To buy or to build
Discussion
OK looking to enter the world of caterham ownwership, not sure whether to buy a 2nd hand car and change to my required spec or to order a starter kit and get the finished article in a year or two.
basicaly buying a complete car to my requirments is too expensive as is buying the complete kit straight off.
I'm looking for a roadsport car, lowered floors, track day roll bar,LSD, wide track, ideally 2.0l duratec. unsure of 5 or 6 speed at the moment.
Caterham depretiation is slow but not sure which method of onership is going to be the most economical...
basicaly buying a complete car to my requirments is too expensive as is buying the complete kit straight off.
I'm looking for a roadsport car, lowered floors, track day roll bar,LSD, wide track, ideally 2.0l duratec. unsure of 5 or 6 speed at the moment.
Caterham depretiation is slow but not sure which method of onership is going to be the most economical...
Like you say, Caterham resale values are very strong so it's less of an issue, but most kit cars cost significantly more to build than they're worth afterwards.
If price is an issue, why not consider looking at an older K-Series car? They're capable of producing a lot of power (I heard mention of a naturally aspirated 270bhp 1.9 K-Series recently!) and the more modest examples are very tractable and generally pretty easy to live with. I don't doubt the Duratecs are better (although I've not tried one), but if budget was an issue I'd definitely consider a good deal on a decent K-Series car over 'going rate' for a Duratec.
If price is an issue, why not consider looking at an older K-Series car? They're capable of producing a lot of power (I heard mention of a naturally aspirated 270bhp 1.9 K-Series recently!) and the more modest examples are very tractable and generally pretty easy to live with. I don't doubt the Duratecs are better (although I've not tried one), but if budget was an issue I'd definitely consider a good deal on a decent K-Series car over 'going rate' for a Duratec.
Why not buy a cheap little X-flow for between 8-10K drive it, enjoy it, and move up later on, when you've saved a bit more cash.
IMO early Q plate cars are a bargain, with no emmission issues come MOT time.
When you come to sell the cheap one, you'll get your money back, as they rarely go for less than 8-10K. You can also have fun fettleing, as most parts are interchangable.
Free fun!
IMO early Q plate cars are a bargain, with no emmission issues come MOT time.
When you come to sell the cheap one, you'll get your money back, as they rarely go for less than 8-10K. You can also have fun fettleing, as most parts are interchangable.
Free fun!
I wanted lower floors for the extra bit of room did not want the SV larger chassis. widetrack and LSD for handling reasons, driven a few cars without a LSD and really noticed the difference. Duratec due to having spent some years working on these engines in the early development days and thinking there decent reliable units. I also have spent time on development of the K series and have less fond memories, don't get me wrong they could be brilliant little units but on a test bed IF the engine made it through a break in it would last and be totaly sound but so many of them did not make it...
spookey said:
Duratec due to having spent some years working on these engines in the early development days and thinking there decent reliable units.
Are you an ex-Dunton person by any chance? (Same here)If you've got the budget and don't mind buying something further up its depreciation curve then by all means go for the Duratec. I doubt the disadvantages of the K-Series are great enough to justify upping the budget or making other compromises though. If you're worried about the chocolate head gaskets it's worth pointing out they seem to fair better in Caterhams than they do in the Elise. It's due to the length of the cooling circuit I think. Certainly my experience of the K-Series has been pretty positive so far.
If you're after big power and don't mind a little extra weight in the nose the Vauxhall 16v looks like an even more cost effective proposition.
If you're in a position to go straight in for the latest and greatest then go for it, but it's not the end of the world if you had to settle for, say, a previous generation R500.
So if it's a choice of something like a used k-series (1600-1800) in typical spec (LSD, widetrack, big brakes 6-speed) now or duratec in 2 years, I'd say go for what you can afford now. You may not find a lowered floor, but it's not an expensive change (and DIY I think). If you buy at the older end of that spec, you certainly shouldn't lose money while you can increase the budget for the next iteration.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1586278.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1419461.htm (!!!)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1563010.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1560229.htm (low miles, price a bit high)
Etc
BErt
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1586278.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1419461.htm (!!!)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1563010.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1560229.htm (low miles, price a bit high)
Etc
BErt
I think what everyone has said makes sense, an older K series car would proberbly be the better option and if it has survived for a few thousand miles in the hands of the previous owner it'll proberbly be a goon un. To be honest massive performance is not what I'm after I do want to stick to the just add lightness train of thought.
so anyone got a 1600/1800 roadsport for sale?????
so anyone got a 1600/1800 roadsport for sale?????
BertBert said:
That looks like a pretty good deal. The mileage is perhaps a little higher than the ludicrous low figures some seem to have, but 30,000 miles is nothing in the real world. The RSA in one of Bert's other links looks like a lot of Caterham for under £10k.
Chris71 said:
BertBert said:
That looks like a pretty good deal. The mileage is perhaps a little higher than the ludicrous low figures some seem to have, but 30,000 miles is nothing in the real world. The RSA in one of Bert's other links looks like a lot of Caterham for under £10k.
Any idea if it's a nightmare changing from the 'sloped' front wings to the bicycle ones?
dirty boy said:
Chris71 said:
BertBert said:
That looks like a pretty good deal. The mileage is perhaps a little higher than the ludicrous low figures some seem to have, but 30,000 miles is nothing in the real world. The RSA in one of Bert's other links looks like a lot of Caterham for under £10k.
Any idea if it's a nightmare changing from the 'sloped' front wings to the bicycle ones?
There's still 24 hours to get this one http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1419461.htm !
Bert
Avoid the kawasaki green car on PH. IMO it needs a 'Long Front' the OS top chassis rail is bent, and every aly panel has dents in. it's also been poorly resprayed the original colour was dk Green. Oh the engine need s a rebuild too Big /Small ends R growling.
The seller totally wasted my time. At £5K it would be worth getting fixed.
The seller totally wasted my time. At £5K it would be worth getting fixed.
If you get a starter kit, you have to use all new stuff to get it IVA'd and on the road. Then you get new car depreciation of course.
Here's what I would do . . . buy an ex-racecar, one that's registered, less than about 3 years old and with the metric chassis that will simply take a Duratec. Ideally a recent Academy/Roadsports car with lowered floors.
Race cars are cheap as they get now that the season's started and they won't be sold as racecars for this year. Use this as the basis to build up a lowish spec Duratec (c.200bhp)road car. You should be able to pick up stock Caterham/Duratec and Ford parts relatively cheaply as people upgrade. There's also a lot of old bits cluttering up garages after winter rebuilds that can be bought cheaply if you put wanted posts up on the forums. Weather gear is also cheaper to source now it's getting sunny outside.
Remember, if you get a racecar with a sealed engine, they are worth good money from racers who need a new one.
In a few months time you could have turned a couple of year old £10K Academy car into a roadcar worth a great deal more and built as you want it.
This might not be your cup of tea . . just a suggestion.
Here's what I would do . . . buy an ex-racecar, one that's registered, less than about 3 years old and with the metric chassis that will simply take a Duratec. Ideally a recent Academy/Roadsports car with lowered floors.
Race cars are cheap as they get now that the season's started and they won't be sold as racecars for this year. Use this as the basis to build up a lowish spec Duratec (c.200bhp)road car. You should be able to pick up stock Caterham/Duratec and Ford parts relatively cheaply as people upgrade. There's also a lot of old bits cluttering up garages after winter rebuilds that can be bought cheaply if you put wanted posts up on the forums. Weather gear is also cheaper to source now it's getting sunny outside.
Remember, if you get a racecar with a sealed engine, they are worth good money from racers who need a new one.
In a few months time you could have turned a couple of year old £10K Academy car into a roadcar worth a great deal more and built as you want it.
This might not be your cup of tea . . just a suggestion.
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