New entry level Caterham

[David]

I wouldn't read too much into this. Caterham have a track record of testing market response in this way. There are way too many issues and problems for a small producer to resolve with this package. It's taken them three years to design and test a diff carrier so this won't happen any time soon. Most likely, the first change will be the management.

[Rosssco]

The proposed Suzuki engine weighs circa. 80kg complete.

Its used to move my little 725kg Cappuccino along well enough, although nippy rather than fast.. Thye don't sound bad in a mini turbo engine sort of way.

No reason these engines won't run ~120bhp and 100lb/ft reliably, especially given the low mileage most Caterfields experience

I can see the appeal for a good value, back-to-basics, entry level ROAD car.

[Jeremy]

The fat passenger scenario is spot on but the flip side is that an apparently very modest power gain distorts things disproportionately in the other direction. So if they can reliably coax 120bhp (100 is easy and commonplace I understand) then it should be a little corker. I also like the idea of a thrummy little 3 pot, they sound great

I can understand the thinking of a low powered entry car and fun at low speed etc, but its not cheap at £17k

Details are sketchy at the moment but if £17k is an assembled on the road cost inclusive of all taxes then I think that's stonking value.

Point taken, but my point was that at that price why not pay an extra (guessing here, but) £1-2 k ? and get the same car with double the bhp

well you show me the brand new factory fresh 200bhp+ Cat for £18k and I'm in there like Flynn

I wouldn't read too much into this. Caterham have a track record of testing market response in this way. There are way too many issues and problems for a small producer to resolve with this package. It's taken them three years to design and test a diff carrier so this won't happen any time soon. Most likely, the first change will be the management.

Order book opens in Autumn and deliveries before Christmas so unless that's a blatant lie this sounds very real to me.

Regards,

Jeremy

[David]

Yes they'll take the orders to test the water, but lets see when the first car is rolled out to a genuine customer - call me cynical if you like, but we've been here before. It's one thing building a prototype and fishing for orders, quite another to produce it in numbers that can deliver a profit, particularly when you're attempting to sell it at less than half the price of the top models, and are, essentially, re-marketing another manufactures engine gearbox and axle. Ford, Renault, and now Suzuki, all within a year, something strange going on IMHO.

[mgf]

Interesting but I would not consider an order without a test drive first. Wonder if there will be a demo car at the new dealer in Perth.

[Rusty P]

Interesting but I would not consider an order without a test drive first. Wonder if there will be a demo car at the new dealer in Perth.

Yes, we'll have one for demonstrating in March I expect, my order is already placed.....should be a hoot with 90 bhp (approx), live rear axle, skinny tyres and for the right side of £20k!!

[Rosssco]

More info:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... d#topicTop

[campbell]

Can you still buy Se7ens in kit form? For how much cheaper, if so?

[jason]

Can you still buy Se7ens in kit form? For how much cheaper, if so?

Ballpark £2500 less, Campbell. Although it's more accurate to say the built cars are £2500 extra, cos the prices you see quoted are (with exception of R500 which IIRC is built-only) for unassembled cars

[Dominic]

From a residuals POV, would I be right in thinking that factory built cars hold their value better?

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Interesting but I would not consider an order without a test drive first. Wonder if there will be a demo car at the new dealer in Perth.

Yes, we'll have one for demonstrating in March I expect, my order is already placed.....should be a hoot with 90 bhp (approx), live rear axle, skinny tyres and for the right side of £20k!!

Put my name down for a test drive Russell.
With a LSD it could be a fun way of getting a great drive without fear of breaking the speed limits and chela running costs. Ultimate power and grip is not a concern. Look at the reviews th Toyota GT86 is getting, low grip tyres, not a huge power output, coupled with good balance and feedback.


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Renny

[sendmyusername]

From a residuals POV, would I be right in thinking that factory built cars hold their value better?

If you can remember the top gear episode where an anally retentive slowbie and two untrained monkeys built it, I would probably defer to a factory built option. You have no idea how many 'spare' bits the home built guy will have left over at the end, and before I get a tirade from self built guys, for every 1 that does a good job (factory standard) , there are probably about 5 that realise (but don't admit that) it's a bit more than they could cope with, and another 7 who are deluded into thinking they have done the job correctly.
It's not that it holds it value, it's just I wouldn't buy a self build.
I was looking at them four years ago, but there are that many different variations between engines, gearboxes, brakes, servicing etc I gave up. Coming from a biking background, I found that quite a few bikers spent thousands on improvements which either made no difference at all, or actually made it worse, and most of caterham owners tinker a little at least. Bigger engines, but with same small gearbox, engine or gearbox rebuilds after 4,000mls etc (i know there is different stresses on racing an engine, but my golf has done over 120,000 miles, and I rag that as hard as my elise)
A lot of people spend a lot of money getting that last little bit of performance out of their vehicle, without realising that it is their driving/riding ability that is the real limiting factor. If they left the car as standard, and took an advance racing lesson, they would find the vehicle is more than adequate.
Which is why I worry about mods.

[campbell]

I was interested as an idea for a future project with my son, currently age 6...so 10 yrs away at the mo

He shows promise as an engineer and I had this vision of completing the Se7en with him the night before his 17th birthday. Including L plates, LOL.

[sja]

Great idea Campbell. My friend bought a triumph spitfire for his sons 14 birthday which they stripped and completely rebuild. They kept the engine standard but up graded the brakes etc... His idea was that he can only have one passenger rather than four.

The new caterham will be a great for someone new to RWD cars, not many cars around apart from the new Toyota /Subaru.

[Dominic]

I was interested as an idea for a future project with my son, currently age 6...so 10 yrs away at the mo

He shows promise as an engineer and I had this vision of completing the Se7en with him the night before his 17th birthday. Including L plates, LOL.

Would certainly beat doing an air-fix kit!

Do it when he's 13, then he can start autotesting in it when he's 14