How to choose an used Caterham
Discussion
Hi!!!!
I'm almost find all the money I need and I have a guy that can arrange the buy and the transport to Italy.
Now, Which Catheram do I need?
So, I'm tall (not laught please) 171cm, my weight is 85kg, big bones, large shoulder and a little bit of belly, long story short I have the turtle, the back of the turtle.
I need a pre 2001 model (burocracy), factory build, but, how can I choose the engine?
I would like to use in my mountain, and maybe a couple of time in a year go to a track day (I live in Imola).
I've seen that one for example:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9994949
Question:
It is possible to put a windscreen without remove the roll cage?
It's possible to wear the full hood without remove that cage?
There some "baggage" can fit for have a couple of day out with my lady (she's sporty)
Thanks for contibution!!!!
I'm almost find all the money I need and I have a guy that can arrange the buy and the transport to Italy.
Now, Which Catheram do I need?
So, I'm tall (not laught please) 171cm, my weight is 85kg, big bones, large shoulder and a little bit of belly, long story short I have the turtle, the back of the turtle.
I need a pre 2001 model (burocracy), factory build, but, how can I choose the engine?
I would like to use in my mountain, and maybe a couple of time in a year go to a track day (I live in Imola).
I've seen that one for example:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9994949
Question:
It is possible to put a windscreen without remove the roll cage?
It's possible to wear the full hood without remove that cage?
There some "baggage" can fit for have a couple of day out with my lady (she's sporty)
Thanks for contibution!!!!
The car you link was in my favourites from the beginning.
You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
P.s. I have forget the turtle since longe time...
P.s. 2: my lady is 150cm, so I think can fit even the truck
P.s. 3: sleep in a Caterham with a girl and your are more then 190cm, I need to know.😎
Of course thanks a lot at you both for the contribution
You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
P.s. I have forget the turtle since longe time...
P.s. 2: my lady is 150cm, so I think can fit even the truck
P.s. 3: sleep in a Caterham with a girl and your are more then 190cm, I need to know.😎
Of course thanks a lot at you both for the contribution
ForzaGilles said:
antonio.cocchi said:
The car you link was in my favourites from the beginning.
You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
Two reasons: the smaller wheels are lighter and therefore unsprung weight will be lower, and also the centre of gravity will be lower. Just mind that sump You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
Murph7355 said:
antonio.cocchi said:
The car you link was in my favourites from the beginning.
You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
P.s. I have forget the turtle since longe time...
P.s. 2: my lady is 150cm, so I think can fit even the truck
P.s. 3: sleep in a Caterham with a girl and your are more then 190cm, I need to know.??
Of course thanks a lot at you both for the contribution
Buy it You "promote" a question that I have alwais forget to do. Why big wheels are worst then 13 and 14"?
P.s. I have forget the turtle since longe time...
P.s. 2: my lady is 150cm, so I think can fit even the truck
P.s. 3: sleep in a Caterham with a girl and your are more then 190cm, I need to know.??
Of course thanks a lot at you both for the contribution
On top of what the other guys said on wheels, you also used to get a better selection o suitable tyres. (Haven't used mine for a while, so will need to check that scene out when I get the car back on the road (having kids meant little time to use it).
Beach ball has also gone. More a turtle now
My OH is a bit taller...but still isn't amused by the roll cage and faff. A car without a roll cage is more...."normal". And let's face it, a 7 needs all the help it can get on that front.
The overnighter in the Caterham is a story for another day. Let's just say it wasn't planned
I'm waiting an answer from the bank, then I will pay the guy for search and examinate.
Then maybe I will take a couple of day for have a look in person. Who knows. Maybe in spring I will use a four wheel instead my Speedy.
nunuk said:
antonio.cocchi said:
Maybe is for the lobby of the Mechanics. They are pretty organized.... 
Just do not buy the car without having sat in it first, or in another with same chassis. The first time I went into a S3 i needed help getting myself out from it, as you said "big bones" and that's exactly my case, I went for the SV chassis. Good luck with the purchase!
