So I'm going to buy one this summer but have a few Q's....
Discussion
So I'm finally in the market for one this summer and will have about £20k to spend (although could stretch to a little more if needed). I'm very excited but a little confused what the best approach would be for me and what sort of car to go for so am looking for advice from others on what they'd do given the same situation.
I was fortunate to try out a Sigma 125 at Caterham last year and, although I loved the car, I was already after some more power by the end of the day, ergo I would like to get something with a bit more power. So as I see it I have 3 primary options but wondering what the best way to proceed would be:
Option 1:
Buy a ~10 year old car with the 1.8k that has been fettled already upto the 180-200hp region. This approach appeals as I know it will probably hold its value pretty well and I'm unlikely to want to upgrade from there if I buy one with the right overall spec. My conern with this approach would be overall reliability of a K series at this level of tune - thoughts?
Option 2:
Buy a Supersport from Caterham and build it myself. Looking at the prices, by the time a few options are ticked I would be at or around the £23k mark. This is doable but my concern here is could I realistically build it in the garage I have? Its about 2.2m x 4.6m with a door opening of about 2.05m. Clearly a Caterham fits easily but how much space do you realistically need around the car to physically build it? Also, am I going to think the same about a 140bhp 7 as I did about the one with 125bhp?
Option 3:
Hold out for a while longer, save a bit more cash and Buy the new Supersport R or.... a second hand R300 that already has the 2.0 Duratec engine in it. I get the impression that I might be waiting a while for an R300 to come up though as they don't seem to come up an awful lot and realistically I'm going to need to wait a while to get hold of the extra cash to get the R
So I'm torn and would like to put this to you, the PH masses to tell me which way to approach it.
Any advice or thoughts greatly appreciated.
Tom
I was fortunate to try out a Sigma 125 at Caterham last year and, although I loved the car, I was already after some more power by the end of the day, ergo I would like to get something with a bit more power. So as I see it I have 3 primary options but wondering what the best way to proceed would be:
Option 1:
Buy a ~10 year old car with the 1.8k that has been fettled already upto the 180-200hp region. This approach appeals as I know it will probably hold its value pretty well and I'm unlikely to want to upgrade from there if I buy one with the right overall spec. My conern with this approach would be overall reliability of a K series at this level of tune - thoughts?
Option 2:
Buy a Supersport from Caterham and build it myself. Looking at the prices, by the time a few options are ticked I would be at or around the £23k mark. This is doable but my concern here is could I realistically build it in the garage I have? Its about 2.2m x 4.6m with a door opening of about 2.05m. Clearly a Caterham fits easily but how much space do you realistically need around the car to physically build it? Also, am I going to think the same about a 140bhp 7 as I did about the one with 125bhp?
Option 3:
Hold out for a while longer, save a bit more cash and Buy the new Supersport R or.... a second hand R300 that already has the 2.0 Duratec engine in it. I get the impression that I might be waiting a while for an R300 to come up though as they don't seem to come up an awful lot and realistically I'm going to need to wait a while to get hold of the extra cash to get the R
So I'm torn and would like to put this to you, the PH masses to tell me which way to approach it.
Any advice or thoughts greatly appreciated.
Tom
You have time on your side. Keep watching the classifieds, let people like Millwoods know what you are looking for and there is a very good chance that you will find something to suit before summer comes along. I was watching for a good six months before I found the car I wanted, not quite all my boxes ticked but most of them. There are and will be some great cars on the market, many with deals to be done, take your time, buying is part of the Caterham experience, enjoy it!
I've a 1999 K series 1.8 car with ~175BHP. I'm also in the South East if that would help you solve question 1 in regards to BHP/ Engine/ etc... (I'm not selling it).
2. Many people have built them in single garages. I believe it to be possible.
2. Many people have built them in single garages. I believe it to be possible.
Edited by Gingerbread Man on Wednesday 23 January 18:46
Another option would be to get a high-spec but 'well used' older car, enjoy it for a season, and then you'll know more about the cars and what your ideal spec is. If you decide to keep the original car, or mildly upgrade it, you could do a nut & bolt restoration to make it as good as new.
This way you get the driving experience and the spanner experience and the end result will be the ideal car for you.
This way you get the driving experience and the spanner experience and the end result will be the ideal car for you.
Thanks for the comments so far.
Comforting to know that I could potentially build one if I wanted to then. I do find this idea very appealing but having just totted up what a Supersport R + extras is likely to cost I'm no longer sure it's a viable option
I'm thinking a high-spec k series might well be the way to go instead assuming reliability isn't terrible. As has been said, I can always take it apart and rebuild it again if I want.
How is a circa 180 bhp K series likely to compare to the Duratec in terms of reliability? Anyone with experience able to comment?
Comforting to know that I could potentially build one if I wanted to then. I do find this idea very appealing but having just totted up what a Supersport R + extras is likely to cost I'm no longer sure it's a viable option
I'm thinking a high-spec k series might well be the way to go instead assuming reliability isn't terrible. As has been said, I can always take it apart and rebuild it again if I want.
How is a circa 180 bhp K series likely to compare to the Duratec in terms of reliability? Anyone with experience able to comment?
Sounds like you want an R300! Caterham garages will charge top price. You can pick up a private R300 but as you say you have to be quick once they are advertised. Took me a good 9 months for the right one to come up then I was one phone within the hour of its sale on ths site.
The r300 is one hell of a lot of car. More than quick enough for the road. I went out on a test drive at Caterham midlands in a r300 the sales man gave my one hell of a fast run out. He said if he took me out in the R500 it would be no quicker on the road. Track yes mind.
If you are looking to build your own make sure you price up all the extras you want in the price. The extra specs sure push up the price. Paint, seats, FIA roll bar, weather kit, brakes, wheels and tyres, black pack, heater, nose band, dash spec, lowered floors. List goes on.
Having got my R300 a few months back I would now like to spec and build my own R400 Caterham is one hell of a bug once it bites you. I love driving it everywhere the car goes people are taking pictures of it asking about it. But it's the driving I love a real drivers car that fits like a glove.
Which ever route you take you will love it. I would save a bit more cash and look for the R300 Duratec mind....!
The r300 is one hell of a lot of car. More than quick enough for the road. I went out on a test drive at Caterham midlands in a r300 the sales man gave my one hell of a fast run out. He said if he took me out in the R500 it would be no quicker on the road. Track yes mind.
If you are looking to build your own make sure you price up all the extras you want in the price. The extra specs sure push up the price. Paint, seats, FIA roll bar, weather kit, brakes, wheels and tyres, black pack, heater, nose band, dash spec, lowered floors. List goes on.
Having got my R300 a few months back I would now like to spec and build my own R400 Caterham is one hell of a bug once it bites you. I love driving it everywhere the car goes people are taking pictures of it asking about it. But it's the driving I love a real drivers car that fits like a glove.
Which ever route you take you will love it. I would save a bit more cash and look for the R300 Duratec mind....!
I agree with Cyderbelly. Maybe i´m influenced by living in europe, but i bought RS 175 SV and after two years driving it, i´m thinking about changes to get closer to R300. Coilovers, 13´´ wheels, aeroscreen, seats, get rid of heater for summer time... (still a lot to do ). And i think you should find one within your budget in england.
). And i think you should find one within your budget in england. cyderbelly said:
Sounds like you want an R300! Caterham garages will charge top price. You can pick up a private R300 but as you say you have to be quick once they are advertised. Took me a good 9 months for the right one to come up then I was one phone within the hour of its sale on ths site.
The r300 is one hell of a lot of car. More than quick enough for the road. I went out on a test drive at Caterham midlands in a r300 the sales man gave my one hell of a fast run out. He said if he took me out in the R500 it would be no quicker on the road. Track yes mind.
If you are looking to build your own make sure you price up all the extras you want in the price. The extra specs sure push up the price. Paint, seats, FIA roll bar, weather kit, brakes, wheels and tyres, black pack, heater, nose band, dash spec, lowered floors. List goes on.
Having got my R300 a few months back I would now like to spec and build my own R400 Caterham is one hell of a bug once it bites you. I love driving it everywhere the car goes people are taking pictures of it asking about it. But it's the driving I love a real drivers car that fits like a glove.
Which ever route you take you will love it. I would save a bit more cash and look for the R300 Duratec mind....!
The r300 is one hell of a lot of car. More than quick enough for the road. I went out on a test drive at Caterham midlands in a r300 the sales man gave my one hell of a fast run out. He said if he took me out in the R500 it would be no quicker on the road. Track yes mind.
If you are looking to build your own make sure you price up all the extras you want in the price. The extra specs sure push up the price. Paint, seats, FIA roll bar, weather kit, brakes, wheels and tyres, black pack, heater, nose band, dash spec, lowered floors. List goes on.
Having got my R300 a few months back I would now like to spec and build my own R400 Caterham is one hell of a bug once it bites you. I love driving it everywhere the car goes people are taking pictures of it asking about it. But it's the driving I love a real drivers car that fits like a glove.
Which ever route you take you will love it. I would save a bit more cash and look for the R300 Duratec mind....!
There's a 1.8K in the PH classifieds that has been on there for months. At least as long as when I started looking in September last year. £13,995 so would leave loads spare for either fettling, maintaining, track days etc. etc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
I cannot see why it hasn't sold.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
I cannot see why it hasn't sold.
Agent Orange said:
There's a 1.8K in the PH classifieds that has been on there for months. At least as long as when I started looking in September last year. £13,995 so would leave loads spare for either fettling, maintaining, track days etc. etc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
I cannot see why it hasn't sold.
I've kept an eye on that one too, seems to have been on sale for ages and looks lovely. Not sure you can lose with the price. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
I cannot see why it hasn't sold.
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