First Caterham - R300 WOW
Discussion
masbooth said:
Thinking of taking the plunge after owning a few exiges in the past. Seen this on for sale PH and wondered what everyone thought, looks a little overpriced to me but looks a good spec.
The seller is well known in Caterham circles. It may pay to get a few references first 
Isn't this the car being sold by the guy referred to in this thread?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Caterham South sold my old R300 K for 21k with 8k miles on the clock only a few months ago. So the price of yours looks high even if I misquoted the thread above.
Personally I think you can do a lot better for 22k than that R300.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Caterham South sold my old R300 K for 21k with 8k miles on the clock only a few months ago. So the price of yours looks high even if I misquoted the thread above.
Personally I think you can do a lot better for 22k than that R300.
angusfaldo said:
Isn't this the car being sold by the guy referred to in this thread?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yeshttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
CC and all the other Caterham type specialist all have overheads to meet. Typically they sell cars on commission basis marking it up by a few £Ks. Stick to private. Do your research. Go to local club meets. Ask lots of questions about Caterhams. I took a year to find the right car gaining a good idea of what was on the market and the types of vendors. The worst were the converted ex-race cars with dropped floor pans and a few cross country trips over the gravel trap. Have a look underneath. It's like somebody took a shotgun to it. Next worst were the non-mechanical/technical first owner built (accountants/solicitors/dentists) who are in such a rush to get the car on the road they bodge it enough to get it through the SVA. Ask anybody in the motor trade. Worst time to sell and the best time to buy is NOW! Don't buy the first thing you see. There'll be loads. You get those who buy Caterhams and want them to be like their Audi A5 estate/BMW 5 series/Jag and then realise they're not.
Supra Chewie said:
CC and all the other Caterham type specialist all have overheads to meet. Typically they sell cars on commission basis marking it up by a few £Ks. Stick to private. Do your research. Go to local club meets. Ask lots of questions about Caterhams. I took a year to find the right car gaining a good idea of what was on the market and the types of vendors. The worst were the converted ex-race cars with dropped floor pans and a few cross country trips over the gravel trap. Have a look underneath. It's like somebody took a shotgun to it. Next worst were the non-mechanical/technical first owner built (accountants/solicitors/dentists) who are in such a rush to get the car on the road they bodge it enough to get it through the SVA. Ask anybody in the motor trade. Worst time to sell and the best time to buy is NOW! Don't buy the first thing you see. There'll be loads. You get those who buy Caterhams and want them to be like their Audi A5 estate/BMW 5 series/Jag and then realise they're not.
I don't recognise both those stereo-types. I agree about ex-racers. They have to be bought on condition.Not so sure about the bodgers though. It's quite hard to bodge a new caterham kit as a/ the kit has all the bits and b/ it has a post build check built in to the price.
I think that the half-arsed improvers are worse. Enough mechanical knowledge to want to make "improvements" (after all what would Caterham know about getting it right?), but not enough to do a good job. The plague of ill-fitting battery replacements take pride of place.
Anyway, they're all generalisations, buy on condition only. The great thing about a caterham is you can see pretty much everything about it very easily.
Bert
angusfaldo said:
Isn't this the car being sold by the guy referred to in this thread?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Caterham South sold my old R300 K for 21k with 8k miles on the clock only a few months ago. So the price of yours looks high even if I misquoted the thread above.
Personally I think you can do a lot better for 22k than that R300.
Which R300 was yours?http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Caterham South sold my old R300 K for 21k with 8k miles on the clock only a few months ago. So the price of yours looks high even if I misquoted the thread above.
Personally I think you can do a lot better for 22k than that R300.
Just technical enough to be dangerous. But I can spot a bodge at a 1000yds!Totally disagree that a race car is to be avoided (although I'm a racer, so my opinion may be biased ). Seriously though, whilst a race car is cosmetically a bit ropey, they're mechanically very good. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself what's better.....a car that's been wheeled out and polished once every two months and driven for a couple of thousand miles a year, or a car that's bolt checked twice a month, had it's oil replaced two or three times in a year, it's gearbox oil checked regularly, any worn components replaced and any damage repaired by CC or Arch and never driven on the road?!
Ultimately, a race car can be picked up for a good deal less than the equivalent road car. It'll have been better looked after mechanically, and the spare cash can be spent on a respray and some nice upgrades.
Anyone worried about the mechanical bits should note that the Sigma engines are pretty bomb proof (even after 3 seasons they're still producing within a couple of bhp of their original output) and a gearbox is 'only' £350 if it does give up, and the warning signs are there if you test the car.
). Seriously though, whilst a race car is cosmetically a bit ropey, they're mechanically very good. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself what's better.....a car that's been wheeled out and polished once every two months and driven for a couple of thousand miles a year, or a car that's bolt checked twice a month, had it's oil replaced two or three times in a year, it's gearbox oil checked regularly, any worn components replaced and any damage repaired by CC or Arch and never driven on the road?!Ultimately, a race car can be picked up for a good deal less than the equivalent road car. It'll have been better looked after mechanically, and the spare cash can be spent on a respray and some nice upgrades.
Anyone worried about the mechanical bits should note that the Sigma engines are pretty bomb proof (even after 3 seasons they're still producing within a couple of bhp of their original output) and a gearbox is 'only' £350 if it does give up, and the warning signs are there if you test the car.
Helluvaname said:
sjc said:
As that car has been at a couple of places, are we saying avoid that car, or just the dealer? I'm assuming it's on SOR?
Everyone I know would avoid the seller at any expense Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff