadsport 160. I am completely green and just registered with this website. Could you point me in the general direction of the best place to get information/support.
I looked at the Lotus 7 Club website but don't want to pay £50 without being sure that it is the best forum to join.

[DCL]

Welcome to Caterham ownership! When you start your build, the first port of call should be Caterham for problems and technical support. The clubs and forums can be helpful but just remember that you have to learn to recognise, and filter out, the less helpful stuff. The kits evolve continuously so manuals and advice can be out of date. Best to use a bit of commonsense and take your time. If you can find an owner locally, then that's a good start and usually a good source of advice.

Edited by DCL on Sunday 18th January 16:13

[downsman]

Well, if you're buying a new kit from Caterham, you'll find the support guys at Caterham are very helpful over e-mail or phone.
The people on here are pretty helpful too

The club can be good depending on what you are looking for, but there have been relatively few 160s built so far. Consequently, few people on Blatchat will have the knowledge you'll need. From what I've seen of the 160, it's only the general chassis and front suspension/steering that are similar to my Roadsport 125.

[sjmmarsh]

DDg - very funny!

There are several websites that are worth looking at:

Pistionheads (here)
The Caterham 7 group on facebook
7-DNA
Blatchat (lotus7.club)

I frequent all of these - the tbusiest on 7 subjects are Blatchat, facebook, Pistonheads and 7-DNA in that order.

II belong to the Lotus7 club as I find the help you get on there second to none, but you will find not everyone agrees (hence the "incoming" post above). As you can see the content of blatchat without registering, I suggest that you follow it for a few weeks before you make your mind up.

I understand that cateham will be providing the first year's membership of the club free soon, so it is worth asking them if they can do that now and save you the money. After a year's free membership you can make your own mind uip about the comments that will follow this post!

Steve

[NedK]

Doc007 said:

Hello there. I have decided to buy/build a Caterham 7 Roadsport 160.

Hi, and welcome

Did you mean the Caterham 7 160? I think the Roadsport is either the 125 or 140... If it's the 160, then I'm waiting for mine too (arrives in March).

You've probably got a few months to wait, and I'd recommend
- downloading and reading the manual from Caterham Cars website
- browsing a few Caterham building blogs (there are tons of them, and some are very helpful with pics/videos etc)
- getting your tools together, from the manual and other people's blogs

I'm a member of the Lotus 7 Club, and the main benefit for me is getting good discounts on a number of suppliers, and insurance. Also, the other owners/builders are really helpful if you have a question. Things like engine lifts and specialist tools get loaned around too.

Good luck!
Ned

[Chrisp5782]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1523037167911654?

[Doc007]

Thanks chaps. Very helpful.
Where would the best place be to discuss what specification to order? In particular what extras are worth getting and what are not? And if Pistonheads is the place, in which section should I post?

[CharlesElliott]

If you are buying your car/kit from Caterham, I believe that you will get membership to the L7C, and therefore access to Blatchat, included.

[anonymous-user]

I received my R400 mid December. I'm in no rush but I have completed the front suspension and the engine and box are in.

So far it hasn't been too difficult. The component quality is very good, the engine and box dropped in very nicely, despite what I had read on blogs, and the help from the factory is very good too.

The manual is very confusing, trying to be all things to all models. The continual evolution means it seems to vary from what is now the case which presents difficulties for new builders. I think it's a case of it being written by people who are familiar with the build, who don't look at it with uneducated eyes.

Having said that, I have read a few on line logs of builds where people complain about the CC instructions, then explain how they did the job. In truth their explanations are rarely much better than the original, for the same reason, possibly.

Stories of component shortages are rife, and I have had a couple of bits missing, though the main ones I knew about when taking delivery and they have all been supplied now.

[anonymous-user]

CharlesElliott said:

If you are buying your car/kit from Caterham, I believe that you will get membership to the L7C, and therefore access to Blatchat, included.

Not mentioned to me.

[MartinB7]

Could I just confirm the details of CC offering club membership, they are about to launch the Approved Used Car Scheme which will include complimentary 12 month membership, as the title of the scheme suggests, this is just on used car sales. Hopefully in the future this may be extended to new cars but this is a large step in the right direction.

Martin

[Doc007]

CharlesElliott said:

If you are buying your car/kit from Caterham, I believe that you will get membership to the L7C, and therefore access to Blatchat, included.

Thanks, that'll be helpful once I've ordered but where do I get the best information about the best spec for me?

[Smollet]

REALIST123 said:

Not mentioned to me.

It's a new addition.

[BigCol]

have a look a this...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...

Two years on... for me, full weather gear was a waste of time/money (maybe windscreen, doors and half-hood for when weather looks dodgy but not the full hood) as subsequently bought an aeroscreen and whilst it easily swapped, have yet to do so!

As mentioned above, with some research, you shouldn't have any surprises (instructions requiring interpretation but Derek being a brick, shortages which get sorted immediately but curtail that day's building, bits on back order which show up eventually etc).

Also have a look at Tom Wood's thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=2&a...
towards the end of which he lists his extra costs over and above the kit. These add up a lot. Do not build the car in order to save any (or a significant amount of) money - do it for the experience and pride in what you achieve.

Edited by BigCol on Monday 19th January 18:42

[NedK]

Doc007 said:

Thanks, that'll be helpful once I've ordered but where do I get the best information about the best spec for me?

I guess it depends what you intend to do with the car: sunny days only (no heater, no weather kit), track days (ditto, harnesses, proper roll bar), touring (heater, hood, spare wheel), etc, etc. For the lowered floor option it depends how tall you are, and it's best to sit in the lowered and non-lowered - preferably drive them - and make your decision.

Have you been along to Caterham Cars and talked to the sales staff? Not sure who's nearer to you, but the team at Caterham South are helpful, and can advise what spec is right for you.

Ned

[Mclavert]

Don't know where you live, but have a look for your local Area Meet via the Lotus 7 Club homepage.

Get yourself along to one or more meets - you'll meet lots of owners, see lots of cars, get lots of views (potentially conflicting!) and probably bag yourself a few rides out in different cars into the bargain if you ask nicely...

Best of luck,

Michael.

[tight fart]

The build manual was fine 26 years ago when I built mine, maybe they've torn some pages out to confuse people?
The 7 club is good value when it's free but I thought they'd closed Blatchat!

[Smollet]

tight fart said:

The build manual was fine 26 years ago when I built mine, maybe they've torn some pages out to confuse people?
The 7 club is good value when it's free but I thought they'd closed Blatchat!

No it's alive not sure on the well part though.
Seriously anyone getting a 7 for the first time should splash out the less than £ per week on at least one year's membership and then decide if it's for you or not.

[CharlesElliott]

I've been a member of the L7C since 2003, solely for Blatchat. It has its ups and downs but ~£50 on membership to help you decide your spec and get advice is worth it (in my opinion).

[Grubbster]

CharlesElliott said:

I've been a member of the L7C since 2003, solely for Blatchat. It has its ups and downs but ~£50 on membership to help you decide your spec and get advice is worth it (in my opinion).

Totally agree, very helpful should you choose to self build as well.