Glen

Car is now sold - thanks to all those who called, and good luck to all those whose search continues! Stuart - hope you enjoy the car as much as I did. House will now come before wheels for a little while.

Rob Sorry mate - bit slow on the replying. Have sent one back to you... Still got the car, but only just... I've had five serious enquiries since Thursday, from this one ad. Car will be sold soon (I hope) - so by all means get in touch. The rear wing is now replaced - 'glass is as new all-round. Glen

Jon Missed your postings, because I only see the web from my office. Pictures sent to you now on email, hope they are of interest. Two people have expressed an interest since Thursday - one is coming down tomorrow, the other later in the week. Obviously I want to get the best price that I can, but on the other hand I do need to shift the car as soon as possible - this means that I'm likely to let it go to the first reasonable offer. My home number is 01306 731198 - feel free to call me there if I'm not in the office. Mobile is 07767 615984. Glen

Had a go at selling my car at the end of last year, but I had the price a bit high and had left it too late in the year. Anyway - now I need to sell it, and can no longer afford to muck about - so somebody can get my beloved car at bargain price... Titanium Silver Factory built Factory maintained Standard tune 1.8 Rover K Caterham 6-speed Wide track Full Roadsport - weather, heater, 14" minilites/Avon road tyres Leather seats Momo wheel New, factory fitted, fibreglass all-round. Two years old, 14,000 road only miles. £15,000 - come and see it, make me an offer. Can email pics. Feel free to call me - 01306 640182

Nigel Perhaps you could offer Caterham some consultancy services - they don't seem interested in such well thought out and honest philosophies!

Well - my headlights were rusty within a year, and one has fallen to bits within two years. The rear lights have already been replaced by Caterham because they filled with water so readily, and then blew bulbs.

You must be the most tolerant bunch of consumers on the planet! My headlight has just fallen down over the chrome mount (due to corrosion) and my reaction is defintely not "Ah well, I'll fix it like this..." - my reaction is "Bloody outrageous! How do they stay in business with such a flimsy, badly detailed product!". I've said this before, and even though it does no good to reiterate here it makes me feel better to vent my head... This car is like one of those terrible shoddy seventies cars that rusted within the first year and had little or no manufacturer's guarantee. Credit to all those enthusiasts that take pleasure from repairing their cherished cars (and call it maintenance (maintenance is designed-for attention, like changing oil) rather than call it repair) - but if we all took the cars back to Caterham and challenged them to do something... well, then they might actually do something. Caterham - Designed for racing, built for living. Yea, right.

My car's now in the Caterham showroom. Stop what you're doing and go and buy it. Mileage now 13,000 - but it is having a full set of wings and a brand new nose to make it just perfect for its lucky new owner. Whoever it will be... Go on. You know you want it.

Thought it fair to point out that Caterham are doing the decent thing and replacing the perished rubber (hooray), whilst they get the car ready for sale (boo).

My 18 month old Roadsport is just having a thorough top-to-bottom clean (after daily use in all seasons and 12,000 miles), and I've just started to notice how crap the rubber gaiters are at the front end. Despite having just returned from a full service (12,000 mile) at the showroom both of the front roll-bar end gaiters are clearly perished and leaking, and one of the steering-rod end covers is completely split-through. As I understand it this car wouldn't even get through an MOT like this - and its not even two years' old! I'll be on the phone on Monday to Caterham to find out how this can be, but until then, any similar experiences or comments? Just to get it off my chest, I have to say that the component quality (for a £21,000 car) is absolutely pathetic. A sixties' car, built with sixties' mentality. Reminds me of British car manufacturing at its worst - as in Leyland.

I say: Go for the six-speed. Superlight with screen and weather is just like regular Roadsport but without spare wheel - but, as you say, you get a load of extra goodies. I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed with the SS engine - it's not that highly tuned that you'll notice any lack of bottom end grunt.

Offers close to £ 17,500. Titanium Silver, factory built, February 2000, 11,500 road only miles. Standard 1.8K with Caterham 6-speed (I have found this to be a fab combination in the real world - lovely sweet mid-range and never in the wrong gear). Also the best choice for engine upgrades in the future. Wide track with 14" Minlites, road tyres. Enough ground clearance yet nippy handling. Plenty of grip for all conditions on the road, and the tyres just never seem to show wear! Leather seats, full weather, heater etc. Used as daily transport and never let me down. At Caterham right now for full 12,000 mile service (they also did the 6,000). Reluctantly selling now, while we're still in the season, to free up cash for housebuilding. Available to view and drive next week - near Dorking in Surrey. Please call me: 01306 640182 or 07767 615984 - or email.

Relating to the subject of supply of new engines: The current Fireblade has a different engine - it's 929cc, fuel injected and has a different chassis (different engine mounts?) - the old 'blade motor is a little under 900cc (contrary to the figure quoted by EVO) & has carbs. The Caterham Fireblade is using the old engines - so even if Honda would supply new units, they wouldn't be the same. 900cc - just makes me laugh. 0-60 in under 4 secs, and cheap "town car" tax disc!

Though I don't have the answer to many of these questions, I am replying to keep interest levels up and in the hope that some debate on this might be prompted. Can give a little feedback though: I tried the Blackbird and did not find that the low to mid-range was lacking, as I feared it might be. Obviously the Fireblade will be that bit weedier still in this department, but my point is that the delivery of the engine did not draw attention to itself in this way at all. In fact it seemed totally linear from trickle to full throttle. I don't expect performance to be a problem at all - sub 4 sec 0-60 is quoted and I see no reason why this won't be easy to achieve. Gear change (in Blackbird) was a bit clonky going slowly - but in truth the whole car just didn't like going slow. The clutch was ridiculously light, as was the throttle return spring - minor changes to both would, I reckon, transform the drive and avoid embarassing kangaroo moments. Value for money seems decent, as far as I can see. Basic price is £13, plus engine, build and paint. Personally I can't see the need for carbon bits (esp since parking damage on my seven (by others, not me) is an almost weekly occurence). Neither could I justify CR500s (too much tyre for such a light car?). I'm thinking LSD, standard paint, tonneau - which comes to £ 16,690 ex build. I'm certainly going down this road and have been emailing James Whiting to keep up to date. The most enduring memory from driving the Blackbird was imagining how beserk these bike-cars would be out on the road - and that's what I'm looking forward to. After I've finished my house, re-started my business, paid the Revenue, sold by current car (1.8K, 6sp), ...

Si (and thanks to Peter, Chris & FH) - you're right! Actually discovered this last night, then got to my desk this am and saw your post. The odd thing is that it sounds nothing like a vibration, and everything like something rotating. Also could have sworn that the noise originated much further back. Anyway, lessons learned. Thanks again.