Matching available 7s to my needs???

[Andy1912]

Hi

I have been very interested in buying a 7 for some time. Me and a friend hired a 1.6 roadsport (details here: http://www.highlandcaterhamhire.co.uk/caterham-sev... a few weeks ago to get a feel for the car. Had a fantastic day and really enjoyed the car.

So, I am keen to push on. I don't really want to spend anymore that £15K. However, the array of cars available is bewildering. Many have low mileage and look like they have been very well cared for, even though they may be 20 years old.

I am fussy about the colour and only want either a green or dark blue car. I live in Aberdeen and this would be my only car. I'd mostly drive it back and forth to work (about 4 miles) and then have longer runs at the weekend. I am about 5 minutes from the coutryside and lots of fairly quiet roads. Over to the west are lots of excellent quiet roads including up over the mountains.

I'm not bothered about the rain - we don't get too much anyway - or the wind. My current car is so hopeless in the snow that I doubt nothing can disappoint there. Anyway I am happy to get the bus/taxi on the few days per year we get a decent amount.

I probably won't do track days very often if at all. I don't need anything super fast. We have another family car.

So, I would be extremely grateful if any of you could give me a quick pros and cons of the cars linked below. These are the ones that look attractive to me and seem to have the kinds of things I need (I don't mind getting a cheaper car and then paying for the extras like leather seats/heated windscreen/push button start).

Any advice would be great....

All the best

Andy

http://www.revolutions.uk.com/revolutions-product....

http://www.woodcotesportscars.com/car-sales/detail...

http://www.woodcotesportscars.com/car-sales/detail...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

[BritishRacinGrin]

Sorry but my initial reaction is 'wow, that's a selection of pricey old cars'... maybe I'm a bit out of touch with the used car market.
It seems that £15k is a bit of an awkward budget, too much for a basic older car and too little for a younger one.
It sounds to me like you will need reliability so the carburated cars are going to need regular attention. On that basis I'd say one of the injected cars, probably the K-series but that car seems particularly overpriced.
If I were you I'd be buying a 1.6 Ford Sigma car, ex academy cars will start at about £13k and they'll be less than five years old.

[ghibbett]

Hi Andy,

I'll try my best:

http://www.revolutions.uk.com/revolutions-product....

A tidy looking little 1.4k benefitting from the 6 speed 'box. Worth finding out if it's a Supersport (128bhp engine upgrade) and if so, I would imagine that to be a cracking little motor.

http://www.woodcotesportscars.com/car-sales/detail...

Seems expensive and would need a change of wheels to help start making it feel like a proper Caterham IMO, although not helped by the iron lump up front.

http://www.woodcotesportscars.com/car-sales/detail...

Cheap and probably decent enough, but I don;t know how exciting that 8V Vauxhall lump is. Might not be easy to sell on either.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Q-plate? Cat C car?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Tidy looking car with a good engine, but seems a bit pricey considering it's not got the 6 speed box.

If No1 is a genuine 1.4k SS, that would be my first choice.

[PAULJA]

what about a later car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caterham-7-Roadsport-200...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Edited by PAULJA on Monday 13th October 13:06

[BritishRacinGrin]

PAULJA said:

what about a later car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caterham-7-Roadsport-200...

Ex academy car by the look of it. I think that's what I'd do... Either that or buy a K-series car for a more sensible £13k.

[Steve Campbell]

Can't add much on the specific cars...but just wanted to comment on colour. Of course it's a personal choice in the end, but wanted to give you my experience.

My 1st 7 was Imola blue....a dark metallic blue and I loved the colour & the car I had it for 10 years. HOWEVER, when I changed to my current 7, I was definitely looking for a bright colour....the reason....over the 10 years I had a number of "close calls" that I attributed to the fact that dark blue is not an easy colour to "see".

7's are small, relatively fast and low. Not everyone sees you.

My current car is orange....and in the 4 years I've had her, I've not had any close calls as per with the dark blue one.

Just something to consider....and good luck with your search.

[assadahmed]

I bought a ex academy converted to roadsport spec for 14K. Its a great introduction to a 7 and I know that later on if I get bored I could either spend a bit and add more power or sell it for a price very close to what I paid for it.

[Andy1912]

Thanks everyone that is really helpful. I am fussy about the colour and unfortunately bright colours/silver just don't do it for me, so they are a no go even if better spec.
It does seem like you are all saying that those cars in the links are overpriced perhaps except the car in Perth.

May be I should just keep my eyes on the classifieds for a few months and see waht comes up. I'll contact Perth to see if it a supersport.

All the best

Andy

[Chrisp5782]

I agree with the other posters, expensive old cars!

There are loads of ex Academy cars out there that'll fit the bill for you, many are Roadsport spec, I bought one this year at £13900 and its a peach!!

Don't be too hard over on the colour, a wrap isn't expensive and easy to do.

Check out Seven and Classics or PT Sports Cars.

The purple car on EBay at £14996 is a nice car and it's been on a while, could be room for a deal.

[Andy1912]

That's interesting - what kind of price would a respary be then? I had a look on PT Sports cars and they do have a supersport but I'm not sure I like the look of it (as in body shape). I'm at work though and I think I am being blocked from looking at the different photos so will have another look at home.

Cheers

Andy

[petery]

We can get resprays done for about £750 in a single colour including arches

[Andy1912]

Thanks that has given me something more to think about.

I had a further look at pt sportscars as suggested and found this which I probably could stretch to. The spec seems quite a bit higher than the other cars I highlighted but a bit more expensive too. Any thoughts?
http://www.ptsportscars.com/cars-for-sale/caterham...
Cheers
Andy

[Chrisp5782]

Andy1912 said:

Thanks that has given me something more to think about.

I had a further look at pt sportscars as suggested and found this which I probably could stretch to. The spec seems quite a bit higher than the other cars I highlighted but a bit more expensive too. Any thoughts?
http://www.ptsportscars.com/cars-for-sale/caterham...
Cheers
Andy

It's an SV (wide body car) with clams as opposed to cycle wings but it looks nice enough.

Not really my cup of tea but then it's not my money!

The spec seems alright though.

Edited by Chrisp5782 on Tuesday 14th October 11:30

[Orange Blackbird]

A respray on a Caterham is reasonably cheap. I also think brighter colours work better although I do like some blues. Good luck with the search.

[tomd1338]

Hi I have mine for sale and may actually be perfect for you.

1996 1.4 K series, limited edition roadsport #15 of 30. (has the supersport upgrade)
6 speed box
LSD
Leather
Heater
Carpets
27000 miles
Full Weather gear & half hood

Feel free to give me a shout [e-mail] or 07596161464

looking for around 14500

[ghibbett]

1.4k Supersports sound great. This is one of my fav Caterham vids of a 1.4k SS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-iiMP27xac

[Andy1912]

Anyone have any thoughts about this one which is local to me?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

[BritishRacinGrin]

Looks good, condition pending. Quite a serious bit of kit, that!

[Andy1912]

Thanks, that is very helpful.

[downsman]

Nice looking car, but those HPC wheels aren't 14 inch are they?
They look more like 16 inch and the minilites 14 to me. Not enough to put you off the car, just be aware if the minilites are 14 inch the tyre choice is limited.

Ask me how I know