which seven to buy?

[samurikid]

I couldnt resist this, being in the fortunate position of racing as well as owning an SLr. I race a BMW (dont judge yet please) E30 320. No power, too much weight, tops out at 115 ish, and no LSD! but - it is the only way to learn! I had prior to this escaped the law in a variety of different guises - from TVR's to old racing Datsuns,culminating in a Skyline with well over 400 Brake. NONE of which I would have taken on to a circuit!
After a season of racing - the skyline went! no point ! You cant do on the road what you do on the circuit, and after a while it seems pointless!
After a period - the itch came back for a seven - and the SLr was bought! Bargain! Performance coming out of my A**e - noise - handling - everything..........but you know what - too much! IMO an ex race super graduate would more than scratch the itch, and would be more bullit proof as well. And I now reckon that starting from a different point of the food chain, in whatever you do, is the best way to learn. I mean imagine waking up and saying - right I am going to start racing a £100 K Ferraghininini - It doesnt make sense !
Oh and if you wondered - I cannot drive, I thought I could , but try racing - it soon knocks out the over confidence!

[jackal]

marccart said:

thanks for all your varied advice! It's a bit like the exiges.com forum-many answers for each question but I suppose it comes down to personal tastes and budget. I like the idea of a Superlight to start with as a compromise -but are they easily upgradable to the various R specs if I wanted more power?

no, not really


best bet imo is to buy a 2.3 duratec at 190-200bhp which you can easily convert to 260bhp when the time comes

make no mistake though, driven properly a 190bhp Caterham is very fast and i've yet to go on a trackday and see any 250bhp+ merchants who are any quicker than well driven 190/200 cars.... but then that is the nature of the trackday as it were.

[Modena Scotland]

I got an SLR about 7 weeks ago and done about 800 track miles already without any major issues. Coming from the exige and if you intend to track a lot, you want LSD, 6 speed, dry sump etc with decent bhp.

I also have an Exige S (220 bhp version). At knockhill, the top speed of the two cars are almost identical, however the lap time is at least 3 seconds faster in the SLR.

I for one enjoy drifting out of corners so 190 bhp is handy for some big sliding angles, which always pleases pax.

[MarchHare]

100% agree with samurikid. I thought I was quick round the track until I started racing. After 3 years I'm mid pack on a good day. Even so my little 120 bhp roadsports is quicker than most things round a track.

More power doesn't make you a better driver, it might hide the fact that you're not that good I suppose because you can just boot it past people on the straights but if you are only going to do trackdays (i.e. not race) then a powerful caterham in the hands of a good driver is just going to be hugely frustrating. All those slow cars, no outbraking or using perfect lines to get in position to slipstream by on the straights....I just don't really see the point., if you just want to overtake people then you can do it in the outside lane of the motorway, it doesn't make you a quick driver.

[jimmyslr]

Mixed views! If the OP is a handy enough driver, I'd go for the SLR. I think it's a bargain right now and I would say that wouldn't I. For the modest price difference versus a SL you might as well get the horses in now rather than upgrade later.

I had a regular 1600k supersport which I got the hang of it in and then went for a SLR some time later; since then I have specced it up now and then to its current 1900k series, cage, nitrons etc etc. I have also raced a few things other than the Caterham so have some perspective on more powerful cars. I love Caterhams, but (and this is a personal comment), I would miss the extra horses in a lower powered version. That being said, I don't do many track days anymore as normal rules make it too frustrating in a fast car if you have a bit of experience. Did I just argue against myself???

I have driven bike engined cars and they are great, just don't brake! Again, personal experience was that they were a bit fragile, certainly the Fireblade.

James

[jackal]

slr ?


having owned both and lived with/paid for all associated foibles..... its well worth stretching to get a duratec powered car

[Mars]

The Scholar 1900 K engines are incomparible with "normal" K series. Mine made more torque than the current R500 Duratec engine, although I didn't rev it hard enough to get the same power.

I know K's have problems but don't underestimate the Scholar engines.

[BertBert]

but the thing is that the 1900 scholar is pushing the k to its limits. The Duratec has only just got out of bed!
Bert
PS any Duratec owners had a head gasket blow yet?