2009 Caterham [Archive]

pksurveyor

07-10-2008, 05:19 PM

The car finally makes it across the pond. It is at the dealership waiting to be assembled.

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/316928621_Paul & Kit Kwan Caterham SV 2009 004.jpg

scannon

07-10-2008, 06:57 PM

Going for the Donk look? ;)

yellowss7

07-10-2008, 07:51 PM

Nice color! What motor are you going with? And why have the dealer build it? Caterhams are pretty easy to build. Other than the bag of fasteners marked Miscellaneous it is basically like putting together a model. Just follow the directions. Seriously! Best of luck with it. Tom

pksurveyor

07-11-2008, 05:21 AM

The Donk look will provide plenty of ground clearance for the Houston potholes and I can look down at the lowriders when I go cruising in the hood. The car will use the SVT engine with the Kent cam and light flywheel upgrade. The Duretec can not pass Texas emission. It will also have the 4 pot AP brake, LSD, and 15 inch Avon CR500. Jeff Sloan built my current SV and I will defer the assembly of the new car to his expertise. Last week's discussion on cockpit heat abatment has provided some excellent idea on keeping my feet cool.

Winston

07-11-2008, 06:55 AM

Wow, congrats Paul! I didn't realize that you had a new one on order. :cheers:

athens7

07-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Congratulations! Jeff certainly did a nice job putting my car together; I wish I had a neighborhood Caterham dealer!

Boxologist

07-11-2008, 03:50 PM

not to spend ur money for u, but i hope the blackpack will be added to ur car. It would look absolutely stunning with that, CF fenders, and a black trimed nose and stripe. lime green really stands out!:7head:

S1Steve

07-11-2008, 07:58 PM

WOW, That is a great color,I hope you get many miles of fun with it. Steve :thumbs:

pksurveyor

07-12-2008, 05:50 PM

It has the black pack but no carbon. The wife does not like the look of CF. It will also have the third brake light on top of the spare tire.

jturrell

08-24-2008, 10:10 PM

Any updates on the new car? I've been looking forward to pics of the finished results! That color is perfect.

pksurveyor

08-25-2008, 11:21 AM

work in progess as of 8/22/2008. Engine installed.

jturrell

08-25-2008, 12:43 PM

Do you plan on keeping your old SV?

pksurveyor

08-25-2008, 12:59 PM

We plan to have a "his" and "her" Caterham in the family. Of couse, the wife gets the new one.

I am having problem attaching pictures. Is there a special procedure I need to know?:banghead:

Kitcat

08-26-2008, 11:05 AM

The "Help" section of this forum has detailed instructions for attaching photos.

pksurveyor

08-26-2008, 05:58 PM

I can not upload a picture but I can change the avatar. Here is the picture of the car in progresshttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1369016548_Paul & Kit Kwan Caterham SV 2009 013-compress.jpg

BusaLoco

08-26-2008, 06:04 PM

Very Nice!...Congratulations!

pksurveyor

08-27-2008, 09:18 AM

Caterham shipped two exhaust header pipes for the number 4 cylinder and none for the number 3 cylinder for the four into one exhaust system. The completion date is now unknown. This is the problem with buying from an oversea manufacturer. Unlike a WCM or other US manufacturer, part availability is a big issue.

Winston

08-27-2008, 09:31 AM

Sorry to hear about the mix-up, Paul.

She is looking good, though :) I like that green color.

scannon

08-27-2008, 09:34 AM

Mike Rohaley

08-27-2008, 09:48 AM

You are no more high-and -dry than you would be if you had a problem with your BMW or similar foreign car, Rocky Mountain should be able to square you away with just a simple phone call. They have been excellent with all of my "need it now" issues.

Kitcat

08-27-2008, 12:33 PM

My experience with both RMSC and Sevens and Elans is you will get the part quickly if they have it, otherwise it could be a while. They can arrange for overnite shipping from England if you want to pay the $100++ cost. I have done that.

The personnel are unfailingly nice/helpful. Both are periodically absent from the office for extended times, typically working on various Caterham cars or car-related projects. So they can be difficult (impossible) to reach when you really, really need them.

Nonetheless, it usually works quite well and it's great to have knowledgeable people willing to help with advice and parts.

JBH

08-27-2008, 06:26 PM

[begin rant]

But this just shouldn't happen...not at least if you hope to stay in business. The only way RMSC can help is if they have spare parts in stock. To save money, Caterham ships parts by containers - that means all the US orders are placed each month, Caterham fills the orders (hopefully) and then puts them in a container that is loaded on a transatlantic ship.

I am still annoyed that it took forever (5 months) to get a spare watts link, low camber DeDion ears, Superlight wheels and a set of brake pads. Recently, I tried to get another set of the Lucas Blue Strip brake pads for the rear calipers. US Caterham has none in stock because Caterham UK didn't include any in the recent container shipment.

I come from a strong business background and honestly, I don't understand how this happens. I get the impression Caterham UK doesn't really care about the US market.

[end rant]

pksurveyor

08-27-2008, 07:17 PM

The currency exchange rate is now a little better than a few months ago but shipping cost is going up like a rocket. I am using Performance Friction brake pads instead of try to acquire the Caterham OEM parts. They used the same pads as Triumph Spitfire.

Hank

08-27-2008, 08:29 PM

Pardon my ignorance on the shipping, but when I see the word "container" I think of a ship. Could these parts not be shipped by AIR?

I would hope the dry sump oiling system that I am ordering from SBD in England is to be shipped 2-day via DHL air.

Kitcat

08-28-2008, 04:59 AM

Typically, they will ask if you want it air freighted or if putting it in the "container" is OK. I assume the container arrives by ship.

I have several parts in the container as I type, including a carbon fiber racing seat that I am drooling over getting. Since the stock seat that I have works fine, there was no reason to pay the exorbitant air-freight rate.

Caterham is not Ford Motors so suffers by comparison. On the other hand, for those of us who are not mechanically inclined, it is nice to be able to call someone and describe a problem and have the needed parts ID'd and shipped out (In my case to my mechanic's shop). Or, my mechanic will call them and they will figure out a solution together.

Z3 Stalker

08-28-2008, 08:12 AM

That is the reason I decided to build a Seven of North American manufacture that I can go to my local GM/Napa etc store and pick up a part. This way I am not off the road for extended periods of time especially with the reduced driving time of the Canadian summer.

athens7

09-11-2008, 04:06 PM

I order parts from RMSC/Caterham USA (now one and the same, for all practical purposes) when possible, but I also order directly from Caterham UK if USA doesn't have the part in stock. The shipping is no worse than ordering anything else from overseas, and the parts are usually here in a week or two. Darren in the parts department at Caterham is very dutiful about answering emails quickly, and has no peer when it comes to knowing the cars. I have never been told my order had to wait for the monthly container (I expect that's a Caterham USA thing).

pksurveyor

10-17-2008, 11:15 AM

It is home!!:hurray: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/795071196_IMG_0158.JPGhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/2041680925_IMG_0161.JPG

yellowss7

10-17-2008, 11:32 AM

Great color!!! What motor, and state of tune?

pksurveyor

10-17-2008, 03:50 PM

It has the SVT with Kent cam, light flywheel, 5 speed, LSD, 15 inch wheel with Avon CR500, AP Racing front brake with 4 pots.

yellowss7

10-17-2008, 03:55 PM

Really nice! Enjoy it, or is this one the wife's? Tom

pksurveyor

10-17-2008, 05:26 PM

This is the wife's Caterham. The silver one is mine. Texas being a community property state, I will have a chance to take it to the track.

Hank

10-17-2008, 06:31 PM

Beautiful. I want to see some video of it!

pksurveyor

11-03-2008, 07:07 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkCApL5tJPQ

Yesterday on the way to Texas World Speedway to watch vintage car racing (Corithinan Vintage Car Racing).

athens7

11-03-2008, 08:56 PM

Congratulations, Paul!:party:

kitmfgr

11-03-2008, 09:39 PM

Excellent color, Sevens need visability and that should do nicely. Jeff does very good work in Ft Worth and I am sure that header issue will be taken care of soon. Many extra parts available from racers that probably will have the tube you need.
Good luck and hope to see you and your wife at some of the local events. :flag:

Kitcat

11-04-2008, 08:08 AM

On the Interstate without wind deflectors? Must get a little breezy in the cockpit! Man, that silver SUV looks big!

pksurveyor

12-16-2008, 12:46 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US7PVkm2zEE

Lotus Owners of South Texas (L.O.S.T.) held a time trial at the Houston Police Academy last Saturday. I was the fastest driver in the morning sessions and came in second overall on Fastest Time of the Day. The Fastest Time of the Day was an Elise with a highly modified Ohlin suspension.

WestTexasS2K

12-16-2008, 03:47 PM

PK dont forget about the Texas Hill Country tour coming sometime in April. It is a fun time with the Texas seven lovers. I will post more info as time gets closer.

7evin

01-17-2009, 05:12 AM

WOW.... That thing is beautiful...... Can't beat that screaming green..... No officer if was the other extremely green car....

I have tried that and they give you a really funny look..... But of course being a 7s driver we are use to funny looks.

I can't wait to see this beast in person.

Cheers and congrads.
7evin