R400 Running Costs
Discussion
If you haven't already then have a look and search on www.blatchat.com the L7OC forum.
Servicing is every 6000 miles and will cost somewhere between £300 and £600 at Caterham (cheaper if you get it done by a specialist).
Tyres are £100 a corner for CR500s (standard fit) or cheaper if you use Yokohama A048R, A021R, or A032R. You should expect to get somewhere around 5000 miles from these sorts of tyres (they are much softer than normal car tyres) depending on abuse, trackdays, etc. Brakes will last forever unless you do a lot of track work (R400 has AP calipers and vented disks) but pads are not mega-expensive. Innsurance is cheap with a specialist such as Egger Lawson, MSN, Footman James, etc.
The expensive bit is when you get hooked and start doing trackdays, upgradding the car etc.
Servicing is every 6000 miles and will cost somewhere between £300 and £600 at Caterham (cheaper if you get it done by a specialist).
Tyres are £100 a corner for CR500s (standard fit) or cheaper if you use Yokohama A048R, A021R, or A032R. You should expect to get somewhere around 5000 miles from these sorts of tyres (they are much softer than normal car tyres) depending on abuse, trackdays, etc. Brakes will last forever unless you do a lot of track work (R400 has AP calipers and vented disks) but pads are not mega-expensive. Innsurance is cheap with a specialist such as Egger Lawson, MSN, Footman James, etc.
The expensive bit is when you get hooked and start doing trackdays, upgradding the car etc.
Well, the chance to experience any costs would be a fine thing.
No matter how addictive these motorized pilchard tins are, actually getting the factory to deliver one before you turn grey & incontinent seems to be something of a black art for which my apprenticeship seems grossly underserved.
It seems that Caterhams are only allowed in the home counties: do they dissolve or something, once north of the Gappus Watfordium?
Frustrated as a black pudding in the making but plagued by desiccated hogularism.
No matter how addictive these motorized pilchard tins are, actually getting the factory to deliver one before you turn grey & incontinent seems to be something of a black art for which my apprenticeship seems grossly underserved.
It seems that Caterhams are only allowed in the home counties: do they dissolve or something, once north of the Gappus Watfordium?
Frustrated as a black pudding in the making but plagued by desiccated hogularism.
Used cars are great value at them moment. Not least because you don't have to deal with the factory, who can often be more arrogant than you'd think possible.
Costs as noted above. I'd also change the oil every 3k miles, especially if doing tarck work (you will).
If you budget 1k per 6k miles you won't be that far off and may well have a bit of an upgrade budget each year
If you have a clean driving record, aren't 12yrs old living in Stepney and can garage the car I'd be surprised if you'd pay over 400 quid for fully comp insurance. Possibly even nearer the 300 mark.
Costs as noted above. I'd also change the oil every 3k miles, especially if doing tarck work (you will).
If you budget 1k per 6k miles you won't be that far off and may well have a bit of an upgrade budget each year
If you have a clean driving record, aren't 12yrs old living in Stepney and can garage the car I'd be surprised if you'd pay over 400 quid for fully comp insurance. Possibly even nearer the 300 mark.
murph7355 said:
Used cars are great value at them moment. Not least because you don't have to deal with the factory, who can often be more arrogant than you'd think possible.
Oh spiffing...
Loony - delivery that was promised for end of August will now be early September, which probably means mid-late September...which means I should have bought a ferkin' SeaDoo whatdjamacallit.
If it makes you feel any better, I LOVE using my R400 in the rain! In these cars you have soooo much feel of what's going on between car and tarmac that you can slide them about until your hearts content - yay!
I've always used my 7's all year round (albeit in small doses) so there's no need to feel so p****d off that yours isn't with you yet but I can imagine you're getting to the end of your tether (sp?) with the factory at the moment.
Did you buy it from the Midlands or the South?
I've always used my 7's all year round (albeit in small doses) so there's no need to feel so p****d off that yours isn't with you yet but I can imagine you're getting to the end of your tether (sp?) with the factory at the moment.
Did you buy it from the Midlands or the South?
Loonster - from fair Caterham itself...back in June!
(Made all the worse by the fact that the beetle's also in hospital following it's recent Torvill & Dean exploits!)
But thanks for the thought, I'm sure rain won't be much of a deterrent, in fact it'll probably be a good teacher, as it were.
I'll have to content myself with rolling down a steep hill or something, in the meantime.
How's things Loonside?
(Made all the worse by the fact that the beetle's also in hospital following it's recent Torvill & Dean exploits!)
But thanks for the thought, I'm sure rain won't be much of a deterrent, in fact it'll probably be a good teacher, as it were.
I'll have to content myself with rolling down a steep hill or something, in the meantime.
How's things Loonside?
Speak as you find, but I always found the factory and Midlands very helpfull. Mine took just 6 weeks from order to delivery and was a week earlier than originaly promised!
Cost wise I think you're on the money with the figures mentioned earlier, but add fuel consumption isn't great, but who cares when you get flames out the exhaust!!
Cost wise I think you're on the money with the figures mentioned earlier, but add fuel consumption isn't great, but who cares when you get flames out the exhaust!!
All's well thanks Deristrictor, went out in the 7 yesterday down to Caterham for them to double check the radiator and they assured me everything is okay. It was a very wet journey down there and one section of standing water on the M25 made for an 'exciting' moment, my passenger (an ex - caterham owner) had very white knuckles for a brief moment but a superb journey all the same. The drive home however was marvellous - roof off, sun shining, machine gun (exhaust) reverberating off every wall and tunnel we could find, it really doesn't get much better than that.
rico said:
I'm 6ft2, 16stone, size 12 feet and fitted in a normal width car without problem. Although the SV was more comfortable.
cheers. hows the new flat going? and have you got your digital camera yet?
edit to add - did you drive the car as well? I know that I can physically fit in, but I'm more worried about using the pedals
>> Edited by dcw@pr on Monday 16th August 23:07
I'm 6'4" and have fluctuated between 14.5 and 18+ stone in the time I've owned a 7 (am now in between). I fit and can drive it. At times it's been snug, but you soon learn that this is a plus of a 7, not a downside.
To me, the SV was actually too big and not as intimate. You couldn't brace yourself effectively enough and I felt like I was rattling round in it. Not what I'd become used to, more like a "normal" car (bad news).
Try both and see how you get on, but remember that it's meant to be cosy.
Things you are likely to need:
1) A small steering wheel. 250mm removable is ideal.
2) Probably bench seats. Std seats take up a lot of extra space, and for the bigger amongst us, actually don't improve your location in the car. They detract from it in fact.
3) Pedals as far forwards as possible. In later cars (post 95) they have 3 settings. Earlier cars just have two I think.
4) You *could* get the lowered floor. This will help a lot with height. Caterham do a kit (expensive but handy).
5) DeDion cars have more cockpit space.
6) Pixie boots AKA Sparco (or brand of your choice) race driving boots.
7) Pedal spacing can be altered by subtle bending of the various pedals.
Assuming you get the removable wheel (and you should!), get the ignition barrel removed and have keyless ignition. Will save you impaling your knee on the fuel filler key, and save valuable grammes.
With the mods above, the 7 is the most comfortable car I've ever driven. The first one I ever tried (Motolita wheel, proper seats, 1994 vintage) I could get into, but couldn't turn it left. I almost decided to go for it and learn to work around this little problem (I wanted a 7 badly!). Then I decided to go to the bank mgr and beg for a bit more cash instead
To me, the SV was actually too big and not as intimate. You couldn't brace yourself effectively enough and I felt like I was rattling round in it. Not what I'd become used to, more like a "normal" car (bad news).
Try both and see how you get on, but remember that it's meant to be cosy.
Things you are likely to need:
1) A small steering wheel. 250mm removable is ideal.
2) Probably bench seats. Std seats take up a lot of extra space, and for the bigger amongst us, actually don't improve your location in the car. They detract from it in fact.
3) Pedals as far forwards as possible. In later cars (post 95) they have 3 settings. Earlier cars just have two I think.
4) You *could* get the lowered floor. This will help a lot with height. Caterham do a kit (expensive but handy).
5) DeDion cars have more cockpit space.
6) Pixie boots AKA Sparco (or brand of your choice) race driving boots.
7) Pedal spacing can be altered by subtle bending of the various pedals.
Assuming you get the removable wheel (and you should!), get the ignition barrel removed and have keyless ignition. Will save you impaling your knee on the fuel filler key, and save valuable grammes.
With the mods above, the 7 is the most comfortable car I've ever driven. The first one I ever tried (Motolita wheel, proper seats, 1994 vintage) I could get into, but couldn't turn it left. I almost decided to go for it and learn to work around this little problem (I wanted a 7 badly!). Then I decided to go to the bank mgr and beg for a bit more cash instead
David - get yourself to one of the local Lotus Seven Owner's Club meetings (details here) and I'm sure everyone will be happy to let you try a variety of cockpits for size.
In fact, get yourself to a trackday that I'm at and you can try mine out in return for taking some action photos.
Oh, and 6'3", 14-ish stone, size 10s and I'm OK (if not a little snug) in my Tillit seats with removeable steering wheel.
In fact, get yourself to a trackday that I'm at and you can try mine out in return for taking some action photos.
Oh, and 6'3", 14-ish stone, size 10s and I'm OK (if not a little snug) in my Tillit seats with removeable steering wheel.
rico said:
dcw@pr said:
I'm 6'3", 14 stone, size 12/13 feet. will i fit in a normal width or will i need an SV?
I'm 6ft2, 16stone, size 12 feet and fitted in a normal width car without problem. Although the SV was more comfortable.
I'm 6'5 1/2", 18.5 stone, with size 13 feet, and drove a friends SLR in a 'spirited fashion' at the weekend. I think it would be better with either tillets, or less padding (to allow room for full lock manouevres) - or do what the race cars do, and drop the floor 50mm under the passenger compartment. Don't get an SV: they look lanky, and you have to be a seriously big badger not to be able to drive a standard car. The pedals weren't even on their furthest setting.... All I'd say, is go and drive one.
edited to add : my 911RS better watch out, cos it's got some serious competition now! The SLR is easier to drive fast and is less likely to go and park itself in a tree (IMHO). 8000 rpm shifts are a great feeling, and the 6 sp box is very slick. (he says after blowing his engine following a misshift :-( )
>> Edited by fergus on Monday 6th September 22:09
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