Good first Caterham??

[Scotty996T]

I'm on the verge of buying this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/972251.htm

Any thoughts on suitablity/value??

90% road use. VVC reliable enough?

Will probably change the seats.

Many thanks

Scott

[EVS777]

Looks like a good car to start with and ticks alot of boxes, I've not owned a 7 long enough to say how good VVC is as mine is a 1600k Supersport with around 135bhp and on the road I find this more than enough!

Al Evans.

[taffyracer]

I have the EU4 143bhp VVC, great engine and has potential to go alot further

[EVS777]

Hey Dom, You must get bored easy! as Youve ditched Your VVC already;)

[Scotty996T]

Thanks for thoughts. The sun is coming out - is this still reasonable value??

Cheers

Scott.

[EVS777]

Hi Scott, I bought mine back in November so slightly cheaper winter prices and credit crunch in full swing, its a '98 1600k Supersport with all the toys except a LSD , 24k miles on the clock , a really nice car for age and only 2nd car I looked at, seller was asking 12k and I got for 11.5k! so the car you are looking at is in the right ball park I would say!
But then If You are going to change seats,wheels,smaller lights black pack etc ,You may want to hold out and keeps looking? I spent about a month checking all the classifieds blatchat,pistonheads ,CC until a car with the sort of spec I was after came up and then get in there quick!! Let other people spend all the money!!
Anyway good luck , they are awesome cars, I've been out twice today!! showing motorbikes how to go round corners!!

Al Evans

[BertBert]

Do you know the history of the car IE was it specced liked that from new? It's not an 1800 supersport if it has a VVC engine. It just seems to be not a standard spec. May not make it bad in any way, it just makes me curious and want to double check the details.

Is it factory built or from a starter kit? Is it def an 1800 VVC, not just got a VVC plenum?

Bert

[Scotty996T]

Hi Bert

I have copy of the original Caterham sales invoce - factory built and it is a K series 1.8VVC at a cost of £2914 as an option. The signle owner went a bit mad on options and looks to have ticked about every box. £600 for a carbon nose ccone -barking but nice! LSD, suspension and brakes v helpful though. He managed to run up £24k in yr 2000!

Cheers

S

[7 Sevens]

I'm sure that car was sold/purchased through auction in March as I spotted it on one of the classic car web sites when I was looking.

Looks a good spec car but as others have said if you start changing bits the price will soon creep up. However you do have the major good bits to start with (LSD and big brakes).

There was a lovely private 'Scottish vvc' for sale last month and I think that was 13k ish.

[Scotty996T]

Good spot - was sold for 12600 + premium I think. Has since had major service.

Only going to change seats so think I'll just go for it.

Thanks

Scott.

[BertBert]

Scotty996T said:

Hi Bert

I have copy of the original Caterham sales invoce - factory built and it is a K series 1.8VVC at a cost of £2914 as an option. The signle owner went a bit mad on options and looks to have ticked about every box. £600 for a carbon nose ccone -barking but nice! LSD, suspension and brakes v helpful though. He managed to run up £24k in yr 2000!

Cheers

S

Good, that's ok then. The prev owner didn't go for sensible seats then? Looks like quite a good buy otherwise.
Bert

[rubystone]

Good for a road car, not so good for track with the VVC valve gear though but you do say you want a roadcar and the VVC engine offers better torque...but the 6 speed 'box might take the edge off the cruising - any idea what the 'diff is?

A really odd spec - a plumbed in extinguisher and oil/air separator (laminova?) and bench seats!!!! Almost like he was torn between a track car and a road car and ended up with the a compromised car for either use!

[taffyracer]

EVS777 said:

Hey Dom, You must get bored easy! as Youve ditched Your VVC already;)

Not so much bored, more get carried away, what I always wanted was an R400 so I have the car and the engine, just need to put the 2 together, ooh this caterham stuff is exciting

[EVS777]

taffyracer said:

EVS777 said:

Hey Dom, You must get bored easy! as Youve ditched Your VVC already;)

Not so much bored, more get carried away, what I always wanted was an R400 so I have the car and the engine, just need to put the 2 together, ooh this caterham stuff is exciting

Dom be interested to see it once Your done! hopefully catch up at club meet? I was at Llandow but We never met!! Good luck with engine swap!

[will_]

Scotty996T said:

Good spot - was sold for 12600 + premium I think. Has since had major service.

Only going to change seats so think I'll just go for it.

Thanks

Scott.

12,600 incl premium - sale price was 11,400. Apparently it had no service history but if it's just had a major service (with whom?) then that should sort any issues.