R400 or CSR260 ?
Discussion
Hi all,
For about £30k I can buy an duratec r400 SV or a 2005 ish CSR260.
Is there much difference between the cars, besides the obvious dash and inboard suspension etc.
Which would be the better car for some road driving and a few trackdays a year?
Is the 260 good for trackdays ?
Thanks
For about £30k I can buy an duratec r400 SV or a 2005 ish CSR260.
Is there much difference between the cars, besides the obvious dash and inboard suspension etc.
Which would be the better car for some road driving and a few trackdays a year?
Is the 260 good for trackdays ?
Thanks
I sat in a couple of CSR's recently at CC South (purely for research purposes
I think they are great but I'm not sure about the swoopy dash. I prefer the standard dash which some do have fitted but are pretty rare.
Also the clutch is very heavy! Is that because it's a competition one?
I think they are great but I'm not sure about the swoopy dash. I prefer the standard dash which some do have fitted but are pretty rare.Also the clutch is very heavy! Is that because it's a competition one?
Having driven a pretty wide variety of Caterhams on road and track it's hard to argue against the CSR.
The ride quality on the road is so far ahead of an S3 and much more composed allowing use of the performance much more, and with the right setup on track not many cars this side of a Carrera Cup car on slicks would see which way it went.
James is right though a CSR with the 620r engine might just be the perfect caterham, anyone got a CSR chassis they don't want...........
The ride quality on the road is so far ahead of an S3 and much more composed allowing use of the performance much more, and with the right setup on track not many cars this side of a Carrera Cup car on slicks would see which way it went.
James is right though a CSR with the 620r engine might just be the perfect caterham, anyone got a CSR chassis they don't want...........
I faced a similar dilemma a year ago when I bought mine.
I was looking for a CSR 260, but then drove one and drove an R400D SV and bought the R400.
Feels more like a Caterham should feel. Also, look at the number of CSR's sold vs 400's.
When I was looking, most CSR's for sale seemed to have been older with more owners. I ended up with a brand new 400 (the red one from Caterham South's old showroom - just before they moved).
That said, both are brilliant fun and which ever you choose, you'll have a fantastic car.
Good luck with your search for your ideal car.
(oh and James, Happy 10th "PH Anniversary" next month - I'm not far behind!!)
I was looking for a CSR 260, but then drove one and drove an R400D SV and bought the R400.
Feels more like a Caterham should feel. Also, look at the number of CSR's sold vs 400's.
When I was looking, most CSR's for sale seemed to have been older with more owners. I ended up with a brand new 400 (the red one from Caterham South's old showroom - just before they moved).
That said, both are brilliant fun and which ever you choose, you'll have a fantastic car.
Good luck with your search for your ideal car.
(oh and James, Happy 10th "PH Anniversary" next month - I'm not far behind!!)
Edited by JONSCZ on Thursday 10th April 22:15
You should drive both if you can - which is the better car is very much a personal choice. I have a CSR, but went for the standard dash rather than the swoopy one as the bars reduced my knee room - I am 6'5".
The CSR is just as capable on t rack as the R400, but the experience will differ slightly. The beauty of the CSR 260 is that it can outdraw virtually anything in a straightt line. With an R400 some of the jap turbos will best you (but not by much). Both will fly round the corners though.
CSRs can have more owners, particularly with the swoopy dash as they were more attractive to first time 7 owners as the controls were 'normal' - you also find these tend to have been specked in BMW/Audi colours - black,/blue/silver. The turnover is prop ably more to do with the owners rather than the car!
Steve
The CSR is just as capable on t rack as the R400, but the experience will differ slightly. The beauty of the CSR 260 is that it can outdraw virtually anything in a straightt line. With an R400 some of the jap turbos will best you (but not by much). Both will fly round the corners though.
CSRs can have more owners, particularly with the swoopy dash as they were more attractive to first time 7 owners as the controls were 'normal' - you also find these tend to have been specked in BMW/Audi colours - black,/blue/silver. The turnover is prop ably more to do with the owners rather than the car!
Steve
Anyone short driven a CSR?
I've sat in an SV and couldn't reach the pedals comfortably (I'm 5'8"). The gear stick also felt like it was in the wrong place (with the seat adjusted forward).
