1.4 classic?

[laam999]

hi all, I'm thinking about (mostly just dreaming tbh) about a 1.4 classic to build, at less than £14k they actually seem affordable but EVERYTHING is an optional extra. I'm just wondering what people see as "essential" optional extra, (ie LSD, weather gear, better suspension etc) most of these it seems can be bought for the same price they are on the options list from the Caterham parts store, and since that means you can either sell old parts or save them as spares seems to be the cheaper option to me.

I'm just wondering how raw a barebones 1.4 classic would be and will see where my dreams take me from there (everyweek I'm dreaming/planning on owning a new car, just all depends on what I fancy when I finish and sell the MR2)

Thanks

Liam

[downsman]

I would say paint, screen/weather gear and heater are vital if you intend to use the car much.

I have a standard Roadsport, and it drives really well on the standard suspension and brakes.

LSD is nice if you can afford it but the 1.4 hasn't much torque, so you'd have to keep the standard hard tyres to feel the benefit I suspect

[Beverlonian]

Hmmm...
if you go into Caterham you'll probably find that they won't try to sell you anything that they don't think you will use. My Experience anyway. From the options list that I went in with I was advised against the spare wheel, weather gear and big brakes. I only took one piece of advice and that was because I drove the test car with standard brakes... Adequate for my choice of car.

I usually put the hood on to overwinter the car in the garage and the spare's never seen any service, just a hindrance, muck gatherer. I guess paint certainly saves a lot of time.

It's one of those cars that is each to their own, there are so many 'options'. If your up to building it yourself theres nothing that can't be done to it later when the budget allows.

Hope you end up getting one there's nothing like it, even in basic form.

Andy

[andrewdebbie]

downsman said:

I would say paint, screen/weather gear and heater are vital if you intend to use the car much.

+1 to all of that. If it was my car, I'd add the track day roll bar and 4-point harnesses.

Parts do show up used, so you could buy the car without them and start hunting for deals on parts.

I suppose you could leave off the paint if you really like polishing aluminum.


Kit prices are not on the road. Don't forget to add in transport costs, the SVA test and road tax.

Edited by andrewdebbie on Wednesday 21st September 07:46

Edited by andrewdebbie on Wednesday 21st September 07:47

[Tom_C76]

You do want paint as it is much easier to clean, but my car is an ex-academy racer so has no heater, and I've never felt the need for one.

I'd stick a cage on the car too, as it is much safer if you get it wrong, and 13" wheels gives you a much better choice of tyres at sensible money.

[BryanC]

Same dilemma I had. See my first post in Cat / Westie choices.

As this will be my daily driver, supported by a Honda 500 and a bus pass, I’ve gone for a fairly high spec with a budget of £20K.
That included :

Classic 1.4 – 5 speed
In my experience the 7evens only need high engine specs, 6 speed etc if you intend track / sprint use and you are keen to get upto 3 figures quickly ( I’ve got my bus pass don’t forget ). Caterham suggested that I would not need an LSD with my performance requirements. I went for the same performance as my lowly CVH Westfield.
Lowered floor – I’m 1.8m and 95kg and going from a Westie wide-body and the difference seated is noticable.
Leather and carpets – well I still intend to have space for a pretty lady next to me.
Full weather including screen / heater / tonneau
Paint – Orange, and of course you have to have a black pack for the liquorice allsort look
Then the bling – aero filler and button start.
..and then CC suggested that a removable wheel was very desirable so WTF – that’s included too.
Finally an ‘on the road pack’.

I have slightly overspent my budget, but life isn’t a practice run, so just do it.

Stay Cool

[Classic Grad 98]

Tom_C76 said:

You do want paint as it is much easier to clean, but my car is an ex-academy racer so has no heater, and I've never felt the need for one.

I'd stick a cage on the car too, as it is much safer if you get it wrong, and 13" wheels gives you a much better choice of tyres at sensible money.

Agree totally with regards to heater, I've never missed it.
I disagree on cage though, It can become a bit of a faff and also I wouldn't want to drive a car with a cage without a helmet on. In a major crash your head could contact it and it'd be curtains. I'm convinced that if you aren't planning to race, an FIA bar is the way to go.
You have to have 4-point harnesses. Everyone who gets inertia reels seem to regret it.
You don't need removable steering wheel, you don't want 15" wheels, you don't want a spare wheel/carrier/jack etc.
IMHO you don't need an LSD with a 1400.
Basically you can get away with a very basic spec but as someone else suggested keep the missus happy if she wants leather/carpet.

[amk]

Hi,

I had a go at painting my car. I'd never done any spraying before, but the caterham is a nice simple shape. I also had a quote for ~£400 to wrap the car, so I thought I'd give it a go and if i made a complete mess I would get it wrapped. All the primer/undercoat/paint (Porsche orange) thinners etc cost me ~£100 and the stripes were £40 off ebay. I borrowed a cheap sprayer off a mate and bought a power poliser kit from toolmart- makes the final polishing and buffing to a shine easier.
I also saved £400 off the kit price by not getting seats and seatbelts, I got some composite seats made for undr £200 and got some FIA expired harnasses for £50.

[andrewdebbie]

amk said:

I had a go at painting my car..

Looks great.

I've painted a few cars. It isn't as easy as it looks although with a brand new Unpainted Caterham, the prep work should be easier than a respray.

To anyone thinking about painting a car: 2-part automotive paint is nasty toxic stuff. Most of them can only be safely used with a fresh air respirator. A mask from B&Q isn't safe with automotive paint.

[Classic Grad 98]

Is it just me or would it be a bit too much of an economy to do a DIY paint job on a brand new £14k+ car? Lets face it, it'd never be perfect and if I was building a brand new car, that's the way I'd want it!

[V7SLR]

I painted a few cars in my younger days with the most basic of equipment and produced excellent results - painting a brand new Caterham chassis would be almost fun! And yes, 2K paint, been there done that and suffered badly!!!!

Stu.

[andrewdebbie]

Classic Grad 98 said:

Is it just me or would it be a bit too much of an economy to do a DIY paint job on a brand new £14k+ car? =

It depends. If you know what you are doing and have access to a paint shop it makes sense.

If you have no spray gun or air compressor and would be painting the car in the drive, probably not. To be safe, you should be using a fresh air respirator. A new one is £400 - £500. Add in a compressor, paint gun, moisture trap, paint, surfacer, supplies and you are getting close to what Caterham charge for paint.

Painting a car outside of a spray booth means some amount of contaminates will get on your paint. No way around that.