FATVIK in the market for a 7
Discussion
Hello All, 
I'm nervously, happily, apprehensively and excitedly looking forward to purchasing my first 7
Bearing in mind that the quickest car I have every owned (and this was an upgrade from my first ever car, a 1.2 astra) is my current little 1.5 civic
I *WANT* a R400. Yes a R400. (not an SV tho)
And yes, I've already sorted my life insurance policy
There seem to be quite a few on pistonheads at the moment so that a good thing
The two that I'm interested in at the moment are
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/834056.htm (head)
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/852230.htm (heart)
Comments, guidance, advice (and yes, even flames) welcome
- a very excited FV
I'm nervously, happily, apprehensively and excitedly looking forward to purchasing my first 7
Bearing in mind that the quickest car I have every owned (and this was an upgrade from my first ever car, a 1.2 astra) is my current little 1.5 civic
I *WANT* a R400. Yes a R400. (not an SV tho)And yes, I've already sorted my life insurance policy
There seem to be quite a few on pistonheads at the moment so that a good thing
The two that I'm interested in at the moment are
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/834056.htm (head)
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/852230.htm (heart)
Comments, guidance, advice (and yes, even flames) welcome
- a very excited FV
The first isn't an R400. So if you want an R400, you'll not be getting what you want.
The colour of the second is "interesting", but that and the steering wheel aside, it's probably the better buy. Especially if you can negotiate (dealer, iffy colour etc).
Get some track time in it, with some tuition. Take it easy and treat it with respect and there's no reason you should stack the R400. Drive it like a tool and you'll kill yourself
Great, great cars.
The colour of the second is "interesting", but that and the steering wheel aside, it's probably the better buy. Especially if you can negotiate (dealer, iffy colour etc).
Get some track time in it, with some tuition. Take it easy and treat it with respect and there's no reason you should stack the R400. Drive it like a tool and you'll kill yourself
Great, great cars.
BertBert said:
Why do you want an R400? Might help with guidance on the purchase.
Bert
Becuase BB, I am stuipd in the head. HTH Bert
R500 will be too much work, money (maintenance) and risk therefore I feel like getting a 400. To be honest with you a 1.4 classic or a 1.6 would probably need me to have a long supply of clean underwear but as they say, in for a penny in for a pound
My Astra I kept for 5 years and then sold 'cause it was leaking and had alternator and water pump problems. My little civic I plan to keep for as long as it runs.. and it seems quite a happy little car at the moment
So, I guess I will probably be the same with the 7. Buy it and then just enjoy it. So, if I can get a 400 then I doubt even after 5 - 6 years I'd want to upgrade...I do plan to (regardless of 300 or 400) track the car and I do plan to get tuition on the track in it. I've spoken to a chap who has a 1.6 who constantly passes 300s and 400s when he is on track (and this has been confirmed by a few other chaps I spoke to) so as I said above, a 1.6 would probably do me but I *want* a 400
Cheers BB.
-FV
Edited by fatvik on Thursday 29th January 09:24
Murph7355 said:
The first isn't an R400. So if you want an R400, you'll not be getting what you want.
Yes I know 
but my head says "its less money and since its a 300 it has a slightly reduced chance of killing FV" - following to be read in a Homer Simpson accent 'stupid head.' Murph7355 said:
Get some track time in it, with some tuition. Take it easy and treat it with respect and there's no reason you should stack the R400. Drive it like a tool and you'll kill yourself
Great, great cars.
I (luckly) don't live too far from Brands. So tracking and tuition are on the agenda Great, great cars.
There are a few 7 owners close to where I live and I'm sure they wont mind me going blatting with them... purely as an educational excersise
Cheers Murph.
-FV
will_ said:
Nice Car!!!EVS777 said:
will_ said:
Nice Car!!!Join the Lotus 7 Club and talk to lots of people before you buy. You'll probably find local members who will help you inspect any prospective purchase or you might find people who 'know' the car you're looking at.
Do you want K series or Duratec, maybe even Sigma or Vx...
Is it the performance you want of the R400 or the 'badge'? If it's the performance then there will be 'upgraded' cars with that or better without the pricetag of a genuine R400. If you go along to club meets I'm sure you can get a ride in both R300 and R400...you may find that R400 is a bit 'too much' for road use (some do....some think you can never have enough bhp...I'm not saying which camp I'm in
Do you want to be your own mechanic or trust it to a garage, that may affect whether you buy a standard or a modified car?
It's great that you want a 7, you really won't regret buying one...just don't rush into it.
Gordon
p.s....Lovely car will
Do you want K series or Duratec, maybe even Sigma or Vx...
Is it the performance you want of the R400 or the 'badge'? If it's the performance then there will be 'upgraded' cars with that or better without the pricetag of a genuine R400. If you go along to club meets I'm sure you can get a ride in both R300 and R400...you may find that R400 is a bit 'too much' for road use (some do....some think you can never have enough bhp...I'm not saying which camp I'm in
Do you want to be your own mechanic or trust it to a garage, that may affect whether you buy a standard or a modified car?
It's great that you want a 7, you really won't regret buying one...just don't rush into it.
Gordon
p.s....Lovely car will
Hello Gordon,
I've just sent off my membership request form to the L7C
I've already started stalking the current local L7C members (going to go and barge-in on them again this coming Tuesday at their local meet).
I'd love a duratec, simply because it seems shiny and new
, however I'm going to stick with the K series (price is a bit more affordable on these too).
I'd like the R400 because of the badge and because I tend to keep things for as long as I can. My theory is even after tracking the car for 5 or so years I dont believe I will have or feel the need to get something quicker. I dont want a R500. Dunno why, even after watching stiggy on TG hooning around in it, I dont want one.
I'm no mechanic, so, I reckon all the work that needs doing will be done at a garage, hence me looking for a 'non upgrade' as it were. However, I'd like to learn to be able to do bits and bobs myself as time goes by (FV = the grease monkey
)
-FV
ps - cheers for all the info Will
I've just sent off my membership request form to the L7C
I've already started stalking the current local L7C members (going to go and barge-in on them again this coming Tuesday at their local meet).
I'd love a duratec, simply because it seems shiny and new
, however I'm going to stick with the K series (price is a bit more affordable on these too).I'd like the R400 because of the badge and because I tend to keep things for as long as I can. My theory is even after tracking the car for 5 or so years I dont believe I will have or feel the need to get something quicker. I dont want a R500. Dunno why, even after watching stiggy on TG hooning around in it, I dont want one.
I'm no mechanic, so, I reckon all the work that needs doing will be done at a garage, hence me looking for a 'non upgrade' as it were. However, I'd like to learn to be able to do bits and bobs myself as time goes by (FV = the grease monkey
)-FV
ps - cheers for all the info Will
Powderpuff said:
...just don't rush into it.
I've been watching pistonheads, blatchat, autotrader 
and caterham.co.uk since November The plan was to go get a 7 anytime from February (this year) onwards (mortgage renewal next month for me you see). Cash is nearly all sorted too...
So, yes, it does feel like I'm rushing into it... even though I've been drooling/ogling for the past 3 months.. I seem to be getting more excited and apprehensive as each day progresses...
-FV
fatvik said:
Hello Gordon,
I've just sent off my membership request form to the L7C
I've already started stalking the current local L7C members (going to go and barge-in on them again this coming Tuesday at their local meet).
I'd love a duratec, simply because it seems shiny and new, however I'm going to stick with the K series (price is a bit more affordable on these too).
I'd like the R400 because of the badge and because I tend to keep things for as long as I can. My theory is even after tracking the car for 5 or so years I dont believe I will have or feel the need to get something quicker. I dont want a R500. Dunno why, even after watching stiggy on TG hooning around in it, I dont want one.
I'm no mechanic, so, I reckon all the work that needs doing will be done at a garage, hence me looking for a 'non upgrade' as it were. However, I'd like to learn to be able to do bits and bobs myself as time goes by (FV = the grease monkey)
-FV
ps - cheers for all the info Will
No worries, let me know if there is anything else you want to know.I've just sent off my membership request form to the L7C
I've already started stalking the current local L7C members (going to go and barge-in on them again this coming Tuesday at their local meet).
I'd love a duratec, simply because it seems shiny and new
, however I'm going to stick with the K series (price is a bit more affordable on these too).I'd like the R400 because of the badge and because I tend to keep things for as long as I can. My theory is even after tracking the car for 5 or so years I dont believe I will have or feel the need to get something quicker. I dont want a R500. Dunno why, even after watching stiggy on TG hooning around in it, I dont want one.
I'm no mechanic, so, I reckon all the work that needs doing will be done at a garage, hence me looking for a 'non upgrade' as it were. However, I'd like to learn to be able to do bits and bobs myself as time goes by (FV = the grease monkey
)-FV
ps - cheers for all the info Will
FV, I know that you have set your heart on the R400, but I urge you to try some before you buy. I have been through the range from olde-worlde VXI, to SLR, to R500, then down to a 1600supersport. The best of the bunch for me for how I drive and where I drive, the *very* best was the 1600ss. So I know where you are coming from, but do some hard research before deciding on paper!
BErt
PS my 1600ss was half of what I sold my R500 for.
BErt
PS my 1600ss was half of what I sold my R500 for.
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