Advice please with 1st Caterham

[Redbrix]

Hi all

I am looking for some advice please...

One of the main draws for me with the Caterham range is the self build option mainly for the greater understanding of how everything fits together and also for the personal satisfaction of turning a big pile of bits into a phenomenal sports car.

Obviously there are other manufacturer options with self build but initial research suggests that the Caterham is the most straightforward albeit at a high price. But you get what you pay for I think.

However my 15k-20k budget doesnt get me the car that I want to build and own long term, which is something akin to roadsport 175/Supersport R spec. I have started to think along the lines of buying a decent spec car second hand and then dismantling and rebuilding it.

Is dismantling/reassembling anymore challenging than just a new self build? Obviously I would save some money on not buiyng new, leaving me funds for refurbishing/upgrading items and components as I go along.

It wouldnt quite have the same effect or advantages of building a car from new but I think the knowledge gained would be similar if not greater. Not sure I would save money overall, that would depend on what I end up doing and the general condition of whatever I buy. Is the upgrade path similar for any version of Caterham?
Also for £15-£20k what you recommend buying that I could work on and grade to as I go to maybe r400 spec at the end of the day?

Many thanks

[Redbrix]

Wow that sounds interesting. What did you start with and what will you end up with? Are you working to a strict budget and having to make compromises?

[Redbrix]

[quote=BritishRacinGrin]It sounds to me like you want the new build experience and rebuilding an older car is a compromise option.

I think you should do this one of two ways. Either scrimp, save and wait until you can get the new kit you desire, or buy an ex-race car cheaply and rebuild.

The problem you have with buying a recent road car for rebuilding is that it probably won't 'need' it. Sure, it'll be beneficial to the car and a worthwhle experience but you won't get the same satisfaction you'll get from either building the car new from the ground up or transforming a tired, damaged, comparatively low value car into a showroom example.

[/quote

Yes you have hit the nail square on the head. I perhaps need to reduce initial budget to get a car in a state that actually requires a refresh. More research required I think]

[Redbrix]

framerateuk said:

Just to throw another option out there, I was in a similar situation.

You could get a nice used example for 15-20k, and would probably depreciate very little over the next few years. You could always drive it for a few years, then eventually sell it and buy a kit, or rebuild it when it needs it.

Thanks for the comments but my desire to build or rebuild is perhaps greater than the desire to own and drive, so need to scratch that itch first and foremost!

[Redbrix]

g7jhp said:

If you're at £20k I'd suggest you get your head down and save up the extra £4-7k you need for a Supersport R.

It may take a little longer but if that's what you really want it'll be worth it.

...and thats pretty much the outcome - popped along to Caterham South today and ended up placing an order for a self-build Supersport R - delivery next April!

Thanks for all the responses

[Redbrix]

mharris said:

I think you are mistaken. Everyone who builds a Caterham has a burning desire to build a 'proper' car from scratch. Caterham just happens to be the most practical and easiest way of doing it. Plus you are left with one of the most rewarding, enjoyable and capable cars at the end of it. By the way, I do consider a Caterham a 'proper' car in the truest sense of the word. It is a proper drivers car.

Anyway, this is going off topic now.

Edited by mharris on Friday 12th September 12:16

Exactly right. I cant wait to start building it. Project 2 and some years off would be a Suffolk Cars C type replica or Hawk 289 FIA replica.