Looking for a toy
Discussion
I'm looking for a toy for the summer months, haven't got a huge budget as it'll be our third car.
Considering a Caterham or Ginetta G33.
Saw this advertised in autotrader :
1990 CATERHAM SUPER SPRINT SEVEN SUPER SPRINT,
3,600 miles, . 3600 Genuine miles,one owner from new,Raceline 2000 Ford Zetec with luminition fuel injection,circa 225 bhp,quaife gearbox.quafe lsd,live axle,immaculate condition. £9,995 .
Any comments from you Caterham boys?
I guess it's totally non-standard but atthe end of the day I'm not a pureist...just want to have some fun!
I know Live axles can be a bit leery on rough roads but I reckon a Caterham without is going to be more than my budget.
Tried Blatchat but looks like you need be a member of the Seven Owners club to sign-in.
Cheers
Considering a Caterham or Ginetta G33.
Saw this advertised in autotrader :
1990 CATERHAM SUPER SPRINT SEVEN SUPER SPRINT,
3,600 miles, . 3600 Genuine miles,one owner from new,Raceline 2000 Ford Zetec with luminition fuel injection,circa 225 bhp,quaife gearbox.quafe lsd,live axle,immaculate condition. £9,995 .
Any comments from you Caterham boys?
I guess it's totally non-standard but atthe end of the day I'm not a pureist...just want to have some fun!
I know Live axles can be a bit leery on rough roads but I reckon a Caterham without is going to be more than my budget.
Tried Blatchat but looks like you need be a member of the Seven Owners club to sign-in.
Cheers
Soupman,
I'm not overly qualified to answer, as I'm still looking for my first Seven too, but I've picked up a few hints from Blatchat and owners. If it's for Road use only, I'd say it's pretty highly tuned for a Zetec, and may not be very traffic-friendly. LSD may not be ideal for road use and the Quaife box might(?) be straight-cut gears, therefore very noisy.
Some will tell you a 1400K series is an ideal first Seven (if you're not used to a high power/weight ratio) while others will say you have to rev the nuts off it to get any performance and that it is not suited to the 5-speed box, which has quite a high top gear, but is not too bad with the 6-speed.
As a non-club member you can't post on Blatchat, but you can read the archives. You'll find plenty of people have asked similar questions and tons of advice on there. You can mail people by clicking on the icons above the posting.
Eric Mc posts on both and if he comes along later you'll find him both knowledgeable and helpful.
Alan
I'm not overly qualified to answer, as I'm still looking for my first Seven too, but I've picked up a few hints from Blatchat and owners. If it's for Road use only, I'd say it's pretty highly tuned for a Zetec, and may not be very traffic-friendly. LSD may not be ideal for road use and the Quaife box might(?) be straight-cut gears, therefore very noisy.
Some will tell you a 1400K series is an ideal first Seven (if you're not used to a high power/weight ratio) while others will say you have to rev the nuts off it to get any performance and that it is not suited to the 5-speed box, which has quite a high top gear, but is not too bad with the 6-speed.
As a non-club member you can't post on Blatchat, but you can read the archives. You'll find plenty of people have asked similar questions and tons of advice on there. You can mail people by clicking on the icons above the posting.
Eric Mc posts on both and if he comes along later you'll find him both knowledgeable and helpful.
Alan
Sounds like a monster car for the money. Alan's right about the Quaife but if you want a track day monster that is OK for the occasional road blast, I'd say that is a good buy (as long as the Quaife is a 5 speed, which I expect it is). Eric will try to talk you into a crossflow (or a Hurricane) so don't listen to him 
I drove a couple of VX powered Caterhams with the Quaife straight cut 5 speed - bloody noisy in all gears except 4th, which is indirect - too noisy for the road IMHO.
I've driven both 5 and 6 speed 1400s and didn't like either. I wouldn't recommend one to anyone to be honest, especially if you've come out of big torquey cars.
I drove a couple of VX powered Caterhams with the Quaife straight cut 5 speed - bloody noisy in all gears except 4th, which is indirect - too noisy for the road IMHO.
I've driven both 5 and 6 speed 1400s and didn't like either. I wouldn't recommend one to anyone to be honest, especially if you've come out of big torquey cars.
, despite being very fond of his own. He reckoned the future was the K-series - this WAS a few months ago 
£10k might get you into an early K-series car and you could probably find an ex-racecar for that kind of money. The recent Academy cars and the Roadsports are both K-series and should represent good value. On the Zetec car you mentioned check that the axle isn't the standard Ital one - with that amount of torque the axle might not be up to it. Normal replacement is a Ford "English" axle which is stronger.
A search on Blatchat will reveal answers to all your questions but if you have any more specific stuff then post here (or join the L7 club!). Also get along to your local area meet see here where lots of owners will try to convince you that their engine is best
- you may even get to blag a few rides.
>> Edited by Shaun_E on Wednesday 11th May 14:25
A search on Blatchat will reveal answers to all your questions but if you have any more specific stuff then post here (or join the L7 club!). Also get along to your local area meet see here where lots of owners will try to convince you that their engine is best
- you may even get to blag a few rides. >> Edited by Shaun_E on Wednesday 11th May 14:25
Hi Soupman
I won't try to persuade you into buying a Crossflow Seven. In fact, I'm prepared to recognise that the Crossflow is now a bit of an automotive antique and would probably now only suit someone who is after a genuine "Classic" Seven.
As this car is a 1990 model, it sounds to me that it must have had a Crossflow in it originally. Quite a few Crossflow Sevens were re-engined with Zetecs on more recent years. However, I'm surprised that someone felt the need to change engines before 3,600 miles were on the clock.
Obviously, with the demise of Rover, there is a chance that the "K"'s days are numbered. Caterham are now providing the Ford Duratec as an option. I was looking at a Duratec powered Seven last night and very nice it was too. Maybe that is the future for Sevens now - although I'm not so sure.
I would suggest finding out where your nearest Seven Club meets and get yourself along. Now that the summer is almost upon us, there should be reasonable gatherings at these meetings and you'll find that there are as many different Caterhams as there are owners. Most owners are usually delighted to talk about their cars and, has been said earlier, might even ofer you a passenger ride in one.
It is a bit of a pity that Blatchat, the Club forum has gone members only (although I fully understand the reasons why).
I won't try to persuade you into buying a Crossflow Seven. In fact, I'm prepared to recognise that the Crossflow is now a bit of an automotive antique and would probably now only suit someone who is after a genuine "Classic" Seven.
As this car is a 1990 model, it sounds to me that it must have had a Crossflow in it originally. Quite a few Crossflow Sevens were re-engined with Zetecs on more recent years. However, I'm surprised that someone felt the need to change engines before 3,600 miles were on the clock.
Obviously, with the demise of Rover, there is a chance that the "K"'s days are numbered. Caterham are now providing the Ford Duratec as an option. I was looking at a Duratec powered Seven last night and very nice it was too. Maybe that is the future for Sevens now - although I'm not so sure.
I would suggest finding out where your nearest Seven Club meets and get yourself along. Now that the summer is almost upon us, there should be reasonable gatherings at these meetings and you'll find that there are as many different Caterhams as there are owners. Most owners are usually delighted to talk about their cars and, has been said earlier, might even ofer you a passenger ride in one.
It is a bit of a pity that Blatchat, the Club forum has gone members only (although I fully understand the reasons why).
Soupman
I have run a Caterham for a couple of years and sold it recently and am upgrading.
It was a 1.4K series Supersport with 6 speed box. A super car for road use, and has been said an ideal first car.
I sold it to a guy who bought it as his first seven and he is over the moon with it.
Alicat
I have run a Caterham for a couple of years and sold it recently and am upgrading.
It was a 1.4K series Supersport with 6 speed box. A super car for road use, and has been said an ideal first car.
I sold it to a guy who bought it as his first seven and he is over the moon with it.
Alicat
canam said:
If it's for Road use only, I'd say it's pretty highly tuned for a Zetec, and may not be very traffic-friendly. LSD may not be ideal for road use and the Quaife box might(?) be straight-cut gears, therefore very noisy.
Likewise I'm no expert, but this looks like a lot of car for the money, but on the other hand it looks like a bit of a monster. That could be a good thing, but if you're not used to hairy-arsed rwd cars I'd avoid it. It depends on what you're used to (and your driving style) but the driving experience of any 7 will blow you away. However, with the 1.4 I'd be worried I'd want more power too soon.
FWIW I'm on my first 7. It's a 1.8k series 140bhp SV. I've had it just over a year and done 3 track days. If I didn't have my hands full with other things at the moment I'd be looking to fit an LSD and then getting a power upgrade. I avoided an LSD initially because (as I understand it) the handling improves but when the rear goes it goes more suddenly.
Hey
Thanks for responses and advice. Still not too sure where to go from here though, I guess I need to get out there and drive a couple.
The reason for the question re 1400K series, is that there is an ex-race 1400 for sale nearby (advertised on here) that has been converted back to road going form, it looks quite tidy from the pics. It's on budget and not too far from me. May go and have a peep, but am concerned I'll be yearning for more power before long...having said that I haven't driven it yet so am prepared to be impressed.
Just can't get the Zetec one out of my head though...220bhp! It will mainly be for road use, but not everyday....just sunny Sunday morning blats out to the coast/country...with maybe the odd track day. Is it really likely to be too wild?
