another one bites the dust
Discussion
Grounded my superlight during a "spirited" blat the long way home. Smashed in the sump, punched a hole in the bonnet and (although I'm no mechanic) would suggest the engine is what I believe is technicly known as f**ked
Are my insurance company going to be sympathetic or laugh? How many big ones for a new engine?
Well at least it lived a full (but short) life and died doing what it does best.
Jon
Are my insurance company going to be sympathetic or laugh? How many big ones for a new engine?
Well at least it lived a full (but short) life and died doing what it does best.
Jon
Mate, GUTTED for you!!!
Just a thought, but if the guilty piece of road is really crappy, you 'may' be able to claim from the council. A chap I know got some repairs paid in the west midlands because of the council's lack of road repairs. WTF do we pay our road tax for??!!
btw, as a Caterham owner in waiting, is this sort of thing common?
all the best
jaker
Just a thought, but if the guilty piece of road is really crappy, you 'may' be able to claim from the council. A chap I know got some repairs paid in the west midlands because of the council's lack of road repairs. WTF do we pay our road tax for??!!
btw, as a Caterham owner in waiting, is this sort of thing common?
all the best
jaker
Wasn't the road more the driving style over a crest (know the road like the back of my hand) and came down with a bit too much of a thump. Tow truck to the dealer (dead in my garage in a pool of oil for now), sympathetic call to the insurers and hold my breath. First thing that went through my mind was, "good opportunity to justify an upgrade" I'm sure the the residual is knackered any way now 'cos it'll never be original.
Any propecting purchasers, don't ever let stuff like this put you off, these cars are amazing. Take this sort of stuff on the chin, sh*t happens
Any propecting purchasers, don't ever let stuff like this put you off, these cars are amazing. Take this sort of stuff on the chin, sh*t happens
did you stop the engine straight away?
If so the engine should be ok with a new sump pan, the dented bonnet is probably due to the engine moving on its mounts, or braking the mounts. All 'sounds' easily fixable for not much money - hope the insurance works out for you
word of advice - don't run the car too low, you end up with cracked sumps and it actually handles better with a higher ride height
If so the engine should be ok with a new sump pan, the dented bonnet is probably due to the engine moving on its mounts, or braking the mounts. All 'sounds' easily fixable for not much money - hope the insurance works out for you
word of advice - don't run the car too low, you end up with cracked sumps and it actually handles better with a higher ride height
sorry to raise an old topic but any thoughts on my options would be appreciated.....(terrible at making descisions)
insurance company are covering my "incident" looks like a new engine, mounts, bonnet etc. But... have the option with the dealer to pay the diference for any upgrades or bigger engine etc. Like a sweet shop. Or.... do I play it safe, count my blessings and walk away with a like for like (SL 1.6 pre cat) and keep the car original?
Thanks in advance
Jon
insurance company are covering my "incident" looks like a new engine, mounts, bonnet etc. But... have the option with the dealer to pay the diference for any upgrades or bigger engine etc. Like a sweet shop. Or.... do I play it safe, count my blessings and walk away with a like for like (SL 1.6 pre cat) and keep the car original?
Thanks in advance
Jon
If your car's a genuine SL, I wouldn't change the engine type. You might consider getting an upgraded K, but again I'd keep it to one of the "recognised" Caterham options.
Other than that, any other options you can get done easily enough later, so unless you've wanted to upgrade the car for a while, I'd be inclined not to do it now - just focus on getting the car back together.
Did any of the other panels get damaged?
Other than that, any other options you can get done easily enough later, so unless you've wanted to upgrade the car for a while, I'd be inclined not to do it now - just focus on getting the car back together.
Did any of the other panels get damaged?
jaycee72 said:
Tend to agree, keep the car original (re-sale and all that). It's just that it's a good opportunity to almost start fresh with someone else's money. The £4k ish they are quoting for a new engine, 1.6k SS (insurance companys money) could be put as down payment on what ever I want....
Do you have to have it done at a specific place?
4k's a good bit of cash for an engine, and I'm sure a chat with Dave Andrews would yield a very nice powerplant to slot into the car.
DVA's one of the few places I'd consider getting engine work done on a "standard" car.
It may also be worth chatting to Caterham about an X-Power engine. You may well find that 160bhp version is in budget (or availble for a modest bit extra).
The only issue with Caterham may be emissions etc, and them insisting on a more "modern/compliant" lump in this respect.
If you do get more horses, remember to take your foot off the gas in plenty of time for that bridge/yump!
Thanks murph, think 1.8 160bhp might be the answer. Shouldn't (negitivly) effect the resale value and surely can't be much in cash difference between the now redundant 1.6 140bhp? Car is in caterham dealer and insurance co has been dealing with them direct so really need them to do the work.
Am I gonna notice significant difference? sure I read somewhere that the 1.6 revs better (higher?) than the 1.8's?
Am I gonna notice significant difference? sure I read somewhere that the 1.6 revs better (higher?) than the 1.8's?
Not sure what the rev limit is on the std 1.8s, but they can be made to rev very high...mine's limited to 8k at the moment, but would go a bit higher if needed. The R500 originally had a 9.2k limit (subsequently dropped to 8.6k I think for reliabbility). Think the std 1.6 is limited to 7.6k?
The tuned 1.8s should feel equally eager to your 140bhp 1.6. They'll likely have a bit more gusto in the midrange is all, meaning slightly less need to swap cogs.
Should have a nice bit more poke.
Caveat - I've never driven a 160bhp std Caterham K, so can't say for definite.
Good luck getting it back on the road. Do you have an ETA?
The tuned 1.8s should feel equally eager to your 140bhp 1.6. They'll likely have a bit more gusto in the midrange is all, meaning slightly less need to swap cogs.
Should have a nice bit more poke.
Caveat - I've never driven a 160bhp std Caterham K, so can't say for definite.
Good luck getting it back on the road. Do you have an ETA?
Would like something good to come from the "incident" (apart form just getting back on the road) and this must be the cheapest way to more power and retaining investment. Had the car a year now and for the first time in my car/bike/toy buying history would not consider a move, just a little more power. Millwoods have a SLR for sale so have asked for a "cost to change" but think the 160 upgrade is a much more sensible option (cost/reliability). Leaves me R400/R500 for next year..!!
Just wish someone had introduced me to a Caterham years ago.
Hows the Daytona?
Just wish someone had introduced me to a Caterham years ago.
Hows the Daytona?
Not wanting to sound patronising, but the cheapest way to more enjoyment is some tuition on track. You'll be amazed at how quickly even a 130bhp 7 can go when you drive it near its limits...
Find out how much the 160 upgrade is. I would imagine the cost to move up to an SLR from an SL is going to be in the order of 3-4k, so you'll at least have a benchmark...if the 160s going to put you out of pocket by more than 1k or so, I probably wouldn't bother (surprised that a standard SL engine is 4k - have a friendly chat with the Caterham people and see what can be done
).
The Daytona's good thanks. Though I haven't had it out since the end of summer last year - it gets stored over winter to hopefully delay it dissolving, and to be honest it wouldn't be fun or fair to use it in the depths of winter.
The weather only turned reliably decent with no chance of salt on the roads about 8 weeks ago, and I've either been swamped with work, afflicted with a bad back (damaged disc for the last 3 feckin mths!) or moving house (about to in the next week). It'll hopefully come out of storage in the next couple of weeks which should give me a few months' of enjoyment this year...back permitting.
Find out how much the 160 upgrade is. I would imagine the cost to move up to an SLR from an SL is going to be in the order of 3-4k, so you'll at least have a benchmark...if the 160s going to put you out of pocket by more than 1k or so, I probably wouldn't bother (surprised that a standard SL engine is 4k - have a friendly chat with the Caterham people and see what can be done
). The Daytona's good thanks. Though I haven't had it out since the end of summer last year - it gets stored over winter to hopefully delay it dissolving, and to be honest it wouldn't be fun or fair to use it in the depths of winter.
The weather only turned reliably decent with no chance of salt on the roads about 8 weeks ago, and I've either been swamped with work, afflicted with a bad back (damaged disc for the last 3 feckin mths!) or moving house (about to in the next week). It'll hopefully come out of storage in the next couple of weeks which should give me a few months' of enjoyment this year...back permitting.
cherished and treated with respect by the sounds? if the back is playing up the surely the 7 is mothballed too?
Done 3 track days in my SL and the Jonathan Palmer a load with work hospitality. Nothing like reaching the limits on a track but still crave that neck snaping acceleration for the road.
Done 3 track days in my SL and the Jonathan Palmer a load with work hospitality. Nothing like reaching the limits on a track but still crave that neck snaping acceleration for the road.
jaycee72 said:
cherished and treated with respect by the sounds? if the back is playing up the surely the 7 is mothballed too?
Done 3 track days in my SL and the Jonathan Palmer a load with work hospitality. Nothing like reaching the limits on a track but still crave that neck snaping acceleration for the road.
Done 3 track days in my SL and the Jonathan Palmer a load with work hospitality. Nothing like reaching the limits on a track but still crave that neck snaping acceleration for the road.
Ashamed to say I haven't used the 7 for a couple of years (though it didn't go totally unused) due to work (and having the 355 to use etc).
It'll be readied soon and will also come out to play.
To say I can't wait would be an understatement!
Murph7355 said:
[Ashamed to say I haven't used the 7 for a couple of years (though it didn't go totally unused) due to work (and having the 355 to use etc).
It was exercised regularly
BTW the gap betwenan SL and an SLR price-wise isn't that much. A sensibly priced SL goes for £15-£16kk, a sensibly priced SLR for £17-£18kk. Drive an SLR before committing money on a rebuild - it's a great experience, trust me!
Unless you're at the Ring and supposed to be at Spa today and the gearbox starts p1ssing oil out!
Still, Gary @ Freestyle and Phil @ Road and Race Trans are doing a great job of helping me out at short notice! (3am ferry this morning, car dropped off at freestyle at 5.15. In bed at 7, back in work by 1.30pm). I'm not knackered honest!
Back att he ring in 2 weeks. G/box permitting!
Still, Gary @ Freestyle and Phil @ Road and Race Trans are doing a great job of helping me out at short notice! (3am ferry this morning, car dropped off at freestyle at 5.15. In bed at 7, back in work by 1.30pm). I'm not knackered honest!
Back att he ring in 2 weeks. G/box permitting!
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff