Hello, I've ordered a Supersport 140

[anniesdad]

Hi,

My first post in this forum so please welcome a newbie!...

So after a bit of deliberation and a chat with SWMBO, I've decided that a Caterham is the car for me and more specifically the Supersport 140. I've driven a couple over the years and my original thoughts were that I wanted a Roadsport, for the better touring capability but have come to the conclusion that it's unlikely I'll be taking my wife on any extended touring holidays in the Caterham anytime soon. Probably just overnight stays not too far away from where I live, such as the Lake District. I had a 996 GT3 with sport seats as opposed to buckets previously and my wife, probably went in it only on a handful of occasions, so with that in mind I'm buying the car that I think is more in tune with what I want out of it and the Supersport fit's the bill. I'll be driving it on blats out to some nice roads on fair weather days, commuting in it and of course driving it occasionally on track. I'll be getting a factory build as I just know that if I build it, it probably wouldn't be right, nor would it ever get finished! One has to be realistic about these things...

Spec. is yet to be decided but I'm told by Greg at Caterham Midlands that it's changeable up to the point when the build is due to start. Kit availability should be June, with the build to be completed 4-6 weeks after that so hopefully I'll get it when the weather is nice and start to get to know it straight away. I do know that it will be either orange or yellow with a black stripe. My preference (at the moment!) is yellow.

I'll be reading all the threads in the coming weeks/months and I'm sure I'll have a number of questions to ask you guys, so thank you in advance for your advice.

My spec. sheet reads (subject to change);

Ballistic Orange/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

Possibles
Weather equipment
Heater
Track day roll over bar

edit: not sure why the angry face, it was meant to be a thumb up but I can't seem to change it? maybe a mod could do the honours?

Yours

A Giddy Kipper.

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:14

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:15

[thequietone]

Congrats on your order!! You'll have plenty of fun in that

I'd just add the weather gear (interchangable) so you can swap the aeroscreen over if you ever fancied going a great distance and I'd always have a heater! I know, plenty will be shouting SOFTIE but for me it makes the car a year round/all weather fun car not just one for warmer weather.

Enjoy.

[Andy Bell]

welcome to the club I have one and its great fun on road and even better on track!

[anniesdad]

Many thanks fellas.

Heater is on my list of possible options along with the weather equipment, I'm just contemplating about the likelihood of me driving it in the wetter months which at the moment is unlikely. Sorry...

But I agree being warm is always a bonus!

Talking of distance. There's a chance I'll be doing Spa in September which for me would be a c.1000 mile round trip. In a helmet with aeroscreen...doable?

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:41

[thequietone]

Yes. Driven to both Spa and the 'Ring with aeroscreen/helmet. 1/2 doors will be nice and that heater! I use my motorbike oversuit (totally waterproof) so I actually dont care how much it rains!

[ghibbett]

Congratulations!

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

Regarding Roadsport vs Supersport, I was amazed at how good the ride is in a Supersport on 13" wheels. Far better than my current road car and more than acceptable for daily use (or for when SWMBO is onboard).

Oh and if at any time you question your decision to buy a Caterham, please feel free to watch my sunny day blat to confirm your decision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqy3P3CDmt0

[Dick Seaman]

Great choice, you'll love it.

Mine's primarily for road weekend fun so I have a windscreen and a heater. I also have the GT seats, which are very comfy and supportive but sit a little higher than the composites, they're better if combined with lowered floors.

For the colour, I'd go yellow with black stripes, or orange with white stripes.

When's your due date?

[anniesdad]

thequietone said:

Yes. Driven to both Spa and the 'Ring with aeroscreen/helmet. 1/2 doors will be nice and that heater! I use my motorbike oversuit (totally waterproof) so I actually dont care how much it rains!

I'm not a biker, but as you say decent waterproofs could come in handy! I did Spa in a Boxster with wind deflector last year , the weather was great but got part way back and had to put the roof up as my ears were getting that battered and burnt it was actually becoming painful.

So it's doable then if not necessarily advised.

[anniesdad]

ghibbett said:

Congratulations!

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

Regarding Roadsport vs Supersport, I was amazed at how good the ride is in a Supersport on 13" wheels. Far better than my current road car and more than acceptable for daily use (or for when SWMBO is onboard).

Oh and if at any time you question your decision to buy a Caterham, please feel free to watch my sunny day blat to confirm your decision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqy3P3CDmt0

Thanks! I've read that the FIA rollover bar is a requirement for Lotus Seven club trackdays but not necessarily for ordinary trackdays? Any idea on how loud the standard exhaust is? As long as I can get on at Oulton I'll live with it.

I'll be sure to watch your video at home later, with a cup of tea.

[thequietone]

Definately advisable that man! Helmet = no sun/hearing issues. All in one for the rain - Tillett seats hold water pretty well - and a great big smile!

[anniesdad]

Dick Seaman said:

Great choice, you'll love it.

Mine's primarily for road weekend fun so I have a windscreen and a heater. I also have the GT seats, which are very comfy and supportive but sit a little higher than the composites, they're better if combined with lowered floors.

For the colour, I'd go yellow with black stripes, or orange with white stripes.

When's your due date?

What's not to love!

I'm interested in the GT seats, they do look a great shape and to offer quite good support and probably strike a good compromise. I can always retrofit some in time should I want to. I'd like to think the car will stay with me forever or at least until I hand it over to my boys, so I'll have plenty of time to change it around which is surely all part of the fun.

[anniesdad]

My order on Saturday read Ballistic Orange, now reads Firecracker Yellow.

[uremaw]

Congratulations - you'll love it. I braved the Scottish winter to commute in to work in mine this morning. Fantastic fun. No better way to start the day.

[uremaw]

P.s. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid, i'd go for the heater if I was you. Better to have it and not need it, than etc etc...

[framerateuk]

Congratulations! You'll love it

I did my first blat of the year in mine yesterday and it was good to get back in.

ghibbett said:

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

I definitely agree with the above. The standard roll bar isn't as strong as the trackday bar, and if you intend to do trackdays I would go for it for the additional protection.

In regards to the exhaust - my base car is a Roadsport 140, I have the standard Roadsport exhaust (which I believe is the same as the "trackday silencer"). You'll be wanting that if you intend to go a lot of trackdays as the peashooter exhaust is seriously loud! The trackday one is loud enough so don't feel like you'll be missing out on anything!

[anniesdad]

uremaw said:

Congratulations - you'll love it. I braved the Scottish winter to commute in to work in mine this morning. Fantastic fun. No better way to start the day.

That's what it's all about, getting thrills at reasonably responsible speeds and on a simple commute. Loved Porsche's for a long time but the GT cars are expensive to run and some would say too fast for the public roads. I want to feel a thrill at 10mph not 100.

[anniesdad]

uremaw said:

P.s. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid, i'd go for the heater if I was you. Better to have it and not need it, than etc etc...

Yeah, it's only a little bit of extra weight, that I'm planning to lose by dieting any way! Did anybody else diet before their Caterham arrived!?

[ghibbett]

anniesdad said:

Any idea on how loud the standard exhaust is? As long as I can get on at Oulton I'll live with it.

My understanding is the pea-shooter registers 105db. My forthcoming SS has the pea shooter exhaust - something that I'm seriously excited about - but I will be looking to buy a track day silencer too.

[anniesdad]

ghibbett said:

My understanding is the pea-shooter registers 105db. My forthcoming SS has the pea shooter exhaust - something that I'm seriously excited about - but I will be looking to buy a track day silencer too.

I'll probably do the same as you then as the car will be predominantly a road car so a little extra noise is welcome!

[anniesdad]

framerateuk said:

Congratulations! You'll love it

I did my first blat of the year in mine yesterday and it was good to get back in.

ghibbett said:

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

I definitely agree with the above. The standard roll bar isn't as strong as the trackday bar, and if you intend to do trackdays I would go for it for the additional protection.

In regards to the exhaust - my base car is a Roadsport 140, I have the standard Roadsport exhaust (which I believe is the same as the "trackday silencer"). You'll be wanting that if you intend to go a lot of trackdays as the peashooter exhaust is seriously loud! The trackday one is loud enough so don't feel like you'll be missing out on anything!

I won't do a lot of trackdays but will do some....although that's subject to change depending on the amount of fun one has! A few people have advised to take the trackday bar so it's definitely a possibility.

It'll be this with the extra strengthening piece I guess? http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=...