Wednesday, 30 April 2014

IVA booked and some progress

The Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) is booked!!! 8:30 on Friday this week (2nd May 2014).  This is much earlier than expected and as such is a refreshing change.  I thought the car would only be ready for the IVA by the end of this week - not actually being tested, so that's another well done to Dean and the team at Midlands CC.

Dean has kindly supplied some shots of additional progress that's been made.
The optional track day air box and k&n air filter fitted.
The optional track day air box and k&n air filter fitted.  The engine coil cover has been removed, but I've ordered a carbon coil cover as the one supplied was polycarbonate.  
Caterham R500 STACK dash.
The STACK dash up and running - this is the first time I've seen it switched on.  I'm looking forward to having the rev needle pointing in the opposite direction in the very near future (well after running it in of course!)
Dean suggested the guys at CC midlands would have the car IVA approved, and then complete the final remedial works during the three or so weeks it takes the DVLA to process and send the V5 through.  I'd be interested to see what seats they use and what the car looks like when it goes off to test - I'll see if Dean or someone can take some snaps of the process.

So as you can guess I'm now on tender hooks waiting for the all clear on the IVA...  Then it's up to the DVLA to get the V5 organised, CC to get the plates made and then it'll be time for collection!  Cool.

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

It's alive!!! The First Start

It's alive..!  The car was started today at Caterham Midlands, and obviously the long awaited fuel pump works too!  No major revving involved in the video, as it's the first start, but it's great to see my car again and hear it for the first time...


 
 
The next stage is to ready it for IVA, and the planned target for that to happen is by the end of this week.  Dean (CC Midlands) suggested the IVA can be organised at quite short notice as all the paperwork was completed back in Feb.
 
Once the car has sailed through the IVA (positive frame of mind!) then it's a waiting game for the V5 to come through from the DVLA.  During the few days / weeks we wait for the V5 to come through Dean will be organising for the final issues (that I highlighted in my fairly comprehensive PBC document) to be rectified completely.
 
Then it'll be collection time - bring it on..!  I hope to be able to post with some updates in the meantime.

Monday, 28 April 2014

The Eagle Has Landed

It's not rocket science, BUT, the fuel pump has arrived!  I got an email this morning from Dean Francis (Caterham midlands branch dealer principal) to say it's on his desk along with a picture... I can't describe how happy I am that it's finally arrived. 

This item has been out of stock since the first week in January (at least) and my post build check (PBC) remedial works have been delayed by a month as a result.  But let's look on the positive - it's here and the target is to have the car IVA ready by the end of this week.  Progress at last!!


The Caterham R500 Fuel Pump
The Caterham R500 Fuel Pump

Dean suggested the fuel pump will be fitted today, and the car will be started.  I'm expecting a video of the start up too, and will publish that once I've got it.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

A month later

It's been a month to the date since Caterham collected my car.

Still no fuel pump and no further progress that I'm aware of.  I've had the smooth over call from Dean Francis - the dealer principal at the midlands branch and he's agreed to sort everything out for me, and compensate me for the hassle / delay... However... The fuel pump was due in last week, which after me chasing has slipped over to this week.  I emailed Dean today to see if there was a progress update, but... I got an auto-reply to say he's out of the office until Monday next week. 

The fuel pump has been out of stock for a third of a year - how long am I supposed to wait?  Seriously!!?

I'm really not too sure what to do now.  I feel exhausted - not only mentally, but in terms of my options too.

Friday, 11 April 2014

The 'Smooth Over' Call

Dean Francis - Dealer Principal at the Midlands branch (where I placed the order) called this morning to discuss the issues I've been dealt with in more detail.  I explained to Dean that my intentions of buying, building and creating a blog about my experiences was (as you'd expect) supposed to be about the joys of the experience and ownership.  To be fair to Dean, he listened, apologised, and was understanding in the fact that CC have messed up.

Apparently the CC group has been split slightly with a new CTi (Caterham Technology and Innovation ) division added to help improve supply chain, parts ordering, communication and so on.  The previous supply chain manager wasn't doing their job properly and has subsequently left the operation, and the CTi group are trying to implement new procedures to stop things like what have happened to me from happening in the future.

Basically the fuel pump is still out of stock, and has been out of stock since January.  The part is a standard ford part which is then modified by another intermediary company to suit the demands of the R500.  However, CC cannot source the fuel pump for love nor money in the UK.  They've managed to find a dealership (or stockist) in the Netherlands, and have imported as many as they could get their hands on (how many this is, I do not know) the pumps are in the UK and have been sent to the modifying company, and are due with CC end of next week(ish), but still not definitely which is of concern.

The Caterham R500 fuel pump - quite possibly the bane of my life.
The Caterham R500 fuel pump - quite possibly the bane of my life.
The car is being collected from Dartford and taken to the Midlands branch so they (the Midlands and Dean) have full control and can get on top of the problems.  Dean was understanding, has gone through all of the points I've raised, and in short said they will sort out every issue I've highlighted - perfect... It's just a shame I had to blow my top to get answers and solutions.
Now I'm feeling much happier about the state of affairs between myself and CC, but.... I don't want to be overjoyed yet, as actions speak louder than words... 

