Kitcat

Yes, 30 new Caterhams sold in a year seems amazing. Almost unbelievable: Especially when a like-new Zetec has gone unsold on our for-sale page at abt 1/2 price of a new one.And, since they don't seem to have the staff to assemble them. And since few, if any, new owners have popped up here. Also, as you note Croc, because the current dismal economy puts the retail cost of these little things out of $ reach of most sports car enthusiasts. Hey, I want it to be true. I want Caterhams in every driveway:).

I used to think Miatas were stepping stones to se7ens, now I am starting to think it's the other way around:).(Will Hank be next???).

Don't think so,in 4+ years she has ridden in it to the end of the block, once:). So, I am counting my blessings here.

Riker: Nope, it wld put your foot space out side the car and therefore spoil the lines but I am sure it cld be done. I rest my left foot under the clutch on trips. Around town it hovers over the clutch ready to shift, wh/I do a lot.

Yes two, tho one is for sale. I'd like to have more but as you say, the missus.... (someone has to maintain some sanity in our family:)).

Sort of. You call, pester, beg and eventfully if you seem desperate enough, they get out their old records and look it up. Thais all per a potential buyer in Canada who needed the info to decide if he cld legally import it.

Just making a plug for this car, which I think is one of the nicest Zetec Caterhams to ever come up for sale on this site, and at an excellent price. Stuff that I really like: 202 hp, LSD, carbon, carbon, carbon, wide track, FIA roll-over bar, full weather kit/heater, perfect condition. Stuff I dont like: It wasn't for sale when I bought my Birkin:).

FWIW: Caterham has confirmed that this was manufactured by them in August 1997.

Wemtd: They provide virtually the same interior width for passenger/driver (the Birkin is maybe 1/2" narrower). Lengthwise, the Caterham is definitely better proportioned:the steering wheel is much further away. The Birkin feels exactly like the short cockpit Caterham from the waist up. Even w/my extremely thin carbon fiber racing seat in my Birkin all the way back, I can't extend my arms like I can on the Caterham, with the seat moved up on its slider abt 2". The Birkin has lots of leg room but I am shoved too close to the steering wheel using standard fat seats. It is ok w/thin racing seat tho. For folks our size (5'9-ish) it works, but I dont know how well it wld work for a bigger driver

My S3 measures 16" width for driver, ditto passenger. So, definitely not a wide body, tho does have the extra length. Didn't know long cockpit was an option so far back.

The "long-cockpit" car was introduced in '96 ( I think), foot wells enlarged in '94, all providing a bit of extra leg/foot room. Chassis was stiffened in '96 and suspension was revised. I have driven both short and long cockpit versions, and long cockpit is definitely roomier and nicer for drivers over 5'9'. Dedion susp became an option in '85, 5sp trans in '86. In '88 disc brakes on all 4 wheels became standard. Biggest change over last 15 years has been ever more powerful engines.

Thx, I will pass that info on to the potential buyer. Edit: Just read Canada's law. It says if the date of vehicle's "manufacture" is not stamped on the vehicle, then buyer must get a letter from the manufacturer as to date of manufacture. The law doesn't mention date of registration, assembly, importation, etc., as being relevant. So, it looks like a letter from Caterham would do the trick. Mike

Right, and if it's a '97 it can come in '12, and if '96 (wh/mite be actual year of manufacture), it can some now. Since it was shipped to US in '97 it can be imported sometime nxt year in Canada. Hence the effort to pin down when in '97 (or even '96) it was manufactured.

The car is registered as a '98, tho kit was shipped to states in '97. I have a prospective Canadian buyer who contacted Caterham on Friday to see when the kit was manufactured. Apparently, used cars can come to Canada if 15 years old? So my car is right at that point (store for winter, be good to go in spring '12). We are hoping to hear today sometime. If that doesn't work, Chris at Sevens and Elans says he stamped build date on the frame, under the roll-over bar foot. So I will take off bar and see, if Caterham doesn't come thru.

Timax: I bought some and didn't like it: my wife now uses it for a knee pad when gardening:). It was too thick for my small Tilet racing seat. It is very cushy, medium density maybe.

That car has popped up here periodically over the years. The consensus is it's a nice car but the owner wants too much for it ($30K+). For a base car (bare aluminum, non-adjustable bench seats, 3 pt belts, standard roll-over bar), I agree $26K seems more reasonable, even w/the Zetec. The seller is clearly in no hurry to make a sale.

I will try that w/my X-flow nxt time it acts up:).

Some people know how to have fun!

My redline is 6800 and the CB500's are about 1 inch shorter than my RA1's. So revs out pretty fast. I think it has the power, but not the gearing. Since I have no functioning speedo or tach, it is all a bit murky.

Car has generated significant interest but no one willing to part with their money yet. Comments from folks who have driven it include: "It's prettier in person." And: "It's faster than I thought it would be." (Not that I am bragging)

Yes, I went to Mid-Ohio yesterday in my new car w/hopes of breaking the all-time track record:). But rain, rain, rain. I did 7 laps in a downpour, got soaked, spun out and parked it. More carnage than I have ever seen at a track day. Many incidents-to the point where the event was stopped, and everyone was given a good talking to. My wipers stopped working after 1st lap, speedo and tach after 2nd lap. So the S Africans have duplicated the British reliability. Based on gearing/wheel tire combo and extrapolating speed at 4K, looks like 125 mph mite be it. I share Karl's trepidation of 140 mph. BTW Karl, this was my 1st experience on the Avon CB500's I bought from you. Not much grip in the rain:). But they felt good and I think I may have a new favorite tire. The wheel tire combo was 8 lbs lighter than stock Birkin wheels and Toya RA1's, per corner!

So, was 140 mph in a Caterham fun???

No. 45 is my fav!

I think I will be gluing a small cube of wood, painted silver, on the floor below the clutch.

Sure. I have 10K+ miles on mine and, other than some road rash on the body and a few extra small stones in the cockpit, they have been great. They do have decent grip cold, just much better thoroughly warmed. And they save you the need of having track rubber and street rubber. There is a school of thought that says race rubber can't be allowed to get too cold or they lose their effectiveness. But I have stored my car in an unheated garage for 4 winters and have not seen a fall-off in performance (minus 5-10 degrees F). In fact, a selling point of RA1's is they seem to get better with age, unlike full-tilt race rubber like Hoosiers, for instance.