What’s the best I could get for £23k

[andyf1]

I’m possibly looking for a caterham to use occasionally in the summer on road only, I don’t do track days and would be looking for something only for the road. I’m not looking for comfort, it will be just B roads for short journeys and I would like something that’s a quick in short blast for the roads I drive if that makes sense. I’ve only previously driven a roadsport but it wasn’t quite what I would be after. I’m thinking an older superlight and was wondering about the one below. Looking for peoples opinion on this or other cars I should be looking for.
Oh, need wet weather gear, live in Scotland so should explain why.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[AndrewGP]

From what you’ve said you want, I think the car in the link looks great and the perfect spec. You might be able to get a K Series R300 too which is 160bhp and around the sweet spot for road only driving.

[Turn7]

Join this set of FB groups that are always busy...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/318610305307075/

[BertBert]

It is a nice looking car. 200bhp is impressive from a 1600k series if it's real.

[Turn7]

From the FB groups tpday....

Caterham 2.3 for duretec 265bhp
£22,000
Preston, Lancashire

Available for sale fully restored 2004 Caterham , 1000’s spent on this Caterham regardless of cost listed below

£22000
Full respay
New nitron suspension 2018
New r400 radiator 2018
Full engine rebuild in 2018
New omex ecu 2019
Ecu remap by Steve Greenall in 2019 mapped safe at 265bhp as can produce over 300bhp
Tillet seats
Carbon fibre wings
New lowered head lights
Carbon dipped nose cone , head lights mirrors
Stack dash 2017
Quaff 6 speed sequential gearbox 2017
Diff refreshed 2019
Upgraded fuel system 2018
Powder coated roll cage
Full corner weight set up 2019
New deon tube 2019
9 months mot

[ginger steve]

That’s a great spec above for the price but given the OP’s intended use its probably not the best car for the job. My previous 7 was a K series superliight with about 210bhp and it was fantastic on the road. After that I moved to a Duratec car with sequential box and about 300bhp, which is outrageously fast and brilliant on track, but ultimately its not as much fun as the K series car on the road. You just cant wring the neck of a big HP 7 on the road and as such I do think they are less fun in some ways.

[Turn7]

I agree, the car I posted is huge spec and way to much for road use imho...

160ish HP seems to be around the sweet spot for road biased 7'S

[BertBert]

Turn7 said:

160ish HP seems to be around the sweet spot for road biased 7'S

Each to their own of course, but this is my view too.
And it wasn't all that long ago when 160ish was top of the range HPC which came with a driving course to stop you killing yourself!!

[Drooles]

I can scare myself silly with 135 xflow horses (and that’s probably a very over optimistic figure for a 25 year old engine with 18k on it)!

[ryallm]

I have a 2013 175 Roadsport SV (2 litre Duratec) which I am thinking of selling. Not sure what spec of Roadsport you drove previously but this one has the Superlight suspension and is plenty quick enough for fast road use. Was going to wait until the spring, but could be tempted by a quick sale in November. Contact me if you might be interested OP. Based near Edinburgh.

[hooch500]

Assuming you can handle a car, then 200 BHP minimum or you will soon be wishing you had more..Original Superlight R with a windscreen - enough compliance, exciting power delivery compared to torquier Duratec and LSD ( essential ).

[V7SLR]

... and the original Superlight R had less than 190bhp!

For road use 200bhp is more than ample, most people will be perfectly happy with somewhat less. If booting it in a straight line is your bag then you don't really "get" the 7.

[radical78]

I went from a 1600 rover about 140 hp to a roadsport 175 duratec and the ford engine is just better in every way

[BertBert]

Can you give us more to go on Pete? More torque, better rev range...

[Turn7]

"some" say the D is a little nose heavy in a 7, and also that the torque takes away the playfull nature of a revvier lump.

I had a D175 SV for a day and didnt "dislike" it, but now I have a 150 Sigma, I much prefer it over the D I drove.

[ginger steve]

I feel silly now for my earlier post. Just noticed the car that the OP has linked to is actually my previous car, which was absolutely fantastic. If it’s for road use it’s a great car. The spec in the advert is a little light though it’s actually a 1.8 and it’s DVA tuned to around 210bhp. Bags of character that engine and never let me down.