good offer??

[markez79]

Hi guys,

An opinin please on the following offer:

Caterham K Series Supersport
135 BHP 1.4 Engine
6 Speed, FIA Rollbar,
Leather adjustable seats
Wet Weather Gear
14 inch Minilites with Yokohamas
29,000 miles
MOT
6 years old
£12,000.

So, is this a good deal and what is known of this particular engine? Good characteristics? Anyone owned one of this type? If so opinions please.

Thanks.

>>> Edited by markez79 on Monday 3rd March 09:31

[juansolo]

An opinin please on the following offer:

Caterham K Series Supersport
135 BHP 1.4 Engine
6 Speed, FIA Rollbar,
Leather adjustable seats
Wet Weather Gear
14 inch Minilites with Yokohamas
29,000 miles
MOT
6 years old
£12,000.

Seems a decent enough spec. You might want to ask if it has a quick rack and LSD.

So, is this a good deal and what is known of this particular engine? Good characteristics? Anyone owned one of this type? If so opinions please.

The K-Series is a funny old engine. It's very light, very finicky about the fluid used in it (ONLY use Caterham recommended stuff like Comma and Mobil1), revvy and can be turned up to 250bhp at hoooooooooooooooooge expense.

In an Elise or a FWD car where they are mounted transversely they are very reliable. In a Caterham they can be a little more temperamental. The starter motor solonoid can induce the click of death. This was quite a common problem with K's in Caterhams given it proximity to the exhaust manifold. A bit of exhaust wrap can help prevent this and will reduce under bonnet temperatures also.

The other issue you can have is with Caterhams crappy sump solutuion for longditudinal mounting. Instead of a decent baffled sump there is a sponge in there that requires replacing regularly (at services). Failure to do so can result in the sponge breaking down and entering the pump. Soon after this happens you'll be on the look out for a new engine. My advice here would be if you are planning to do any track work at all, get it dry sumped. Not cheap admittedly, infact probably more expensive than a replacement engine. But it does mean you can run slicks without fear of oil surge.

[charisma]

Are you sure that this is the 1.4?

It sounds like the 1.6 to me, as Caterham did the 1.6 with a supersport upgrade to give 133 bhp.

There is physicaly little diference from the outside between the 1.4 and the 1.6 (and the 1.8) as they all have the same block.