R500 OR R400

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Discussion

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all

Right my intentions of having a sub 10K Caterham have gone. Having owned loads of quick cars over the years Im having a lwt...........so a few things I need to know

Are these cars ok for road use(ie do they snarl up in traffic etc).

RESALE VALUE..........if I buy a new one am I going to blow my brains in, or like most Caterhams do they hold their price well, and is the market for used ones healthy or are they hard work to sell?

Finally is the difference between the 400 and 500 just 20BHP or are there other big differences??

Cheers

Matt

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Thursday 19th August 2004
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Well I havnt bought yet, so Im sitting tight, waiting, looking, wondering if a few more examples will be for sale when the summer ends (wot summer!)...Ive rung a few dealers up and done some homework to find out what dealers pay for what, so I think Im up to speed on values of the later cars anyway, and I think its fair to say theres a few bob (for some) in retailing Caterhams!!!
And good luck to them! I was toying with having a Westfield but no its a Caterham I want. Aside from accident damage anything to look out for parculiar to Caterhams when i go to see one??

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Friday 20th August 2004
quotequote all


Murph thankyou for the in depth reply.

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Friday 20th August 2004
quotequote all


At this time of year 15K-16K seems like the price they want to give for an early 500!! Me too, lol, that would be most agreeable!
Seems a very compressed market to me, in that most cars values seemed squashed between say 7K-12K, even though there is sometimes 12 years or so difference in age, and wildly differing specs.

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Friday 20th August 2004
quotequote all

Exactly............I suppose a dealer who is stocked up coming into autumn and winter is going to bid to "nick" it...........cant see anybody owning one parting with it for that......if anyone has one the good news is Im willing to pay a bit more

poorcardealer

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

243 months

Saturday 21st August 2004
quotequote all


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.......!