SLR or R300, or ???
Discussion
Hi all, need some advice from Caterham folk more knowledgeable than me.
Situation: SWMBO and I like our cars and have had some nice ones (2 variants of Elise, Elan SE, 996, 986S, hot hatches) and it's now time for a Caterham. It's for almost all road use, with a bit of track, which I can see might slowly increase over time.
We intend to use the car quite a lot - weekend blasts, but also back roads route to the station each morning and evening (20 miles each way) so it won't be a garage queen (particularly cos I need to build a shelter for it, but that's another story). We expect to do maybe 8-10k per year in it.
Have tried a few. Decided that, as most stuff can be done to them (adding things, removing them) that we'd not rule out any specific cars but would factor in the costs to alter to our desired spec to the price. So far the spec has, on the practical side, weather kit, heated screen, heater. On some cars, lowered floors.
Driven some. Roadsport is good, but not exciting. Supersport was slightly better, and with its LSD am sure it would be enjoyable, but still a somewhat boring noise and not the get up and go I'd been expecting.
Then had a mixed day yesterday - wet roads and not yet prepped car meant was taken out in an R400 with breathed upon engine, roller throttle bodies etc. - excellent, riotous, and viscerally exciting. Then in a Supersport - still a bit meh..... can see me wanting to upgrade it (which is expensive) quite quickly.....
But the R400 is perhaps a bit too bonkers for the road - and it takes SWMBO'd time to get used to a car, so thinking the R300 is a good blend of power, usability and suchlike.
And then in a slightly 'I don't know enough about the range' looked at and fell for a Superlight R - so older, about 10k more miles, but K series, 6 speed, LSD, and breathed upon engine too. But it was part way though being prepped too, so not driven it, or even heard it.
So now am torn. Which makes the most sense? Or rather, is either a daft choice? SLR is a classic, of sorts, but usable, and great induction noise, so I'm told (if it matched the R400, I'd be happy - but the Supersports are distinctly lacking in this regard). Or would an R300 be better - newer, maybe less finicky, etc.
I want conflicting things, I know - great sound, lots of usable power, able to be driven in a non-scary way if needed, and not likely to lose me a lot of money come resale time (which might be never, if I fell deeply in love, but let's look for similar resale price less a grand or two).
Pointers to help clarify my thinking welcomed. Budget is flexible - anything from £15k-£22k fine, and discussions can be had if outside that. (At least SWMBO'd doesn't want to spend the money on a kitchen :-)).
thanks in advance!
Situation: SWMBO and I like our cars and have had some nice ones (2 variants of Elise, Elan SE, 996, 986S, hot hatches) and it's now time for a Caterham. It's for almost all road use, with a bit of track, which I can see might slowly increase over time.
We intend to use the car quite a lot - weekend blasts, but also back roads route to the station each morning and evening (20 miles each way) so it won't be a garage queen (particularly cos I need to build a shelter for it, but that's another story). We expect to do maybe 8-10k per year in it.
Have tried a few. Decided that, as most stuff can be done to them (adding things, removing them) that we'd not rule out any specific cars but would factor in the costs to alter to our desired spec to the price. So far the spec has, on the practical side, weather kit, heated screen, heater. On some cars, lowered floors.
Driven some. Roadsport is good, but not exciting. Supersport was slightly better, and with its LSD am sure it would be enjoyable, but still a somewhat boring noise and not the get up and go I'd been expecting.
Then had a mixed day yesterday - wet roads and not yet prepped car meant was taken out in an R400 with breathed upon engine, roller throttle bodies etc. - excellent, riotous, and viscerally exciting. Then in a Supersport - still a bit meh..... can see me wanting to upgrade it (which is expensive) quite quickly.....
But the R400 is perhaps a bit too bonkers for the road - and it takes SWMBO'd time to get used to a car, so thinking the R300 is a good blend of power, usability and suchlike.
And then in a slightly 'I don't know enough about the range' looked at and fell for a Superlight R - so older, about 10k more miles, but K series, 6 speed, LSD, and breathed upon engine too. But it was part way though being prepped too, so not driven it, or even heard it.
So now am torn. Which makes the most sense? Or rather, is either a daft choice? SLR is a classic, of sorts, but usable, and great induction noise, so I'm told (if it matched the R400, I'd be happy - but the Supersports are distinctly lacking in this regard). Or would an R300 be better - newer, maybe less finicky, etc.
I want conflicting things, I know - great sound, lots of usable power, able to be driven in a non-scary way if needed, and not likely to lose me a lot of money come resale time (which might be never, if I fell deeply in love, but let's look for similar resale price less a grand or two).
Pointers to help clarify my thinking welcomed. Budget is flexible - anything from £15k-£22k fine, and discussions can be had if outside that. (At least SWMBO'd doesn't want to spend the money on a kitchen :-)).
thanks in advance!
I've got a Roadsport SV with 220bhp roller barrel throttle bodies, you can mix and match to your heart's content. 
Trying for size will sort S3 or S5, normal or lowered floors. From there the opinion I've seen is that if you want ultimate character then you'll want a stripped out K series with 160-200 bhp. I've seen comment that the Sigma is sweet but Caterham only take them to 150 bhp I believe so perhaps it's easy to outgrow it or sticking with it big power is going to cost a bit. The Duratec trades K series top end fizz for torque low down but there's loads of headroom in its ability to be tuned. Sounds to me like you're on the right lines, an older higher powered K or start with a 175 Duratec and upgrade over time.
Trying for size will sort S3 or S5, normal or lowered floors. From there the opinion I've seen is that if you want ultimate character then you'll want a stripped out K series with 160-200 bhp. I've seen comment that the Sigma is sweet but Caterham only take them to 150 bhp I believe so perhaps it's easy to outgrow it or sticking with it big power is going to cost a bit. The Duratec trades K series top end fizz for torque low down but there's loads of headroom in its ability to be tuned. Sounds to me like you're on the right lines, an older higher powered K or start with a 175 Duratec and upgrade over time.
Edited by Dave_H34 on Thursday 19th May 22:21
RBTB R400D here; perfectly tractable but bats
t crazy if roused. All Sevens are huge fun so don't worry if you don't end up with car you first though of. If you get less than 160 bhp you will end up wanting more and when you have 160 bhp you may still want more. I did and now I possibly have too much but hell, I don't have to use it all the time do I ?
Lowered floors, heater, FIA spec rollbar, proper harnesses and half hood are essentials for my enjoyment and safety. I prefer leather seats - avoid cloth- and tillets are fine if you are not a fat bd like me. I still fit an S3 though , which I prefer to SV , if size permits. Full screen for me - some like aero.6 speed box is pointless on Duratcs but huge fun .
Talk to as many Seven owners as you can and look at Lotus Seven Club website etc before committing
t crazy if roused. All Sevens are huge fun so don't worry if you don't end up with car you first though of. If you get less than 160 bhp you will end up wanting more and when you have 160 bhp you may still want more. I did and now I possibly have too much but hell, I don't have to use it all the time do I ?Lowered floors, heater, FIA spec rollbar, proper harnesses and half hood are essentials for my enjoyment and safety. I prefer leather seats - avoid cloth- and tillets are fine if you are not a fat b
d like me. I still fit an S3 though , which I prefer to SV , if size permits. Full screen for me - some like aero.6 speed box is pointless on Duratcs but huge fun . Talk to as many Seven owners as you can and look at Lotus Seven Club website etc before committing
thanks.
Have now narrowed it down to tuned K series (~200bhp) in either a SLR, R3/400 of older vintage (late 1990's, early 2000's), or a Duratec of much later vintage with roller barrel throttle bodies (and maybe a Supersport with RBTB is in the mix too). Wanting to spend about £20k, think it's the older ones for me. Any downsides to the earlier, breathed on K's (except for their head gasket problems?)
Have now narrowed it down to tuned K series (~200bhp) in either a SLR, R3/400 of older vintage (late 1990's, early 2000's), or a Duratec of much later vintage with roller barrel throttle bodies (and maybe a Supersport with RBTB is in the mix too). Wanting to spend about £20k, think it's the older ones for me. Any downsides to the earlier, breathed on K's (except for their head gasket problems?)
rubystone said:
R400 K and SLR are to all intents and purposes the same. Are you really going to commute to the station every day come rain or shine in a 7? That really is not a good idea.
I have a well-developed sense of adventure :-)but I might take something else in the winter, true.....
xcentric said:
I have a well-developed sense of adventure :-)
but I might take something else in the winter, true.....
The k series needs to be warned up very carefully before being driven in any way 'seriously'. Your 10 mile run in it will barely get it warm. And if you go to work in a suit and shoes, you'll need to think about another set of clothes and footwear when using the car to commute. Then there's the lack of security, where to store the steering wheel, how to avoid oiks ripping bits off it and coming back to find someone in a Chelsea Tractor failed to see it when reversing out of their parking space at the station...but I might take something else in the winter, true.....
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