Caterham as an only car
Discussion
This might be a very silly idea but...
I've been thinking about getting a Caterham, as my only car
Ideally, I'd like an Elise but the running costs are too high, not to mention insurance.
How expensive are Caterhams to run and insure? How practical are they as an only car? (I'd need some sort of roof)
How much am I looking at for one? Ideally I don't want to spend more than £10k.
It'd be used to drive to uni each day, 35min dual carriageway sprint and just for fun the rest of the time. I do have access to my Dad's Passat if I need something more practical.
I've been thinking about getting a Caterham, as my only car
Ideally, I'd like an Elise but the running costs are too high, not to mention insurance.
How expensive are Caterhams to run and insure? How practical are they as an only car? (I'd need some sort of roof)
How much am I looking at for one? Ideally I don't want to spend more than £10k.
It'd be used to drive to uni each day, 35min dual carriageway sprint and just for fun the rest of the time. I do have access to my Dad's Passat if I need something more practical.
10k as an OK budget for one.
Insurance is cheaper than you would ever believe. Call MSM for a quote (www.msminsurance.co.uk).
General running costs are cheaper than an Elise as I understand it. Quite a bit cheaper I would think.
Best place to look for help and advice is www.blatchat.com. Use the Search facility and there's little you won't be able to find.
As for using it everyday, it largely depends on you! I had it as an only car for 5 years and it was fine. Others think you're mad, but when you've tailored the car to suit you exactly (very easy and relatively cheap to do), it's just like wearing a set of clothes.
You'll need a car with weather gear, and a heater really helps using the car in winter. Careful use of sealant will keep the car water tight/get it that way. Forget ideas of having a stereo.
For general lack of hassle, and your budget, a 1400 Supersport K would be ideal.
But as noted, check Blatchat out. Go for it.
Insurance is cheaper than you would ever believe. Call MSM for a quote (www.msminsurance.co.uk).
General running costs are cheaper than an Elise as I understand it. Quite a bit cheaper I would think.
Best place to look for help and advice is www.blatchat.com. Use the Search facility and there's little you won't be able to find.
As for using it everyday, it largely depends on you! I had it as an only car for 5 years and it was fine. Others think you're mad, but when you've tailored the car to suit you exactly (very easy and relatively cheap to do), it's just like wearing a set of clothes.
You'll need a car with weather gear, and a heater really helps using the car in winter. Careful use of sealant will keep the car water tight/get it that way. Forget ideas of having a stereo.
For general lack of hassle, and your budget, a 1400 Supersport K would be ideal.
But as noted, check Blatchat out. Go for it.
Muncher - I find it hard to believe a Caterham will cost any less to run than an Elise. What is your budget? If you compare say a 97/98 S1 Elise for circa £12K with an equivalent Caterham. They will both do 35+ mpg. Servicing costs will be very similar, given that some Caterhams have a K series anyway, and if not, it will be a similar four pot engine. I can't imagine insurance is likely to be that far apart either. How old are you? I'm making an assumption that as a student you're U25? I bought my first Elise aged 24, and with full NCB etc... I think I paid about £750 FC.
What I would say, now on my 3rd Elise, is that they are very practical to use everyday. My current 111S, is 18 moths old, and has done 20K. I can get 4 full shopping bags in the boot, I've got a stereo and heater which work well enough, and the car keeps me dry. I don't think you can say the same for the Caterham.
But having said all that, whichever you choose, you'll have a lot of fun. Full marks!!!
What I would say, now on my 3rd Elise, is that they are very practical to use everyday. My current 111S, is 18 moths old, and has done 20K. I can get 4 full shopping bags in the boot, I've got a stereo and heater which work well enough, and the car keeps me dry. I don't think you can say the same for the Caterham.
But having said all that, whichever you choose, you'll have a lot of fun. Full marks!!!
