Discussion
Trade values rarely have any reflection on what the man in the street can actually buy for. I guess poor car dealers have to make money somehow, hence there's a spread 
Caterham's are a specialist car and the market has been a bit lacklustre for them of late. I have no evidence to back the following up, but I really think Caterham have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the R500 etc and the press coverage.
It alll came at the right time to sell some cars. Everyone was reading just how quick they are, and if you want the ultimate, this was it.
As a result, I feel that a lot of people jumped into Caterham ownership without understanding what they were buying. Moreover, I believe more people bought over the last few years that hadn't *always* wanted a 7.
Result, they bail out when funds get a bit tight, or they get bored with the car. The market starts to have a few cars for sale and all of a sudden certain dealers become comedians in the values they start to offer.
Owners get cold feet, and sell low.
This trend may have slowed now, and I suspect we may be back to more diehard buyers. Which is a good thing. But the market still has a good bit to go before stability comes back on stream.
There's a car for sale on Pistonheads and Blatchat that might be worth a look. The poor chap has had it for sale for a while, so it might be worth a sensible chat with him.
Colour isn't my cup of tea, but plenty of people like BRG/yellow stripe. It also has a full roll cage and aeroscreen. But it's a seriously great spec and more like R500 power levels (it's a home brew type K with Emerald and Dave Andrews fettling - good credentials).
If anyone were to buy this car but not really fancy a cage, I might well be up for having a chat about having the cage off you (and the holes where it went are easily covered). I may also be able to sell you a black screen and some weather gear - though the latter items would need to wait until ruby's finished with the car and I'm back in the UK.
Car's here:
www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=22229&s=39
Plenty of others for sake too, it seems.
Caterham's are a specialist car and the market has been a bit lacklustre for them of late. I have no evidence to back the following up, but I really think Caterham have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the R500 etc and the press coverage.
It alll came at the right time to sell some cars. Everyone was reading just how quick they are, and if you want the ultimate, this was it.
As a result, I feel that a lot of people jumped into Caterham ownership without understanding what they were buying. Moreover, I believe more people bought over the last few years that hadn't *always* wanted a 7.
Result, they bail out when funds get a bit tight, or they get bored with the car. The market starts to have a few cars for sale and all of a sudden certain dealers become comedians in the values they start to offer.
Owners get cold feet, and sell low.
This trend may have slowed now, and I suspect we may be back to more diehard buyers. Which is a good thing. But the market still has a good bit to go before stability comes back on stream.
There's a car for sale on Pistonheads and Blatchat that might be worth a look. The poor chap has had it for sale for a while, so it might be worth a sensible chat with him.
Colour isn't my cup of tea, but plenty of people like BRG/yellow stripe. It also has a full roll cage and aeroscreen. But it's a seriously great spec and more like R500 power levels (it's a home brew type K with Emerald and Dave Andrews fettling - good credentials).
If anyone were to buy this car but not really fancy a cage, I might well be up for having a chat about having the cage off you (and the holes where it went are easily covered). I may also be able to sell you a black screen and some weather gear - though the latter items would need to wait until ruby's finished with the car and I'm back in the UK.
Car's here:
www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=22229&s=39
Plenty of others for sake too, it seems.
I've never seen an R500 for less than £21k retail...and I've seen 2 go for that price since Hune 2003.
As to the car Murph's talking about - no matter what anyone says about it, it is not an SLR, R400 or R500, regardless of the power it puts out. IMHO to therefore price it anywhere near one of these cars is taking the risk that it won't sell...and it hasn't yet.
I'm not saying it won't sell to some Welshman who wants to buy a car with headline power outputs, but to me, I'd not want to risk the fact that when I come to sell it it will be hard to sell as it'll be competing with recognised Caterham "R" cars in both spec and price band. That's not to say there is anything at all wrong with this car - this just reflects my opinion in the cold light of day. In fact, the sensible retort to my POV is that this car is going to be better sorted than an SLR or even R500.
As to the car Murph's talking about - no matter what anyone says about it, it is not an SLR, R400 or R500, regardless of the power it puts out. IMHO to therefore price it anywhere near one of these cars is taking the risk that it won't sell...and it hasn't yet.
I'm not saying it won't sell to some Welshman who wants to buy a car with headline power outputs, but to me, I'd not want to risk the fact that when I come to sell it it will be hard to sell as it'll be competing with recognised Caterham "R" cars in both spec and price band. That's not to say there is anything at all wrong with this car - this just reflects my opinion in the cold light of day. In fact, the sensible retort to my POV is that this car is going to be better sorted than an SLR or even R500.
I don't believe Caterhams exist. They are some kind of negative reality inversion confused by adults who, having imbibed more than the advisable quotient of Newcastle's Brownest Ale, sat down to watch a Harry Potter film then confused it in a dream with some vague recollection of Enid Blighter and Tolkeinesque Chittybangness.
English to the core but alas, as real as the damp Kelpie below Urqhuart's moat.
English to the core but alas, as real as the damp Kelpie below Urqhuart's moat.
I'm just off to ride my kelpie for a bit in the sunshine
Ruby's right. But...
If you're going into it with a view to keeping it, and you negotiate a suitably lower price than that being asked, you'll have a car that should be nicely sorted (assuming it checks out).
Very few cars remain factory standard for very long. And let's face it, these are never going to be in the million dollar league where the right and wrong dna in the leather seats can knock 10s of thousands of pounds off the value...
The market needs to get sensible. And sensible means you buy cars based on condition and spec.
So ask yourself if thiis is a desire and itch you've had for ages. Or a whim. If it's the latter, you may be better off in another marque, especially if cash safety is a priority.
If you're going into it with a view to keeping it, and you negotiate a suitably lower price than that being asked, you'll have a car that should be nicely sorted (assuming it checks out).
Very few cars remain factory standard for very long. And let's face it, these are never going to be in the million dollar league where the right and wrong dna in the leather seats can knock 10s of thousands of pounds off the value...
The market needs to get sensible. And sensible means you buy cars based on condition and spec.
So ask yourself if thiis is a desire and itch you've had for ages. Or a whim. If it's the latter, you may be better off in another marque, especially if cash safety is a priority.
Lots of my purchases have been "itch's" over the years, including some really expensive ones........I have never owned a Cat, so I need to satisfy the urge so to speak, as to if I will keep it forever probably not, but if I like it I will probably upgrade it, change it whatever........Im looking and and Im ready to buy, but its in my blood to "buy right" and not get too emotional about it.......!
I wonder who you could be referring to? Does his plate read R4NC1D
See my review when I recently test drove a R500 - <a href="http://www.petrolhead.me.uk/r500.htm"><a href="http://www.petrolhead.me.uk/r500.htm">www.petrolhead.me.uk/r500.htm</a></a> also here I started a similar thread - <a href="http://www.blatchat.com/T.asp?id=61603">www.blatchat.com/T.asp?id=61603</a>
>> Edited by 1st_petrolhead on Sunday 29th August 16:59
>> Edited by 1st_petrolhead on Sunday 29th August 16:59
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