RE: Caterham Levante Sold Out

[wiler]

just to put things right i drove this car last week on the road to north weald thrashed it ( no drove it to my limits the car had loads more to give )and drove it back to rs performance the new paddle shift system is sublime it takes out the clonking from the sequential box allows clutchless up and down shifts and the car has the manners of any other caterham fantastic handling you can up shift in a side slide without unbalancing the car and if you want a roof dont buy a caterham

[Noger]

rhinochopig said:

I used to own a blackbird westy (and have driven other BECs) so am familiar with this type of 'box.

Most normal BECS use the bike engine's gear box. This doesn't, although it is still sequential. So you are not THAT familiar with it. It is only the cylinder heads that are bike engine parts anyway. So a V8 with sequential shift is probably not that different to a 4-pot sequential. Highly tuned K series are not exactly simple to pootle round in.

At low revs it is very very tractable. Russell demonstrates this by chugging round Hoddesdon high street in 4th making very little noise and not having to shift gears. One of these engines got from one side of the USA to the other not long ago.

But I do think you are right, it is way too fast for the roads, and not all that track biased. But then it never was sold as being practical !

Yes, it is expensive. But comparing it to things "my mate built in his shed" is just silly. Labour charges are going to be such a big factor, and most of the stuff is bespoke. The carbon trumpets are from Fluke, who tooled up just to make a tiny run. That costs a lot. If people factored in their own "labour rate" for home builds, it would be a different story. Of course, that is half the fun for a lot of people.

As soon as you start getting very low volume of bespoke parts, the costs escalate. I know this to my cost from my own BEC project.

[GolfEcosse]

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

[sam919]

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Its nuckle heads that dont know the meaning of "it you aint got it you cant spend it", that caused the credit crunch, people who genuinly have 115 grand to play with for a car of this ilk will be rubbing there hands now as they will more than likely have the cash to buy all the cheap houses about.

[grahamw48]

sam919 said:

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Its nuckle heads that dont know the meaning of "it you aint got it you cant spend it", that caused the credit crunch, people who genuinly have 115 grand to play with for a car of this ilk will be rubbing there hands now as they will more than likely have the cash to buy all the cheap houses about.

[rubystone]

Wiler - do you think the owner of the car thinks it is worth the alleged £115k it cost? When is it going up to its owner in the North East? Do you think he's going to be pleased with it and do you think the lessons learnt in building it will influence the development of the 2 or 3 cars that will follow it?

[ewenm]

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Cars like this - all 8 of them!

[Stevie Mojo]

grahamw48 said:

sam919 said:

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Its nuckle heads that dont know the meaning of "it you aint got it you cant spend it", that caused the credit crunch, people who genuinly have 115 grand to play with for a car of this ilk will be rubbing there hands now as they will more than likely have the cash to buy all the cheap houses about.

The people who do have 115 grand to spend on this kind of toy may include individuals who used investors money to lend to the 'nuckle heads' who had no means of repaying the debts.

[wiler]

rubystone- maybe i should come clean i am the owner from up north am i happy to pay over 115k every time i get in the car it makes the adrenalin flow and i cant take the stupid grin off my face russell is a perfectionist and given the cash to achieve the brief the car is more than i could have imagined i have more expensive cars created by people with money no object rules none come close to the pure driving pleasure this little car gives you can potter round town in top without any fuss but open it up and all hell breaks loose the new intelligent paddle shift system by quaif is just sublime even having a full auto mode the car is like driving a few year old f1 car to give people some idea of its performance please dont compare it to csr 260 or r500 they dont come close the power delivery is one constant shove that continues in every gear hence traction just isnt a problem andy noble of caterham drove it and just loved it to death the next two or three projects are well underway and in build and yes every project has to learn from the last. new projects some have rooves and downforce will that make them better than a caterham probably not as much fun as this or any caterham but hey each to their own all of these cars are about if its possible and thats what you want we can do it or do we all have to have caterhams that look the same (i dont think so) one very happy levante owner and thanks for asking rubystone

[fergus]

wiler said:

rubystone- maybe i should come clean i am the owner from up north am i happy to pay over 115k every time i get in the car it makes the adrenalin flow and i cant take the stupid grin off my face russell is a perfectionist and given the cash to achieve the brief the car is more than i could have imagined i have more expensive cars created by people with money no object rules none come close to the pure driving pleasure this little car gives you can potter round town in top without any fuss but open it up and all hell breaks loose the new intelligent paddle shift system by quaif is just sublime even having a full auto mode the car is like driving a few year old f1 car to give people some idea of its performance please dont compare it to csr 260 or r500 they dont come close the power delivery is one constant shove that continues in every gear hence traction just isnt a problem andy noble of caterham drove it and just loved it to death the next two or three projects are well underway and in build and yes every project has to learn from the last. new projects some have rooves and downforce will that make them better than a caterham probably not as much fun as this or any caterham but hey each to their own all of these cars are about if its possible and thats what you want we can do it or do we all have to have caterhams that look the same (i dont think so) one very happy levante owner and thanks for asking rubystone

How does the full auto mode work?

PS can you try some punctuation next time, I almost ran out of breath reading that

Edited by fergus on Tuesday 21st October 16:01

[rhinochopig]

wiler said:

rubystone- maybe i should come clean i am the owner from up north am i happy to pay over 115k every time i get in the car it makes the adrenalin flow and i cant take the stupid grin off my face russell is a perfectionist and given the cash to achieve the brief the car is more than i could have imagined i have more expensive cars created by people with money no object rules none come close to the pure driving pleasure this little car gives you can potter round town in top without any fuss but open it up and all hell breaks loose the new intelligent paddle shift system by quaif is just sublime even having a full auto mode the car is like driving a few year old f1 car to give people some idea of its performance please dont compare it to csr 260 or r500 they dont come close the power delivery is one constant shove that continues in every gear hence traction just isnt a problem andy noble of caterham drove it and just loved it to death the next two or three projects are well underway and in build and yes every project has to learn from the last. new projects some have rooves and downforce will that make them better than a caterham probably not as much fun as this or any caterham but hey each to their own all of these cars are about if its possible and thats what you want we can do it or do we all have to have caterhams that look the same (i dont think so) one very happy levante owner and thanks for asking rubystone

Couple of questions if you don't mind me asking?

From your post, the grin factor seems to come from the speed and the paddle-shift experience. Does it retain the delicate handling balance of a "normal" Caterham, or is the experience dominated by the engine?

Where do you see yourself driving it?

The reason I ask is because my Westy was close to going beyond what was fun on a public road - I see you live up my way so we've probably enjoyed the same narrow NY Moors roads at some point. In dry weather, you could drive with little worry of lighting up the rear tyres, but in the wet, on a bumpy moor road it was a real handful at times - and often scary with it. I would imagine, even with the more linear power delivery that a 'charger will offer, that your car will be easily capable of spinning its wheels just as well in the dry.

You should keep us all updated of the ownership experience, I'm sure I'm not the only one to be interested in what it will be like to own.

[sam919]

Stevie Mojo said:

grahamw48 said:

sam919 said:

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Its nuckle heads that dont know the meaning of "it you aint got it you cant spend it", that caused the credit crunch, people who genuinly have 115 grand to play with for a car of this ilk will be rubbing there hands now as they will more than likely have the cash to buy all the cheap houses about.

The people who do have 115 grand to spend on this kind of toy may include individuals who used investors money to lend to the 'nuckle heads' who had no means of repaying the debts.

Maybe so but if you havent got any money, perhaps you shouldnt borrow it.

Edited by sam919 on Tuesday 21st October 21:43

[Stevie Mojo]

sam919 said:

Stevie Mojo said:

grahamw48 said:

sam919 said:

GolfEcosse said:

It's cars like these that caused the credit crisis as everyone gets loans to buy these cars and spend everything they earn paying for the fuel or to make the car even better (if that is at all possible). Either that or the bankers are playing a joke on us... either ones a good explanation!!!

I can truly say that this is a car that i would rather have over Arial Atom and that is a hard hard thing to achieve!

Its nuckle heads that dont know the meaning of "it you aint got it you cant spend it", that caused the credit crunch, people who genuinly have 115 grand to play with for a car of this ilk will be rubbing there hands now as they will more than likely have the cash to buy all the cheap houses about.

The people who do have 115 grand to spend on this kind of toy may include individuals who used investors money to lend to the 'nuckle heads' who had no means of repaying the debts.

Maybe so but if you havent got any money, perhaps you shouldnt borrow it.

Edited by sam919 on Tuesday 21st October 21:43

I agree with your point Sam, however what triggered this whole credit problem off was American 'geared investments' where so called financial advisers where using hard-sell methods to push mortgages onto unemployed people and in some cases, people who had just been released from prison for example. A number of British institutions thought it would be a good investment and provided the money for these loans.

[wiler]

fergus the auto mode is set by programming the pectel ecu telling the box to change up just before the rev limit and coming down the box the gears wont change until the lower rev setting is reached hence if you come to the end of a straight in 6th you can brake and stack the gears to be in say 2nd for that corner the electronics wont allow a gear change out of the perameters set hence saving the engine and box from us mere mortals in the drivers seat.fergus i wrote it all in one breath in frustration at some comments on this thread eg styling etc (each to his own)it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things this car isnt about the lights or the rear wheel arches its about all thats good in true british car design,you all know the story a man in a shed built this car he even built his own engine lets sing the guys praises not sg him off.
the delicate handling and balance is the reason it handles the power so well , the superb engine only enhances the experiance of a caterham it is fitted with the best suspension system available but everybody seems to forget this engine only weighs 90kg all up including the super charger and its ancillaries so no ship anchor up front to upset the cars balance.If your from my neck of the woods the great broughton to helmsley road will probably get some stick and of course track days this car isnt limited and is geard for 187 mph so silverstone gp circuit sounds good but croft will see me quite a lot.
On bumpy wet roads YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL ON THE EDGE but it has a very good adjustable traction control system operated by the ecu that should save me (st i hope it will) hope the punctuation is ok have calmed down now

[MarchHare]

Well said that man! I think all credit for building a car that combines the Caterham ethos of minimal weight and superb handling with the brutal power of a true race engine. To be honest I think the cost is reasonable given the time and money that has gone into developing the car. If future caterhams benefit from some trickle down of this technology then we'll all be happy I'm sure.

[rhinochopig]

wiler said:

fergus the auto mode is set by programming the pectel ecu telling the box to change up just before the rev limit and coming down the box the gears wont change until the lower rev setting is reached hence if you come to the end of a straight in 6th you can brake and stack the gears to be in say 2nd for that corner the electronics wont allow a gear change out of the perameters set hence saving the engine and box from us mere mortals in the drivers seat.fergus i wrote it all in one breath in frustration at some comments on this thread eg styling etc (each to his own)it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things this car isnt about the lights or the rear wheel arches its about all thats good in true british car design,you all know the story a man in a shed built this car he even built his own engine lets sing the guys praises not sg him off.
the delicate handling and balance is the reason it handles the power so well , the superb engine only enhances the experiance of a caterham it is fitted with the best suspension system available but everybody seems to forget this engine only weighs 90kg all up including the super charger and its ancillaries so no ship anchor up front to upset the cars balance.If your from my neck of the woods the great broughton to helmsley road will probably get some stick and of course track days this car isnt limited and is geard for 187 mph so silverstone gp circuit sounds good but croft will see me quite a lot.
On bumpy wet roads YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL ON THE EDGE but it has a very good adjustable traction control system operated by the ecu that should save me (st i hope it will) hope the punctuation is ok have calmed down now

Thanks for the response, I stand corrected with regards to my comments. I'm glad the poise and handling hasn't been lost in the search for huge acceleration. I do indeed know that road (the Stokesly or Helsmley TT as it's locally known) - I live in Helmsley - and had many a happy early Sunday mornings enjoying my BEC Westy down that road amongst others. One final question if I may, how noisy is it?

Just a word of warning, if you're not aware, be advised of the silver pro-drive fettled STi with gold wheels that haunts that and the Blakey road of a weekend - it's a police car.

[Stevie Mojo]

rhinochopig said:

wiler said:

fergus the auto mode is set by programming the pectel ecu telling the box to change up just before the rev limit and coming down the box the gears wont change until the lower rev setting is reached hence if you come to the end of a straight in 6th you can brake and stack the gears to be in say 2nd for that corner the electronics wont allow a gear change out of the perameters set hence saving the engine and box from us mere mortals in the drivers seat.fergus i wrote it all in one breath in frustration at some comments on this thread eg styling etc (each to his own)it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things this car isnt about the lights or the rear wheel arches its about all thats good in true british car design,you all know the story a man in a shed built this car he even built his own engine lets sing the guys praises not sg him off.
the delicate handling and balance is the reason it handles the power so well , the superb engine only enhances the experiance of a caterham it is fitted with the best suspension system available but everybody seems to forget this engine only weighs 90kg all up including the super charger and its ancillaries so no ship anchor up front to upset the cars balance.If your from my neck of the woods the great broughton to helmsley road will probably get some stick and of course track days this car isnt limited and is geard for 187 mph so silverstone gp circuit sounds good but croft will see me quite a lot.
On bumpy wet roads YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL ON THE EDGE but it has a very good adjustable traction control system operated by the ecu that should save me (st i hope it will) hope the punctuation is ok have calmed down now

Thanks for the response, I stand corrected with regards to my comments. I'm glad the poise and handling hasn't been lost in the search for huge acceleration. I do indeed know that road (the Stokesly or Helsmley TT as it's locally known) - I live in Helmsley - and had many a happy early Sunday mornings enjoying my BEC Westy down that road amongst others. One final question if I may, how noisy is it?

Just a word of warning, if you're not aware, be advised of the silver pro-drive fettled STi with gold wheels that haunts that and the Blakey road of a weekend - it's a police car.

That STi sounds like one that was following my brother on his old R1 and appeared to be 'encouraging' him to race. Luckily, he had a bad feeling about them and so he didn't bite. Of course he wouldn't consider racing on a public highway anyway.

[rhinochopig]

Stevie Mojo said:

rhinochopig said:

wiler said:

fergus the auto mode is set by programming the pectel ecu telling the box to change up just before the rev limit and coming down the box the gears wont change until the lower rev setting is reached hence if you come to the end of a straight in 6th you can brake and stack the gears to be in say 2nd for that corner the electronics wont allow a gear change out of the perameters set hence saving the engine and box from us mere mortals in the drivers seat.fergus i wrote it all in one breath in frustration at some comments on this thread eg styling etc (each to his own)it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things this car isnt about the lights or the rear wheel arches its about all thats good in true british car design,you all know the story a man in a shed built this car he even built his own engine lets sing the guys praises not sg him off.
the delicate handling and balance is the reason it handles the power so well , the superb engine only enhances the experiance of a caterham it is fitted with the best suspension system available but everybody seems to forget this engine only weighs 90kg all up including the super charger and its ancillaries so no ship anchor up front to upset the cars balance.If your from my neck of the woods the great broughton to helmsley road will probably get some stick and of course track days this car isnt limited and is geard for 187 mph so silverstone gp circuit sounds good but croft will see me quite a lot.
On bumpy wet roads YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL ON THE EDGE but it has a very good adjustable traction control system operated by the ecu that should save me (st i hope it will) hope the punctuation is ok have calmed down now

Thanks for the response, I stand corrected with regards to my comments. I'm glad the poise and handling hasn't been lost in the search for huge acceleration. I do indeed know that road (the Stokesly or Helsmley TT as it's locally known) - I live in Helmsley - and had many a happy early Sunday mornings enjoying my BEC Westy down that road amongst others. One final question if I may, how noisy is it?

Just a word of warning, if you're not aware, be advised of the silver pro-drive fettled STi with gold wheels that haunts that and the Blakey road of a weekend - it's a police car.

That STi sounds like one that was following my brother on his old R1 and appeared to be 'encouraging' him to race. Luckily, he had a bad feeling about them and so he didn't bite. Of course he wouldn't consider racing on a public highway anyway.

they have a reputation for that. I've witnessed them wait for a group of bikers to leave the square and then follow them doing exactly as you describe. Fair enough if you're doing silly speeds without any prompting, but to egg someone on is not on. Not cricket in my book.

[rubystone]

wiler said:

rubystone- maybe i should come clean i am the owner from up north

OK I'll come clean - I knew that top marks for owning up though

[rubystone]

I've driven the Helmsley GP in a Caterham Roadsport and a sorted Elsie. The Elise was actually more fun. I can't deny that the (K) engine in my R500 does dominate the experience more so than with, say the engine in our Superlight, and when I drove Russell's first incarnation, the engine was the dominant factor in that car, despite its (relative) lower power compared to the Levante. I will contend though that I didn't drive the car for long enough to get used to it and as such inevitably my experience was dominated by the 'box and engine. I'd like to live with one for a longer period though...if you want someone local to Russell to garage the car Steve, I'm your man