If you shop around, and look at the known good places, Caterham insurance is likely to be around half that mark xxplod. I was amazed when I bought mine, but don't forget that even big accidents are relatively cheap to repair in a 7. The same is not true of an Elise and the insurance premiums reflect this (amongst other things).
Parts prices for Caterhams will generally be cheaper too for the non-drivetrain items, which if sourced sensibly for both cars should be the same price if you go for a K engined Caterham.
A Caterham's heater is pretty effective. Most people do not spot the adjustable nozzles under the dash to direct airflow. It's never going to be a Merc, but then it doesn't drive like one either!
Depends what you mean by full bags of shopping, but I've had 2 weeks' worth of shopping "for two" in the boot of the 7 (with a little in the passenger footwell).
That said, you really do need to discover online shopping. Not only does boot space become irrelevant, but you save shed loads more time for driving and other activities and someone else does much of the humping!
The stereo you can have
No go in a 7 and just about usable in an Elise.
Serious advice would be to try both cars before shelling out any money at all. Have a good test run in both and get behind the wheel. If you can, pop along to some club meets for both marques too to get a good feel for both cars (these events aren't as beardy or iffy as you might imagine).
10k is not a small amount of wedge to blow. Don't believe everything you read and try them for yourself and do some research into running costs etc.
Whichever you buy, you'll have a nice car.
PS Can you get an Elise for 10k these days?
Parts prices for Caterhams will generally be cheaper too for the non-drivetrain items, which if sourced sensibly for both cars should be the same price if you go for a K engined Caterham.
A Caterham's heater is pretty effective. Most people do not spot the adjustable nozzles under the dash to direct airflow. It's never going to be a Merc, but then it doesn't drive like one either!
Depends what you mean by full bags of shopping, but I've had 2 weeks' worth of shopping "for two" in the boot of the 7 (with a little in the passenger footwell).
That said, you really do need to discover online shopping. Not only does boot space become irrelevant, but you save shed loads more time for driving and other activities and someone else does much of the humping!
The stereo you can have
No go in a 7 and just about usable in an Elise. Serious advice would be to try both cars before shelling out any money at all. Have a good test run in both and get behind the wheel. If you can, pop along to some club meets for both marques too to get a good feel for both cars (these events aren't as beardy or iffy as you might imagine).
10k is not a small amount of wedge to blow. Don't believe everything you read and try them for yourself and do some research into running costs etc.
Whichever you buy, you'll have a nice car.
PS Can you get an Elise for 10k these days?
Muncher,
I ran a Westfield, then a Caterham, as my only cars when I was your age. It's not as mad as most people think - you've just got to adjust your perspective and start thinking or it as a very comfortable motorcyle instead of a very uncomfortable car!
For what it's worth, if you are seriously thinking of running it all year round I wouldn't worry too much about weather gear.
With the hood up, the things are deafeningly noisy, visibility is seriously limited (so much increased risk of an accident) and in wet weather they tend to steam up a lot.
Heaters are a good idea, 'cos they keep your feet warm.
Windscreens are a bad idea, 'cos if you run open in the rain, water whips round onto the inside face of the screen where you haven't got wipers - use aeroscreens instead, and a half-tonneau to keep most of the rain off the passenger seat.
If you get a full-face helmet, motorcyle gloves and waterproofs, you'll be dry whatever the weather (and the skid-lid will keep your head warm when it's freezing), but when it gets really cold you can't beat a top quality (Aviation Leathercraft) 'biggles' flying jacket - about £500, but mine is still seeing daily use (bought when I was 21, and I'm now 35).
Handling on wet and icy roads can be interesting, but it certainly teaches you how to deal with oversteer!
