K-series Caterham for sub 11k... possible??
Discussion
As the title suggests really. I'm new to Caterhams, never owned one before and desperate to have one. I am one of those crazy 22 year olds looking to daily it. Hence why I'm looking for a fuel injected motor with full weather gear. It will be a work in progress as well.
Am I being far too optimistic? I have done some good scouring of the Web but not really found much :s
Am I being far too optimistic? I have done some good scouring of the Web but not really found much :s
DickyC said:
Sorry to wee on your chips but how would you insure it?
I thought the same when I first thought about it, but surprisingly it's cheaper than my imported mx5!!Tango7 said:
Unless you are very lucky, gone are the days of the £10k K series it seems. You could buy one around this price, use it for a year or two and sell it for pretty much the same money. Crossflows were £7-8k and 8v VX cars were £8-9k but the last two were live axle cars and generally a cheaper option. Now the K series cars tend to be £13-14k and the rest of the market has shifted up accordingly.
Maybe have a look for an old race car or something that needs cosmetic today up. Caterhams hold their prices remarkably well so if you can scrape together more funds, it should be worth it
Yeah I had feared as much! I haven't much experience with carb'd cars. What would the crossflow/vx be like as a daily?Maybe have a look for an old race car or something that needs cosmetic today up. Caterhams hold their prices remarkably well so if you can scrape together more funds, it should be worth it
Maybe I'll have to try and find the end of a rainbow.
Tango7 said:
My standard 1600 crossflow did mid-20's for general use and I used it as a daily driver for 6 months / 10k miles. You can get better economy from them with electronic ignition and a good set up but even they they really are going to be high 20's. A 1600k can easily be 10mpg better
Interesting, that's not much worse than my mk1 mx5. I'm more concerned about cold start-ups and general running reliability compared to the K-series to be brutally honest!
Turn7 said:
They do occasionally turn up, get onto the FB groups, lots going on there not on BC
Thanks, i'll have a look, any facebook groups in particular?andy97 said:
Have a look at the Caterham Graduates Racing Club web site and their for sale page - they did have a a K Series Mega Graduate race car advertised for <£10k.
Probably an ex Academy car and almost certainly therefore able to get a V5 and an MOT.
I bought a similar car, in excellent mechanical condition, and although I don’t use it on the road, it is road legal and registered.
Just had a peep, they have a k-series for £11k. I might send the seller a message.Probably an ex Academy car and almost certainly therefore able to get a V5 and an MOT.
I bought a similar car, in excellent mechanical condition, and although I don’t use it on the road, it is road legal and registered.
Wow, this is a great section of PH!
I am not too worried about both the rain and dark issues you mention. Partly because the mx5 is also pretty low and i always have the roof down. Not much difference there. I will also probably put LEDs on the Caterham. Still worth a thought though as you said.
Roblot said:
Hi there, just a quick one.
Woodcote sports cars have a 1700 super sprint advertised for 11.5K. Looks OK, but is on a Q plate. Just a thought.
Thanks for that, still deliberating whether or not a carb'd Cat would work. I see they had a k-series for under 10k. I wonder how long ago that was.Woodcote sports cars have a 1700 super sprint advertised for 11.5K. Looks OK, but is on a Q plate. Just a thought.
dhutch said:
I am not in the Caterham loop at all, but at 21 bought a 1.9 CVH engined Westfield on twin 40's and drove it plenty as well as in all weathers, all be it never really as my sole car.
The running gear is all off a production car of one form or the other so while it's not always the case there's no reason it can't be a reliable as that was and if you're using it daily issues will find themselves fast as long as you have the time to get to the bottom of it. Swapping the ignition to electronic (megajolt in my case) from the worn out dissy made a huge difference to cold starting performance, as did replacing the battery with a new one which I should have done a lot sooner!
I certainly wouldn't be put off carbs for daily use, there is arguably less to go wrong, and starting shouldn't be an issue. Mind lived in a knackered tin box trailer for years started reliably in subzero even without a choke cable it started fine and you keep it alive on the accelerator jets for the first minute or two till it's got some heat in it. I've been to area meets in the snow, had a evening of pub food and chatting cars without and doubt it would get me home.
At the time (sept 08) most companies would cover you once you where 21 and as you say, as long as they would cover you the price was remarkably cost effective, especially as in my case I had access to another car. Rang round each year and always had a pick of quotes. About three years ago when I was 29 my insurance told me I couldn't add my partner as she was under 30 and they where only insuring me as it was an existing policy, but hopefully that was just a one off and others still cover 21yo drivers. Some now ask if you have had prior experience of driving a car like that which is a bit of a bootstapping issue, but I guess worse case you roll yourself in for an experience day and say you daily an mx5 and hope that's enough.
