Is this for real?

[red22]

Having been put off cars for a year, after the Imprezza dream turned into a nightmare, I feel the need to put my daughter's hand me down saxo on the scrap heap and embark on something interesting again.

Always loved 7s since way back, and after a few failed attempts to get one over the years, I think its time to try again. With that in mind I started scanning classifieds looking for cheap, reasonable, affordable, ok I admit it my budget isn't huge looking at 10k, and came across this...

This One

Bargain I thought, but description doesn't seem to match up to the pics. Can't believe a 7 owner would be so ill clued up on his car so is this a case of, it's to good to be true and run away or give it a punt. Don't fancy getting fleeced.

Apologies if it's any one on here, just trying to be careful.

Thanks

[Matt W]

It looks too cheap to me, and the car is not a K Series, as described, but has a Vauxhall 8 valve engine instead. I suspect it’s dodgy but not everybody selling a 7 is fully aware of their value. There’s a mobile number in the advert so what have you got to lose? If it sounds dodgy when you speak to them hang up and forget about it.

[radical78]

looks ok for an old Vauxhall engine Caterham they arnt going to sell at big money
will be faster than a saxo and a lot cheaper to run than a subaru

[framerateuk]

Caterham have a very nice 1.6 up for sale on 10k, so 6k for a private sale isn't too unrealistic if he wants a fast sale.

You could call and see how it goes, just don't transfer any money!

[Skyedriver]

SORN and MoT expired July 2015
Scam ad?

[red22]

Seems it really was to good to be true. Shame, but at 11k that looks seriously over priced. Or maybe that's the scam ad. Either way to many inconsistencies for my liking.

[Eric Mc]

Matt W said:

It looks too cheap to me, and the car is not a K Series, as described, but has a Vauxhall 8 valve engine instead. I suspect it’s dodgy but not everybody selling a 7 is fully aware of their value. There’s a mobile number in the advert so what have you got to lose? If it sounds dodgy when you speak to them hang up and forget about it.

The ad might be dodgy but I don't think the car is. This would be one of the final run of solid axle Classics that were fitted with a 1600CC Vauxhall engine rather than the 1600 Ford Crossflow.

£6,000 does seem a a bit cheap - I would have expected at least £8,000.

If you are looking for a cheaper Seven, the solid rear axle Classics are a good entry route to Seven ownership and are as much fun as the more modern and more powerful versions (in my opinion).

[Matt W]

Eric, agreed. There is nothing wrong with the car as far as I can see, it's just the price that made it suspicious. I have had 4 Caterhams of this spec and am currently racing one with the Caterham Graduates.

[CanAm]

The VIN number seems to show it's a race chassis; note the under-dash handbrake, short passenger footwell, no carpet on transmission tunnel and lack of a heater.

[Matt W]

It would have been a Caterham Academy car in 2000. That was the final year that the academy used the live axle, 8 valve Vauxhall car.

[S1X OK]

While this car might seem an affordable entry into Seven ownership, for me, the potential for so much to be wrong with it is huge and it wouldn't be long before I'd be wondering how different a later model might be. If it was too tempting to resist, I'd ask one of the 'experts' found hereabouts to accompany you and get an opinion from one who knows what to look for.

[LLantrisant]

a damaged bonnet, faded harness, faded steering wheel, faded seats, generally a bit "untidy", MOT?, engine not everybodies taste, possible ex-acadamy

too cheap? nope, not at all.

[red22]

CanAm said:

The VIN number seems to show it's a race chassis

Oh the way I read the vin was that long cockpit, kit, road chassis. going by a french website. That's what put me off and the unknowns of what problems to get it through an MOT. Could cope with the shabbyness just to many questions, and the other ad.

[Toaster]

£6k is possibly a bit low, generally low end 7's start around £8k, check the chassis and the Ali the advert says that its a factory built car and as the vin number is shown you could get the factory records. Lotus 7 club members also have access to buyers guides (can't fathom out why the club hides these) you should also be able to get a suitable person from the club to come and asses the car with you.

[CanAm]

Advert says factory built, but VIN shows it as kit built. The price seems reasonable compared with the car from Caterham, which is in better condition and includes warranty etc. You would expect a mark up of £2500 or so over a private sale.

[TTwiggy]

OP - I was trying to sell a K-Series for a figure around your budget at the end of last year but with little interest.

[one eyed mick]

If you are unsure about the car walk away its better to wait than buy some thing you will hate

[GinG15]

CanAm said:

Advert says factory built, but VIN shows it as kit built. .....

would mean: the seller is a liar?

any statements regarding condition, history etc., even the seller is a private person, needs to be proveable.

if the seller puts such a statement in his advert, he is in charge, in case of any claims.

it would not be surprising finding a car, during inspection, with a rusty chassis.

[BertBert]

It's standard that even the factory built cars were registered as kit built around that time. So not necessarily incompatible statements.

[GinG15]

what did a caterham dealer recently told me about this specific model:

"its hard to sell one of those, because they had been already cr*p when new"