Quite difficult to found someone with a S3 chassis, most of people have westy or another replica....😰
Are SV chassis produced before 2001?
nunuk said:
According to Wiki the SV chassis started to be built in 2000, so maybe it is pre 2001, or maybe not... right?
What I can tell you is that if your hips are something like 112/114cm round, you'd probably have the same problem than I had, it's not that i'm obese (...yet!), but with the leather seats and these measures, you'll be stuck in it. I had the same problem finding S3 and/or SV units in Spain, so I arranged a test drive and I took a trip to Gatwick just to be 100% sure of what I should buy.
Maybe a short trip to Milano (Borghi Automobili) would sort out your doubts.
No pre-2001 SV on Sale at the moment. I've booked a trip to London in early december, but I would like to close before.What I can tell you is that if your hips are something like 112/114cm round, you'd probably have the same problem than I had, it's not that i'm obese (...yet!), but with the leather seats and these measures, you'll be stuck in it. I had the same problem finding S3 and/or SV units in Spain, so I arranged a test drive and I took a trip to Gatwick just to be 100% sure of what I should buy.
Maybe a short trip to Milano (Borghi Automobili) would sort out your doubts.
For sure I've to sit in one ASAP.
Murph7355 said:
antonio.cocchi said:
Well, finally I've paid a deposit to "the guy" for search a Seven for me. Finger cross....
You've paid a deposit on a car? Or some money to someone to find you one?If the latter, I wouldn't be paying anyone to find a car until they'd found me a decent one - would happily sign up to an arrangement to find me one if I was remote as you are, but wouldn't be paying in advance.
Ok, I'm now in front of a choice.
N.1 - Superlight (not R) 1.6K, 6 Speed. Super condition, look like was produced Yesterday. No special part. 18k£
N.2 - Super Sport, 1.8K VVC (Dave Andrews) 180bhp, brise dry sump, ap racing suretrac LSD, quaife dog gearbox (5speed), 4-2-1 repackable exahust, fully adjustable blisten suspension, big brakes, very good condition. 15K£
What to do?
N.1 - Superlight (not R) 1.6K, 6 Speed. Super condition, look like was produced Yesterday. No special part. 18k£
N.2 - Super Sport, 1.8K VVC (Dave Andrews) 180bhp, brise dry sump, ap racing suretrac LSD, quaife dog gearbox (5speed), 4-2-1 repackable exahust, fully adjustable blisten suspension, big brakes, very good condition. 15K£
What to do?
ForzaGilles said:
Bearing in mind the price difference, I would go for the Supersport - a fair bit more power than the Superlight for your occasional trackdays, plus it's dry sump. Are you sure it's a dog 'box though? That would be a nightmare on the road - it could be just a synchro 'box with straight cut gears?
O/T - I'm interested in doing a trackday at Mugello, either next year or 2022, but struggling to find any trackday organisers who have events there - any suggestions?
Thats the specs of the car:O/T - I'm interested in doing a trackday at Mugello, either next year or 2022, but struggling to find any trackday organisers who have events there - any suggestions?
This 7 is no ordinary VVC. It's low, wide, adjustable, tuned, set-up, well built and very very fast 1.8 Superlights eat your heart out - this is the closest i'll ever get to buying an r500!
This 7 has a Brise dry sump system;
In simple terms it corners so fast that oil has to be pumped onto bits as with a traditional sump the oil is thrown to the sides of the engine and doesn't keep it lubed. You also have a lower center of gravity - always good
This 7 has a custom LSD (not the cheap Caterham one);
A limited Slip Diferential means that when you corner and the inside wheel has less grip on the tarmac as the weight is transferred onto the outside wheel, it might start to slip. The LSD transfers more power to the outer wheel which now has more grip allowing you to put down more power and go faster.
