Caterham used prices

[Matt230]

Hi

I am considering dipping my toe back into Caterham ownership. Previously owned a 1998 ex race Roadsport A which had Supersport, 6 speed and LSD, so a good spec despite being a little cosmetically rough around the edges. This was a great introduction to 7 ownership and reasonable money with cars of that spec fetching around £10k back then. It seems the market has moved on significantly in that time, i had budgeted about £15k to get something of similar spec but maybe with Jenveys & Emerald, but looks like thats over my budget. Dont mind if not cosmetically perfect as will be using on track etc but seems a real lack of cars with the spec for that money? Has the market moved that much?

Matt

[GreigM]

Matt230 said:

Hi
Has the market moved that much?

Pretty much, yes. Residuals are very strong, significantly helped by the presence of a couple of good dealers acting as market makers. While the cars may seem more expensive, they are definitely holding values better than ever.

[TTwiggy]

Interestingly I'm trying to sell a car that's not a million miles away from what you describe (apart from not being a 6-speed) and I've had almost no interest. And I'm not looking for anything like £15k!

[coppice]

I think Seven owners, as part of man maths self delusion, invariably exaggerate the value of secondhand Sevens. When I sold my first Seven the consensus was ask 12 and take 11. After weeks of time wasters it sold for 8- good car too. Of course I applied man maths to the 25 I had to find for the new one .....investment innit ?

[rubystone]

coppice said:

I think Seven owners, as part of man maths self delusion, invariably exaggerate the value of secondhand Sevens. When I sold my first Seven the consensus was ask 12 and take 11. After weeks of time wasters it sold for 8- good car too. Of course I applied man maths to the 25 I had to find for the new one .....investment innit ?

Yep. Look at the recent thread on the 'Superlight R' on Blatchat. Guy puts it up for decent price, is told it's too cheap and now can't sell it because it isn't a genuine SLR. Had he kept it at original price, he'd have sold it, genuine or not. Now it's a storied car and it seems unable to find a home at that lower price. That car will sell at £14k.

[rubystone]

TTwiggy said:

Interestingly I'm trying to sell a car that's not a million miles away from what you describe (apart from not being a 6-speed) and I've had almost no interest. And I'm not looking for anything like £15k!

Hi, what's the spec and can you privide a link to the ad?

[mike150]

I would love another R400d or an SLR or R500d but I know when I had my R400d and you told people what it cost they looked at you like you where mad. When I worked at I often found myself thinking the same thing. They are not worth what Caterham ask for them IMO, the fact they are for sale for so long shows this. Caterham have themselves, over inflated the price of the 7. Great for them, great for current owners but bad if you want a 7 type car and it has to be a Caterham.

They consist of.............

- a space frame
- alloy body
- a Ford engine
- a gearbox
- some trim, brakes, suspension, other body and running gear

Or think of it as, why is the similar Westfield half the price? It does not make sense!

[coppice]

Objectively you are right - look at the build quality of a Kia C'eed or whatever and a Seven is not even from the same planet . Or look at the sheer go something like a ST Focus has for 20k or whatever- it would leave any Seven (or at least any Seven driven by me )for dead on a wet and bumpy road .

But here's the thing- I get the tingle of Chapman DNA every time I sit in mine and no car I have ever owned has made me get up at 4 am on a Summer morning just for the joy of driving; no car has turned a 50 mile blat into a 300mile one for the fun of it and no car I have driven has ever received such universal friendliness on the road.

I have driven a Westfield and liked it very much but given the choice - emotional, illogical an irrational though it may be- it would always be a real Seven .

[neil-935ql]

Well I have just bought my first caterham , and I did think of a Westfield but after a good look at both cars there was only one outcome get the real thing ! The Westfield just did not seem quite as good in most areas , although it did drive very well . I guess resale values of caterhams will always be better also , anyway great car and I would recommend one to any after a thrilling drive !! What a car , simply fantastic

[Matt230]

Thanks for the replies, lets not turn this into a Caterham v Westfield debate.

So in summary are we saying the market has firmed on Caterham's particularly with the likes of S&C dealers sucking up a lot of private sales on a commission basis? However some of the prices are now potentially artifically high and resultingly many the private sales sell for less than advertised?

Still wondering how far my £15k will stetch.....

Matt

[TTwiggy]

rubystone said:

TTwiggy said:

Interestingly I'm trying to sell a car that's not a million miles away from what you describe (apart from not being a 6-speed) and I've had almost no interest. And I'm not looking for anything like £15k!

Hi, what's the spec and can you privide a link to the ad?

1.4 K-series supersport, LSD, tillet seats and aeroscreen with half doors (full screen and doors too). Not sure of I'm allowed to link to the advert but if you do a search on the classifieds here, up to a max of £10k, you should find it. It's blue!

[Steve-B]

Matt, if you can get £2K more, you'd find my Black SV-VHPD in the For Sale which is a special-order factory car in quite good order you'd have a fantastic car for life!

The only reason I'm selling is due to a spinal injury that now has me seriously after a TR-6 for pootling around in. It's just too hard to get in and out of my beloved SV now.....

Matt230 said:

Thanks for the replies, lets not turn this into a Caterham v Westfield debate.

So in summary are we saying the market has firmed on Caterham's particularly with the likes of S&C dealers sucking up a lot of private sales on a commission basis? However some of the prices are now potentially artifically high and resultingly many the private sales sell for less than advertised?

Still wondering how far my £15k will stetch.....

Matt

[Far Cough]

Residuals are VERY strong in this sector with this car. You just have to suck it up and pay the initial outlay which you pretty much get back once you sell. Its not like a normal car where you buy high and sell low...... you buy high and sell high.

Dont ask me why ! Its just the way it is. The price of a 620r is eye watering...

[GreigM]

Far Cough said:

Its just the way it is. The price of a 620r is eye watering...

Indeed, but then when you look at the price of the stuff you are overtaking on a trackday it seems positively cheap

[Far Cough]

GreigM said:

Far Cough said:

Its just the way it is. The price of a 620r is eye watering...

Indeed, but then when you look at the price of the stuff you are overtaking on a trackday it seems positively cheap

[AshleyPatience]

As above, you buy high but are able to sell high (even the dealers give good money when it's time to sell).

I just upgraded from an R300 to an R400 and only lost £1000 during my ownership of the R300

[TTwiggy]

AshleyPatience said:

As above, you buy high but are able to sell high (even the dealers give good money when it's time to sell).

Can I quote you to some of the timewasters who I've had enquire about my car please?

[bencollins4]

TTwiggy said:

Can I quote you to some of the timewasters who I've had enquire about my car please?

Dare I say it, your car almost looks too cheap?! I'm stunned it hasn't sold and can't believe people aren't prepared to pay £10k for it.

Looks like a great car for the money to me.

Good luck with the sale!

[Mario149]

As someone who is new to the brand, it seems like a lot of car for the money, good luck!

[SidewaysSi]

Indeed, it's way too cheap. I would have thought you could part ex it for more.