Hello, I've ordered a Supersport 140

[fergus]

anniesdad said:

As for harnesses, personally I'll try out the 4 point standard ones and see then if I feel more support is required.

The 6 point/4 pt with straps doesn't offer "more support" per se, it just reduces/elinimates the possibility of submarining under the lap belt. Even doing so by 12" could see your lower legs in a very sorry state.

As ever with all this stuff, it's easy to get carried away get into the "must wear Nomex to bed in case the house catches fire" camp, but this is a no brainer in my opinion.

PS you'll notice there's a lot less "what's it worth" posts on this forum vs the Porsche one!

[anniesdad]

As always any/all advice is very much appreciated and welcome. I agree that submarining is not to be recommended and it's quite possible that I may add the extra crotch straps at some point. Safety is of course paramount...but then these are Caterham's...

At the moment if I went with everybody's advice (not just on this forum but offline also), I'd probably end up with the world's most expensive Supersport!

fergus said:

PS you'll notice there's a lot less "what's it worth" posts on this forum vs the Porsche one!

Edited by anniesdad on Tuesday 21st January 12:39

[anniesdad]

framerateuk said:

Quick link to the video I did. Great trip, just a shame you need to go up the M5/6 to get there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPS8OBOm2yk

swmbo said:

Yes I can cope with that!!! As long as I can keep dry I'm ok!! Xxx

I like to think of that as "The Caterham effect".

[framerateuk]

anniesdad said:

I like to think of that as "The Caterham effect".

Ha! I say "dry". I mean, mostly dry. Use the full hood and you'll keep entirely dry, you'll get "damp" with the half hood in terrible conditions.

[anniesdad]

Just signed my order for the following;

Firecracker Yellow Caterham Supersport 140 - factory build
5 speed gearbox
13" alloys with Avon CR500 tyres (6"f + 6"r)
Composite race seats
Tonneau cover
Silver filler cap
Carbon dashboard
Side screen armrests
Momo QR wheel
12v Power Socket
Painted bonnet stripe + noseband - Black
Painted "7" grill - firecracker yellow
Track day exhaust
Track day rollover bar
Heater

I'll pick up the weather equipment pack separately, if the car is built with this I'll lose the wind deflector.

[Davey S2]

Congrats matey.

The supersport is my current choice for a weekend car*

• or would be if I hadn't got married, moved house and have a baby on the way

Spec looks spot on and the heater would be a must IMO. Plenty of lovely crisp dry but bl00dy cold days perfect for a blat in winter and you will probably be glad of it.

Lots of the Caterham boys do Llandow track days as it's a good little track for small cars like Caterhams. Give me a shout if you ever come down.

[tomwoodis]

Spec looks good and is near enough what I picked out when I specced mine a few months back.

I get the point about submarining and see the benefit of the 6 point harnesses but the 4 point ones supplied are actually very good so I speculate they may have improved them over the years.

You did well to spec the 6" rears too, you'll have plenty of fun hanging the tail out with those on. 13 inch wheels also provide great ride comfort I've found with the supersport dampers.

[V7SLR]

I'd still consider the race spec 6-point harness. Even if you only use it as a 4-point it's simply a better harness - a big advantage is the shoulder straps are much easier to adjust which you'll find you do a lot. Cheaper to specify at the outset.
When you do finally go on track and use the leg loops it'll only be then that you really appreciate the 6-points.

[SidewaysSi]

tomwoodis said:

Spec looks good and is near enough what I picked out when I specced mine a few months back.

I get the point about submarining and see the benefit of the 6 point harnesses but the 4 point ones supplied are actually very good so I speculate they may have improved them over the years.

You did well to spec the 6" rears too, you'll have plenty of fun hanging the tail out with those on. 13 inch wheels also provide great ride comfort I've found with the supersport dampers.

I agree - this spec seems to be the sweet spot in the Caterham range at the moment and arguably more fun than more powerful models.

I would be very interested to know how this compares as a driving tool to the 996GT3 as that is a car I would want to move into in a couple of years...

[ghibbett]

Congrats anniesdad

Any ideas when you'll be collecting?

[anniesdad]

Davey S2 said:

Congrats matey.

The supersport is my current choice for a weekend car*

• or would be if I hadn't got married, moved house and have a baby on the way

Spec looks spot on and the heater would be a must IMO. Plenty of lovely crisp dry but bl00dy cold days perfect for a blat in winter and you will probably be glad of it.

Lots of the Caterham boys do Llandow track days as it's a good little track for small cars like Caterhams. Give me a shout if you ever come down.

Hi Dave, hope you're well mate, congrats on the wedding, house move and baby!!

A few years ago I did a sprint day at Curborough in a Caterham and it was great fun, came 3rd.

If I do get to Llandow I'll do just that.

[anniesdad]

tomwoodis said:

You did well to spec the 6" rears too, you'll have plenty of fun hanging the tail out with those on. 13 inch wheels also provide great ride comfort I've found with the supersport dampers.

The 6"r ones are standard, I quite like cars with a nice tyre wall as you say it improves the ride quality and aesthetically looks a little bit closer to race cars, but maybe that's just me.

[anniesdad]

V7SLR said:

I'd still consider the race spec 6-point harness. Even if you only use it as a 4-point it's simply a better harness - a big advantage is the shoulder straps are much easier to adjust which you'll find you do a lot. Cheaper to specify at the outset.
When you do finally go on track and use the leg loops it'll only be then that you really appreciate the 6-points.

Checking with Caterham, what the car comes with as it's described as a race harness, whether that's 4/6 I'm not sure. What you say makes of course a lot of sense and for what may be a reasonably small initial outlay will pay dividends when taking the car on track. Thanks for the tip on ease of adjustment also.

[anniesdad]

SidewaysSi said:

I would be very interested to know how this compares as a driving tool to the 996GT3 as that is a car I would want to move into in a couple of years...

Looking forward to posting up my comparison thoughts in time. My car was a Mk2 and whilst engaging at normal road speeds (steering feel, lowered stiffer suspension), made much more sense at speed (on great tarmac) and if I'm honest on track. I had a fast road geo on mine and stiffened ARB which gave better turn in than a factory setup but the car skipped around quite a bit on less than perfect surfaces, not particularly relaxing but neither should it be. I had it for 3 years and 12k miles and it was great to own, it felt much more special than the vanilla 911's. The engine is fantastic, easily the best thing about the car, followed closely by the box which was very mechanical but very accurate, heavy clutch which I really liked. I did find the gearing too long, deep into 3rd you're at 100mph plus, I'd happily have sacrificed some top speed for shorter gearing...I would recommend one.

PHer Crimp a length currently owns the car and it's for sale.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

[anniesdad]

ghibbett said:

Congrats anniesdad

Any ideas when you'll be collecting?

July'ish!

[ghibbett]

anniesdad said:

July'ish!

Oooof, that's gonna be a difficult wait! However I'll happily share my findings once I get mine in March

[anniesdad]

I know! But it's OK, I've get plenty of other things to occupy my mind between now and then. I look forward to hearing about yours when you get it.

[framerateuk]

It'll be worth the wait!

Does the Supersport come with the 4 pot front calipers these days? And will you be getting the lowered floors? I guess you probably won't need them with composite seats, but they fit nicely with my leather ones.

[anniesdad]

I'm sure it will! Vented discs and quad piston calipers are a cost option (£670.00), I was looking to spec. these but was told by the salesman that they're not necessary at 140bhp levels of power. They're standard on the Superlight R400 upwards. I've got the standard floor, as you say composite seats and I'm 5'11" and shrinking so I don't think I need it.

[JONSCZ]

Anniesdad. Congratulations on the spec and good luck with the wait - it'll be worth it. I love my Caterham.
Oh and just to let you know that if you do "stuff it into the scenery", I know a really good, professional 'Accident Claims Management Company' in Bury I can recommend - after a company car incident I had a couple of years ago...
Cheers,
Jon

Edited by JONSCZ on Wednesday 22 January 13:52