I also rattled around sideways too, unlike the S3 which holds me in well.
Shame Caterham can't do the CSR chassis trickery with a car the size of the S3....
I've sat in an SV and couldn't reach the pedals comfortably (I'm 5'8"). The gear stick also felt like it was in the wrong place (with the seat adjusted forward).
I also rattled around sideways too, unlike the S3 which holds me in well.
Shame Caterham can't do the CSR chassis trickery with a car the size of the S3....
I have a CSR200, same 2.3 litre engine as the 260.
It has limited slip diff, Caterham 6 speed box, swoops dash, carbon black pack, plumber fire extinguisher, leather seats, independent rear suspension, inboard front suspension, lowered floors etc etc
Fantastic car, never let me down ever in 5 years. Easy to maintain.
Treat with car with respect as it is a volcano if you put press on.
Best way is to try one and see for yourself.
Rob
It has limited slip diff, Caterham 6 speed box, swoops dash, carbon black pack, plumber fire extinguisher, leather seats, independent rear suspension, inboard front suspension, lowered floors etc etc
Fantastic car, never let me down ever in 5 years. Easy to maintain.
Treat with car with respect as it is a volcano if you put press on.
Best way is to try one and see for yourself.
Rob
Thanks for all the input guys.
I originally set out to look for an R400 SV, but they seem to be very hard to find at the moment. Probably the wrong time of year to be a Caterham buyer !
The CSR is starting to make more sense to me for a track car, so I think i will go down that route.
Is there much difference betweent the running costs for the CSR and the R400, consumables and servicing ?
I originally set out to look for an R400 SV, but they seem to be very hard to find at the moment. Probably the wrong time of year to be a Caterham buyer !
The CSR is starting to make more sense to me for a track car, so I think i will go down that route.
Is there much difference betweent the running costs for the CSR and the R400, consumables and servicing ?
framerateuk said:
Anyone short driven a CSR?
I've sat in an SV and couldn't reach the pedals comfortably (I'm 5'8"). The gear stick also felt like it was in the wrong place (with the seat adjusted forward).
I also rattled around sideways too, unlike the S3 which holds me in well.
Shame Caterham can't do the CSR chassis trickery with a car the size of the S3....
I'm 5' 7" and happily drive a friends CSR , he has made some cushions that sit aside your hips to stop you sliding aroundI've sat in an SV and couldn't reach the pedals comfortably (I'm 5'8"). The gear stick also felt like it was in the wrong place (with the seat adjusted forward).
I also rattled around sideways too, unlike the S3 which holds me in well.
Shame Caterham can't do the CSR chassis trickery with a car the size of the S3....
They have made a development car using csr rear suspension in an S3 , the engineer involved now has a CSR 620R .
Framerateuk - I have owned an SV and a CSR.
The SV has the normal adjustable pedals - there are three positions the pedals can be mounted in - it sounds like the pedals in the SV you tried were in the furthest away position. This is not unusual as the SV attracts the *ahem* larger drivers! who are often taller as well.
The pedals in the CSR are different as they only have one mounting position,. You can get adjustable pedals, but these basically allow you to move the pedals closer, but not further away. The non-adjustable position of these is around the mid-position in the SV.
When I switched, I found it odd to drive as I moved from a legs-straight driving position to a knees-up one, so much so that I couldn't fit in a CSR with the swoopy dash - my knees banged the lower parts of the dashboard.
You can check the pedal position bt taking the cover off the pedal box - a 5 min job.
Steve
The SV has the normal adjustable pedals - there are three positions the pedals can be mounted in - it sounds like the pedals in the SV you tried were in the furthest away position. This is not unusual as the SV attracts the *ahem* larger drivers! who are often taller as well.
The pedals in the CSR are different as they only have one mounting position,. You can get adjustable pedals, but these basically allow you to move the pedals closer, but not further away. The non-adjustable position of these is around the mid-position in the SV.
When I switched, I found it odd to drive as I moved from a legs-straight driving position to a knees-up one, so much so that I couldn't fit in a CSR with the swoopy dash - my knees banged the lower parts of the dashboard.
You can check the pedal position bt taking the cover off the pedal box - a 5 min job.
Steve
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