Potential Purchase - help for a novice
Discussion
Hello,
Does anyone know this car: https://www.callumscaterhams.co.uk/post/supersport
Starting my search and this looks great on paper but due to being new to the brand I don't know how it looks from a value perspective, what questions I should be asking, what to look for or if anyone knows the car or has any comments on it specifically.
Any help welcome.
Does anyone know this car: https://www.callumscaterhams.co.uk/post/supersport
Starting my search and this looks great on paper but due to being new to the brand I don't know how it looks from a value perspective, what questions I should be asking, what to look for or if anyone knows the car or has any comments on it specifically.
Any help welcome.
Overall, it looks a cracking car provided it all checks out. Personally would be in the power sweetspot for me. I assume that supersport suspension means widetrack which it looks to have. It doesn't have big brakes which is discussed on the other thread. Wouldn't bother me, but others might think different.
I'm not really up on the LSDs and which ones give the issues (again discussed on here and on Blatchat), so that's worth checking out. Need to check the quality of the paint job, but I'm assuming that Callum knows how to get a Caterham painted properly.
Can't really comment on the price as I'm a cheapskate and don't think any of them should be over £16k used
Have you spoken to Callum? If you can resist any dangerous sales patter, he certainly knows his stuff.
I wonder if he'll take £16k for it??
HTH
Bert
I'm not really up on the LSDs and which ones give the issues (again discussed on here and on Blatchat), so that's worth checking out. Need to check the quality of the paint job, but I'm assuming that Callum knows how to get a Caterham painted properly.
Can't really comment on the price as I'm a cheapskate and don't think any of them should be over £16k used
Have you spoken to Callum? If you can resist any dangerous sales patter, he certainly knows his stuff.
I wonder if he'll take £16k for it??
HTH
Bert
BertBert said:
Overall, it looks a cracking car provided it all checks out. Personally would be in the power sweetspot for me. I assume that supersport suspension means widetrack which it looks to have. It doesn't have big brakes which is discussed on the other thread. Wouldn't bother me, but others might think different.
I'm not really up on the LSDs and which ones give the issues (again discussed on here and on Blatchat), so that's worth checking out. Need to check the quality of the paint job, but I'm assuming that Callum knows how to get a Caterham painted properly.
Thank you Bert.I'm not really up on the LSDs and which ones give the issues (again discussed on here and on Blatchat), so that's worth checking out. Need to check the quality of the paint job, but I'm assuming that Callum knows how to get a Caterham painted properly.
In reference to the LSDs, does anyone know which LSD's were classed as problematic? I plan on getting the car inspected so can ask for it to be checked.
In this picture there appears to be some rust in places. This is a 6 year old car that has moved 300 miles pa, so I presume it has resided in a garage for a good part of its life. Would one associate this level of rust with that type of inactivity?
I'd take the mileage shown with a pinch of salt if I were you, if it has only covered 1800 miles, it hasn't been very well looked after between drives, there is a lot more rust than I would expect for a garage queen, also looks like a lot of wear and tear on the interior panel beside the drivers seat, my car had over 40000 miles on it and didn't have the same wear on the interior, maybe the owner just wasn't very careful with the harness buckles, but it seems odd to me that you would buy a car like that, leave it in the garage most of the time and then be clumsy getting in and out. Having said all that, as long as everything is mechanically ok, and with the fresh coat of paint it's had, it looks like a nice car to me.
The rust on the track rod ends looks fine - very normal Re-looking, I agree the marking/powder coat coming off in the interior side panels is very strange. The pax side one as well - that looks like it's been off. Would need explaining.
Also the paint around the filler cap is a bit poor, but being a bit picky here.
Someone a few doors down from me has just built a Riviera blue sigma - looks simply fantastic
Enjoy the hunt. If you get to ask Callum about the car, be interesting to hear what's what.
Cheers
Bert
Also the paint around the filler cap is a bit poor, but being a bit picky here.
Someone a few doors down from me has just built a Riviera blue sigma - looks simply fantastic
Enjoy the hunt. If you get to ask Callum about the car, be interesting to hear what's what.
Cheers
Bert
BertBert said:
Enjoy the hunt. If you get to ask Callum about the car, be interesting to hear what's what.
Had a good chat with Callum today. Car belonged to an older chap in Scotland for its whole life. He was an engineer and essentially made the car, used it a bit and then did very little with it for years. Callum arranged for the respray as it was originally unpainted!
Having owned 2 supersprints and an original superlight (car no 3) followed by a 16 year break (children and karting) decided that I wanted a another Caterham. I did not want to spend the cash on R300/400/500/620 etc and purchased a Supersport with 4K miles on the clock from Caterham (cost £25k) The car had been with Autocar and perhaps had slightly tougher early life but i got gave it lots of attention and owned it for two years and did circa 4K miles (bought a new 420R) but it left my possession a cleaner / better car.
Think you need to establish this cars history and perhaps speak to the original owner to verify the mileage (the side panel wear/ damage looks iffy and does not have the original Supersport steering wheel) but if genuine you should be able to get the car back to a tidy level.
As a car, the Supersport is cracking place to start Caterham ownership as it has all the right ingredients - decent power/ torque, weight, LSD, adjustable roll bar/ platforms, The only downside is some cars came with stiffer springs which make it a bit more lively on the road,
If this car is not for you keep eye out for another (but they are rare) or if you can find the extra cash go for a superlight twenty as they are a fab car and a safe place to put your cash
Think you need to establish this cars history and perhaps speak to the original owner to verify the mileage (the side panel wear/ damage looks iffy and does not have the original Supersport steering wheel) but if genuine you should be able to get the car back to a tidy level.
As a car, the Supersport is cracking place to start Caterham ownership as it has all the right ingredients - decent power/ torque, weight, LSD, adjustable roll bar/ platforms, The only downside is some cars came with stiffer springs which make it a bit more lively on the road,
If this car is not for you keep eye out for another (but they are rare) or if you can find the extra cash go for a superlight twenty as they are a fab car and a safe place to put your cash
A history of a 'black pack' car on an unpainted car sounds a bit odd to me. And the use of non black rivets sets alarm bells ringing too. Not just the side panels but the scuttle also seems to have new rivets. My guess is that this car has been stripped back to the chassis (at least in part) during the painting process. It would make sense to remove the sill protectors but it all looks a bit more extensive than that. It might be perfectly explainable, but needs some honest answers.
Edited by DCL on Friday 22 January 11:10
Hello Everyone,
Well Callum was very clear and honest in his feedback.
This was a self build and the standard on the riveting was not good and clearly the individual damaged the side panels. Callum was also clear to say it does age the interior beyond its miles.
Regarding the paint. This was a unpainted car for most of its life and Callum has repainted in in preparation for sale.
I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.
I am in touch with Caterham Silverstone about this car: https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...
Well Callum was very clear and honest in his feedback.
This was a self build and the standard on the riveting was not good and clearly the individual damaged the side panels. Callum was also clear to say it does age the interior beyond its miles.
Regarding the paint. This was a unpainted car for most of its life and Callum has repainted in in preparation for sale.
I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.
I am in touch with Caterham Silverstone about this car: https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...
The rivets at floor level and from about half-way down the side panels are still the original black ones, so as has been suggested, the panels have probably been pulled back from the top rail to facilitate the re-painting of it and then re-attached. Pity it's been so crudely done as it detracts from an otherwise super looking car.
[quote=Hoddo]Hello Everyone,
Well Callum was very clear and honest in his feedback.
This was a self build and the standard on the riveting was not good and clearly the individual damaged the side panels. Callum was also clear to say it does age the interior beyond its miles.
Regarding the paint. This was a unpainted car for most of its life and Callum has repainted in in preparation for sale.
I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.
If the car is in good mechanical condition and it's got a fresh coat of paint, could you not just re do the rivets? if the spec of the car is what you want it would be an easy repair, and much less than £30000.
Well Callum was very clear and honest in his feedback.
This was a self build and the standard on the riveting was not good and clearly the individual damaged the side panels. Callum was also clear to say it does age the interior beyond its miles.
Regarding the paint. This was a unpainted car for most of its life and Callum has repainted in in preparation for sale.
I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.
If the car is in good mechanical condition and it's got a fresh coat of paint, could you not just re do the rivets? if the spec of the car is what you want it would be an easy repair, and much less than £30000.
Still don't buy the 'unpainted' claim. It is registered as yellow. I think you're wise to move on as there something not adding up with it. A colour change to something more fashionable could be just to make it easier to move on, but nothing more off putting than having the wool pulled over your eyes by a dealer.
With £30k to spend a pukka R400/420 will probably be a bit over budget, if so and if it were me I would look for a Superlight Twenty (it came as a 270 engine spec) and look to upgrade it to a 310 spec. The Superlight Twenty is a cracking car which and has all the carbon you would want, he’s the all important 6 speed box and is quick, agile and I reckon is a good place to put your cash as only 20 were built.
There is a car for sale on pistonheads (private sale) failing that you could go for a standard 310 but you need the 6 speed box
There is a car for sale on pistonheads (private sale) failing that you could go for a standard 310 but you need the 6 speed box
Hoddo said:
I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.
I am in touch with Caterham Silverstone about this car: https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...
A few parameters would be helpful - road / track, K-series / Duratec, S3 or SV chassis etc? I think £30k is a good budget and there should be plenty of choice, perhaps not in the middle of winter though!I am in touch with Caterham Silverstone about this car: https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...
If this is your first Caterham, you may want to buy from a reputable dealer and have the support and warranty. I have bought from GP Sevens and they were good to deal with and the car was very well prepared. This is just over your budget but they've had it a while (maybe the colour isn't popular?) but I am sure there is a deal to be done.
http://www.gpsevens.co.uk/portfolio-item/caterham-...
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