Realistically How Long Should a Caterham 7 Last?
Discussion
Turn7 said:
HustleRussell said:
I’m struggling to believe that is anywhere near one year old.
It was used to launch the local lifeboats..... 
The car is a 17 plate, it was at a dealer not particularly close to the coast.
The only thing I could think of was a really duff powder coat that flaked off, but the rust looked to be already under the powder coat.
I was really disappointed since the car was in my favourite colours and had a great interior too. It was up for strong money too. Still, I managed to buy privately instead and got a better spec car just not in the colours I wanted.
The only thing I could think of was a really duff powder coat that flaked off, but the rust looked to be already under the powder coat.
I was really disappointed since the car was in my favourite colours and had a great interior too. It was up for strong money too. Still, I managed to buy privately instead and got a better spec car just not in the colours I wanted.
That looks like it has been driven on salted roads and not rinsed off.
Its not a 70s fiat. That looks cosmetic, a stiff brush and some hammerite or por 15 it will be good another ten years.
I have noticed that the tubes under the rear basket tend to get water and grime on them because there is some wiring zip tied to them. After ten years i did need to clean them up and repaint.
But drive it, thats the main thing. Inspect and touch it up once a year it will last forever.
Its not a 70s fiat. That looks cosmetic, a stiff brush and some hammerite or por 15 it will be good another ten years.
I have noticed that the tubes under the rear basket tend to get water and grime on them because there is some wiring zip tied to them. After ten years i did need to clean them up and repaint.
But drive it, thats the main thing. Inspect and touch it up once a year it will last forever.
The tubes under the basket seem to get a hard time anyway. Mine's 10 years old and there's a bit of chipping and rust around that area, but nothing like the rust shown in the photo. With me slathering it in ACF50 it hasn't gotten any worse and not bad enough to bother re-painting it yet.
You'll always get a bit of rust. You'll be surprised how much you have on your tintops if you really look underneath.
You'll always get a bit of rust. You'll be surprised how much you have on your tintops if you really look underneath.
I sometimes dab a proprietary rust converter on rust spots, brackets, bolt heads if they start to turn brown. stops it in its its tracks and leaves a hard black finish. Good enough until it needs a proper refinish.
Something like this...
Aquasteel Rust Converter and Primer 250 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003QXSHX0/ref=cm_sw_r...
Something like this...
Aquasteel Rust Converter and Primer 250 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003QXSHX0/ref=cm_sw_r...
dabevan said:
OK, so the rust in that photo is typical after how many years?
...also, that looks a long way off of being an MOT problem, or is it worse than it looks?
Cheers
Dave
Hard to establish a 'typical' because as you have seen in this thread the Caterham owner demographic spans dry-weather only users w/ heated garages to people who use their car in all conditions and treat it as you would a tin top. ...also, that looks a long way off of being an MOT problem, or is it worse than it looks?
Cheers
Dave
My last car had done coming up to 10 years of racing and had seen its share of gravel traps and wet races in that time and it didn't look as bad as that in the photos, and even that in the photos is cosmetic surface rust which can be made good with a wire brush and some POR-15.
Surface rust on the spaceframe is pretty much a non-issue with maintenance as above, what eventually necessitates replacement panels and paint is galvanic corrosion of the Aluminium side skins which tends to start to show at maybe 15 years on average. Again that is pretty much cosmetic but it will cause the paint to bubble and there is no permanent wire brush and paint solution for it.
As the aluminium skin is integral to the chassis / body unit, it is generally the replacement of the skins which is the catalyst for inspection, replacement and re-coating of chassis tubes. Basically you strip the thing down and take it to Arch motors.
Mine is 26 years old, I’ve had it since 2002.
It’s on somewhere between 250 & 300,000 miles. I used it as my only car for 4 years covering 30k business miles a year whilst living in Brighton. It lived outside on the street for 3 years.
Most bits have been replaced over time, however the chassis, wiring loom and a few major components still remain.
It’s been used and abused as a road, track day and hillclimb car and I’d still going strong.
So, I’d say that they are pretty hardy things.. mine has become less reliable as it became pampered and irregularly used.
It’s on somewhere between 250 & 300,000 miles. I used it as my only car for 4 years covering 30k business miles a year whilst living in Brighton. It lived outside on the street for 3 years.
Most bits have been replaced over time, however the chassis, wiring loom and a few major components still remain.
It’s been used and abused as a road, track day and hillclimb car and I’d still going strong.
So, I’d say that they are pretty hardy things.. mine has become less reliable as it became pampered and irregularly used.
I have a new 310R on order, but before I settled on new I had a good look around the Caterham South showroom, and one of the things I was specifically interested in was chassis rust. The salesman was happy for me to climb under the back of a few of their older (~10 years) cars and I didn't see anything that caused concern. They all looked remarkably clean.
As with all things, I guess it depends on the conditions you drive it in and how well you look after it.
As with all things, I guess it depends on the conditions you drive it in and how well you look after it.
Edited by Gulf7 on Sunday 8th December 14:53
DanMalkin said:
Mine is 26 years old, I’ve had it since 2002.
It’s on somewhere between 250 & 300,000 miles. I used it as my only car for 4 years covering 30k business miles a year whilst living in Brighton. It lived outside on the street for 3 years.
Most bits have been replaced over time, however the chassis, wiring loom and a few major components still remain.
It’s been used and abused as a road, track day and hillclimb car and I’d still going strong.
So, I’d say that they are pretty hardy things.. mine has become less reliable as it became pampered and irregularly used.
Mine's 24 years old. I've owned it for most of that time. It's immobile at the moment due to lack of time to drive it. Every time I look at it I feel guilty.It’s on somewhere between 250 & 300,000 miles. I used it as my only car for 4 years covering 30k business miles a year whilst living in Brighton. It lived outside on the street for 3 years.
Most bits have been replaced over time, however the chassis, wiring loom and a few major components still remain.
It’s been used and abused as a road, track day and hillclimb car and I’d still going strong.
So, I’d say that they are pretty hardy things.. mine has become less reliable as it became pampered and irregularly used.
I think it should fire up OK with a bit of coaxing - a project for the spring.
HustleRussell said:
I’m struggling to believe that is anywhere near one year old.
I have a 2002 Caterham which I drive in wintertime whenever I like. Doesn’t look like the one on the photo at all. I’m guessing if a chassis rusted that hard Caterham would want to have the car back to fix under warranty? Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff