Discussion
Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy my first Caterham having been out for a drive in one and I'm pretty much set on a 1.6 sigma engined supersport. I want to have fun on the road without losing my licence and also do a couple of track days a year so I think this will fit the bill perfectly! One thing I have noticed is there are a few ex academy cars for sale that have then been upgraded and then raced in the supersport chamionship and then converted back to a road car. What I want to know is, are these ex race cars going to be the same as a supersport that has just purely been built for the road? I'm pretty sure the engine will be the same with the upgrade from academy to supersport including taking the engine to 140bhp. What I really want to know about is the suspension. On various road tests of the supersport the car is praised for its suspension offering the best of road and track ability. This is one of the reasons this particular model appeals to me. What I want to know is the Supersport road car suspension the same as the supersport race car? It looks the same with wide track and bilstein dampers, but will the suspension be set for race use and far too stiff to use on the road? I know ex race cars have probably been well maintained and looked after, but is there anything specifically I should look out for if I go to view one? Many thanks!
Even the 'road spec' Supersport suspension, i.e. that from the factory, is fairly stiff. Mine used to skip around at the rear when I was driving alone (even worse when low on fuel), but is somewhat better having been flat-floored by McMillan Motorsport.
However I asked Andy McMillan to drive my car and apraise it. His comments - too stiff for the road. And that's with factory Supersport suspension. That being said, I still love it
However I asked Andy McMillan to drive my car and apraise it. His comments - too stiff for the road. And that's with factory Supersport suspension. That being said, I still love it
The race cars must run dampers and springs specified in the regs so Caterham will be able to tell you exactly what's fitted and whether it's the same as the factory road spec. I'd expect the dampers to be the same and probably the springs. The geometry will need adjusting for comfortable road use and you will probably have to experiment with anti-roll bars, but both of these should IMO be done as a matter of course when buying a Caterham.
Ok great thanks for your input! I'll give Caterham a call and see if the springs and dampers are the same. So the main thing to do is get a proper set up. Is that just a case of adjusting the geometry? I live about 20 mins from Donington. Are there any recommended places to get it set up around the Midlands? Would Caterham Midlands do it? Also what do you mean by flat floored? Are you referring to the lowered floors that some of them have? Thanks!
spaceibizadance said:
Also what do you mean by flat floored? Are you referring to the lowered floors that some of them have? Thanks!
Flat floored involves setting up the weight balance of the car correctly, by adjusting the height at each corner.It's pretty much what you've described above as having the car setup correctly.
My K series RSA started out on the Race spec Bilsteins which I've subsequently changed out for Road spec superlight springs and dampers. The difference is only just noticeable. Not a lot of money to have Bilstein refurb the dampers to the opposite spec and change out the springs if you wanted.
Check out the car as a whole but I wouldn't let that issue alone sway you away from an ex racer. They're great value cars.
Check out the car as a whole but I wouldn't let that issue alone sway you away from an ex racer. They're great value cars.
ghibbett said:
Even the 'road spec' Supersport suspension, i.e. that from the factory, is fairly stiff. Mine used to skip around at the rear when I was driving alone (even worse when low on fuel), but is somewhat better having been flat-floored by McMillan Motorsport.
However I asked Andy McMillan to drive my car and apraise it. His comments - too stiff for the road. And that's with factory Supersport suspension. That being said, I still love it
I'd agree, with this. As mine is primarily used on the road I'd hoped the change would have made it a bit softer than it did.However I asked Andy McMillan to drive my car and apraise it. His comments - too stiff for the road. And that's with factory Supersport suspension. That being said, I still love it
Edited by 7ss on Thursday 5th March 23:41
Ok thanks for that. I've seen one for sale that looks like a really nice car, I just need to get my car sold first. What about the front anti roll bar? Would a road supersport with the wide track suspension have a front anti roll bar at all? I know this car I've been looking at has a red anti roll bar which I believe is one of the firmer ones. Would it be best to fit one of the softer ones or just remove it completely for road use? I would still like to do a couple of track days in it so if it's a simple swap, I could always put the firm one back on again before.
spaceibizadance said:
Ok thanks for that. I've seen one for sale that looks like a really nice car, I just need to get my car sold first. What about the front anti roll bar? Would a road supersport with the wide track suspension have a front anti roll bar at all? I know this car I've been looking at has a red anti roll bar which I believe is one of the firmer ones. Would it be best to fit one of the softer ones or just remove it completely for road use? I would still like to do a couple of track days in it so if it's a simple swap, I could always put the firm one back on again before.
Mine's an orange one and I use it on trackdays and the road. I don't change anything for trackdays other than take the doors off.Don't worry about having to set things up for road/track. A Caterham is already the perfect track car when it's setup for the road. Once you buy it, get out there and drive it and then have it adjusted once you've got some miles on it.
When you get better at driving it you might want to consider all these things, but it's fair to say that the biggest improvement to the car will be you improving your skill behind the wheel.
framerateuk said:
Mine's an orange one and I use it on trackdays and the road. I don't change anything for trackdays other than take the doors off.
Don't worry about having to set things up for road/track. A Caterham is already the perfect track car when it's setup for the road. Once you buy it, get out there and drive it and then have it adjusted once you've got some miles on it.
When you get better at driving it you might want to consider all these things, but it's fair to say that the biggest improvement to the car will be you improving your skill behind the wheel.
I will definitely need to learn how to drive it properly. Only ever had front wheel drive cars in the past. I think I'll probably get a bit of on track tuition at some point. I saw from your profile that your car has lowered floors. This one I've been looking at has lowered floors and tillet seats.. I know the lowered floors are supposed to be for taller drivers, but I want my missus to be able to drive it as well and she's only 5 foot. Do you think she will be ok in it? I know the real test is to go and try, but thought I would ask anyway!Don't worry about having to set things up for road/track. A Caterham is already the perfect track car when it's setup for the road. Once you buy it, get out there and drive it and then have it adjusted once you've got some miles on it.
When you get better at driving it you might want to consider all these things, but it's fair to say that the biggest improvement to the car will be you improving your skill behind the wheel.
spaceibizadance said:
I will definitely need to learn how to drive it properly. Only ever had front wheel drive cars in the past. I think I'll probably get a bit of on track tuition at some point. I saw from your profile that your car has lowered floors. This one I've been looking at has lowered floors and tillet seats.. I know the lowered floors are supposed to be for taller drivers, but I want my missus to be able to drive it as well and she's only 5 foot. Do you think she will be ok in it? I know the real test is to go and try, but thought I would ask anyway!
Interesting you're raised that as that's the same problem I had! My other half is about 5'3" ish and with the lowered floors and leather seats (which sit higher than the tillets you're looking at) she couldn't see over the wheel or reach the pedals.I ended up buying some foam for a sofa, cutting it to the shape of the seat (both the part you sit on, and the seat back) and then covering it in duct tape (it almost looks like leather from a distance
). She can now drive the car fine and is supported correctly all round.The other advantage is that we don't need to adjust the seat (something that isn't as easy as it should be in a Caterham!), so we just put the foam on and she's ready to drive.
Realistically, I could probably get away without the lowered floors, but the car already had them, and to be honest I wouldn't want the driving position to be any higher (I'm 5'8").
My previous cars were front wheel drive, I expected the Caterham to be difficult to drive in comparison, but it's really much more fun. I still like driving a good FWD car, but the feel you get coming out of hairpins in the 7 is fantastic.
I have an ex-academy roadsport car, and the list of additional kit you get over a standard road car if great. Worth it for the Tillets alone.
The Academy's next step is to Roadsport "B" and the then Supersport(these have the lights removed etc) Roadsport "B" is only a few changes like better tyres(CR500 I think they use)
My was an Ex-Roadsport "B" and a great car it is too. Has a bit of "patina" so it won't win any concours but so what, Sevens are abput driving not polishing. I'd definately recommend a ex-racer. Most are well maintained and looked after, so look for a bit of TLC bills in the history file.
Enjoy.
The Academy's next step is to Roadsport "B" and the then Supersport(these have the lights removed etc) Roadsport "B" is only a few changes like better tyres(CR500 I think they use)
My was an Ex-Roadsport "B" and a great car it is too. Has a bit of "patina" so it won't win any concours but so what, Sevens are abput driving not polishing. I'd definately recommend a ex-racer. Most are well maintained and looked after, so look for a bit of TLC bills in the history file.
Enjoy.
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