Potential Purchase - help for a novice

[Hoddo]

Hello,

Does anyone know this car: https://www.callumscaterhams.co.uk/post/supersport

Starting my search and this looks great on paper but due to being new to the brand I don't know how it looks from a value perspective, what questions I should be asking, what to look for or if anyone knows the car or has any comments on it specifically.

Any help welcome.

[Hoddo]

BertBert said:

Overall, it looks a cracking car provided it all checks out. Personally would be in the power sweetspot for me. I assume that supersport suspension means widetrack which it looks to have. It doesn't have big brakes which is discussed on the other thread. Wouldn't bother me, but others might think different.

I'm not really up on the LSDs and which ones give the issues (again discussed on here and on Blatchat), so that's worth checking out. Need to check the quality of the paint job, but I'm assuming that Callum knows how to get a Caterham painted properly.

Thank you Bert.

In reference to the LSDs, does anyone know which LSD's were classed as problematic? I plan on getting the car inspected so can ask for it to be checked.

In this picture there appears to be some rust in places. This is a 6 year old car that has moved 300 miles pa, so I presume it has resided in a garage for a good part of its life. Would one associate this level of rust with that type of inactivity?

[Hoddo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Much obliged. Thank you.

Now that I am getting deeper into the search there are so many options and variables. Very exciting.

[Hoddo]

BertBert said:

Enjoy the hunt. If you get to ask Callum about the car, be interesting to hear what's what.

Had a good chat with Callum today. Car belonged to an older chap in Scotland for its whole life. He was an engineer and essentially made the car, used it a bit and then did very little with it for years.

Callum arranged for the respray as it was originally unpainted!

[Hoddo]

Hello Everyone,

Well Callum was very clear and honest in his feedback.

This was a self build and the standard on the riveting was not good and clearly the individual damaged the side panels. Callum was also clear to say it does age the interior beyond its miles.

Regarding the paint. This was a unpainted car for most of its life and Callum has repainted in in preparation for sale.

I am swaying away from this car now so I shall open to the floor to the masses. I have a budget of up to £30k and this will be my first Caterham. If you fancy a Friday challenge, share some links and let me know what you would get as your first Caterham.

I am in touch with Caterham Silverstone about this car: https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/in-stock/model?id=...

[Hoddo]

blackmamba said:

A few parameters would be helpful - road / track, K-series / Duratec, S3 or SV chassis etc? I think £30k is a good budget and there should be plenty of choice, perhaps not in the middle of winter though!

If this is your first Caterham, you may want to buy from a reputable dealer and have the support and warranty. I have bought from GP Sevens and they were good to deal with and the car was very well prepared. This is just over your budget but they've had it a while (maybe the colour isn't popular?) but I am sure there is a deal to be done.

http://www.gpsevens.co.uk/portfolio-item/caterham-...

That looks fantastic. So much choice.

https://www.ptsportscars.com/car/2017-caterham-420...
https://www.ptsportscars.com/car/2018-caterham-310...

[Hoddo]

Tazio77 said:

Hoddo,

I know the last two owners of that one being sold at Silverstone..........

I'll drop you a DM.

[Hoddo]

BertBert said:

One of the things you should do of course is try and drive a couple of different power levels. It's easy to assume that more power is better. For some it is, for me it isn't. Having been up to 230bhp, I enjoyed 130-140 ish much more.

And as for the blue car and self build comment, I don't recall needing to divert those panels in a serious build, but it was quite a few years ago. Very disappointing if the truth of the car isn't quite being told.

Bert

So far driven a 160, 310 and a 420.

All very very enjoyable. The 420 was eye opening and took much bhp for me at this point.

[Hoddo]

edp190 said:

OP did you end up viewing the R300 at Silverstone? If you have ruled it out it would be great to have some feedback on it to save me a wasted trip.

Cheers Ed

I learned that the car was mainly a track toy and was self maintained 2012 - 2020.

Caterham Silverstone requested the car had a significant service prior to them taking it on and they shared a bill including crica £3k of work. DM me if you are interested and I can share the info I received. For me there were too many questions so my hunt continues.

Shame as it looks like a fantastic car.