The main issue as a daily would be use in the rain and particularly at night. In the dry they are remarkably manageable, easy to drive and comfortable with some nice ETY earplugs, I've used it work work a lot, driven it to the ring with mates, and for a weeks holiday in the middle of France with my girlfriend at the time, I've strapped the mountain bike to the roll bar, and taken my 80yo granddad out for a half hour spin in it.
Even in reasonable rain it is fine in summer as long as arriving a bit damp is ok, but unless there is a trick that only half the caterfield owners know you will always get a bit coming through the sidescreens l, especially if you're on cycle wings not full wings, and on the older cars the front edge of the roof is only held with lift-dot. Even without the roof you can do an hour sitting an a bathtub if there is a shower at the end, and obviously people commute all winter on a motorbike and just have a full change of clothes on arrival, but it's not like an old MX5 is for dryness. I never had a heaterbox, which wasn't an issue for keeping warm (coat on, plenty of heat comes through the bulkhead) but it did mist up a lot with the roof on.
At night being so low and often with fairly poor headlights it can get down right dangerous how little you can see, certainly I wouldn't take mine on a motorway in heavy rain if it was dark.
Good luck. Till have mine and love it.
Daniel
Thanks for your message. That is really helpful and has made me feel slightly better about an earlier carb'd car. Insurance is just so funny, it is about £300 cheaper for me to insure a Caterham than to insure an Abarth 595. I guess its all down to crash statistics?The running gear is all off a production car of one form or the other so while it's not always the case there's no reason it can't be a reliable as that was and if you're using it daily issues will find themselves fast as long as you have the time to get to the bottom of it. Swapping the ignition to electronic (megajolt in my case) from the worn out dissy made a huge difference to cold starting performance, as did replacing the battery with a new one which I should have done a lot sooner!
I certainly wouldn't be put off carbs for daily use, there is arguably less to go wrong, and starting shouldn't be an issue. Mind lived in a knackered tin box trailer for years started reliably in subzero even without a choke cable it started fine and you keep it alive on the accelerator jets for the first minute or two till it's got some heat in it. I've been to area meets in the snow, had a evening of pub food and chatting cars without and doubt it would get me home.
At the time (sept 08) most companies would cover you once you where 21 and as you say, as long as they would cover you the price was remarkably cost effective, especially as in my case I had access to another car. Rang round each year and always had a pick of quotes. About three years ago when I was 29 my insurance told me I couldn't add my partner as she was under 30 and they where only insuring me as it was an existing policy, but hopefully that was just a one off and others still cover 21yo drivers. Some now ask if you have had prior experience of driving a car like that which is a bit of a bootstapping issue, but I guess worse case you roll yourself in for an experience day and say you daily an mx5 and hope that's enough.
The main issue as a daily would be use in the rain and particularly at night. In the dry they are remarkably manageable, easy to drive and comfortable with some nice ETY earplugs, I've used it work work a lot, driven it to the ring with mates, and for a weeks holiday in the middle of France with my girlfriend at the time, I've strapped the mountain bike to the roll bar, and taken my 80yo granddad out for a half hour spin in it.
Even in reasonable rain it is fine in summer as long as arriving a bit damp is ok, but unless there is a trick that only half the caterfield owners know you will always get a bit coming through the sidescreens l, especially if you're on cycle wings not full wings, and on the older cars the front edge of the roof is only held with lift-dot. Even without the roof you can do an hour sitting an a bathtub if there is a shower at the end, and obviously people commute all winter on a motorbike and just have a full change of clothes on arrival, but it's not like an old MX5 is for dryness. I never had a heaterbox, which wasn't an issue for keeping warm (coat on, plenty of heat comes through the bulkhead) but it did mist up a lot with the roof on.
At night being so low and often with fairly poor headlights it can get down right dangerous how little you can see, certainly I wouldn't take mine on a motorway in heavy rain if it was dark.
Good luck. Till have mine and love it.
Daniel
I am not too worried about both the rain and dark issues you mention. Partly because the mx5 is also pretty low and i always have the roof down. Not much difference there. I will also probably put LEDs on the Caterham. Still worth a thought though as you said.
HustleRussell said:
Car insurance, when I was 19 (2009);
1.2 Clio £800
2.0 Mondeo TDCI £800
Caterham £500
That's just ridiculous! I haven't tried the likes of Adrian Flux and Lloyd White yet. I have been with Adrian Flux for quite some time up until September last year so hopefully that will account towards something. They seem much more relaxed about modifications.1.2 Clio £800
2.0 Mondeo TDCI £800
Caterham £500
GetCarter said:
Not a lot of space for the dog.
Seriously, the 'all weather' stuff doesn't stop all the weather. If you want to turn up to work in a suit, it ain't the car for you.
Haha cheers, good job I haven't got a dog then? Yeah I know what owning a Caterham entails, it's more of a practical bike rather than an impractical car. I was hoping for some more specific info on driving a carbureted caterham everyday as opposed to an injected one. Seriously, the 'all weather' stuff doesn't stop all the weather. If you want to turn up to work in a suit, it ain't the car for you.
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 10th June 16:19
Thanks for all the replies guys. There is definitely a lot to consider but I have been considering dailying one since I was about 6.
Regarding corrosion, I am planning on taking very good care of it and I will be very Liberal with treating it. Owning a mk1 mx5 has taught quite a bit about this!
Again, the mk1 mx5 also has candles for headlights. Granted its much higher but I plan on putting led lights on the Caterham.
65 years ago, men my age were up to their necks in mud with bullets flying over their heads. If I can't handle getting a bit damp on my commute to a heated office with showers then something isn't right.
Regarding corrosion, I am planning on taking very good care of it and I will be very Liberal with treating it. Owning a mk1 mx5 has taught quite a bit about this!
Again, the mk1 mx5 also has candles for headlights. Granted its much higher but I plan on putting led lights on the Caterham.
65 years ago, men my age were up to their necks in mud with bullets flying over their heads. If I can't handle getting a bit damp on my commute to a heated office with showers then something isn't right.
DoubleD said:
Im not the OP, just interested in the thread.
That's me! 
Paul the Painter said:
I was doing the same about 6 years ago. Ended up finding a de Dion Crossflow that had been fitted with a 2.0 Zetec with around 200bhp.
Personally, after trying the half-hood it came with, I unbolted all the normal hood stuff and stored it in the garage, never to see the light of day again. Only ever got a slightly damp right shoulder in really heavy rain. The soft bits for send half good is really good, and I can get it on at a set of traffic lights.
Drove it daily for 3 years, my partner is a locum, so I was often driving 2-3 hours on a Friday night and Monday morning to see her, and never had a problem, generally arriving in better shape than before. Sort of keeps you awake driving open top in the winter!
Now we are talking! I assume your zetec was fuel injected? Personally, after trying the half-hood it came with, I unbolted all the normal hood stuff and stored it in the garage, never to see the light of day again. Only ever got a slightly damp right shoulder in really heavy rain. The soft bits for send half good is really good, and I can get it on at a set of traffic lights.
Drove it daily for 3 years, my partner is a locum, so I was often driving 2-3 hours on a Friday night and Monday morning to see her, and never had a problem, generally arriving in better shape than before. Sort of keeps you awake driving open top in the winter!
coldel said:
A left field idea, maybe a halfway house solution of getting an NA VX220? £10k would get you a good example with mid to low mileage, no rust issues to worry about, more livable day to day than a Caterham but still a more epic experience than an MX5 to drive (with no offence meant to the MX5 owners on here). Appreciate your dream since a young 'un has been a caterham but the VX would be a good stop gap until you have the proper funds and you are unlikely to lose any money on it.
You raise some very good points. Both the VX and elise S1 are contenders and always have been. The only issues I have with them is that they are much harder to work on and parts are expensive and much harder to come by. Plus prices seem to be peaking I think, at least for the elise. Pretty much zero corrosion though which is always a plus!Edited by coldel on Wednesday 12th June 08:58
I'd be very happy with any of the three but experiencing a Caterham is a bit of a must!
Hi all, temporarily absent OP here. Couple of things have changed which have subsequently surfaced a couple of new questions!
So I'm now looking at a x/flow as well as a cheap runabout - maybe a K11 micra or pug 205.
Firstly, the under the dash handbrake. I live on a fairly steep incline. How effective are these old handbrake? This isn't a game changer because I have previously had cars with little to no handbrake. I'm used to leaving it in gear and using chocks.
Secondly, the 1700 xflow had a rebuild with a new block and forged pistons c. 40k miles ago. Obviously it's different for Cats depending on how they are driven but when could I expect to require significant engine work?
Cheers all.
So I'm now looking at a x/flow as well as a cheap runabout - maybe a K11 micra or pug 205.
Firstly, the under the dash handbrake. I live on a fairly steep incline. How effective are these old handbrake? This isn't a game changer because I have previously had cars with little to no handbrake. I'm used to leaving it in gear and using chocks.
Secondly, the 1700 xflow had a rebuild with a new block and forged pistons c. 40k miles ago. Obviously it's different for Cats depending on how they are driven but when could I expect to require significant engine work?
Cheers all.
DoubleD said:
If you are consider an older engine then there is a vauxhall engine car for just £8.5k on pistonheads
I think for the added benefits the crossflow I'm looking at is probably better?Stridey said:
X flow owner here.
Thanks for your help Stridey. I'll just make sure the handbrake is nice and tight for it's MOT and leave it in gear for the rest of the year! Thanks for that, that gives me a lot of confidence. I've read from some places that they need rebuilding every 15-20k! Maybe that's with mostly track use.
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