Caterham inspection - help wanted

Caterham inspection - help wanted

Author
Discussion

xcentric

Original Poster:

722 posts

218 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Hi all - have found a potential car, but
(i) I'm off to the US tomorrow
(ii) I'm not a Caterham expert
(iii) even if I was home, it is 300 miles from me

Is there anyone on here who lives in Hampshire who might be willing to look at the car for me, to check it out for wear/damage/issues - ideal if you have decent mechanical knowledge, but particularly Caterham knowledge. And even better if you're following the market a bit, so can tell me if it's an ok deal, price-wise.

Fuel costs covered and beer tokens available.....

Or, if anyone knows a good independent Caterham specialist down there, can you pass on their details? I've tried Caterham (South) themselves, but they're fully booked in service until June.....

thanks in advance!

downsman

1,099 posts

155 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
It would a be a brave man who recommends a stranger buys a car after a quick inspection. I wouldn't volunteer even if I lived down that way.
I've helped friends and relatives by pointing out faults I can see, but the final decision is always the buyer..........

xcentric

Original Poster:

722 posts

218 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
downsman, I agree - I am not going to take anyone's word as the final say-so, I'm just looking for some enthusiastic expert opinion, or a garage recommendation, to help me make up my mind.....

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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PT Sportscars in Windsor are 7 specialists, might cost you more than beer tokens but they allegedly know their stuff and host owners days etc so quite up to speed, could also ask on 7 owners group of Facebook?

Skyedriver

17,661 posts

281 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
downsman said:
It would a be a brave man who recommends a stranger buys a car after a quick inspection. I wouldn't volunteer even if I lived down that way.
I've helped friends and relatives by pointing out faults I can see, but the final decision is always the buyer..........
Tend to agree.
If you tell them its a load of rubbish they'll buy it anyway and if you say it's a good'un they'll go and look at a few more before realising the good'un was, but has been sold.
Went with a nephew many many years ago to look at a mini, his first car. It was utter crap but he bought it anyway then I had the stigma of "well you went with him"

Went with my Dad to look at a Renault 5 and a Triumph 1500. Knew the seller of the Renault but didn't like the rust coming through the rear quarter so suggested the Triumph. Yes he bought the Renault and the rust patch got bigger and bigger......

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
downsman said:
It would a be a brave man who recommends a stranger buys a car after a quick inspection. I wouldn't volunteer even if I lived down that way.
I've helped friends and relatives by pointing out faults I can see, but the final decision is always the buyer..........
So long as I could get the car on a ramp / in the air I would have no issue doing this for someone.

They are very simple cars and its super easy to tell if they have been in a prang. So long as you know what you are doing its probably one of the easiest cars to inspect!

Ziplobb

1,349 posts

283 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Just bought an R500K with no inspection - I have had a xflow and a K car and as the last poster says they are simple cars. My thoughts are that the purchase is high risk so lets get it for a price I am comfortable with and if I do get a problem then there is a contingency to sort it out. Other than the engine the rest was the usual 7 stuff and is proven many times over. I am not an expert but have a bit of common and 13/14 years Caterham ownership behind me. BTW an R500K is awesome at 8000 rpm ....

F355GTS

3,721 posts

254 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I did offer to view the car via his post on another forum but he didn't come back to me confused

BertBert

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I think it's perfectly possible to successfully inspect cars for people if you know what the car is about. I happily inspected a radical last year, and would very happily inspect a caterham.
Bert