First Caterham + Everyday car
Discussion
I know this has been asked before but is is possible to drive a Caterham as an everyday car??? Work is within walking distance so commuting is not an issue but there are obviously occasions when you have to drive down the M6 on a wet winters night... I'm young and it doesn't really bother me but obviously you guys know what this is really like so....?
What would be recommended as a first buy around the £10k mark?
Would one that has been raced be such a bad thing... such as this
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/559955.htm
Many thanks
Stuart
What would be recommended as a first buy around the £10k mark?
Would one that has been raced be such a bad thing... such as this
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/559955.htm
Many thanks
Stuart
A good car for 10k and if you can hack it then they are remarkable little cars. Once you get your mind round the concept of the fact that your car is not actually a living room on wheels and you may actually get wet then you can cover surprising distances in one.
Yes there are more sensible alternatives but sensible has never been my strong point
Yes there are more sensible alternatives but sensible has never been my strong point
What he says! Nice car for that price - a perfect start to ownership and everyday use, and the perfect engine platform for future 'upgrades' should you wish.
We ran our car for the first 5 years of ownership as our only car, so it did everything - from Ikea to The'Ring - including living outside on the street in Balham for 2 years.
Perfectly do-able, with the occasional compromise.
We ran our car for the first 5 years of ownership as our only car, so it did everything - from Ikea to The'Ring - including living outside on the street in Balham for 2 years.
Perfectly do-able, with the occasional compromise.
As above, does look a nice car, and has enough "comfort bits" to make it moderately easy to live with - for a Caterham.
Academy cars seem well looked after in the main, it it certainly would be not be a worry having done a few races.
Absolutely the best thing to do would be to have an ask around your local Lotus 7 Club group and see if you could get someone to go and have a look with you.
Caterhamnut (who seems vaguely familar
) is spot on, plenty of room for upgrades and fairly cheap ones too to start with. Great platform to start with.
Academy cars seem well looked after in the main, it it certainly would be not be a worry having done a few races.
Absolutely the best thing to do would be to have an ask around your local Lotus 7 Club group and see if you could get someone to go and have a look with you.
Caterhamnut (who seems vaguely familar
) is spot on, plenty of room for upgrades and fairly cheap ones too to start with. Great platform to start with.
- was missing you over there, so came over 'ere!
Hope you are all well and enjoying the nice blatting weather These a lot written about Academy car’s being well maintained and well looked after...not for me....they have all had the balls screwed, driven on the track and probably off as well, a few knocks and bangs, repairs done quickly with little care with only one objective in getting the car back on the track.
At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
Bafty_Crastard said:
These a lot written about Academy car’s being well maintained and well looked after...not for me....they have all had the balls screwed, driven on the track and probably off as well, a few knocks and bangs, repairs done quickly with little care with only one objective in getting the car back on the track.
At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
True - but an ex racecar can be a good buy, if it's been built and maintained by a team, especially, rather than a guy who is running it himself. At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
Disagree with Bafty. This car represents great value. It was for sale last Autumn. Has had very little hard use. From what I gather owner was not a "racer" but competed in Academy for the experience- as many do. Local member of 7 Club and known to LAD's (Lancs 7's) AO. Give Paul Richard's (AO) a call or post on Blatchat.I've no connection with seller.
Good luck and yes go for it as an everyday car.
Cheers Rich
Good luck and yes go for it as an everyday car.
Cheers Rich
Bafty_Crastard said:
These a lot written about Academy car’s being well maintained and well looked after...not for me....they have all had the balls screwed, driven on the track and probably off as well, a few knocks and bangs, repairs done quickly with little care with only one objective in getting the car back on the track.
At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
Only if you buy a car off of someone that ran at the front of the pack At the end of the day they are what they are....cars that have been raced on the track!
Not for me, shop around there others
The only things to look for are cracked pistons (not as bad as it sounds) and knackered gearboxes. Everything else is virtually indestructible for the short period of racing thats involved in the academy.
If it hasn't been crashed (check with Arch) and its been a road car since finishing the academy then chances are its been owned by a steady eddie, and will thus be neither caned, off-roaded or poorly maintained. Looks like a decent enough buy... in fact I know someone who'd probably turn that into a rather nice Supergrad
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