In the meantime it's back to EVO reviews, youtube videos and cuddling my small amount of carbon bits - and perhaps an order for carbon headlight bowls :-)

I'll keep you posted...

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Two weeks and Two Days Later - No News

The title of the post says it all... Two weeks and two days after Caterham collected my car we are still no closer to being on the road.  The agreed timescales were:
  • Collection on 24th March
  • PBC possibly the afternoon of the 24th or the day after
  • Remedial works completed end of week commencing 24th March
  • IVA week commencing 31st March (or this week as I write)
  • Followed by registration and potential collection at the end of April for a track day in France which I'd booked last year and based a lot of my build deadlines around.. 
Collection and PBC aside, nothing has happened - my car seems to have fallen off the radar, with the only communication from Caterham coming after yours truly chases them up.  I am getting no pro-active information whatsoever.  Having said that what I do have is:
  • An empty garage
  • Shattered dreams
  • A depleted bank account
  • Some carbon upgrades (handbrake and rear lights)
  • A headache
Caterham on the other hand have my money and my car - not good.
 
The long and short of it is that Caterham still don’t have an R500 fuel pump in stock with my car not progressing as a result.  The fuel pump has been out of stock since at least the first week in January... I was told around 10 minutes after I’d made the full and final payment (in January) that the fuel pump was out of stock and this would delay the delivery of my kit from 3rd Feb to 21st(ish) of Feb – naturally I wanted to get building so I accepted the kit with the fuel pump to follow.  I have chased the fuel pump on numerous occasions throughout the process, so it wasn’t like they weren’t aware I was outstanding one.
The out of stock fuel pump isn't the only issue I've had or am still having, here's a list of most (not all) of problems that are still unaddressed:

  • Customer returned track day roll bar delivered, replacement has marks on top as well
•Customer returned track day roll bar delivered, replacement has marks on top as well
Customer returned track day roll bar delivered, replacement has marks on top as well

  • 620R seats were delivered, then collected within four hours of delivery as they were pre-production' prototypes.  Now I've been told I can't have them even though the emails I have from Caterham say otherwise
620R seats were delivered, then collected within four hours of delivery as they were 'pre-production' prototypes.
620R seats were delivered, then collected within four hours of delivery as they were 'pre-production' prototypes.  

  • The wheels delivered were not the anthracite eight spoke type, which have been replaced, but the replacements have scratches, are not balanced and have had wheel weights removed leading me to believe these are not brand new
One of the scratches on the 'new' wheels.
One of the scratches on the 'new' wheels.

  • Caterham are out of stock of the anthracite hub caps
  • Coolant bottle was broken with no replacements in stock
  • The powder coat on the underside of the chassis is scratched where the holes for the seat bolts have been drilled
  • I'm yet to receive an air filter element
  • The lowered floor is not sealed properly - there is a hole from the passenger side to the outside world
The lowered floor is not sealed properly - there is a hole from the passenger side to the outside world
The lowered floor is not sealed properly - there is a hole from the passenger side to the outside world
  • Fuse cover is out of stock
  • Harness straps are of varying colours
Harness straps are of varying colours
Harness straps are of varying colours

  • Diff strut holes drilled into boot and chassis member, but apparently this is in error
Diff strut holes drilled into boot and chassis member, but apparently this is in error
Diff strut holes drilled into boot and chassis member, but apparently this is in error
  • Steering wheel QR scratched and instructions for wiring indicators not supplied
  • No hood or doors
  • Paint work is incredibly soft and doesn’t have a lacquer by the looks of it (2-pack??)
  • Initial decals wrong with revised decals not positioned correctly
  • Armourfend isn’t Armourfend as quoted, but is a hexis product

I think I'm a pretty reasonable and understanding person, I’ve built lots of things in the past, am logically minded (bordering OCD) so building the car hasn’t been a problem from my end.  I’ve kept my part of the deal, paid on time, specified everything correctly and wanted a car that was right in the first place.  I've had a long fuse throughout this process, worked with Caterham on every niggle to date and given them the benefit of the doubt on every occasion - but quite frankly my fuse has finally blown, enough is enough - it’s not like they’re a new start up doing this.  Caterham have been in the kit car business for 60 years... Surely they should know how it’s done, especially considering how much I've paid for this ‘experience’?!?  Or perhaps it's me that's been 'done' - it certainly feels that way right now.


I’m not usually a moaner, but, Caterham have put me into this situation with their poor service, poor quality control, lies and so on.  In light of all the problems I’ve encountered; I’ve told them to stuff it and I want all of my money back… I sent this refund request on email last week which has been ignored, and also by post on Monday this week (delivered Tuesday morning) and even this hasn’t warranted a response either (yet). 

In the meantime, I'll continue to twiddle my thumbs wondering what better things I could've done with a heap of cash.  I'll keep you posted.