Oh and it also means you can do donuts and really fast u-turns by lighting up the rear tyres TopGear style ;D
AP Racing's AP Suretrac
Diff no longer available as the Patent was sold to a Japanese racing company so i'm told - this may be wrong but it seems this system is now on all top end Subaru's.
This 7 has a Quaife gearbox;
This type of box / gear selection allows you to change gear much faster meaning you keep the power on the road. It can take at least 1 second off you 0-60 time. I'm told it originally cost around £12k this box still sells for £4k and has just had a new lay shaft and a full service.
product ID QBE26Z511
This 7 has been tuned by Dave Andrews;
Dave is a bit of a whizz dare i say legend with the K-series engine. He was let loose on it a few years back to complete the K06a upgrade which comprises of very useful power and torque increase across the range and especially between 4500 and 7200, comprising a fully ported cylinder head, retiming of the VVC inlet camshafts and improved exhaust camshaft. It goes faster and harder. Oh yes did we mention 170bhp+ with this upgrade alone.
Has a custom exhaust;
The 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust improves the flow of exhaust gasses giving you just a bit more ooomph and is far lighter than the standard one. It is re-packable too.
Fully adjustable suspension;
Fully dialable suspension from Bilstein
This 7 also has wide track suspension and flat floor;
A Caterham option it widens the distance between the front wheels giving the car a better stance and improves cornering speed and stability. A flat floor means that the suspension is adjusted to evenly distribute weight.
Its got Big Brakes too;
Bought from and fitted by James Whiting in 2004 the upgrade was yet another £1100.
Momo removable steering wheel.
Is not an out and out racer;
Its all very well having a really quick car but having driven the r500 i wouldn't want to tour Europe in it! This is different - a 4 hour drive even in the winter is as comfortable as you could expect from a 7. Its not as highly strung as the r500 either and will potter around town just as well as Brands Hatch. 2006 i took it to the south of France with a friend who was recovering from major surgery only a fortnight before. Cozy but comfy.
- 4 point harnesses on both sides as well as normal belts
- leather interior
- carpets - even in the boot!
- Full wet weather gear
- heated screen
- HEATER - yes a heater
FIA roll bar
Carbon front wings
Removable spare wheel rack
Fitted with minilites and sticky tyres;
well it would be rude not to really. Road legal race tyres Yokohama 021Rs (£64/ each last time i bought them and they last too) are better than the toyo's on this car on the road as they don't tramline
Was originally built by a Bentley engineer and developed by a retired racing driver but surprisingly hasn't been raced but yes of course it has been on track - any 7 that hasn't, hasn't been treated properly ;o)
12 months MOT at time of posting
6 months tax
There is so much more but by now i think you get the picture - if you want to trump your mates new car - here's the solution.
Oh i almost forgot i have Shift lights too but i haven't fitted them yet.
There are a lot of juicy figures that go with this car.
0-60 is all in 1st gear and then some - 4 seconds is within reach. First gear is tall - its not a 0-60 machine but real road / track speed is optimised.
Overtaking at 60 when you are in a hurry is done in 2nd gear.
As a 34 year old man with 2 years no claims i pay £250 a year fully comp. yep £250!
I does get quite scary at 130mph - not the car, just my ability to deal with it!
Between 20-80 literally nothing touches it. The previous owner swears based on his time trials its faster than the F1 and having ridden in the SLR i can believe it. I dont have proof of this on paper but i may get some dyno tests done.
Including fuel, fluids and the spare wheel it weighs just 577kgs (bear in mind the r400 is weighed / calculated dry without the creature comforts - you can always take em off!)
For Mugello track days you can check here:
https://www.promoracing.it/
Prepare the wallet, not cheap. When you come, if you want, will be my pleausure show you some of the wonderful street in italy, I live in Imola, quite close to mugello.
BertBert said:
Is it a proper 1600 superlight with all the bits? If so, that would be the one for me. I couldn't deal with all that upgraded high horsepower, mechanical LSD, dog box stuff.
The 1600 superlight is the essence of what it all stands before, light, balanced, revvy, brilliant fun.
Bert
No, Sorry for make mistake, the choice is between a superlight with nothing more than standard (but look like new) or the supersport with all that bits.😉The 1600 superlight is the essence of what it all stands before, light, balanced, revvy, brilliant fun.
Bert
BertBert said:
antonio.cocchi said:
No, Sorry for make mistake, the choice is between a superlight with nothing more than standard (but look like new) or the supersport with all that bits.??
Without being too pedantic, it's not a superlight then What spec is it?Second One is the supersport with all the bits I wrote upstairs.
Murph7355 said:
antonio.cocchi said:
BertBert said:
Is it a proper 1600 superlight with all the bits? If so, that would be the one for me. I couldn't deal with all that upgraded high horsepower, mechanical LSD, dog box stuff.
The 1600 superlight is the essence of what it all stands before, light, balanced, revvy, brilliant fun.
Bert
No, Sorry for make mistake, the choice is between a superlight with nothing more than standard (but look like new) or the supersport with all that bits.??The 1600 superlight is the essence of what it all stands before, light, balanced, revvy, brilliant fun.
Bert
If it's a genuine numbered Superlight I'm with bertbert. Not because I wouldn't want more power...mostly because of the gearbox situation. Straight cut boxes are noisier than normal and if I recall you intend to use the car mostly on the road with your other half at times. The box will become a headache. You can up the power gradually as you want very easily.
Photos of both cars would be helpful.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9834056?cI...
For the supersport I prefere not because Is not listed and I don't now of the guy that want to sell agree in post picture. He contact me on private.
Is beautiful but "uglyest" than the SL.
HustleRussell said:
It is worth establishing whether the Quaife gearset in the second car is 'straight cut' or 'helical'.
A lot of the bits on that car are positives for hard use and trackdays but a whining straight cut gearset would definitely be a step too far for a car which is to be used primarily on the road and which you expect your wife to enjoy.
For road use in the mountains and a could of trackdays a year I think the more standard car may be more suitable, and both you and your wife can enjoy the pristine condition and greater comfort.
Unfortunatly straight cut, not Sincro, sequential....A lot of the bits on that car are positives for hard use and trackdays but a whining straight cut gearset would definitely be a step too far for a car which is to be used primarily on the road and which you expect your wife to enjoy.
For road use in the mountains and a could of trackdays a year I think the more standard car may be more suitable, and both you and your wife can enjoy the pristine condition and greater comfort.
ghibbett said:
It's gotta be the Superlight. That looks a fantastic example!
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9834056?cI...
As an anecdote, a fellow Seven'er had a Superlight for 5 or 6 years and loved it. He yearned for more power and sold it for an R500D. He persevered with the R500D for a year or so before getting rid, citing a definite preference for his old Superlight.
That the one I saw.https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9834056?cI...
As an anecdote, a fellow Seven'er had a Superlight for 5 or 6 years and loved it. He yearned for more power and sold it for an R500D. He persevered with the R500D for a year or so before getting rid, citing a definite preference for his old Superlight.
Someone told me that is for sale since long time and maybe have some rust.
😒
Murph7355 said:
PS And ask them why the engine was rebuilt and by whom. Could have been head gasket failure...in which case you want some surety that the job was done right - there are various engine checks that can be done to ensure it's in good health (checking oil and coolant, specific head gasket tests for contamination, compression checks etc. None of which are invasive/take long) and it would be good to know if they used uprated parts, depending on what caused the need for rebuild).
Thanks a lot!I Will take some day too see of somethings else do on the market. There are not as many as I expected for sale....
ForzaGilles said:
antonio.cocchi said:
Unfortunately straight cut, not Sincro, sequential....
In that case, I would go for the Superlight - that gearbox will be a pain on the road. The 6-speed gearbox in the Superlight is a joy to use, and the ratios are great. I used to own Superlight #115 - loved it Thanks for the kind offer - i'll be in touch when/if I come down
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