Caterham self build... wasting my time?
Discussion
I am playing with the idea of building a Caterham. I do like machines and I am handy with the spanners... I would love to build one.
Now the question is... is it selfish towards my family baby and wife? Will I use the car to warrant the cost? How many of you track a Caterham? (This would be what I would want to do). I know lots of answers depend on the personal circumstances but for all of you with a Caterham... any regrets? Do you track it often? What's the feeling after a few years of ownership? Still with the energy or time to get up on a Sunday and drive it? Any advice... with hindsight?
Many thanks far your replies
C
Now the question is... is it selfish towards my family baby and wife? Will I use the car to warrant the cost? How many of you track a Caterham? (This would be what I would want to do). I know lots of answers depend on the personal circumstances but for all of you with a Caterham... any regrets? Do you track it often? What's the feeling after a few years of ownership? Still with the energy or time to get up on a Sunday and drive it? Any advice... with hindsight?
Many thanks far your replies
C
Young kids means plenty of time at home! I don't have a Caterham but with the wife out a couple of evenings a week it does give me a fair bit of "free" time in the evenings to spend on projects.
There's no deadline for a self-build, if it takes you years of doing the odd hour or two when you can then what does it matter? If you can afford it and think it'll give you pleasure and relaxation then go for it.
There's no deadline for a self-build, if it takes you years of doing the odd hour or two when you can then what does it matter? If you can afford it and think it'll give you pleasure and relaxation then go for it.
since they hold their value pretty well, you'll not lose too much on it whatever happens. Unless you sell it only half built..... Worth doing if you like building things and have enough time to do it, even if it takes a year or two. And they are great fun to won, but probably not as your only car. And you may well have it for many many years, in which case it'll be fine, financially.
Cars are rarely good, financially - Caterhams are perhaps least bad.....
Cars are rarely good, financially - Caterhams are perhaps least bad.....
Yes it would be a toy I have a more sensible everyday car. Absolutely plan to keep it for quite a few years so maybe will make sense financially instead of say a new 911. I did many years of go karting so prefer light and nimble and open wheel. On the roads it can be dangerous or I can loose my licence so no point going mega on a crazy fast car and I am not a poser so no point on a crazy car I gess
Building a Caterham is very rewarding, and it really feels like your car afterwards.
You can also save a lot servicing it yourself and the parts are fairly cheap so running costs can be very low
The only drawback to building is that for the money you spend you will get less performance than buying a better spec car 2nd hand.
This isn't a problem if you either have loads of money to build a quicker new car or you don't worry about ridiculous power.
I built a Roadsport 125 5 years ago, 27000 miles on, it has been brilliant fun and I have never regretted it
You can also save a lot servicing it yourself and the parts are fairly cheap so running costs can be very low
The only drawback to building is that for the money you spend you will get less performance than buying a better spec car 2nd hand.
This isn't a problem if you either have loads of money to build a quicker new car or you don't worry about ridiculous power.
I built a Roadsport 125 5 years ago, 27000 miles on, it has been brilliant fun and I have never regretted it
When I was 60 I bought myself a 997S new. (Actually I got it a year or two early in 2007, couldn't wait!)
In 2014, the 911's done 22K and, frankly, I'm bored with it. Not cheap to tax or maintain and depreciation's a b
h.
Watching 'a car is born' my wife says "Why don't you do something like that?"
By July 14, after testing a couple of R400s, the 911s sold and an R400SV kit is on order.
Kit delivered on my 65th birthday, mid December 14. Started build after the New Year. Away on holiday all of February and build finished by end of first week April. It was collected by CC for PBC and they IVAed it for me. Those things took almost as long as the build itself! On the road beginning of June 14.
Done 3500 miles now including 3 track days. Had a couple of teething issues but basically rock solid.
Nothing too onerous in build; endless help available on L7C forum, even tools to borrow. In all honesty, it really is just the assembly of a bunch of new parts!
That's my story. Not a single regret, the R400's more fun in every way than the 911 at a fraction of the cost. (Though a set of RBTBs arrives in the next week or two, so not hard to find something to spend on!) Even if the the weather's too bad to drive it, its fun to give it a spanner check, change oil etc.
Just do it.
In 2014, the 911's done 22K and, frankly, I'm bored with it. Not cheap to tax or maintain and depreciation's a b
h. Watching 'a car is born' my wife says "Why don't you do something like that?"
By July 14, after testing a couple of R400s, the 911s sold and an R400SV kit is on order.
Kit delivered on my 65th birthday, mid December 14. Started build after the New Year. Away on holiday all of February and build finished by end of first week April. It was collected by CC for PBC and they IVAed it for me. Those things took almost as long as the build itself! On the road beginning of June 14.
Done 3500 miles now including 3 track days. Had a couple of teething issues but basically rock solid.
Nothing too onerous in build; endless help available on L7C forum, even tools to borrow. In all honesty, it really is just the assembly of a bunch of new parts!
That's my story. Not a single regret, the R400's more fun in every way than the 911 at a fraction of the cost. (Though a set of RBTBs arrives in the next week or two, so not hard to find something to spend on!) Even if the the weather's too bad to drive it, its fun to give it a spanner check, change oil etc.
Just do it.
tight fart said:
To be fair you don't build it more assemble it. Pretty simple if you're ok with Lego. Allow 2 weeks if you have a full time job and can only do evenings and weekends.
If you can maintain your own car, building a Caterham is pretty straightforward. Yes you may need a hoist of sorts (mine cost less than a tenner - but I'd agree that hiring one may be a better solution). Personally building my own is half the fun and the fact that you save £3000 and makes the cost of ownership close to zero just makes it a no-brainer for me if you have the time, space and a modicum of competance.
Hi C,
I was dead keen on building a Caterham before I got mine a couple of years ago, but the lead times put me off a bit. I ended up buying a "college built" brand new car from Caterham South, and have to say it was a great decision.
I do miss the fact that I didn't build it, and building one is still on my bucket list, but with a young lad (20 months now, a mere twinkle in his mum's eye when we bought the Caterham) having the car (and not the build project) means that I can drive it guilt free (as I'd be driving something else anyway) rather than feeling guilty in the garage.
My wife loves driving it too, and wouldn't fancy the build quite so much.
I had every intention to track it, but with a young family I haven't managed to find the time - as it is quite a selfish escapade - for me at least.
Just my experience, and I'm sure others would disagree and have their own opinions and experiences, but as you asked I thought I'd give an honest reply.
I'm any event, get a Caterham! Bloody brilliant cars!!
I was dead keen on building a Caterham before I got mine a couple of years ago, but the lead times put me off a bit. I ended up buying a "college built" brand new car from Caterham South, and have to say it was a great decision.
I do miss the fact that I didn't build it, and building one is still on my bucket list, but with a young lad (20 months now, a mere twinkle in his mum's eye when we bought the Caterham) having the car (and not the build project) means that I can drive it guilt free (as I'd be driving something else anyway) rather than feeling guilty in the garage.
My wife loves driving it too, and wouldn't fancy the build quite so much.
I had every intention to track it, but with a young family I haven't managed to find the time - as it is quite a selfish escapade - for me at least.
Just my experience, and I'm sure others would disagree and have their own opinions and experiences, but as you asked I thought I'd give an honest reply.
I'm any event, get a Caterham! Bloody brilliant cars!!
Hi
Built my Caterham in 1989/1990. Sold it in 2002, bought it back last year "needing a bit of work".
It took me about 200 hours to build from a CKD kit, buying things like wheels, engine, gearbox separately and then getting it registered with Customs and Excise (no IVA then).
At the time I was married with no kids, had previously had a Lotus Seven.
The build was great, dead easy, a few bits supplied were incorrect etc. but simplicity itself.
Sold it when I bought a TVR....
RE purchased it last year, have a new wife who loves open air motoring BUT we also now have a young son.(and 2 dogs).
There's always the little niggling comment that "we can't all get into that" with the TVR and presumably once the Caterham is back on the road but as often as not I'm on my own anyway.
One idea I had when buying it back was that young son might learn simple mechanics but that hasn't worked out.
In it's favour, it's one of a few cars small enough to be worked on in a single width garage.
It's not a cheap purchase, either second hand or new but in general it is one of the least depreciating cars out there. OK an old Porsche or classic might go up in value but can you work on one of those in a single garage with basic tools.
Built my Caterham in 1989/1990. Sold it in 2002, bought it back last year "needing a bit of work".
It took me about 200 hours to build from a CKD kit, buying things like wheels, engine, gearbox separately and then getting it registered with Customs and Excise (no IVA then).
At the time I was married with no kids, had previously had a Lotus Seven.
The build was great, dead easy, a few bits supplied were incorrect etc. but simplicity itself.
Sold it when I bought a TVR....
RE purchased it last year, have a new wife who loves open air motoring BUT we also now have a young son.(and 2 dogs).
There's always the little niggling comment that "we can't all get into that" with the TVR and presumably once the Caterham is back on the road but as often as not I'm on my own anyway.
One idea I had when buying it back was that young son might learn simple mechanics but that hasn't worked out.
In it's favour, it's one of a few cars small enough to be worked on in a single width garage.
It's not a cheap purchase, either second hand or new but in general it is one of the least depreciating cars out there. OK an old Porsche or classic might go up in value but can you work on one of those in a single garage with basic tools.
Presumably that was actually a starter kit? The Complete Knock Down CKD kit is the full one.
To the OP. Building them is great. But one thought on a new caterham. I found I have wierd ocd after I built mine. I didn't enjoy the transition from shiny new to used. I was much more comfortable with the much more used one that came after. Probably just me though.
Bert
To the OP. Building them is great. But one thought on a new caterham. I found I have wierd ocd after I built mine. I didn't enjoy the transition from shiny new to used. I was much more comfortable with the much more used one that came after. Probably just me though.
Bert
X5TUU said:
Bigger issue is how long do you think you'll take to build it and get it legal ... this is a killer on many self-builds
Took me about a month if I remember rightly - mind you it was an Academy car and I needed to be quick if I was going to do any testing before racing. But I was working at the time, and didn't have any help except when putting the engine in, so that's realistic for many people I would think. Did involve a certain amount of midnight oil though.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff