Tuesday 20th January 2015

Caterham 'Selected' programme

Fancy a used Seven? Now they're available approved from Caterham with a bundle of extras

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The day has finally come. You can justify a Caterham Seven. You're flexible on spec, there are so many great models after all. A limited-slip diff is a must though, and a lairy colour would suit too. But where to buy from?

81-point engineer check also part of the deal

Caterham has bolstered its credentials as the best place to buy a secondhand Seven from with the 'Caterham Selected' programme. It's the first approved pre-owned scheme from Caterham, promising the same peace of mind as a brand new car.

Every Selected Seven is chosen by Caterham for superior "condition, specification and provenance." On top of that, every car purchased through the scheme will come with a 12-month parts and labour warranty, a year of AA breakdown cover, membership of the Caterham owner's club and a BookaTrack track day voucher. For final assurance there's an HPI certificate to show that enthusiasm and a lack of driver aids hasn't got the better of the previous owner.

Now obviously this story couldn't be concluded without a little classifieds browsing. There's even further incentive to do so now after all. For the brave this BRG manual R500 looks nice, with this Roadsport SV providing a slightly less insane and more habitable experience. Our favourite? This Supersport R. Enough power to be fun, a cool colour and the diff. On the smaller 13-inch wheels it would be just perfect.

[dlockhart]

excellent, although Caterhams are simple and reasonably cheap to repair having a Caterham engineer approve a car before you buy it sounds like a lot of piece of mind.

[Davey S2]

That Supersport R is perfect. Just a lot of cash.

[RobM77]

There are a couple of lovely k series R500s there too for £24k The sound of the roller barrelled k series is just fantastic, and the rebuilds can be done independently for a lot less money than at Caterham.

[s2000db]

Davey S2 said:

That Supersport R is perfect. Just a lot of cash.

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

[Concerned cat]

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

If you're asking, you won't unerstand.

[s2000db]

Concerned cat said:

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

If you're asking, you won't unerstand.

Go on, have a go, and I'll help you with your spelling...

[RobM77]

s2000db said:

Davey S2 said:

That Supersport R is perfect. Just a lot of cash.

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

Basically it's because they're handbuilt in the UK and they don't make many of them. If type approval permitted the volume (I'm assuming that all Caterhams go through the limited SVA rule due to emissions, ABS rules, airbag rules etc) and buyers were found, VW could probably churn them out at Golf volume for much less, but that's not going to happen any time soon!

If you've never driven one, then I can guarantee that any seven would make a Golf R feel like it was trying to drive through treacle.

[SteveSteveson]

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

Because anything hand built in small numbers with care and passion costs more than a dull box built by robots.

s2000db said:

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

And?

[GetCarter]

s2000db said:

Concerned cat said:

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

If you're asking, you won't unerstand.

Go on, have a go, and I'll help you with your spelling...

They will completely annihilate cars that cost up to 5 times as much on track. I've had three Sevens along with Astons, Porkers, Lotus, R8 etc, and they don't even get close when it comes to point to point times.

Atom or Seven if you really want to drive quickly.

My last Seven did 0-60 in 2.8 in first gear.

So, to answer your question. Tolerances.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th January 15:04

[SpudLink]

I wonder is this includes cars built by the owners, or just factory completed cars?
I'll go and read the small print when I have a mo.

[Itsallicanafford]

'The day has finally come. You can justify a Caterham Seven'

Roll on that day...

[BugLebowski]

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

Has the Golf R become the new M135i against which absolutely all other cars must be measured then?

ie. Nice Porsche, but why not 3 Golf Rs instead?

[AlexHat]

No-one's fancies the Academy one with a Pistonheads Smiley on the rear wheel arch? If I had a garage a Caterham or Lotus would be first in

[GetCarter]

s2000db said:

Yes, can someone explain why these cost so much please?

After all you can buy a new Golf R for the same money.....

This might help. Try this in a Golf R

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfy1VO4ePlA

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th January 15:39

[aww999]

I badly want an R500 in my life. A chance for mere mortals to experience performance in excess of all but the most expensive supercars, I don't know how they can knock them out so cheap

[sleeky]

Promised myself a Caterham once I have paid off the current car, this will be a potential option when that day comes - just hope they are still in business then!

[GetCarter]

aww999 said:

I badly want an R500 in my life. A chance for mere mortals to experience performance in excess of all but the most expensive supercars, I don't know how they can knock them out so cheap

Up here in the Highlands, I stopped to pick up a hitch hiker in my R500. He wanted to go 20 miles or so down the road. There was no windscreen on the car so I had to give him the spare helmet, and before we started, I asked him how he'd like me to drive... calmly, fast, or R500. He stupidly said R500.

When he got out... I kid you not, and I've never seen it before or since - his legs gave way.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th January 15:48

[Davey S2]

Itsallicanafford said:

'The day has finally come. You can justify a Caterham Seven'

Roll on that day...

It's justifying it to the wife not to myself that's the problem

[anthonysjb]

Haven't these classifields been up for ages?

[chelme]

RobM77 said:

There are a couple of lovely k series R500s there too for £24k The sound of the roller barrelled k series is just fantastic, and the rebuilds can be done independently for a lot less money than at Caterham.

Like how much where?