Upgrading.... is it worth it

[ajroberts]

Thanks for peoples help previously.

I have been making decisions about my 2001 supersprint to upgrade it piece by piece; engine and TB's, rear axle, better brakes, toying with the idea of changing gear ratios (6 speed at the moment), digital dash.

I have totted up a very rough idea of the cost of this, it comes to the region of alot more than my bank holds, to the tune of £6-8,000

Please if I have got the figures roughly wrong (I lost my beer mat) tell me.

So the question is, is it worth upgrading my current Caterham or just sell it and use the money for the upgrades to buy a better spec'd Caterham in the first place?

[BritishRacinGrin]

It is almost invariably better value to simply sell the car and buy another.

However, if you are sentimentally attached to the car, or want to experience the satisfaction of upgrading the car yourself, then why not?

[framerateuk]

Depends on your attachment to the car, and I guess, the condition of your current car and how it suits you.

I could quite happily upgrade my Sigma to higher power. I like the idea of the lighter 1.6 engine running around 175 to 200 bhp. Yes, I could probably get an R300/400 for less, but my car is already highly specced, and it's just the engine I'd be looking at beefing up.

Depends if you plan on keeping it long term, or intend to change it eventually!

[ajroberts]

I would like to say that the 1.6 I have could produce that much but no only 95bhp, I am going to change it to a c20xe (Red top) a heavy lump in the front.

I love the car and I do have an attachment to it as it is my first 7. I am only thinking that the money I could get for it and upgrades would give me about £19/20,000 to spend on a new one. Probably look for an R300 if I was.

Edited by ajroberts on Thursday 6th March 20:10

[Darumvej]

If you plan to keep the car long term yes it's worth doing, but if you only plan to keep for a few years I wouldn't bother, sell and buy a better spec.

[Aeroscreens]

Been there done that!

I bought my '93 Supersprint (1700 x/flow) in 1999 and somehow got quite attached to it, so when it got rear-ended in 2007 I took the insurance money and completely rebuilt it. Overall cost approx. £7k but insurance contributed £3k.

Then in 2010 I managed to 'grenade' the engine so went down the new engine and then added TBs a year later. Another considerable cost. I've now owned the same 7 for 15 years and managed some 65,000 miles. Not once have I regretted the cost and I've have had a lot of fun and a sense of achievement/satisfaction along the way.

Each to their own though.....

[BertBert]

I'd suggest spending the money on driving. Much more rewarding.
Bert