Start button and other questions

[Nobbles]

I am looking into buying a 7 having had previous ownership of a westfield years ago. Since I have gone through, the Elise, Boxster and BMW phase. It is now family time and to get a family car but to keep the fun and have a 7 in the garage. I want to buy now - I preume it is cheaper and can spend around 15k. I am keen to use the car as much as possible and I am now based in France which makes the summer longer.

OK questions - there is a roadsport just come up for sale on Pistonheads. If you have a start button does that mean anyone can start the car or there is a key operation also?
Is the K series reliable? It was on my Elise, but you do here the tales?
Is 120hp enough?
Are 5 point harnesses good with baby seats - can I retrofit the normal seatbelts?
What are the items to be checked?
How often for a service etc?
Anybody registered a caterham into France?

Thanks,

[allen l]

I've had some problems with the Caterham, but none of them were related to the engine itself. I don't think anyone can decide for you if 120 bhp is enough.
You can retrofit the normal seatbelts. Service is about every 10.000 kilometers.
http://www.marcassus-lotus.com sell Caterhams in France.

You've live in the right place for a Caterham. Great roads and lovely little circuits!

[Tango7]

Nobbles said:

OK questions - there is a roadsport just come up for sale on Pistonheads. If you have a start button does that mean anyone can start the car or there is a key operation also?
Is the K series reliable? It was on my Elise, but you do here the tales?
Is 120hp enough?
Are 5 point harnesses good with baby seats - can I retrofit the normal seatbelts?
What are the items to be checked?
How often for a service etc?
Anybody registered a caterham into France?

Thanks,

Very likely there will be a key and/or immobiliser fob to start the car. the button is there for starting the car and will also require some mechanism (kill switch) to shut it off.

There are lots of stories about the K series engine having notorious head gasket failure (HGF) problems but in reality that isn't the case with very many Caterhams and even so its a fix that is realtively cheap (few hundreds)and quick

Whilst everyone looks to the big power cars as being best, I have found the most fun on general road use to be the smaller power cars when you can rev them forever and fully utilise what power they have! Slightly different if you try doing this in a 200+ bhp car...

Seatbelts can be retrofitted but I would expect it to be better to find a more suitable kids carseat to fit the harnesses.

Usual checks when buying are to buy on spec and condition esp. chassis, suspension, sideskins (esp behind exhaust on K series car for corrosion). Caterhams are very simple cars to look at as there's not a lot to hide!

Plenty registered in France. If you don't mind a VX car, ISTR that VX injection cars are more easily registered than many others and one has just come up on Phds for sale

Good Luck

T