R500 K - Would you?
Discussion
I am a returning to the fold, looking for hmmm, that's the problem, can't make my mind up.
There are a number of R500 Ks for sale, all around the £25K point, some with very low mileages, but they seem to be sticking....is it price?, or is the potential cost of ownership, whether actual or perceived, or has the market simply moved on and they have become garage queens, due to their highly stung nature and maintenance requirements exceed what the market will accept, as similar or greater performance from Duratec engine cars are available at not much more?
My 6 pennies worth are that at a price point around £20K, they give enough headroom for the inevitable maintenance needs, but then I would say that, I'm buying lol.
There are a number of R500 Ks for sale, all around the £25K point, some with very low mileages, but they seem to be sticking....is it price?, or is the potential cost of ownership, whether actual or perceived, or has the market simply moved on and they have become garage queens, due to their highly stung nature and maintenance requirements exceed what the market will accept, as similar or greater performance from Duratec engine cars are available at not much more?
My 6 pennies worth are that at a price point around £20K, they give enough headroom for the inevitable maintenance needs, but then I would say that, I'm buying lol.
Simply put, those cars are too expensive. Their values should be closer to £21k and then the differential between them and their later sibling will justify their purchase.
I really don't know whether the K500 will ever be as valuable as a JPE...which is clearly what the likes of Hairpin are tipping a wink to.
As for reliability, I will say that as long as the engine has been treated well and the 8600 rev limit been respected, they are reliable cars. Even better if they have been treated to the upgrades that came with the 101 spec cars (in terms of head gasket, larger pulley etc...rather than power).
If I were in the market for a decently priced "ultimate" 7. I'd probably go for a DR500. But I'd be more likely to buy a DR300 as, in the real world, I think they are a better balanced car all round.
I really don't know whether the K500 will ever be as valuable as a JPE...which is clearly what the likes of Hairpin are tipping a wink to.
As for reliability, I will say that as long as the engine has been treated well and the 8600 rev limit been respected, they are reliable cars. Even better if they have been treated to the upgrades that came with the 101 spec cars (in terms of head gasket, larger pulley etc...rather than power).
If I were in the market for a decently priced "ultimate" 7. I'd probably go for a DR500. But I'd be more likely to buy a DR300 as, in the real world, I think they are a better balanced car all round.
As someone that has recently faced this buying dilema, I can say from my point of view that the percieved fragile nature of the K R500 was enough to put me off and I opted for a Duratec car. I dont regret it for a minute and feel that I have more confidence in owning a less stressed and highly strung car. Just my opinion of course... Oh, and the fact that I managed to get a very special car for the same price as most k R500's are up for ;-)
Hi Dave, nice to hear from you..
Echoing Rubystone's comments, at £20/21K they would make an interesting option but at their current advertised prices, I can't see them moving very quickly, which is a shame, they should be being enjoyed. It should be also remembered at a little more than their asking price they are competing against the Atom too.
I went through the For Sale archive on BC, and found that in June/July 2013 R500 Number 12 asking price was £18.5K, it sold, similarly Number 5 was up for £19.5K , it sold, tells a story.
At the right price I could succumb however......but....
Echoing Rubystone's comments, at £20/21K they would make an interesting option but at their current advertised prices, I can't see them moving very quickly, which is a shame, they should be being enjoyed. It should be also remembered at a little more than their asking price they are competing against the Atom too.
I went through the For Sale archive on BC, and found that in June/July 2013 R500 Number 12 asking price was £18.5K, it sold, similarly Number 5 was up for £19.5K , it sold, tells a story.
At the right price I could succumb however......but....
I know you can buy cheaper, but for the sake of comparing like with like, at the Caterham dealers you're looking at £25k for a k R500 and £39k for the d R500. That's a hell of a price differential.
I'm not sure I'd agree with the dated comment. The k series is still a great engine (apart from the obvious issues).
I'm in the same dilemma and if it wasn't for running costs worries would have gone for the k series by now (and the right car being around).
I'm not sure I'd agree with the dated comment. The k series is still a great engine (apart from the obvious issues).
I'm in the same dilemma and if it wasn't for running costs worries would have gone for the k series by now (and the right car being around).
At the end of the day all Caterham prices are strong at present. When there are road and supersports, R3s all either in high teens or early 20s then an R500k at 25k does not look daft.
Nice x/flows are now pushing 12-14k. I agree with the worry aspect of it to point, although if you are not caning it on a track every week all should be fine with regular checks I'd have thought.
Edit.
And yes, I think I would buy one.
Nice x/flows are now pushing 12-14k. I agree with the worry aspect of it to point, although if you are not caning it on a track every week all should be fine with regular checks I'd have thought.
Edit.
And yes, I think I would buy one.
Yes, K series are great engines, if an owner has mechanical sympathy regular servicing and oil changes you will find these are reliable, when you look at the Duratec posts these cars also suffer issues..
