Caterham Price Increases

[jezzaaa]

Hi All - been on the configurator again, as I just had notice that my 360R kit is ready for delivery soon, and they want the balance, and it's all becoming real again

So I plugged in my spec...and the price now is £4.5k more than when I placed my order. Base price for 360R now seems to be £37,000 ... whereas it was £33,000 when I ordered. And various options (lowered floors, large chassis etc) have all increased. Wow...inflation indeed.

I gather there's also now a massive lead time between ordering and delivery. Glad I ordered when I did in April...not feeling smug in any way

J.

Edited by jezzaaa on Thursday 13th October 22:07

[number2]

I paid my first deposit a couple of months ago.

Having checked the website, prices have gone up considerably. I don't imagine they'll hold the old prices for me so that's probably a customer they'll lose

They're already expensive - I spec'd a 420R factory build to just under 52k. Base price up c. 2.5k, paint up by 250 (25pc)... and that's when I stopped looking.

[number2]

Didn't they only increase prices at the start of the year as well?!

[jezzaaa]

number2 said:

I paid my first deposit a couple of months ago.

Having checked the website, prices have gone up considerably. I don't imagine they'll hold the old prices for me so that's probably a customer they'll lose

They're already expensive - I spec'd a 420R factory build to just under 52k. Base price up c. 2.5k, paint up by 250 (25pc)... and that's when I stopped looking.

I would have thought they would be bound to hold them wouldn't they? Like you, I submitted an order form with all the prices on it and paid a deposit. Is that not a contract agreed by both parties? I'd be very surprised if they could legally hit you for more...I'm not a lawyer of course...but I'm notionally in the same position as you...put in an order form with specific prices on it, and have paid a deposit. Admittedly I've also paid the second deposit when the build week was confirmed.

It would be shocking customer relations too.

Edited by jezzaaa on Friday 14th October 06:20

[number2]

For me it's just the 3k deposit so I've not submitted spec yet although I have a chassis number and build slot.

I know most manufacturers reserve the right to change prices before delivery it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. You're at a far later stage than me in the process.

I'll email them today and ask. If the prices aren't held I'll have to think about it.

I've owned a Caterham before so I've had the experience, and thought I'd have another to enjoy now, rather than wait until retirement which I might not make!

Also - I couldn't see heated carbon padded seats on the configurator anymore!

[AndrewGP]

The jump from £33k to £37k is going some.

I've kept the pricelists from when my car was new and in Jan 2013 the 360R equivalent (called the Supersport R back then and very close in terms of standard spec) had a base price of £24,995. Adjusted for inflation on the BoE website that is £31,250 today.

[BertBert]

Regarding the legality of price increases, depends on what the agreement says about it. Most allow for price increases. JLR have annoyed many customers by putting the prices up post order (and spec down in done cases). Lotus have said they won't do that for the Emira, not that they are actually doing any in the UK yet.. No idea about caterham though

[number2]

It's all permitted, just frustrating.

Long lead times making it difficult to keep prices constant with generally high inflation.

For customers with deposits paid Caterham are meeting 50% of the increase in costs.

Fingers crossed there are no more hikes in price over the next 12 months.

It's a lot of money for a steel chassis, aluminium cladding and a ford engine .

[Cheib]

BertBert said:

Regarding the legality of price increases, depends on what the agreement says about it. Most allow for price increases. JLR have annoyed many customers by putting the prices up post order (and spec down in done cases). Lotus have said they won't do that for the Emira, not that they are actually doing any in the UK yet.. No idea about caterham though

Porsche’s policy on price increases is that your price is not locked in until the car leaves the factory gates. You can turn the car down but they do not hold prices….obv a dealer may accommodate.

[jezzaaa]

BertBert said:

Regarding the legality of price increases, depends on what the agreement says about it. Most allow for price increases. JLR have annoyed many customers by putting the prices up post order (and spec down in done cases). Lotus have said they won't do that for the Emira, not that they are actually doing any in the UK yet.. No idea about caterham though

As a matter of honour/principle though, you would think they would stick with prices at least at the point that the second deposit and spec was submitted. As I say, that's where I am in terms of the payments/stages although I'm close to delivery, so they could have also asked me for extra. I'm glad they didn't. I'd have paid but it would have stuck in my craw.

