Buying used - self build vs factory

[phips]

Hello folks,

I'm eyeing up a 2012 R400 that's had one owner from new. I don't know yet if it was self built or factory. Personally I don't care, as long as it passed whatever tests it needed to. But, does it affect resale at all? Do other people care if it was self or factory built? Anything I should be aware of when checking — paperwork, for example?

Many thanks for any tips n pointers. Rather excited at the prospect of a Caterham — I've just sold a 991.2 911 and I'm looking forward to the weight loss on track

[DCL]

It's a question that is asked a lot by those new to the Caterham circle. The simple answered is buy 'on condition' and don't worry too much whether it was factory or self build. My personal view is that the self build cars are better - they tend to have more time and effort spent building them. All cars usually have a factory check and pass an IVA test so are up to the same safety standards. Cars are very fixable so be aware of any accident damaged cars that have been insurance write-offs. It is possible to fix any car back to original standard but often not cost effective so be on the lookout for cheaply repaired cars with non Caterham parts and without full and honest history.

Edited by DCL on Wednesday 26th May 23:13

[rotorwings]

I have a factory built car and have never found any particular build issues with it.
(There are plenty of design issues with a Caterham, but that's another story and will obviously apply to all cars)

I agree with what DCL says, but would add that probably the best built and worst built cars are self built. The majority of self-builders are going to put much more time and care into the build, but a minority of self builders will simply lack the experience, skills, and patience. This means that parts might be fitted, once, twice, even three times, before they are eventually fitted the right way up It is hard to get anything so wrong that it might have a lasting effect though.

All this is just another way of re-saying: buy on condition.

[phips]

Thank you both, very helpful! DCL - you gave me a nice piece of confirmation bias there too, buy on condition. Thank you I was hoping that was the case but as you rightly said, new to the marque, so asking the typical question.

If the car looks as good in the flesh as it does in the pictures I’ll be a happy bunny.

I look forward to many miles and unbroken smiles. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel of something so light and raw.

[Blue 7]

When I built my Caterham, I agonised over every aspect of the build & double & triple checked the torque of every bolt. I was very aware of the fact that it was me that was going to be batting down the motorway at 70mph in it & I wanted to get everything absolutely right.

I don’t think that’s an unusual attitude amongst Caterham builders these days. I now have a factory built car & I have come across a few slightly suspect aspects to the build, that I certainly wouldn’t have been satisfied with. Nothing dangerous, just a bit disappointing.

I certainly wouldn’t shy away from a self built car.

[BertBert]

Blue 7 said:

When I built my Caterham, I agonised over every aspect of the build & double & triple checked the torque of every bolt. I was very aware of the fact that it was me that was going to be batting down the motorway at 70mph in it & I wanted to get everything absolutely right.

Over thinking it really. If you need to triple check every torque, something is not right!

[phips]

Oh I dunno, measure twice, cut once, never harmed the cutter. If triple checking made ‘em feel more comfortable, so be it

[BertBert]

phips said:

Oh I dunno, measure twice, cut once, never harmed the cutter. If triple checking made ‘em feel more comfortable, so be it

Good point, but if I my be so bold to spilt hairs in true forum style, it precisely isn't

Measure twice cut once is a phrase used for some action that can't be undone, such as cutting a length!

And doing a bolt up can be undone, literally (unless you are the Mercedes front right wheel gun man!)

I'll get my coat.

And I have seen a few habitual bolt torque checkers and they always give it a little tweak past the click of the torque wrench just to be sure. So they end up over tightening.

In my view you do it once and if you want to know you've done it, mark the nut and thread with a suitable marker.

Bert

[Blue 7]

I’ll put my hand up to that one, I probably was over thinking it....

[arun1uk]

No real difference with factory or self build. I bought a self build and the attention to detail was impressive. Caterham will build a car according exactly to the spec, self-builders will make little tweaks to make like easier, for example;
- Plastic M5 screws on rear wings so, God forbid, you clip something, the wing will snap the plastic screws as opposed to smashing the wing and ripping the rivnuts out
- Retaining channel to allow you to easily switch between windscreen and aeroscreen
- Racing brake fluid reservoir cap, as opposed to standard, as it can leak
- Coolant filling "T"
- Protecting the chassis and grot traps with ACF50 etc

A few things to check:
- Was it an ex-race car? Simple ways to check, for example there should be a fire extinguisher lever on the dash. They usually disconnect the speedo, hence under reading mileage
- Check the de dion tube for cracks, race cars do suffer
- Evidence of regular maintenance, oil changes, especially if regular track use
- Check LSD operation if it has one. A "noisy" diff doesn't mean it's broken - it's a "feature", however there are well known challenges with requiring a regular rebuild
- Chassis corrosion protection underneath, if used in rain/salty water it'll start to corrode and move to the ali skin

Good luck with the purchase, you won't regret it!