Going to View a Caterham Tomorrow. Any Advice???

[assadahmed]

Going to view this Caterham tomorrow.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Any pointers on what to look out for. It seems like a nice car and will be my first Caterham.

Any advice would be welcome.

[downsman]

Anything mechanical is reasonably straight forward to correct on a Seven, so checking the condition of the chassis and aluminium would be my priority. Although a test drive/passenger run is important to check drives straight and for unpleasant noises.

If there is any chance of having a good look underneath, look out for flat undamaged floors, straight chassis tubes with intact powder coating. Has the car been used through the winter? Also taking off the bonnet and nosecone gives you a good chance to look for crash damage, leaks, corrosion, clean water in the expansion tank, clean/any! oil on the dipstick etc.

[assadahmed]

downsman said:

Anything mechanical is reasonably straight forward to correct on a Seven, so checking the condition of the chassis and aluminium would be my priority. Although a test drive/passenger run is important to check drives straight and for unpleasant noises.

If there is any chance of having a good look underneath, look out for flat undamaged floors, straight chassis tubes with intact powder coating. Has the car been used through the winter? Also taking off the bonnet and nosecone gives you a good chance to look for crash damage, leaks, corrosion, clean water in the expansion tank, clean/any! oil on the dipstick etc.

Will try to have a real detailed looked as advised. Whats the deal with the cambelt on these engines. What kind or intervals should it be changed?

[Kenneth Danmark]

Ask:
Why is it being sold (3 owners in 10 years, is that not quite a few)? Why was it resprayed? When were clutch and throttle cables replaced (shouldn't be the factory originals on a ten year old ex-racer)

Look:
Have a good look at the engine and radiator, cold and with the nosecone and bonnet off. Look for coolant and oil leaks (or signs thereof). Check for gunk in coolant reservoir, and coolant level. Check for leaks again after test drive. Watch oil pressure and coolant temp during test drive (cf blatchat.com for safe ranges).

Cam belt:
Every 5 years (can't remember the mileage), more frequently if laid up for longer periods.

[doclip]

Looks a lovely car with a top spec
As long as it gives you the right feel when you drive it , and its all mechanically sound with all the invoices to prove the work that's been done ,I would offer him 12.5K and then if there any nasty suprises you've got money in hand to deal with it .
Im sure hell bite your hand off .
Best of luck

[assadahmed]

Thanks all. Really looking forward to viewing it. Been looking for a Roadsport with 140bhp or more in a distinctive colour for that kind of price for a while.

Only problem is that the weather forecast indicates a lot rain tomorrow so wont be ideal but at least I can give it a proper inspection as advised. Will check for leaks etc and any signs of any head gasket issues.

There is another person viewing it Saturday morning so I'm heading up straight up after work.

Out of interest, how much would it cost to deal with a head gasket failure? My other car is an Alfa 156 GTA and sorting that our would cost around £2500.

I found this Roadsport too which seems to be priced well but its not been tuned.

[rotorwings]

I would echo what Kenneth said. It looks clean. Too clean for a car with a lot of track miles and 10 years old. (I assume it has seen a fair amount of track work based on the spec)

Also the 5 speed gearbox does't seem to be a natural choice considering the rest of the spec and the obvious track focus. I would ask about the gearbox history.

Edited by rotorwings on Thursday 26th June 21:10

[Mellow7]

rotorwings said:

I would echo what Kenneth said. It looks clean. Too clean for a car with a lot of track miles and 10 years old. (I assume it has seen a fair amount of track work based on the spec)

Also the 5 speed gearbox does't seem to be a natural choice considering the rest of the spec and the obvious track focus. I would ask about the gearbox history.

Edited by rotorwings on Thursday 26th June 21:10

Why the comment about the gearbox? Its got the same as mine which serves me well enough on the road. Test drove a basic 120hp 1.6 with a 6 speed and even with the modest power I struggled to keep up with the speed of changes.

[assadahmed]

rotorwings said:

I would echo what Kenneth said. It looks clean. Too clean for a car with a lot of track miles and 10 years old. (I assume it has seen a fair amount of track work based on the spec)

Also the 5 speed gearbox does't seem to be a natural choice considering the rest of the spec and the obvious track focus. I would ask about the gearbox history.

Edited by rotorwings on Thursday 26th June 21:10

My car is 12 years old now and its bodywork would put most new cars to shame. I'm not really going be put off by the fact that its had a respray but appreciate the advice on asking why it was done and to have a good look underneath.

[Kenneth Danmark]

Just two other things which occured to me:

1) Thee ad states 160 hp. The standard K 1.6 is 115 hp, i.e. the engine has been tweaked to deliver approx. 40% more! Is this a known/standard mod in the UK? How reliable/durable is the engine?

2) is that a clock in the middle of the dashboard? Original Caterham?

[rubystone]

Read the ad. It's an Academy car...not allowed 6 speed boxes in that series!!!!! Sounds a decent spec for £12500 and owner is l7 club member too which should give you comfort....

[assadahmed]

rubystone said:

Read the ad. It's an Academy car...not allowed 6 speed boxes in that series!!!!! Sounds a decent spec for £12500 and owner is l7 club member too which should give you comfort....

Thanks for that.

I have got to a point where I just want to get one asap. I have kept delaying it for the last year or and just want to go for it now! I do like the yellow one too and could always upgrade the power. Hopefully the blue 7 will be in good condition and I can do a deal with the owner.

[rubystone]

Kenneth Danmark said:

Just two other things which occured to me:

1) Thee ad states 160 hp. The standard K 1.6 is 115 hp, i.e. the engine has been tweaked to deliver approx. 40% more! Is this a known/standard mod in the UK? How reliable/durable is the engine?

2) is that a clock in the middle of the dashboard? Original Caterham?

!!!! The mods sound 'correct' to me..instruments look right too....I think it'll be a cracking car.

[rotorwings]

rubystone said:

Read the ad. It's an Academy car...not allowed 6 speed boxes in that series!!!!! Sounds a decent spec for £12500 and owner is l7 club member too which should give you comfort....

That explains it then.

...and the 5 exclamation marks really drove the point home nicely

[rubystone]

rotorwings said:

That explains it then.

...and the 5 exclamation marks really drove the point home nicely

Most Academy cars were only ever used for one season and then either 'retired' or used/modified for Graduates or Roadsports. This car looks to be in good nick and thus I guess might fall into the former category. Those in the latter generally have cages and look a bit more 'used'

[rubystone]

Another for sale on www.blatchat.com

i'm moving overseas,so very reluctantly i'm selling my cherished caterham,2002 1.8 k series 29000 miles,blue with silver bonnet stripe,mot until may 2015,very recent new water pump and cambelt,new front wheel bearings,aeroscreen and full windscreen,full hood and sbfs halfhood,wide track front suspension,carbon dash,tonneau and indoor carcover,no expense spared on maintanence,mail me for any pics and based in essex - £12k ono

I have his email address if you are interested in more details....

[assadahmed]

rubystone said:

Another for sale on www.blatchat.com

i'm moving overseas,so very reluctantly i'm selling my cherished caterham,2002 1.8 k series 29000 miles,blue with silver bonnet stripe,mot until may 2015,very recent new water pump and cambelt,new front wheel bearings,aeroscreen and full windscreen,full hood and sbfs halfhood,wide track front suspension,carbon dash,tonneau and indoor carcover,no expense spared on maintanence,mail me for any pics and based in essex - £12k ono

I have his email address if you are interested in more details....

Yes I have seen this one and received pics from the owner. It just does not look as impressive as the one I am seeing tonight but should that one not turn out to be as good as in the ad I may have a closer look. Its in essex so wont be too far from me at all.

[rubystone]

assadahmed said:

Yes I have seen this one and received pics from the owner. It just does not look as impressive as the one I am seeing tonight but should that one not turn out to be as good as in the ad I may have a closer look. Its in essex so wont be too far from me at all.

Not too far from me either...

[assadahmed]

rubystone said:

Not too far from me either...

Where abouts are you? Once I have bought a car, I need to rent a garage to store it in. Have found a nice underground secure carpark in Woodford for £90 a month which seems reasonable to me.

[rubystone]

assadahmed said:

Where abouts are you? Once I have bought a car, I need to rent a garage to store it in. Have found a nice underground secure carpark in Woodford for £90 a month which seems reasonable to me.

North Essex. For £90 a month do they also polish the car daily with ermine cloths? I forgot how expensive anywhere is in greater London!