A well looked after R500 K will be a better buy than a R500 D that has been thrashed, but of course the reverse is true as well,
Its the same as an older VX if its been maintained e.g. major services with rubber bushes changed etc you would pay more for one than say a an older K series that has not had the same service attention and care
I suggest its the condition of the car not its age that would determine the price
A well looked after R500 K will be a better buy than a R500 D that has been thrashed, but of course the reverse is true as well,
Its the same as an older VX if its been maintained e.g. major services with rubber bushes changed etc you would pay more for one than say a an older K series that has not had the same service attention and care
I suggest its the condition of the car not its age that would determine the price
culminator said:
As someone that has recently faced this buying dilema, I can say from my point of view that the percieved fragile nature of the K R500 was enough to put me off and I opted for a Duratec car. I dont regret it for a minute and feel that I have more confidence in owning a less stressed and highly strung car. Just my opinion of course... Oh, and the fact that I managed to get a very special car for the same price as most k R500's are up for ;-)
Was your car a factory car Mike?Tazio77 said:
Hi Dave, nice to hear from you..
Echoing Rubystone's comments, at £20/21K they would make an interesting option but at their current advertised prices, I can't see them moving very quickly, which is a shame, they should be being enjoyed. It should be also remembered at a little more than their asking price they are competing against the Atom too.
I went through the For Sale archive on BC, and found that in June/July 2013 R500 Number 12 asking price was £18.5K, it sold, similarly Number 5 was up for £19.5K , it sold, tells a story.
At the right price I could succumb however......but....
Number 5 was mine of course.....sold in a week.Echoing Rubystone's comments, at £20/21K they would make an interesting option but at their current advertised prices, I can't see them moving very quickly, which is a shame, they should be being enjoyed. It should be also remembered at a little more than their asking price they are competing against the Atom too.
I went through the For Sale archive on BC, and found that in June/July 2013 R500 Number 12 asking price was £18.5K, it sold, similarly Number 5 was up for £19.5K , it sold, tells a story.
At the right price I could succumb however......but....
So guys what you are saying is that an R500K is worth no more than an R500K? R300Ks go for £20k all the time.
There are a few faults with the K, but even a VX protaganist such as I will now say the K is not that bad.
I'm enjoying mine Alan, and its a fair bit more stressed than an R500.
There are a few faults with the K, but even a VX protaganist such as I will now say the K is not that bad.
I'm enjoying mine Alan, and its a fair bit more stressed than an R500.
Interesting points of view. I have my R500 up for sale currently and I haven't had any enquiries in three weeks. However, I think it is a limited market and when someone wants a K Series R500 they are likely to look at all that is available and buy on i) condition ii) specification. In my view, price will be a third consideration - not the top.
If I am still owning it in 12 months then you will know that I got my sales strategy wrong!!
If I am still owning it in 12 months then you will know that I got my sales strategy wrong!!
IBDAET said:
So guys what you are saying is that an R500K is worth no more than an R500K? R300Ks go for £20k all the time.
There are a few faults with the K, but even a VX protaganist such as I will now say the K is not that bad.
I'm enjoying mine Alan, and its a fair bit more stressed than an R500.
The going rate for a K R300 isn't £20k private. It's around £17k.There are a few faults with the K, but even a VX protaganist such as I will now say the K is not that bad.
I'm enjoying mine Alan, and its a fair bit more stressed than an R500.
adaraujo said:
there is a well used R500K that hasn't had many engine problems, if any. When I say problems I mean full breakdown due to a real engine failure not alternators or starters.
If I could I would buy one.
Your post doesn't make sense. Are you saying you know a well used R500 that is for sale?If I could I would buy one.
London GT3 said:
Interesting points of view. I have my R500 up for sale currently and I haven't had any enquiries in three weeks. However, I think it is a limited market and when someone wants a K Series R500 they are likely to look at all that is available and buy on i) condition ii) specification. In my view, price will be a third consideration - not the top.
If I am still owning it in 12 months then you will know that I got my sales strategy wrong!!
I would purchase in that order.....although more than delighted with my fully specced R400 K If I am still owning it in 12 months then you will know that I got my sales strategy wrong!!
so not in the market for a R500 If you look at the prices for R500K, it's very difficult to see how you can get similar performance for the same sort of money. The R400K is a good car but they rarely seem to come on the market. You could buy an R300K for a bit less but there isn't really a sensible comparison to be made in terms of performance and if you are after something well balanced and practical, I suspect an R500K isn't really an appropriate choice.
Admittedly there are some reliability issues but by shopping around it becomes quite clear which ones have been looked after, not thrashed from cold, or over revved and have had the right modifications.
So in answer to the original question: Yes I would, I bought No.5 from Rubystone last year!
Admittedly there are some reliability issues but by shopping around it becomes quite clear which ones have been looked after, not thrashed from cold, or over revved and have had the right modifications.
So in answer to the original question: Yes I would, I bought No.5 from Rubystone last year!
But that's the point I was trying to make, as you bought a car at what I would think is the right price point, that said I'd go up to £22k for a good R500, then I'd have sufficient buffer to cope with potential issues that cars that have not been used sometimes suffer from.
Edited by Tazio77 on Wednesday 7th May 15:53
Tazio77 said:
But that's the point I was trying to make, as you bought a car at what I would think is the right price point, that said I'd go up to £22k for a good R500, then I'd have sufficient buffer to cope with potential issues that cars that have not been used sometimes suffer from.
And I think the majority of us on here agree with you. Hence my original point - the cars on sale for £25k are too expensive, which is why they haven't sold, regardless of how good they are. And I know at least one of the cars for sale and yes, it's a nice car, but not worth £25k to me at least.Edited by Tazio77 on Wednesday 7th May 15:53
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