What about price?

[KStier]

So I have been reading up on old posts and the most recent stuff on what everybody thinks about new v. used and which seven is the best seven. I am still deciding which (though I am leaning Birkin or Caterham) but I am sure that I want to buy used. Does anybody have any input on what a reasonable price is? Are the prices that I see online good starting points or are they way over? I have seen used Caterham's from $24k to $34k and a few Birkins all of which were about $30K... what do you all think about those prices and given the economy we are in, what is reasonable to offer withot being offensive (ie 90% of asking etc)...?

 

Kyle

[yellowss7]

Easy answer is "it depends on the year, condition, spec"

 

Some models are highly optioned, some have big Horsepower, some are in pristine condition, some aren't.

 

I think you have to determine what you want, and what your price range is. If you can find a nice car, specced in the manner you want, in your price range, that's your car!

 

In my experience, no two Cars are exactly alike. I've been to the Stoneliegh show in the UK, and with over 225 Caterhams parked next to each other, I didn't find any two exactly alike.

 

What are you going to do with the car? Track days, street only, autox? All three? That will also have an impact on the spec you want.

 

Bottom line, wait for the best car that best fits your needs.

 

Otherwise, you can order a new one and pay upwards of $20-30K more to get exactly what you want.

 

Carbon, Magnesium, and Big Horsepower are sexy, but costs big money. Do you need it?

 

Personally, I think $25-35K for a nice well maintained car is a bargain. :yesnod:

 

Tom

[Kitcat]

The market is so small, it's hard to know what effect market crash will have-or even to establish a pre-crash price level. When I bought my car about 2 years ago, I monitored E-bay, this site's for-sale section, and all the classic car sites as well as Dick Brink's store, Sevens and Elans, Rocky Mountain Sports Cars, the LOONEY site, and other Lotus Forums as well as Hemmings. In a big week, 1 new car might appear on the market.

 

When I was looking, standard Caterhams with Crossflows, Dedion rear, 5 sp. tranny, full weather gear, few options, were going for $22-24K, depending on condition. With Zetecs add $5-10K. For Birkins, adjust downward a few thou. For Ultalites & Stalkers, it seems like the $20-30K range was typical. Special cars, regardless of brand, will command more, sometimes much more. A lot will depend on how desperate the seller is to sell.

[oilteq]

Kyle

 

Here are two things to consider.

 

As the posts on this topic indicate, it is a good idea to take everything on a used se7en apart and reassemble it, just to be sure. It is not that much more work to install an engine and transmission in a rolling chassis.

 

The most desirable engine for a Birkin or Caterham is the Duratec. (I define desirable as having the highest resale value, not that it is better for a given application than other engines.) There are very few Birkins or Caterhams with this relatively new engine in the U.S. The Duratec has an aluminum block and is lighter than the Zetec engine. It also has larger valves. So if you are looking for value, a few dollars in modifications to the Duratec will make more power than a huge investment in a Zetec. The Duratec is a better value in a new build.

 

So, I would recommend at least considering the purchase of a rolling chassis, and installing the engine and transmission yourself. It is not that hard, and people on this and other forums are happy to help answer questions at every stage of the install. Also, it will not take much more time to build your own than waiting for just the right used car, and then taking it apart and reassembling it. Finally, if you find yourself being forced to sell the completed car, you will have one of the more desirable cars that will command a premium, even in a tough economy.

 

Blaine