Finding the right one....

[zetecherb]

Afternoon All,

I have recently sold my MK1 Focus RS and am now on the looking out for a Caterham.

I've spent the last 5 years racing Alfa Romeos in UK and Europe and after my dad had an original R500 K Series years ago I've wanted a Caterham ever since.

Now I got a bit more financial backing I think it's time

Picking the right car has been a mission though. I've driven a few Roadsports and a Supersport, both extremely fun but they don't take my fancy as much as a superlight. I've narrowed my list down to either a R300 (K Series) or a Superlight R. Chapman Cars had a green Superlight R that sold a week before I sold me Focus and I was gutted. Southern Sky Motors sold a Orange R300 last weekend before I got to view it. I can't believe how fast these cars move.

So R300 or Superlight R I would much prefer a Superlight R is there anything I should look out for?

Thanks

Tom

[ForzaGilles]

Hi Tom. My Caterham will be up for sale in the near future. It's basically an R400K minus the carbon. Drop me a PM if you're interested

[framerateuk]

The only thing I would say is not to get too tied up over the model name, and look at the spec instead.

Just because something is a Roadsport and not a Superlight, doesn't mean it isn't pretty much the same thing.

For example, mine's a Roadsport 140, but in terms of spec, it's pretty much identical to the Superlight 150 apart from the engine tune and the seats.

[Smitters]

Agree with the above. Also, though it seems a bit silly, but it's worth considering what it comes with too - anything can be bought or retro-fitted (e.g. heater, weather-gear) but usually at quite a cost. Spec is king though, as is knowing whether you want a garage queen or are prepared to take a cosmetically rough, but mechanically solid car.

[fergus]

What sort of budget are you considering?

[zetecherb]

Whao, thanks for the fast replies

ForzaGilles - R400's are a little out of my price range

Framerateuk - I understand what your saying about the name, PTSPORTSCARS have a silver roadsport that looks awesome which I am tempted for but there a couple of small bits on it I'm not keen on. I don't want to be spending loads of money for a car I won't be 100% happy with.

Smitters - It'll be a half garage queen half track toy, I'm very OCD when it comes to cleaning and keeping it nice haha. Spec wise is what I'm mainly looking for. Sevens and Classics look to have an awesome R300 for sale, but not massively keen on the seat or the colour. I'm picking when it comes to little things like that haha.

Fergus - Budget wise at the moment is around £23k but the longer it takes me to find the perfect car the bigger the budget i'll have. Although if it takes me 6 months and i have a budget of say £27k I'll still be looking at the same models/spec.

My ideal car would be...orange, Tillet Seats, Heater, Carbon Fibre wings/nose cone etc, Full weather equipment, 150bhp minimum, must be K Series (I love the way they drive and sound), and also original as possible. I see a lot of roadsports for example have been rebuild with more power I'd like to know the car I have wasn't modified. So standard would be a bonus.
Obviously i understand the perfect car comes up rarely so my arms are wide open and I've looked at quite a few different models and specs, just everyone I've looked at so far I've not been 100% happy with.

[ForzaGilles]

zetecherb said:

Whao, thanks for the fast replies

ForzaGilles - R400's are a little out of my price range

No, it's not a Superlight R400, but it has the R400 engine, 'box, diff and brakes. It's green with s-type seats, no heater, and no carbon other than sill protectors, so not really your ideal spec Good luck with your search.

[mharris]

Dont get too hung up on finding one in the exact spec you want. Even if you can find the one you want (or think you want) now, I can promise you that within a year you will have changed/upgraded various bits.

In the 2 years since buying my car, I've fitted the ACES shift lights, racing master cylinder and carbon aeroscreen. If I'd have waited for one to come along with all those options ticked then I'd still be waiting now. Plus I wouldn't have had the pleasure of learning about and fitting those parts.

[rubystone]

If you buy a car and upgrade it, don't expect to get that money back. A modified car is just that. Far better to buy a factory car (CKD qualifies as that). The car is therefore easier to value as a sale or purchase.

R400/SLR is the sweet-spot 7. DR R300 is great too, but to me, R300K just doesn't light my fire.

For £23k you should find a car but no doubt that Chapman and S&C have hoovered up the good cars and pushed the prices up.

Fergus, are you thinking of selling then? PM me if you are..and also we ought to grab a beer in the Smoke sometime.

[xcentric]

if PTSportscars have something close to what you want, go talk to them. We bought our Superlight R from there about 5 months ago (sorry!) and they've been great, and they'd be willing to do a deal, I'm sure. For instance, ours had leather seats originally, but we swapped them for tillets. Because they prep cars for racing they have all sorts of bits around, and a nicer bunch of guys to do business with you couldn't wish to meet. Ask for Ian (Payne) and say Russell recommended you......

[mharris]

rubystone said:

If you buy a car and upgrade it, don't expect to get that money back. A modified car is just that.

I agree with that as far as the big ticket stuff goes. i.e. turning a Roadsport into an R300.

But in respect to fitting items that would have otherwise been optional extras on your car originally. Doing that is probably the only way to get a used car in the exact spec you want, and doesn't devalue the car at all.

[rubystone]

mharris said:

I agree with that as far as the big ticket stuff goes. i.e. turning a Roadsport into an R300.

But in respect to fitting items that would have otherwise been optional extras on your car originally. Doing that is probably the only way to get a used car in the exact spec you want, and doesn't devalue the car at all.

agreed.

[fergus]

rubystone said:

Fergus, are you thinking of selling then? PM me if you are..and also we ought to grab a beer in the Smoke sometime.

Hi. Possibly. I've hardly used either the seven or my race bike in recent years. Seems a shame to have them just sat there.... I'll drop you a mail from work tmrw.

[rubystone]

fergus said:

Hi. Possibly. I've hardly used either the seven or my race bike in recent years. Seems a shame to have them just sat there.... I'll drop you a mail from work tmrw.

That's get young kids does for you. Murph's the same. But we did a run out, he in the Masser me in the 575

[zetecherb]

All valid points.

I've been doing the modified thing to long now to understand loosing money lol. Another reason why I'm looking at anything more then 150bhp otherwise I'll modify it.

I might give Ian a call at Pt sports cars and have a chat about a superlight r he currently has up for sale.

[Smitters]

zetecherb said:

Whao, thanks for the fast replies

Smitters - It'll be a half garage queen half track toy, I'm very OCD when it comes to cleaning and keeping it nice haha. Spec wise is what I'm mainly looking for. Sevens and Classics look to have an awesome R300 for sale, but not massively keen on the seat or the colour. I'm picking when it comes to little things like that haha.

I think what I badly tried to type yesterday is that there are some things that are easy to deal with. A seat swap is quite easy to come by, so I wouldn't rule out a car with leather seats as there seems to be a lively market in leather to tillet and tillet to leather. Cloth seats are a harder sell! Scruffy panels may, or may not, be easy to resolve, so if you want nice bodywork, it's often better to start with nice clean bodywork.

I would also suggest getting some test drives. I think that tyres (both make and width) really affect the feel of a Caterham, as does set-up, so getting a feel for what you like, or don't like, and understanding which cars adjust and which don't is also helpful.

Not sure if it applied to the garages selling, but privately, autumn cars tend to go for a little less, or are priced as they would be in spring and therefore don't sell until the following spring. Now is a time for a bargain, but many folk hold out with a SORN through winter and try and sell as the weather encourages us out the door, so choice will rise in Feb-March time.

[framerateuk]

zetecherb said:

Whao, thanks for the fast replies
Framerateuk - I understand what your saying about the name, PTSPORTSCARS have a silver roadsport that looks awesome which I am tempted for but there a couple of small bits on it I'm not keen on. I don't want to be spending loads of money for a car I won't be 100% happy with.

What are the small bits? Some things are incredibly easy to change while others can be quite costly.

The silver Roadsport on their site has a cracking spec (6 speed box, LSD and big brakes being the stand out points and all expensive to retro-fit).

The only thing I would say is that I paid less for a 2009 Roadsport 140 privately (with a similar spec). Although, the silver one does look to be in better cosmetic shape than mine was.

[zetecherb]

Smitters - I assume the seat swap would be easier once I'm part of the club. Getting a clean tidy body is one of my big points. I have looked at a couple which have clearly spent their whole life on track, which isn't an issue for me but some haven't particularly been looked after and cleaned.
Choice at the moment isn't massive so as you say hopefully over the next few months some more cars will crop up.

Framerateuk - I'm not keen on the badge on the back where the spare wheel bolts to, I know this is only small but it's one of my pet hates. And I'm not overly keen on the fact it's been rebuilt either. I'd like something original if possible. However I do still look and think its a bloody good car for the price it's up for.
I need to get up to see Ian as I wouldn't mind having a look around at the silver roadsport and the blue Superlight R he has.

[Fescalisedportion]

I had a look at this the other week, pristine and below your budget so plenty of cash for an LSD.
http://www.nutleysports.co.uk/index.php/showroom/3...

[Smitters]

zetecherb said:

Seats things

Yes, in the sense that having something to swap makes life easier.