Regarding power, I'm not used to that much, my everyday car's an enthusiastically driven Golf GTI Turbo (150bhp). However, the idea of getting a toy for the summer is to get something that's really gonna put a smile on my face when I press the loud pedal. I'm also considering a Ginetta G33 (3.9 V8 200bhp).
Cheers
Soupman.
Thanks for responses and advice. Still not too sure where to go from here though, I guess I need to get out there and drive a couple.
The reason for the question re 1400K series, is that there is an ex-race 1400 for sale nearby (advertised on here) that has been converted back to road going form, it looks quite tidy from the pics. It's on budget and not too far from me. May go and have a peep, but am concerned I'll be yearning for more power before long...having said that I haven't driven it yet so am prepared to be impressed.
Just can't get the Zetec one out of my head though...220bhp! It will mainly be for road use, but not everyday....just sunny Sunday morning blats out to the coast/country...with maybe the odd track day. Is it really likely to be too wild?
Regarding power, I'm not used to that much, my everyday car's an enthusiastically driven Golf GTI Turbo (150bhp). However, the idea of getting a toy for the summer is to get something that's really gonna put a smile on my face when I press the loud pedal. I'm also considering a Ginetta G33 (3.9 V8 200bhp).
Cheers
Soupman.
Arer you really going to pay £10k for an ex race 1400 (did 1400s race then???).
I was offered a 5 speed 1400 SS for £7500 last year - it had been tracked extensively (a corporate track day tool) but had dry sump etc. I drove it but it was so gutless that I passed on it.
To be honest, you're far better off with a 5 speed 1600 Roadsport - 115 bhp and a nice balance. It'll also be much easier to sell than a 1400 when you want to upgrade (note the use of "when"
. The Zetec will scare the crap out of you if you're not used to something with a bit of power!
I was offered a 5 speed 1400 SS for £7500 last year - it had been tracked extensively (a corporate track day tool) but had dry sump etc. I drove it but it was so gutless that I passed on it.
To be honest, you're far better off with a 5 speed 1600 Roadsport - 115 bhp and a nice balance. It'll also be much easier to sell than a 1400 when you want to upgrade (note the use of "when"
. The Zetec will scare the crap out of you if you're not used to something with a bit of power!A 6spd 1400K Supersport is a sweet little car, and will embarass the Golf in all important performance measures.
You will get used to it, and will yearn for more power. But you have to readjust your reference points with these cars and understand what makes them truly, truly quick. The driver!
I've seen 100bhp cars well piloted absolutely demolish theoretically superior cars. These guys then just become the straights hogs that we rue other marques for (i.e. squirting down the straights to keep lower powered cars behind).
I'm not sure I'd but an ex race car for that money though, and as the 1400 wasn't made for that long, you may have a job finding a good 6spd car.
I'm also not convinced about the Zetec car as a first 7 proposition.
You might be better off saving up a bit more wedge and perhaps getting another K car or perhaps even a Vx.
You will get used to it, and will yearn for more power. But you have to readjust your reference points with these cars and understand what makes them truly, truly quick. The driver!
I've seen 100bhp cars well piloted absolutely demolish theoretically superior cars. These guys then just become the straights hogs that we rue other marques for (i.e. squirting down the straights to keep lower powered cars behind).
I'm not sure I'd but an ex race car for that money though, and as the 1400 wasn't made for that long, you may have a job finding a good 6spd car.
I'm also not convinced about the Zetec car as a first 7 proposition.
You might be better off saving up a bit more wedge and perhaps getting another K car or perhaps even a Vx.
mechsympathy said:
140BHP is for nancy boys.
(Welcome to PH BTW)
I'm a big fan of a nice powerful Caterhams...BUT it isn't all about power. I had to alter my driving style once I graduated from Supersport to Superlight R - the driving process became less about preserving momentum, minimising braking and carrying as much speed through corners as possible and more about point and squirt.
Now I accept that this may of course be down to my inept driving, but I tried to go back to the previous way and I found I'd carry massive amounts of speed into a corner or back off/brake way before to shed excessive speed.
I'm betting Mr NZ man doesn't own a Caterham though...
Thnks for your welcome, you would be right - I don't own a Caterham, we have a thriving Lotus 7 replica industry in NZ. Check out www.fraser.co.nz. We have had inboard front suspension for 5 years plus - it just come out on the CSR.
Wrt to driving style I have been racing my car for around 5 years, and the best mod I ever did (apart from the Turbo) was add a LSD. You can get the power on much earlier and if it pushes try softening the front sway bar.
Moral is go for the HP and adjust the car to suit.
Wrt to driving style I have been racing my car for around 5 years, and the best mod I ever did (apart from the Turbo) was add a LSD. You can get the power on much earlier and if it pushes try softening the front sway bar.
Moral is go for the HP and adjust the car to suit.
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff