Caterham to raise output by 26%

[Hedge]

And "shortening" the waiting list of 3-4 months!

Recession? What recession.

Cheers, Hedge

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=21866

[Trigger]

You misquoted - it says " the increase in capacity will go some way to shortening a current 3-4 month waiting list"

I think they are mad. Morgan previously resisted such a move to allow a recession proof model. Ariel have used the same tactic. If Craterham get it down to 1 month for example they are relying on no downturn in any month - very risky I would think. But good to see them doing well all the same.

T

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="Trigger"]
I think they are mad.
[/quote]

+1

Much easier to plan financially with a guaranteed pipeline.

[John Lloyd]

But 18 months for an Atom.  I still find that a little OTT when mine took about 10 weeks to build.  Test ride 23rd September 2004 delivery 11th January 2005 and I could have had it before Christmas, but screwed up on insurance paperwork, which then got stuck in Christmas mail.

[mikesalt]

[quote="John Lloyd"]
But 18 months for an Atom.  I still find that a little OTT when mine took about 10 weeks to build.[/quote]

Yes, but think of the residuals. The length of the waiting list means that your car barely looses value (ammunition to use for your significant other). Given three years, it's depreciation will make even the best German saloons look like Italian superminis.

[benyeats]

[quote="mikesalt"]
make even the best German saloons look like Italian superminis.
[/quote]

Ah German saloons the well known way of avoiding depreciation!

Ben

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="John Lloyd"]
But 18 months for an Atom.  I still find that a little OTT when mine took about 10 weeks to build.   Test ride 23rd September 2004 delivery 11th January 2005 and I could have had it before Christmas, but screwed up on insurance paperwork, which then got stuck in Christmas mail.
[/quote]\

Want to know why the difference?

Here's a clue...

Top Gear Series 5 Episode 9

First aired 26.12.2004

[silver]

[quote="benyeats"]
[quote="mikesalt"]
make even the best German saloons look like Italian superminis.
[/quote]

Ah German saloons the well known way of avoiding depreciation!

Ben

[/quote]

legit question, are you being serious or making a joke at their resale value.  Just curious...for example in the States, MBenz don't hold value at all while BMW do hold their value quite well.

[benyeats]

[quote="silver"]
[quote="benyeats"]
[quote="mikesalt"]
make even the best German saloons look like Italian superminis.
[/quote]

Ah German saloons the well known way of avoiding depreciation!

Ben

[/quote]

legit question, are you being serious or making a joke at their resale value.  Just curious...for example in the States, MBenz don't hold value at all while BMW do hold their value quite well.
[/quote]

Two points:

i) The car I drive everyday cost its previous owner £90k ish ten years ago, I paid just under £2k for it.
ii) It is usually safe to assume I am being sarcastic

Actually three points, the smaller MBZs and BMWs do hold their money quite well, the bigger big engined stuff does not.

Cheers

Ben

[mikesalt]

The point I was making is that German cars typically hold their value well compared to Italian cars, and that the Atom just makes a complete mockery of both their depreciation. I did a quick calculation of my great uncles's Mercedes SL500 and it lost approximately £500 a week in value at one point. What shocked me is that he's bought another Merc, yet he used to be an avid Jaguar fan so the XJ Supersport would have made a whole lot more sense to me.

Back to Caterham, it's great that they are doing well. The more companies churning these minimalist sports cars out, the harder it will be for the EU to shut them down. Apparently, in Brussels, you are 100% guaranteed to have a car accident if you don't have ABS  :police:

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="mikesalt"]
The point I was making is that German cars typically hold their value well compared to Italian cars...
[/quote]

Really?

$18,000 new...

(See Ben's point re. sarcasm)

[John Lloyd]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
[quote="John Lloyd"]
But 18 months for an Atom.  I still find that a little OTT when mine took about 10 weeks to build.   Test ride 23rd September 2004 delivery 11th January 2005 and I could have had it before Christmas, but screwed up on insurance paperwork, which then got stuck in Christmas mail.
[/quote]\

Want to know why the difference?

Here's a clue...

Top Gear Series 5 Episode 9

First aired 26.12.2004


[/quote]

Move on Bruce.  Why should I wait 18 months for an Atom?

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="John Lloyd"]
[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
[quote="John Lloyd"]
But 18 months for an Atom.  I still find that a little OTT when mine took about 10 weeks to build.   Test ride 23rd September 2004 delivery 11th January 2005 and I could have had it before Christmas, but screwed up on insurance paperwork, which then got stuck in Christmas mail.
[/quote]\

Want to know why the difference?

Here's a clue...

Top Gear Series 5 Episode 9

First aired 26.12.2004


[/quote]

Move on Bruce.  Why should I wait 18 months for an Atom?
[/quote]

err...

Because there's more demand now than there was then?

Possibly thanks to the above TV show...

And taking major resource on in uncertain economic conditions (first internally and then externally)  to reduce the waiting list is bonkers if you don't have to.

[bodnet]

[quote="John Lloyd"]
Move on Bruce.  Why should I wait 18 months for an Atom?
[/quote]

You don't have to... I got mine in 2 weeks!


Bod