Thinking about purchasing a Caterham
Discussion
Hello guys
I have some change burning in my pockets and thinking of buying a second hand Caterham, a 420R.
I live in Switzerland and probably won't track it all, more like a weekend toy. I have a couple of weekend toys already including an Exige 430 Cup (which I intend to keep).
How different is this Cateerham to the Exige ? Is there a high chance I will get fed up with it quickly once the novelty wears off ? Is it usable for most of the year (excluding winter) ? In the event I want to sell it, is it relatively easy to do so outside the UK, where I guess they are mostly unknown to the masses ?
Would be great to also hear from other people who own both Lotus and Caterham
I have some change burning in my pockets and thinking of buying a second hand Caterham, a 420R.
I live in Switzerland and probably won't track it all, more like a weekend toy. I have a couple of weekend toys already including an Exige 430 Cup (which I intend to keep).
How different is this Cateerham to the Exige ? Is there a high chance I will get fed up with it quickly once the novelty wears off ? Is it usable for most of the year (excluding winter) ? In the event I want to sell it, is it relatively easy to do so outside the UK, where I guess they are mostly unknown to the masses ?
Would be great to also hear from other people who own both Lotus and Caterham
Edited by superpippo on Thursday 2nd February 20:47
Probably a bit far from you, but maybe worth having a word with Kumschick Sports cars in Schötz,
"Official major Swiss importer and official brand representative of the sports cars Lotus and Caterham with a professional workshop. Purchase and sale, leasing and financing. Vehicle rental in summer."
Freddy Kumschick used to organise a tour in Switzerland for Lotus 7 & and Caterham owners.
"Official major Swiss importer and official brand representative of the sports cars Lotus and Caterham with a professional workshop. Purchase and sale, leasing and financing. Vehicle rental in summer."
Freddy Kumschick used to organise a tour in Switzerland for Lotus 7 & and Caterham owners.
I think you’ll find there’s a Lotus 7 Owners club based in Switzerland (part of the International 7 Network) who will be able to answer some of your questions.
I thought that the Caterham needed to be 485 spec rather than than a 420R for country/EU conformity?, but I could be talking rubbish
Being fortunate enough to currently own both a Lotus Exige 410 Sport and a Caterham 620R (previously a 420R) the Lotus and the Caterham (in either variant) are very different cars to drive/maintain.
You definitely need to try/hire a Caterham to see if you’re on the same wavelength, not everybody is.
I thought that the Caterham needed to be 485 spec rather than than a 420R for country/EU conformity?, but I could be talking rubbish
Being fortunate enough to currently own both a Lotus Exige 410 Sport and a Caterham 620R (previously a 420R) the Lotus and the Caterham (in either variant) are very different cars to drive/maintain.
You definitely need to try/hire a Caterham to see if you’re on the same wavelength, not everybody is.
CanAm said:
Probably a bit far from you, but maybe worth having a word with Kumschick Sports cars in Schötz,
"Official major Swiss importer and official brand representative of the sports cars Lotus and Caterham with a professional workshop. Purchase and sale, leasing and financing. Vehicle rental in summer."
Freddy Kumschick used to organise a tour in Switzerland for Lotus 7 & and Caterham owners.
Thanks - I know him as he services my Lotus. I actually decided to buy it as was checking out the Caterham cars he has while I was waiting for my car to be moved around. He has a couple I may be interested in..."Official major Swiss importer and official brand representative of the sports cars Lotus and Caterham with a professional workshop. Purchase and sale, leasing and financing. Vehicle rental in summer."
Freddy Kumschick used to organise a tour in Switzerland for Lotus 7 & and Caterham owners.
100% get a track or sport cage. The caterham is a tiny car and being wrapped in a metal structure is defo preferred. Also it does mean passengers grab the cage rather than the windscreen which is good.
My cars a 310 but has every option bar heated seated and the rear map holder of you want me to send you some detailed pics of how a speced car might look.
Also agree with the sentiments above carbon seats much nicer and more comfy than the leather seats.
My cars a 310 but has every option bar heated seated and the rear map holder of you want me to send you some detailed pics of how a speced car might look.
Also agree with the sentiments above carbon seats much nicer and more comfy than the leather seats.
For those that are more expert, do you think the more expensive car is really worth the additional money ?
Would be great to get your opinions on these two cars!
Cheaper car --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
More expensive car (Local Lotus/Caterham dealer) --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
Would be great to get your opinions on these two cars!
Cheaper car --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
More expensive car (Local Lotus/Caterham dealer) --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
My personal thoughts which may or may not agree with others….
According to my Google translation of the green car (cheaper) comes with Power Steering, ESP and ABS, not to mention a weight of 700kg. I would have thought the dealer concerned would have checked and corrected the 3rd party advert before publication.
Seriously though, I would want to inspect the condition of each car in person to try to determine how well they have been looked after by previous owners. Especially looking for any obvious signs of corrosion. A lot depends on whether the cars been used all year around/all weathers and if so, has appropriate corrosion inhibitors been used at the time.
Mechanical problems can be sorted relatively easily, chassis problems like corrosion between the skin and the chassis rails near the footwells could result in having the whole car needing to be stripped down.
They say you should always buy a Caterham on condition not necessarily age or mileage.
Finally personally if I was thinking of buying a car from a dealer I would rather choose a dealer who specialises in Caterham, knows the cars well / hopefully checks for typical known Caterham problems and supports their own warranty.
Good luck in your search.
According to my Google translation of the green car (cheaper) comes with Power Steering, ESP and ABS, not to mention a weight of 700kg. I would have thought the dealer concerned would have checked and corrected the 3rd party advert before publication.
Seriously though, I would want to inspect the condition of each car in person to try to determine how well they have been looked after by previous owners. Especially looking for any obvious signs of corrosion. A lot depends on whether the cars been used all year around/all weathers and if so, has appropriate corrosion inhibitors been used at the time.
Mechanical problems can be sorted relatively easily, chassis problems like corrosion between the skin and the chassis rails near the footwells could result in having the whole car needing to be stripped down.
They say you should always buy a Caterham on condition not necessarily age or mileage.
Finally personally if I was thinking of buying a car from a dealer I would rather choose a dealer who specialises in Caterham, knows the cars well / hopefully checks for typical known Caterham problems and supports their own warranty.
Good luck in your search.
Edited by agatebox on Friday 3rd February 07:21
Edited by agatebox on Friday 3rd February 07:23
Edited by agatebox on Friday 3rd February 08:48
MEC said:
Lots of folks saying Caterham & Exige are very different cars but not explaining how/why?
Any chance of a bit of detail in driving differences and also running costs/likely issues?
(Sorry to hijack, but a Caterham or Westfield is on my wish list too!)
I'll prefix this with it's been 10years since I was behind the wheel of an Elise. Any chance of a bit of detail in driving differences and also running costs/likely issues?
(Sorry to hijack, but a Caterham or Westfield is on my wish list too!)
But in terms of differences. They drive very differently and that is immediately obvious.
Lotus, the engine is behind you, caterham the engine is in front... And it effects the drive dynamics. Which you feel on turn in, how it reacts to steering inputs, braking. I remember being very conscious of the weight behind me when driving the Elise.
Cabin wise, lotus is less cramped in width, but the seats aren't as comfortable (imo).
A 7 is more like a car you put on. You slide down into the cockpit and are held in between the transmission tunnel and side of the car. Where as in the lotus your climbing over the door sill, but the cabin itself isnt as cramped.
On the move, both have steering that is telepathic. I remember the lotus being very fingertip, probably down to it being a bigger dia thinner wheel than the 7. The 7 has a thick rim that you hold firmly.
The 7 having a really short gear lever throw with a direct connection to the box. Lotus, it's not as direct.
The 7 is much more open to the elements, the exhaust exits besides you, it's noisy, the wind buffets you loads. The roof is a faff... Yet I wouldn't change anything about it.
Your also low in a 7. A lotus is low, caterhams you sit lower, and your sat on the back axle.
I guess it's hard to describe the differences in writing, but a short drive in both would make the differences obvious.
superpippo said:
For those that are more expert, do you think the more expensive car is really worth the additional money ?
Would be great to get your opinions on these two cars!
Cheaper car --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
More expensive car (Local Lotus/Caterham dealer) --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
There's no detail to go on to see if there are any spec differences between the two cars. It just looks like the lower priced look one is a few months older with sightly higher KMs.Would be great to get your opinions on these two cars!
Cheaper car --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
More expensive car (Local Lotus/Caterham dealer) --> https://www.autoscout24.ch/it/d/caterham-seven-cab...
lord summerisle said:
I'll prefix this with it's been 10years since I was behind the wheel of an Elise.
But in terms of differences. They drive very differently and that is immediately obvious.
Lotus, the engine is behind you, caterham the engine is in front... And it effects the drive dynamics. Which you feel on turn in, how it reacts to steering inputs, braking. I remember being very conscious of the weight behind me when driving the Elise.
Cabin wise, lotus is less cramped in width, but the seats aren't as comfortable (imo).
A 7 is more like a car you put on. You slide down into the cockpit and are held in between the transmission tunnel and side of the car. Where as in the lotus your climbing over the door sill, but the cabin itself isnt as cramped.
On the move, both have steering that is telepathic. I remember the lotus being very fingertip, probably down to it being a bigger dia thinner wheel than the 7. The 7 has a thick rim that you hold firmly.
The 7 having a really short gear lever throw with a direct connection to the box. Lotus, it's not as direct.
The 7 is much more open to the elements, the exhaust exits besides you, it's noisy, the wind buffets you loads. The roof is a faff... Yet I wouldn't change anything about it.
Your also low in a 7. A lotus is low, caterhams you sit lower, and your sat on the back axle.
I guess it's hard to describe the differences in writing, but a short drive in both would make the differences obvious.
Thank you, that's helpful. As you say, a test-drive is no doubt the best way to decide if it's for me........But in terms of differences. They drive very differently and that is immediately obvious.
Lotus, the engine is behind you, caterham the engine is in front... And it effects the drive dynamics. Which you feel on turn in, how it reacts to steering inputs, braking. I remember being very conscious of the weight behind me when driving the Elise.
Cabin wise, lotus is less cramped in width, but the seats aren't as comfortable (imo).
A 7 is more like a car you put on. You slide down into the cockpit and are held in between the transmission tunnel and side of the car. Where as in the lotus your climbing over the door sill, but the cabin itself isnt as cramped.
On the move, both have steering that is telepathic. I remember the lotus being very fingertip, probably down to it being a bigger dia thinner wheel than the 7. The 7 has a thick rim that you hold firmly.
The 7 having a really short gear lever throw with a direct connection to the box. Lotus, it's not as direct.
The 7 is much more open to the elements, the exhaust exits besides you, it's noisy, the wind buffets you loads. The roof is a faff... Yet I wouldn't change anything about it.
Your also low in a 7. A lotus is low, caterhams you sit lower, and your sat on the back axle.
I guess it's hard to describe the differences in writing, but a short drive in both would make the differences obvious.
As you’ll already know you can (almost) daily an Exige, you’ve got to be pretty hardcore to daily a Caterham, I know the motorcycle analogy is often used about a 7 but it’s true, particularly when it comes to crash protection, I drive a Caterham much more defensively than I would an Exige just because the consequences of having an accident are more severe.
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