Buying first Caterham
Discussion
I am interested in possibly getting a Caterham too, just started to look into this, there's so much to learn!! I am drawn to the Ex Academy cars - really want to track day mine, so are these a good purchase, they aren't cheap though, £25k ish - will these be awful on the roads, full cage had to get in and out of it, any draw backs to an ex academy car?
dank said:
I am interested in possibly getting a Caterham too, just started to look into this, there's so much to learn!! I am drawn to the Ex Academy cars - really want to track day mine, so are these a good purchase, they aren't cheap though, £25k ish - will these be awful on the roads, full cage had to get in and out of it, any draw backs to an ex academy car?
I would strongly advise anybody thinking of buying one to join the owners club and join up with a local group. Massive amounts of information available within the owners community and what you see on here is only scratching the surface. Trust the owners. Not the dealers.
Regarding the dealers, the specialists have a good reputation by and large. I'm not sure there's a need to be too harsh on them!
My advice as always is not to get drawn into the big horsepower game. More bhp doesn't always equate to more fun as they are brilliant cars at all levels.
My personal choice is no cage and full screen, but that's personal choice again.
My advice as always is not to get drawn into the big horsepower game. More bhp doesn't always equate to more fun as they are brilliant cars at all levels.
My personal choice is no cage and full screen, but that's personal choice again.
BertBert said:
Regarding the dealers, the specialists have a good reputation by and large. I'm not sure there's a need to be too harsh on them!
My advice as always is not to get drawn into the big horsepower game. More bhp doesn't always equate to more fun as they are brilliant cars at all levels.
My personal choice is no cage and full screen, but that's personal choice again.
My point is that the specialists dealers, are not that specialist. Yes they know Caterhams but there are hundreds of combinations of model and engines out there and I guarantee that there is more knowledge in the user community than there is at any dealers, specialist or not. I accept there are a few ‘one man bands’ out there that are highly respected but they don’t sell cars. In the user community there will always be somebody out there that has faced your problem before. My advice as always is not to get drawn into the big horsepower game. More bhp doesn't always equate to more fun as they are brilliant cars at all levels.
My personal choice is no cage and full screen, but that's personal choice again.
AVB said:
My point is that the specialists dealers, are not that specialist. Yes they know Caterhams but there are hundreds of combinations of model and engines out there and I guarantee that there is more knowledge in the user community than there is at any dealers, specialist or not. I accept there are a few ‘one man bands’ out there that are highly respected but they don’t sell cars. In the user community there will always be somebody out there that has faced your problem before.
I'm not decrying the owners in any shape or form, but I'm confused on your view about specialist Caterham dealers - do you think that Sevens and Classics are wanting in their knowledge of them? [for example]BertBert said:
I'm not decrying the owners in any shape or form, but I'm confused on your view about specialist Caterham dealers - do you think that Sevens and Classics are wanting in their knowledge of them? [for example]
Do they know every engine type and derivative in minute detail? Do they know the ECU and what software version it is running? Do they know the multiple wiring loom combinations ever been used across all derivatives? Do they know how to test the engine/ECU/wiring combinations and do they have the tools and simulators to do so? I bet the answer is no. They may be good generalists but they are just that. Generalists. The may specialise in Caterhams but not the digital exploding hamster option built in September 2004. Whereas there are real experts in the user community.
AVB said:
Do they know every engine type and derivative in minute detail? Do they know the ECU and what software version it is running? Do they know the multiple wiring loom combinations ever been used across all derivatives? Do they know how to test the engine/ECU/wiring combinations and do they have the tools and simulators to do so?
I bet the answer is no. They may be good generalists but they are just that. Generalists. The may specialise in Caterhams but not the digital exploding hamster option built in September 2004. Whereas there are real experts in the user community.
Sorry, you are just talking nonsense now. Firstly who on earth knows that? The software version? Find me the owners that know all the software versions of all the Caterhams? And secondly what has that got to do with buying a Caterham as we are talking about? They are specialists and not generalists.I bet the answer is no. They may be good generalists but they are just that. Generalists. The may specialise in Caterhams but not the digital exploding hamster option built in September 2004. Whereas there are real experts in the user community.
