So Many Questions, so little knowledge.....
Discussion
Hi,
Went to look at a Caterham this weekend, and I sooo want it. Its on a Q plate and I'm only 22, any one recommend any insurance companies.
Also, it needs a few bits, are things such as a new windscreen easy to come by and will it cost me a fortune?
Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Went to look at a Caterham this weekend, and I sooo want it. Its on a Q plate and I'm only 22, any one recommend any insurance companies.
Also, it needs a few bits, are things such as a new windscreen easy to come by and will it cost me a fortune?
Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Caterhams are great... you can spend as little or as much as you like fettling and tweaking. Probably will end up being all your pocket money though... 
there are lots of insurance companies that do kit car insurance, check one of the mags or do a search on here. Even at 22, it shouldnt be horrendous.
have fun and take it easy!
there are lots of insurance companies that do kit car insurance, check one of the mags or do a search on here. Even at 22, it shouldnt be horrendous.
have fun and take it easy!
Adrian Flux worth a call for insurance, offer pymt by installments too.
Parts- check out the for sale section on Blatchat, 7 Club chat room. Worth joining 7 Club for ability to post on blatchat. Windscreen can often be picked up for £100 mark.
Whilst on Blatchat click into home and you'll see details of 7 club area meets, worth a visit if you are in the market.
Prices are still soft at this time of year, earlier cars often available for good money, many will have been loved. Decide what you use the car for, I bought a cherished flared wing BRG and yellow classic, turned out it was more suited to touring and I ended up selling as I wanted to do trackdays and I found the car not quite suited for my use.
Crossflow start at £6-7K
K series are now in £8k bracket- great value for a car that poss needs a bit of tlc
VX 1.6 a great buy, v reliable and cheap to own but resale can sometimes take a bit longer as owners tend to price higher than a later K series.
Loads of options .....
Parts- check out the for sale section on Blatchat, 7 Club chat room. Worth joining 7 Club for ability to post on blatchat. Windscreen can often be picked up for £100 mark.
Whilst on Blatchat click into home and you'll see details of 7 club area meets, worth a visit if you are in the market.
Prices are still soft at this time of year, earlier cars often available for good money, many will have been loved. Decide what you use the car for, I bought a cherished flared wing BRG and yellow classic, turned out it was more suited to touring and I ended up selling as I wanted to do trackdays and I found the car not quite suited for my use.
Crossflow start at £6-7K
K series are now in £8k bracket- great value for a car that poss needs a bit of tlc
VX 1.6 a great buy, v reliable and cheap to own but resale can sometimes take a bit longer as owners tend to price higher than a later K series.
Loads of options .....
Same here with Adrian Flux, I ended up not insuring it in the end (race car), but when the tow car failed its MOT I got a quote just in case it wasn't sorted for race day. Quote was 750 quid (with L7OC membership), I was 21 at the time
P.S. If you're looking for cheapness, there's none better than an ex race car. Thrashed within an inch of their lives, but seem to break down with similar regularity to road used ones and usually cash in at 2-3 grand cheaper than a road car. None of that Carpet nonsense either. I'd be wary of Q platers unless its got a silly engine (e.g. Bike)
P.S. If you're looking for cheapness, there's none better than an ex race car. Thrashed within an inch of their lives, but seem to break down with similar regularity to road used ones and usually cash in at 2-3 grand cheaper than a road car. None of that Carpet nonsense either. I'd be wary of Q platers unless its got a silly engine (e.g. Bike)
Nowt wrong with Q plates (I have one). If unsure of an individual car's pedigree - you can make a note of the chassis number and contact Caterham themselves who keep detailed records of the all the individual cars produced and will tell you important details such as -
when the car was originally built
whether it was a basic kit
whether it was a Complete Knockdown Kit (CKD) - eseentially a car initially assembled by Caterham and then broken down into major components for sale as a CKD for final assembly by the buyer
the original engine it was fitted with
With Caterhams (and unlike many other "component" cars), Q plate really denotes the fact that the car was built with at least one major reconditioned 2nd hand compnent - such as a rear axle or a gearbox. Virtually all the Classics made between the years 1994 and 1999 had Q plates because they used reconditioned Escort gearboxes and Morris Marina/Ital rear axles. The engines used in these Classics were always brand new.
I've had my Q plate Classic SE for 10 years now and it has never given me any serious trouble at all.
Indeed, if you are familiar with the code system used by Caterham, you can work out a lot of the basic information about the car as originally manufactured by taking note of the Chassis Number. It's all explained in Chris Rees' book "Caterham Sevens".
when the car was originally built
whether it was a basic kit
whether it was a Complete Knockdown Kit (CKD) - eseentially a car initially assembled by Caterham and then broken down into major components for sale as a CKD for final assembly by the buyer
the original engine it was fitted with
With Caterhams (and unlike many other "component" cars), Q plate really denotes the fact that the car was built with at least one major reconditioned 2nd hand compnent - such as a rear axle or a gearbox. Virtually all the Classics made between the years 1994 and 1999 had Q plates because they used reconditioned Escort gearboxes and Morris Marina/Ital rear axles. The engines used in these Classics were always brand new.
I've had my Q plate Classic SE for 10 years now and it has never given me any serious trouble at all.
Indeed, if you are familiar with the code system used by Caterham, you can work out a lot of the basic information about the car as originally manufactured by taking note of the Chassis Number. It's all explained in Chris Rees' book "Caterham Sevens".
Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 13th March 10:08
Drew
MSM is the place to get an insurance quote from
www.msminsurance.co.uk/
As others have said get over to Blatchat, join the club and ask away, it'll be the best £35 or whatever you'll ever spend
MSM is the place to get an insurance quote from
www.msminsurance.co.uk/
As others have said get over to Blatchat, join the club and ask away, it'll be the best £35 or whatever you'll ever spend
Edited by F355GTS on Tuesday 13th March 10:33
Guys, all really helpful stuff. Thankyou - Having rang Adrian Flux and MSM, it now looks like I'm getting a qoute for car insurance and not a mortgage as previous phone calls have sounded! Looks like I might end up with cheaper insurance than I currrently pay on my 1.3 Toyota! Thanks again.
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