What to look for when buying a Caterham

What to look for when buying a Caterham

Author
Discussion

LRdriver

Original Poster:

154 posts

263 months

Friday 6th June 2003
quotequote all
Hello,
I have been to the dark side and testdriven a caterham.
I am looking at a vauxhall 2.0 powered one that has all the trick bits on but am still wondering if any websites have a "check" list to use so I can avoid any pitfalls when looking.
(been to blatchat etc..)

Graham.J

5,420 posts

260 months

Friday 6th June 2003
quotequote all
There's not really a 'list' as it were, it's mainly the normal things you'd look for in any other car.

Have a search on this forum, I'm sure we did this topic not so long ago.

HTH and have fun

Graham

charisma

93 posts

259 months

Friday 6th June 2003
quotequote all
Just ignore the milage. It's not how many miles it's done, it's just the condition that counts.

Was it a kit or factory built? If it's a kit it may have older donor parts on it.

Buy one of these cars from an enthusiast, check out the garage where it's kept, this can tell you if the person looks after it, or just drives it. People who tinker with their kit cars generally look after them better.

dino ferrana

791 posts

253 months

Friday 6th June 2003
quotequote all
Unless the car is a starter kit (often Q registered) there will not be any donor bits in the car. The 5 speed boxes are re-manufactured as are the differentials (both to a very high standard).

Worth logging on to www.blatchat.com (seven owners club website) to get a load more view etc.
There is also a For Sale section.

G Man

4,053 posts

261 months

Sunday 8th June 2003
quotequote all
Just a few pointers.
Has it been raced - lots of Vauxhall race cars are being made road legal
Has it been smashed - Arch Motors do the chassis, so has it had a long or short front end- check it out
Does it have AP racing brakes