And what does that even mean "the digital exploding hamster option"? Do you even know who the guys are at Sevens and Classics [for example]?
And just more curiosity, what experience and knowledge do you have in the world of 7's?
BertBert said:
Sorry, you are just talking nonsense now. Firstly who on earth knows that? The software version? Find me the owners that know all the software versions of all the Caterhams? And secondly what has that got to do with buying a Caterham as we are talking about? They are specialists and not generalists.
And what does that even mean "the digital exploding hamster option"? Do you even know who the guys are at Sevens and Classics [for example]?
And just more curiosity, what experience and knowledge do you have in the world of 7's?
My experience is having bought a car from a Caterham ‘specialist’ in February and it has been with them for the best part of 7 weeks why they try to fix it. Ok it’s at their cost but that’s what a warranty is for isn’t it and I haven’t had the use of a car for 7 weeks. The advice given by the user community has been far more insightful in understanding what is wrong. Hence my cynicism regarding ‘specialists’. And what does that even mean "the digital exploding hamster option"? Do you even know who the guys are at Sevens and Classics [for example]?
And just more curiosity, what experience and knowledge do you have in the world of 7's?
BertBert said:
AVB said:
Do they know every engine type and derivative in minute detail? Do they know the ECU and what software version it is running? Do they know the multiple wiring loom combinations ever been used across all derivatives? Do they know how to test the engine/ECU/wiring combinations and do they have the tools and simulators to do so?
I bet the answer is no. They may be good generalists but they are just that. Generalists. The may specialise in Caterhams but not the digital exploding hamster option built in September 2004. Whereas there are real experts in the user community.
Sorry, you are just talking nonsense now. Firstly who on earth knows that? The software version? Find me the owners that know all the software versions of all the Caterhams? And secondly what has that got to do with buying a Caterham as we are talking about? They are specialists and not generalists.I bet the answer is no. They may be good generalists but they are just that. Generalists. The may specialise in Caterhams but not the digital exploding hamster option built in September 2004. Whereas there are real experts in the user community.
And what does that even mean "the digital exploding hamster option"? Do you even know who the guys are at Sevens and Classics [for example]?
And just more curiosity, what experience and knowledge do you have in the world of 7's?
Steve Campbell said:
I'm guessing the OP has such a silly grin on their face they have forgotten to post pictures and tell us how it went :-)
You’re right I did! A very delayed upload….not the best of pics, but very happy with it! Only parks up a couple of times in public and was surprised with compliments and people looking. 
Andy135 said:
The point is that many brains are better than one. A forum or club-based "hive brain" of many hundreds or thousands of enthusiastic owners will more likely have the knowledge/experience than one or two dealers who, at the end of the day, are salesmen - their expertise is in selling, not in knowing all the possible permutations of wiring looms for a given model.
Yes, but that wasn't the argument. The debate was that the poster was saying that the specialists were essentially crap as they were generalists. Palpable nonsense. But then it became clear what he did mean. His car had a problem that the dealer was struggling to solve. Ergo all dealers are crap. Not great logic.To the OP, a great Caterham grey 7 - looks awesome!
AVB said:
My experience is having bought a car from a Caterham ‘specialist’ in February and it has been with them for the best part of 7 weeks why they try to fix it. Ok it’s at their cost but that’s what a warranty is for isn’t it and I haven’t had the use of a car for 7 weeks. The advice given by the user community has been far more insightful in understanding what is wrong. Hence my cynicism regarding ‘specialists’.
LOL..... 7 weeks ?. You don't need to mention names as I probably 90 % sure I know who they are but they had mine for 7 months dank said:
I am interested in possibly getting a Caterham too, just started to look into this, there's so much to learn!! I am drawn to the Ex Academy cars - really want to track day mine, so are these a good purchase, they aren't cheap though, £25k ish - will these be awful on the roads, full cage had to get in and out of it, any draw backs to an ex academy car?
I've had three ex Academy cars, VX, K series, Sigma. They make great track day cars, you can sprint and hill climb and still race if you have the relevant up to date safety bits. Used mine on the road too. Full cage can be a bit of a pain, depending how big you are and how flexible you are. I'd suggest finding an owner with a caged 7 and see if you struggle. Ex race cars are well maintained with most of the cars looked after by teams.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff