I'm the PH new boy!
Discussion
ker.
Was that pointed at me for having owned caterhams in the past and now want one again ?
V7SLR said:
V7SLR said:
JD PH said:
2) You're going to do a lot of touring / motorway miles (the 4th gear in a 5 speed box is the same ratio as 6th in a 6 speed. This is because 5th in a 5 speed gear is overdrive - hence great for motorways). In lower powered cars it does slow it down - we used to joke that a 6 speed box is "like adding 20 bhp".
So is the same diff ratio now used with both?- excluding the Seven 160 which uses a Suzuki sourced power & drive train
JD PH said:
V7SLR said:
V7SLR said:
JD PH said:
2) You're going to do a lot of touring / motorway miles (the 4th gear in a 5 speed box is the same ratio as 6th in a 6 speed. This is because 5th in a 5 speed gear is overdrive - hence great for motorways). In lower powered cars it does slow it down - we used to joke that a 6 speed box is "like adding 20 bhp".
So is the same diff ratio now used with both?- excluding the Seven 160 which uses a Suzuki sourced power & drive train
Dave211 said:
Welcome aboard James.
Great to have someone with such a wealth of knowledge on caterhams, that will no doubt support the advice of other long term owners. Don't hold back.... All advice welcomed
Need to move onto my 3rd caterham for mainly fast country road use. Loved the 140bhp k series , followed by R300K. Tempted by something like a R500D but wonder if I'll spoil the fun / balance of lower powered cars for the use mentioned above. Thoughts ?
Dave
Hi Dave,Great to have someone with such a wealth of knowledge on caterhams, that will no doubt support the advice of other long term owners. Don't hold back.... All advice welcomed
Need to move onto my 3rd caterham for mainly fast country road use. Loved the 140bhp k series , followed by R300K. Tempted by something like a R500D but wonder if I'll spoil the fun / balance of lower powered cars for the use mentioned above. Thoughts ?
Dave
I know what you're saying - A K-series R300 is a brilliant car (one of my favourites too) so its impression on you will be hard to top. The R500 can be a bit much for some people, but the Duratec powered one is MUCH friendlier than the K - Series one. That's not to say it is slower (it isn't), it is just not as spiky in how it delivers its power, which makes it easier to drive fast. If you did buy one, I'm not pretending that you wouldn't be continually looking for a chance to "open the taps"... but that's half the fun isn't it?! It still handles and feels just like an R300, but with some serious straight line firepower under your foot - which you don;t always have to use all of!
The bottom line is that you're never going to drive one and not get out smiling and if I had the choice between this and any other Seven I'd have a hard time choosing - they are properly awesome.
An alternative option (that is a bit cheaper) might be to consider a Duratec powered R400? They're still 210bhp, are easier to drive fast and are still properly, genuinely, supercar humbling when fully lit. Also, if you did ever want more power there is a factory power upgrade to 220bhp for a bit more edge if you wanted it.
In my experience these situations are almost always defined by budget though - if money isn't a limiting factor then surely any red blooded petrol head would have a hard time turning their back on 262bhp, 8,500rpm and sub 3 seconds to 60?!?
As I keep saying though, this is just my opinion!
Thanks James.
Well I better just ignore all budgets now then and get the 600bhp Levante here then
(in my dreams and probably nightmares too). http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
Have you ever driven one btw ?
Well I better just ignore all budgets now then and get the 600bhp Levante here then
(in my dreams and probably nightmares too). http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...Have you ever driven one btw ?
Dave211 said:
Thanks James.
Well I better just ignore all budgets now then and get the 600bhp Levante here then (in my dreams and probably nightmares too). http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
Have you ever driven one btw ?
Annoyingly not - the day that Russell (Levante builder) brought one in I was on holiday. My old boss (Andy Noble) drove it and was pretty speechless... which is quite unlike him!Well I better just ignore all budgets now then and get the 600bhp Levante here then
(in my dreams and probably nightmares too). http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...Have you ever driven one btw ?
I have driven some pretty bonkers cars in my time though - Obviously all the usual suspects like JPEs, R500s, R500 EVOs, CSR 260s, CSR Superlights, R600 (race car) and the 620R in its various guises. Back in 2007 we also had something called an X330 (which was a CSR based prototype with a supercharged 2.3 duratec / 330bhp) - they're all very fast, especially the 620R... it is genuinely very, very VERY fast. (the X330 was geared like the Millennium Falcon so it was fast but not very aggressive - it did something like 125 leptons in 3rd gear from memory)
Not a seven but I've also driven the SP/300.R a fair bit - that's one hell of an experience too!
Dave211 said:
JD PH said:
Not a seven but I've also driven the SP/300.R a fair bit - that's one hell of an experience too!
Did caterham consider making it road legal, as got quite excited when it was launched, until I realised it was track only 
??JD PH said:
Hi Dave,
I know what you're saying - A K-series R300 is a brilliant car (one of my favourites too) so its impression on you will be hard to top. The R500 can be a bit much for some people, but the Duratec powered one is MUCH friendlier than the K - Series one. That's not to say it is slower (it isn't), it is just not as spiky in how it delivers its power, which makes it easier to drive fast. If you did buy one, I'm not pretending that you wouldn't be continually looking for a chance to "open the taps"... but that's half the fun isn't it?! It still handles and feels just like an R300, but with some serious straight line firepower under your foot - which you don;t always have to use all of!
The bottom line is that you're never going to drive one and not get out smiling and if I had the choice between this and any other Seven I'd have a hard time choosing - they are properly awesome.
An alternative option (that is a bit cheaper) might be to consider a Duratec powered R400? They're still 210bhp, are easier to drive fast and are still properly, genuinely, supercar humbling when fully lit. Also, if you did ever want more power there is a factory power upgrade to 220bhp for a bit more edge if you wanted it.
In my experience these situations are almost always defined by budget though - if money isn't a limiting factor then surely any red blooded petrol head would have a hard time turning their back on 262bhp, 8,500rpm and sub 3 seconds to 60?!?
As I keep saying though, this is just my opinion!
Excellent post!!!I know what you're saying - A K-series R300 is a brilliant car (one of my favourites too) so its impression on you will be hard to top. The R500 can be a bit much for some people, but the Duratec powered one is MUCH friendlier than the K - Series one. That's not to say it is slower (it isn't), it is just not as spiky in how it delivers its power, which makes it easier to drive fast. If you did buy one, I'm not pretending that you wouldn't be continually looking for a chance to "open the taps"... but that's half the fun isn't it?! It still handles and feels just like an R300, but with some serious straight line firepower under your foot - which you don;t always have to use all of!
The bottom line is that you're never going to drive one and not get out smiling and if I had the choice between this and any other Seven I'd have a hard time choosing - they are properly awesome.
An alternative option (that is a bit cheaper) might be to consider a Duratec powered R400? They're still 210bhp, are easier to drive fast and are still properly, genuinely, supercar humbling when fully lit. Also, if you did ever want more power there is a factory power upgrade to 220bhp for a bit more edge if you wanted it.
In my experience these situations are almost always defined by budget though - if money isn't a limiting factor then surely any red blooded petrol head would have a hard time turning their back on 262bhp, 8,500rpm and sub 3 seconds to 60?!?
As I keep saying though, this is just my opinion!
JD PH said:
I have driven some pretty bonkers cars in my time though - Obviously all the usual suspects like JPEs, R500s, R500 EVOs, CSR 260s, CSR Superlights, R600 (race car) and the 620R in its various guises. Back in 2007 we also had something called an X330 (which was a CSR based prototype with a supercharged 2.3 duratec / 330bhp) - they're all very fast, especially the 620R... it is genuinely very, very VERY fast. (the X330 was geared like the Millennium Falcon so it was fast but not very aggressive - it did something like 125 leptons in 3rd gear from memory)
Not a seven but I've also driven the SP/300.R a fair bit - that's one hell of an experience too!
You lucky, lucky, b.....!! Welcome & don´t get put off by the naysayers!!Not a seven but I've also driven the SP/300.R a fair bit - that's one hell of an experience too!
Hello James,
you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
BobTurner said:
Hello James,
you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
Hi Bob,you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
Hope you're enjoying the car! I always fount that the reason only my right leg went numb is because you move your left one so much more in changing gear, so moving it whenever you get a chance helps. Also, you may find that someone has put some spacers under the front of the seat to recline it slightly - that always made the numbness worse for me as it pushed the lip of the seat up into my leg a bit more. Maybe try playing around with that? (although the bolts to get the seats in an out can be somewhat tricky!)
Hope this helps!
JD
JD PH said:
Hi Bob,
Hope you're enjoying the car! I always fount that the reason only my right leg went numb is because you move your left one so much more in changing gear, so moving it whenever you get a chance helps. Also, you may find that someone has put some spacers under the front of the seat to recline it slightly - that always made the numbness worse for me as it pushed the lip of the seat up into my leg a bit more. Maybe try playing around with that? (although the bolts to get the seats in an out can be somewhat tricky!)
Hope this helps!
JD
Make sure you haven't got a wallet in one (or both) of your back pockets. Hope you're enjoying the car! I always fount that the reason only my right leg went numb is because you move your left one so much more in changing gear, so moving it whenever you get a chance helps. Also, you may find that someone has put some spacers under the front of the seat to recline it slightly - that always made the numbness worse for me as it pushed the lip of the seat up into my leg a bit more. Maybe try playing around with that? (although the bolts to get the seats in an out can be somewhat tricky!)
Hope this helps!
JD
JD PH said:
BobTurner said:
Hello James,
you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
Hi Bob,you probably won't remember me but you and Damian put me into a black K R300 at the end of 2010!
A quick question if I may, seeing as you've done so many miles in 7s, do you have any tips for ensuring that my right leg doesn't go numb when I'm driving? I seem to remember we're a similar size and shape; my car's got the composite seats with pads and lowered floors
Cheers
Hope you're enjoying the car! I always fount that the reason only my right leg went numb is because you move your left one so much more in changing gear, so moving it whenever you get a chance helps. Also, you may find that someone has put some spacers under the front of the seat to recline it slightly - that always made the numbness worse for me as it pushed the lip of the seat up into my leg a bit more. Maybe try playing around with that? (although the bolts to get the seats in an out can be somewhat tricky!)
Hope this helps!
JD
Jeremy, I don't tend to carry my wallet there anyway, but thanks for the thought
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