Cateringvans, really worth the extra?

[mynickers]

Of course you're all bias, but I was on the Cateringvan home page today, just browsing and nosing.

Looked in used section, obviousliy silly place ot buy a used one, but still people somewhere must be prepared to part with this cash.

Check out the following:

http://www.caterham.co.uk/showroom/preowned/index.htm

(can't link direct: second one down, Superlight R400, Lotus Lava Orange, 1.8 X-Power 200 Bhp, £30,500

It looks fabulous, and it's generously spec'd for sure, and if money was no issue, I'd have one, but £30k is the kind of money you'd pick up a reasonable Noble M12 for example

200bhp from an X-Power 1.8 is very good, I am assuming it weighs in around half a tonne, so you can pretty much double that to see the power to weight.

But for £13k odd you can get a factory built megabusa, or Blade, or for that matter prolly get a pretty good cossie - not sure I could part with that much money for a seven, because you could get the same power and thrills for less surely?

Objective discussions please

Nick

Edit: Does look very slick though doesn't it?

[Nick M]

*shrugs*

What's to say ?

The Caterham factory and the owners do a good job of keeping second hand values healthy.  They probably cost a bit more to build in the first place (chassis, bodywork and paint is going to be more expensive than the Westfield equivalent to produce) and parts are kept expensive, especially if there's no alternative.  And I imagine a lot of their customers probably buy them as much for the badge as for the driving experience.

Oh yes, and they have "heritage"...  *shakes head*

Yes, Caterhams are prettier.

No, I won't be rushing out to get one because I don't believe the extra cost is justified.

[Terry Everall]

No not worth the extra!

[Westfieldman]

No not worth the extra! unless you are a Cateringvan owner already then they are worth loads more.......

[felters]

I do think that they make a cracking car actually. It's just sold for twice as much as it's worth. And all they have is heritage... there seem to be no future plans. The 21 was a disaster so what's next? Westfield are on the second iteration of their mid engine car - every Radical/Jade/XTR sold is a lost sale for Caterham.

On a slight tangent some of their spares are actually well priced. I bought a rear light lens last week. On line, £10, delivered next day. Westfield £15...

[bofus]

Similarly they have some nice 'accessories'

The SV hood bag is a good way of storing the Westfield Hood...no equivalent from Westfield.

[steve wilson]

200bhp from an X-Power 1.8 is very good, I am assuming it weighs in around half a tonne, so you can pretty much double that to see the power to weight.

Half a tonne! Thats a bit heavy isnt it. Thats like me carrying a passenger all the time.

[oldman]

Nice colour tho same as their website....spent some time over there recently seeing that I couldn't get on ere.Nice lads but they seem to think we drive canoes......who's the first down the rapids

[oioi]

i would happily sell you the same power to weight ratio for a third of the money.  and it will be reliable

[Paul M]

You get what you pay for. Unless you pay twice as much as something is worth.

All this about heritage is just a bunch of a**e. The Current Caterham product has no mechanical relationship to the Colin Chapman product they took over in the early 1970's - it just shares the same basic body shape, as do Westfield, MK, Tiger, Luego and even Robin Hood - they only got the so called "heritage" cos they took a loss making vehicle off Colin Chapman's hands and allowed him to concentrate Lotus on producing moreed modern sports cars.

Anyone who watched the BBC4 programme on Caterhams attempts to produce a new mid engined car will have fallen about at their attempts at research, design and development. As someone else said, Westfield have done the XTR2 and XTR4 already, look at all the other mid engine kit cars that are now on the market or soon to come to market - where's Catherham ?

What have they really done to develop the 7 ? - apart from wring large power out of a K series engine - which is universally regarded as the "wrong engine" to tune this high , I've heard tales of very poor reliability with the R400 & R500 engines, ie, factory recommended rebuilds every 4-5000 miles. Makes you wonder why people bother.

[v7slr]

No comment.  

[7SE]

V7,  Tell us all where your engine is right now!

[v7slr]

Mostly in Milton Keynes and Cambridge, although a sizable portion of it is being thrown in the bin and replacements still to be purchased.

When it's back, it will further strengthen the argument proposed by the thread owner. Damn thing will have cost a fortune by then.  

[mynickers]

Well it does look nice, but I have seen a few westies, in Orange with carbon bits, and black zorst, wheels, etc, and still look pretty groovy - if that's what you're after.

personally it seems utterly daft to spend £30k on a cateringvan as the above posted one, when I could get a factory built, second hand Megabusa for £13k odd, or just get a decent factory built 2.0 for 8k odd, spend the rest on a diesel to get me about!

I love the seven concept, in all it's shapes and forms, but £30k  I just can't see how that cna be justified. You could get yourself a second hand single seater racing car for that

[mb893]

If that's how much they are and you want one, then they're 'good' value.

If, however you just want a seven style car then for sure, there are better value items around.