Thanks,
J.

[andy tims]

I was told when I placed my deposit last month, that if prices went up significantly and I wasn’t happy I could back out of the purchase and get my money back.

[mickrick]

andy tims said:

I was told when I placed my deposit last month, that if prices went up significantly and I wasn’t happy I could back out of the purchase and get my money back.

To me that's just wrong. If you enter into an agreement to buy a car, then once you place a deposit you've agreed the price.
This is typical of Caterham's attitude towards it's customers. I found their salesmen very nonchalant, it must be the easiest job in the World, the cars sell themselves, and they know it.
I bought a brand new car off them before the CSR came out, I dropped 32k on a K series R300, then when they introduced the CSR I was interested.
So I wanted a test drive, but living in Spain meant I had to fly over, so wanted confirmation they would have a car for me to try. They were very none committal, and all I could get out of them was "will you be in a position to place a deposit" I flew over anyway, rented a car to drive up to Caterham, and I eventually got to drive a very shabby press car, then sat down to talk about spec, all very nice until I said I wanted a spare wheel hoop on the back (I spec'd it on my R300, which normally they don't have).
I got a flat "no"! They didn't offer the option on the CSR.... They didn't on the Superlight either, but it wasn't a problem for Arch to put one on...
No way would he budge. I thought you know what? I'm not in a position to place a deposit, and I walked out of there.
Sounds like things haven't changed. What a bunch of wkers.

[number2]

They've crept up again.

Base S pack cars are now £40,990 for a 420, and £37,490 for a 360.

A 360S was £31,990 prior to October 2022.

[BertBert]

With everything going up in price and if they can still sell more cars than they can build, I guess it's not surprising!

[ghibbett]

Just specced a 420R to be as close to mine as possible and, as a self9build, it's coming in at £52k.

However that doesn't account for other bits such as:
- 6 speed 'box (can't get it anymore).
- RBTBs
- Quantum suspension
- Tracsport LSD
etc etc, with the above adding another £10k at least.

Crazy!

[framerateuk]

ghibbett said:

Just specced a 420R to be as close to mine as possible and, as a self9build, it's coming in at £52k.

However that doesn't account for other bits such as:
- 6 speed 'box (can't get it anymore).
- RBTBs
- Quantum suspension
- Tracsport LSD
etc etc, with the above adding another £10k at least.

Crazy!

I think we've probably reached the point where getting engine conversions is probably cheaper than buying a new car!

Admittedly they don't do my Sigma 140 anymore, but the same car in 360 spec is 45k and that's without the 6 speed box too. I got my car in 2012 (used), but I think the Supersport 140 was less than 30k with all the trick bits at the time.

For comparison, I've had Renaultsports along side the Caterham, and the 250 Cup was 27k in 2010 and my latest 280 Cup was 33.5k in 2018. Cars have gone up in price quite a bit, but it seems to have hit the small scale stuff harder. (Just look at the price of the Lotus Emira compared to then Elise it replaced).

[skircoatshed]

framerateuk said:

I think we've probably reached the point where getting engine conversions is probably cheaper than buying a new car!

Admittedly they don't do my Sigma 140 anymore, but the same car in 360 spec is 45k and that's without the 6 speed box too. I got my car in 2012 (used), but I think the Supersport 140 was less than 30k with all the trick bits at the time.

For comparison, I've had Renaultsports along side the Caterham, and the 250 Cup was 27k in 2010 and my latest 280 Cup was 33.5k in 2018. Cars have gone up in price quite a bit, but it seems to have hit the small scale stuff harder. (Just look at the price of the Lotus Emira compared to then Elise it replaced).

Emira replaced the Evora rather than Elise. Evora cost 80/90K.

[Caterhamcv6]

Base Morgan Plus Four price is £71,829.80, which makes a Caterham an absolute bargain.....

[Turn7]

The only good thing about the price increases is the used market will stay strong....

[framerateuk]

skircoatshed said:

Emira replaced the Evora rather than Elise. Evora cost 80/90K.

It's replaced both really, but it's priced far closer to the Evora than the Elise - even the 4 cylinder variant.