info please

[in seven heaven]

I have always like the lotus super 7, and have in the last year or so looked at a couple of caterhams and recently a 1990 birken s3. it has a 1.7 ford crossflow, four speed, rhd from Japan. vehicle is not pristine but only has 17,000 kms on it. it has the long fenders that swoop to the doors not the mini ones. can any one tell me about this model and what is a fair price for it. it is not pristine, needs a good cleaning and polishing but starts and runs fine.

tks leshttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/707871515_birkin1.jpg

[JohnK]

At the risk of being called a 'conservative' there is much to be said for purchasing one's first Se7en of a make that is close to the "mainstream". Caterham, Birkin, Superformance S1 (please feel free to add other member's views here) are traditional and common, if that term can be applied to a Se7en, cars and therefore you will find many kindred souls who can give you support as you learn the ins and outs, not to mention the joys, of owning a Se7en. What is most significant to me about the car you are interested in is that this car is right-hand-drive. Are cars in Alberta all left-hand-drive? And, if so, consider what it will be like trying to move from the right lane and pass someone who's in front of you when you are in the wrong seat to view oncoming traffic. Any Se7en can be quite beguiling. If you take the time to step back and reflect on what things are important to you, it can save you quite a bit of heartache.

Cheers,

[in seven heaven]

thanks for the reply, not quite willing to take the plunge just yet. Have a 1997 bmw z3 roaster as my toy car right now and that is a blast to drive. rode in a caterham last fall and it was rough in your face driving. " its a fine day for motor car racing" lol :}. rhd cars are legal in alberta, but extra cautionn is required of course. I am a Brit so rhd is not so bad. I also do collision reconstruction for the police up here and have been doing that since 1987. Have no been to a collision involving a rhd car yet, maybe the drivers drive more careful or just pass on the shoulder. hah hahhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1473812274_birkin2.jpg

[slngsht]

I agree with JohnK on the RHD comment and passing. These cars are low and narrow, and in a RHD position, it's even harder to see oncoming traffic.

 

 

[southwind25]

As a rather new Birkin owner...so far i love the car! It seems very well engineer'd and seems to have a good combination of parts. You will find a fair support group for this car, but not as extensive as for the caterham. The engine within it sounds pretty common and should be fairly easy to get parts. my 1.6 x-flow is very easy to find parts and so far seems to be great if not underpowered.. And of course like most se7en's the car is very upgrad-able as your fabrication skills or wallet allows. This would include, if you wish, changing from RHD to LHD with a bit of effort. My ginetta G4 is a RHD and i plan on keeping it that way. toll booths, bank drive thru's and passing are a bit of a hassle..it's up to you of course. it seems the Birkin has at least the longevity of a caterham and a few examples have been around for quiet a time being used in many conditions. matter of fact theres one fellow who has a series 1 who drives it around frozen volcanoes somewhere out far east. Of course it would be quiet a diffrent car from your BMW..it is much more in your face as you say.

[Kitcat]

I drove a RHD Caterham as part of my personal Seven quest. These little buggers are so narrow it doesnt seem to make a lot of difference what side you sit on (except at toll booths, etc). But toll booths are also quite an adventure in a LHD too.

 

A slight advantage with the RHD, if you do track days, is that since most race tracks run clockwise, a RHD car has the driver as ballast on the inside of most turns, which is a plus.