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Author: Subject: Caterham Quality!
emwmarine

posted on 23/3/13 at 09:10 PM Reply With Quote
I think you need to recognise that when you buy a small scale specialist car the ownership is not going to be the same as buying from a mainstream manufacturer.

I know from experience of owning an Elise and looking at SELOC that Lotus have the same problem as Caterham. People buy new ones expecting turn key and go and then get upset with the niggles and problems that specialist cars bring.

A Caterham will be even more so. I think they are top notch quality and I think the Sigma engine really suites it. Like Mcerd1 though, I prefer the individualism that a Dax Rush gives.

The key to them not corroding is not using them in salty conditions. Most people with 7s keep them wrapped up in garages over winter and I imagine they last pretty much indefinitely like that.


Like you I have had series land rovers. Just sold my 2a after a full restoration. Now they were thrown together and rusted for a hobby. I really should have gone for a new chassis but it didn't look too bad at first. I used up pretty much all of an 8 foot by 4 sheet of 3mm sheet steel in repairing the chassis. Even waxoyled and dinitrolled to death i imagine one drive on wet salty roads would have it dissolving again.

For my Rush I have injected waxoyl into the chassis members and dinitrolled everywhere on the outside.


quote:
Originally posted by Zagato
Thanks Paul, very interesting.

I think you are right, you can improve the build yourself by spending time on it, rust prevention treatments, soldering and sealing connections not just crimping them, etc, etc. Rust and electrics like most cars seem to be the biggest bugbear if you have modern reliable mechanicals.

25K is a HUGE sum for me and I would have to sell my beautiful yacht to do it, but spending 3k per year on mooring fees etc is too much to justify on a hobby - even if i could afford it . Go back to cheap trailer sailing and buy a Caterham kit or a second hand Caterham for 13K, there are a couple of really nice ones out there.

2001 4300 miles 1 owner Beaulie Edition 13K, OK mechanicals not used much but the rest should be in very good nick - I'd buy it like a shot but no dosh at moment and would REALLY like to build my own, it's more than half the experience I think . The one in the picture I think is also similar money, they don't go much under 10K if you can find one.

I put this topic up on a Land Rover and Boating forum and the feedback was 100% positive (a rare thing for cars). Some built them in the 80' & 90's some bought factory ones, some had mates but they ALL said they loved them, regretted selling them and that the build quality was good, good chassis from Arch etc so I am back on track and will get one hopefully next year once the sailing season has finished.

I wonder if Arch still make the chassis? I wonder also if you could drill a small hole in the tubes to get cavity wax in without ruining the structural integrity. Best left I think and stop worrying so much...

I did a Land Rover rebuild to a rolling chassis and enjoyed that very much, just ran out of dosh after 8K would have cost 12k in total.






Building a Dax Rush.

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Zagato

posted on 24/3/13 at 07:47 AM Reply With Quote
I'm hoping the parts will be better for the Caterham also (despite BMW diffs being recalled recently but thats not Caterhams fault unless the application of the part was not appropriate!). Got fed up of "Shipart" bits being made of cheese etc.
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Zagato

posted on 24/3/13 at 07:52 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
seems like you likr the older ones! Why not buy a used car and do it up? youll get one for £10k easily if you wait


Could well be a plan. I'm amazed something like this doesn't sell especially through clubs or sites like this. Why has it taken a trader to buy it!! Maybe the guy just couldn't bothered to sell privatyely or it's got engine issues with such a low mileage - unlikely. It's just what I would buy if one comes up at the end of the year... Can't stop thinknig about it, I NEED it

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C337671

[Edited on 24/3/13 by Zagato]

[Edited on 24/3/13 by Zagato]

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daniel mason

posted on 24/3/13 at 08:28 AM Reply With Quote
i think that car is far too dear.
look in my photo archive in the L7C meet at harewood.






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Zagato

posted on 24/3/13 at 09:44 AM Reply With Quote
Yes it's a trader taking his cut. The 2001 plate lower spec models are 11K+ looking through past adverts.

Yours is a BRUTE

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