Westfield, Caterham or Intergra
Discussion
The summer is almost here and its time to get rid of the almost a sporst car and get back to having an inpractical, noisy, uncomfortable runabout 
My short list is : Westfield, Caterham or (to save me buying an old clapped out banger for everyday use) Intergra Type R.
I'll only keep them for the summer so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Rob
My short list is : Westfield, Caterham or (to save me buying an old clapped out banger for everyday use) Intergra Type R.
I'll only keep them for the summer so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Rob
Caterham Superlight R 1.6 is the best you'll find. Six speed box, good resale, 460kgs. Plus best handling of all non bike engined Caterhams apparently. Should cost about 14k-18k, although I saw a Blackbird on blatchat.com for 18k and that would be better still.
I have owned two Caterhams and highly recommend them. Westies are good but not as nicely detailed IMHO. Also resale tends to be a bit lower as Caterhams are more accepted by the mainstream (ie non kitcar) audience.
Integra R has good reputation, but if you are going raw, for gawd's sake go raw. The Integra still has poncey things like door handles. After having driven a Caterham, a Formula Ford and a Ferrari F355, I can promise you that the Caterham feels much closer to a race car than a prancing horse. You can have more fun in a seven... hood off, the smell of hot oil up your nostrils, exhaust barking against the hedgerows... it is something else. No Integra will give you that.
Rgds
Domster
PS My brother has a yellow 1.4k series supersport if you want one, approx 11k GBP, which he may sell. He loves it so much he wants to buy a 1.6 or 1.8 now. I also know of a 1.6k series for sale for a fraction more. But to be honest, if you can stretch to a Superlight or Caterham Blackbird I'd do that.
I have owned two Caterhams and highly recommend them. Westies are good but not as nicely detailed IMHO. Also resale tends to be a bit lower as Caterhams are more accepted by the mainstream (ie non kitcar) audience.
Integra R has good reputation, but if you are going raw, for gawd's sake go raw. The Integra still has poncey things like door handles. After having driven a Caterham, a Formula Ford and a Ferrari F355, I can promise you that the Caterham feels much closer to a race car than a prancing horse. You can have more fun in a seven... hood off, the smell of hot oil up your nostrils, exhaust barking against the hedgerows... it is something else. No Integra will give you that.
Rgds
Domster
PS My brother has a yellow 1.4k series supersport if you want one, approx 11k GBP, which he may sell. He loves it so much he wants to buy a 1.6 or 1.8 now. I also know of a 1.6k series for sale for a fraction more. But to be honest, if you can stretch to a Superlight or Caterham Blackbird I'd do that.
Forgot to mention price brackets. For the Intergra I wouldn't pay more than 10K. That way I only stand to loose a little when I come to re sell. I'm happy to go to 15K for a Caterham of Westfield on the basis it won't loose money hand over fist (or am I Kidding myself.)
Lotus sounds good, but I don't think it falls in my price bracket...any other suggestions?
Lotus sounds good, but I don't think it falls in my price bracket...any other suggestions?
Most have said the correct answer before me, but anyway.. don't even think about the Honda. The other two win hands down.
But if you can go to 15K, what about an early Griff/Chim/SV8? or is insurance a factor in your budget?
Or maybe TVR's not your cup of tea?, whatever, forget the Honda, go for the Westfield or a Caterham
Cheers,
Dave.
>> Edited by Dave_H on Thursday 28th March 21:43
But if you can go to 15K, what about an early Griff/Chim/SV8? or is insurance a factor in your budget?
Or maybe TVR's not your cup of tea?, whatever, forget the Honda, go for the Westfield or a Caterham
Cheers,
Dave.
>> Edited by Dave_H on Thursday 28th March 21:43
If you want it for road - then buy one that's obviously only been used on roads - ie - NOT one with FIA roll bar, 13" wheels with Yoko 32 tyres, anti cavitation tank ... these point to a track car.
If you want it for track... look out for one with all of the above!
I put a site together on the Seven... most of what you want to know is there... www.CaterhamSeven.com
Steve
>> Edited by getcarter on Friday 29th March 20:39
If you want it for track... look out for one with all of the above!
I put a site together on the Seven... most of what you want to know is there... www.CaterhamSeven.com
Steve
>> Edited by getcarter on Friday 29th March 20:39
Best bet is to take a Caterham afficionado/owner around the car with you - getcarter (steve) has an 1800 VVC K-series and is based in Scotland some of the year if I remember, I am based in High Wycombe. I've owned a couple of 1700 Supersprints, bro has 1400 K, and I've driven tons more. I'd help with viewings if my weekend was free.
Rgds
Domster
PS Getcarter - reason I know you was I tried to arrange for the LC Steve Carter to meet you and experience a proper handling sports car, but after trying to tie it in with Low Flying article, Roger Green showed interest then didn't follow it up as he promised, so it got put on backburner.
Rgds
Domster
PS Getcarter - reason I know you was I tried to arrange for the LC Steve Carter to meet you and experience a proper handling sports car, but after trying to tie it in with Low Flying article, Roger Green showed interest then didn't follow it up as he promised, so it got put on backburner.
Then again, if it's REAL impracticality you're after, you could always go for an Ariel Atom! They're a hoot on track and jaw dropping pose material around town. Oh, and they look like this: www.arielmotor.co.uk
There is an official Caterham insurance scheme (AON?), but many companies do specialist schemes for the seven. Hill House Hammond and Adrian Flux to name but a few. Invariably the insurance is dirt cheap. I was paying 600 quid a year aged 23 fully comp, unlimited miles, no NCB on a 1700 SS.
Remember to check out www.blatchat.com if you haven't already. You'll get more real world quotes from the seveners there.
Rgds
Dom
Remember to check out www.blatchat.com if you haven't already. You'll get more real world quotes from the seveners there.
Rgds
Dom
Hi Dom - yea I remember.
Actually my V.V.C. is for sale at Caterham Midlands at present - I'm awaiting delivery of an R500. All I gotta do now is work out how to drive the damn thing without killing myself!
Needless to say I bought the plate and the domain name www.R500.COM
Actually my V.V.C. is for sale at Caterham Midlands at present - I'm awaiting delivery of an R500. All I gotta do now is work out how to drive the damn thing without killing myself!
Needless to say I bought the plate and the domain name www.R500.COM
Dom
Seriously considered it - but bearing in mind the ground clearance, decided it would never make it up the bumpy lane in which I live - so it would have to be a trailered track only toy... at least I can fit a couple of Tesco bags in a Seven! (Giving me all the excuse I need to take it out ... "run out of milk dear - be back soon")
>> Edited by getcarter on Tuesday 2nd April 18:18
Seriously considered it - but bearing in mind the ground clearance, decided it would never make it up the bumpy lane in which I live - so it would have to be a trailered track only toy... at least I can fit a couple of Tesco bags in a Seven! (Giving me all the excuse I need to take it out ... "run out of milk dear - be back soon")
>> Edited by getcarter on Tuesday 2nd April 18:18
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