You might want to consider something cheaper than a Caterham for everyday use. As a general rule, Caterhams hold their value very well, but that's at least partly because most are very low mileage, pampered toys. Something that's done 15K miles a year in all weathers and is looking a bit the worse for wear might be difficult to sell on, you yo may be better buying an old Westfield SE or a Sylva for £4K instead of a Caterham for 2 or 3 times that. The Sylva in particular is a good match for the Caterham in terms of handling and performance, if not build quality and prestige - Sylvas have won the 750 Motor Club Kit Car racing championship so many times that everyone has lost count, and they cost peanuts to buy and maintain.
I now run an Elise (though I have a race-spec. Sylva as well), and it is certainly a more civilised and practical car than the Seven and can cope with higher mileages more easily, but it doesn't lend itself as well to DIY maintenance and the insurance is steeper than a specialist 'kit car' policy.
I ran a Westfield, then a Caterham, as my only cars when I was your age. It's not as mad as most people think - you've just got to adjust your perspective and start thinking or it as a very comfortable motorcyle instead of a very uncomfortable car!
For what it's worth, if you are seriously thinking of running it all year round I wouldn't worry too much about weather gear.
With the hood up, the things are deafeningly noisy, visibility is seriously limited (so much increased risk of an accident) and in wet weather they tend to steam up a lot.
Heaters are a good idea, 'cos they keep your feet warm.
Windscreens are a bad idea, 'cos if you run open in the rain, water whips round onto the inside face of the screen where you haven't got wipers - use aeroscreens instead, and a half-tonneau to keep most of the rain off the passenger seat.
If you get a full-face helmet, motorcyle gloves and waterproofs, you'll be dry whatever the weather (and the skid-lid will keep your head warm when it's freezing), but when it gets really cold you can't beat a top quality (Aviation Leathercraft) 'biggles' flying jacket - about £500, but mine is still seeing daily use (bought when I was 21, and I'm now 35).
Handling on wet and icy roads can be interesting, but it certainly teaches you how to deal with oversteer!
You might want to consider something cheaper than a Caterham for everyday use. As a general rule, Caterhams hold their value very well, but that's at least partly because most are very low mileage, pampered toys. Something that's done 15K miles a year in all weathers and is looking a bit the worse for wear might be difficult to sell on, you yo may be better buying an old Westfield SE or a Sylva for £4K instead of a Caterham for 2 or 3 times that. The Sylva in particular is a good match for the Caterham in terms of handling and performance, if not build quality and prestige - Sylvas have won the 750 Motor Club Kit Car racing championship so many times that everyone has lost count, and they cost peanuts to buy and maintain.
I now run an Elise (though I have a race-spec. Sylva as well), and it is certainly a more civilised and practical car than the Seven and can cope with higher mileages more easily, but it doesn't lend itself as well to DIY maintenance and the insurance is steeper than a specialist 'kit car' policy.
Good advice from all here. Martin's right about the mileage - my first Caterham was a 30,000 miler that had been used every day for a commute into London by a guy who played in an orchestra. The price I paid reflected its mileage, and the flaking powdercoat on the suspension and chassis and the aluminium corrosion on the body reflected its everday use.
Having said that, it ran like a dream, survived trackdays and a sound thrashing and the oil pressure was still 4 bar when I sold it with another 5,000 miles on the clock a year later for £250 more than I paid for it!!!!
BUT, Caterham buyers are fickle and not all can see beyond the mileage readout on the odometer....
Having said that, buy a K series car for the £10k mark (I'd recommend a 1.6, not a 1.4) with perhaps 15k miles on the clock, run it for a year and sell it on. I doubt you'd lose a bundle on it and would have had an awful lot of fun into the bargain. I personally wouldn't run a crossflow everyday - couldn't be bothered with all that carb stuff!!!
Blatchat is the best place for advice and indeed cars for sale.
Having said that, it ran like a dream, survived trackdays and a sound thrashing and the oil pressure was still 4 bar when I sold it with another 5,000 miles on the clock a year later for £250 more than I paid for it!!!!
BUT, Caterham buyers are fickle and not all can see beyond the mileage readout on the odometer....
Having said that, buy a K series car for the £10k mark (I'd recommend a 1.6, not a 1.4) with perhaps 15k miles on the clock, run it for a year and sell it on. I doubt you'd lose a bundle on it and would have had an awful lot of fun into the bargain. I personally wouldn't run a crossflow everyday - couldn't be bothered with all that carb stuff!!!
Blatchat is the best place for advice and indeed cars for sale.
I'm not really supposed to post on the caterham forum 
but with wet weather gear and a different mindset to driving anything with a fixed roof you will have a blast and look double hard in to the bargain! however I have to say that I drive my westfield in the ice and snow without the comfort of a (pussies!) heater!
but with wet weather gear and a different mindset to driving anything with a fixed roof you will have a blast and look double hard in to the bargain! however I have to say that I drive my westfield in the ice and snow without the comfort of a (pussies!) heater!Muncher said:
I'd prefer an Elise I think, but £600+ services put me off!
They're not that expensive to service. The major cambelt service done at a lotus dealer may cost about £600 but independents will do if for less than half that.
The 7 type cars are great fun, but not sure i could use one everyday - but have heard of several people who do.
The elise is 100% more practical, and its still along way behind the average daily drive...
You'll have great fun with either though.
On wednesday I'm driving a Caterham 7 round Brands Hatch 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2238173273&ed=1082020160
Any tips? I've never driven one before, nor anything that fast!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2238173273&ed=1082020160
Any tips? I've never driven one before, nor anything that fast!
I've done it in both, Go for caterham, more rewarding than elise, i agree with only using weather gear when you really have to. When i was your age i commuted all year round for 4 years in a caterham, 30 miles cross country... all weather endeavour!
Absolutley brilliant, hardly ever used weather gear, just sidescreens and a good hat. It taught me to drive properly, everyone thinks they're a good driver then they get a caterham and realise they'res more to learn.
Running costs, i think not much in elise vs caterham, practicality is the same, they both leak, but that doesn't matter when you're tearing down a road with the caterham soundtrack. Just try and get one with heated screen, will help you out in those damper months
You won't regret it
Absolutley brilliant, hardly ever used weather gear, just sidescreens and a good hat. It taught me to drive properly, everyone thinks they're a good driver then they get a caterham and realise they'res more to learn.
Running costs, i think not much in elise vs caterham, practicality is the same, they both leak, but that doesn't matter when you're tearing down a road with the caterham soundtrack. Just try and get one with heated screen, will help you out in those damper months
You won't regret it
Have a look at Jason Brown's website ...
www.strangely.org
He's been running a Seven as an everyday car for years. Plenty of info on there about the various trials and tribulations ...
Ian.
www.strangely.org
He's been running a Seven as an everyday car for years. Plenty of info on there about the various trials and tribulations ...
Ian.
I'd agree particularly with Martin's comments. I've been using a Seven as a daily-driver for the past 8 years; my current one has over 70k miles on the clock. I started with nancy-boy spec (heater, hood, sensible tyres) and I've gone to nutter-spec (aeroscreen + helmet, tonneau, CR500 tyres). It's at least as convenient now (don't have to struggle putting the hood up) and it makes the experience more intense every time I use the car.
The one thing you do need in order to make a success of using a Seven every day is the right frame of mind - whomever said to think of it as a comfy motorbike was right. I bought a Caterham because it was the best-handling and fastest-accelerating car I could afford and I was willing to sacrifice just about everything else to get that. I've had a few impure thoughts along the way, but that original ideal still holds true.
Jason.
www.strangely.org
The one thing you do need in order to make a success of using a Seven every day is the right frame of mind - whomever said to think of it as a comfy motorbike was right. I bought a Caterham because it was the best-handling and fastest-accelerating car I could afford and I was willing to sacrifice just about everything else to get that. I've had a few impure thoughts along the way, but that original ideal still holds true.
Jason.
www.strangely.org
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff