Must have options on a new R500?
Discussion
The man at caterham said the box is built for flat shifting! I've specced it.
Here is my spec list so far...
R500 superlight
sequential box
12v socket
carbon airbox
decat pipe
trackday silencer
black aero filler cap
pearl white paint(Same as launch colour)
orange stripes
lowered floorpans
The price started going a little crazy so i stopped ticking boxes then!!lol
Would apreciate any opinions on this spec.
Martin
Here is my spec list so far...
R500 superlight
sequential box
12v socket
carbon airbox
decat pipe
trackday silencer
black aero filler cap
pearl white paint(Same as launch colour)
orange stripes
lowered floorpans
The price started going a little crazy so i stopped ticking boxes then!!lol
Would apreciate any opinions on this spec.
Martin
Seriously, if you are going to use the car mainly on circuit the option dampers will make a HUGE difference. Yes the car is a little firm on the road but the new set up is no way near as harsh as the old race set-up so retains drivabillity but the difference on track (you mentioned hills and sprints) will be well worth the outlay.
Valdimir,
You would not use circuit / track spring & damper settings for hillclimbs by choice my old fruit!
My understanding is that a heater is more or less unnecessary due to the proximity of the 263bhp heater fitted up close & down the transmission tunnel? In fact unless the pedal box is lined with heat reflecting material, I understand its somewhat like Tenko in there!
You would not use circuit / track spring & damper settings for hillclimbs by choice my old fruit!
My understanding is that a heater is more or less unnecessary due to the proximity of the 263bhp heater fitted up close & down the transmission tunnel? In fact unless the pedal box is lined with heat reflecting material, I understand its somewhat like Tenko in there!
If you do order the Race dampers / springs make sure you get it set up & corner weighted with your weight onboard, or you will be wasting your money. Then you need to decide to have it set up just for you & your weight or for a passenger too. You can't have it good at both without changes.
To be honest unless its a cheap upgrade option I would save your money & look to upgrade when you are finding the original set up lacking, much more to be had time wise from having the car setup properly in the first place!
To be honest unless its a cheap upgrade option I would save your money & look to upgrade when you are finding the original set up lacking, much more to be had time wise from having the car setup properly in the first place!
Congrats on the 500.
Heater- once the car is fitted with the heat shielding the cockpit is fine, believe me I have raced in one without one and it's aint nice. So if you intend doing early morning or late night road work with it, I would spec it.
Race Dampers- I wouldn't bother until you get "into" the car, a C400 is brutal with a seq box, I mean really quick, on a track day it will muller pretty much anything without aero. TBH if you are half decent you will find your body starts to fade before you start worrying about race dampers....on the other hand looking at a spec sheet is a bugger, kid in a candy store and on reflection know I would tick it.
Seq Box - hell yeah, C400's racers where looking at nearly a second a lap quicker in testing at Snett over the 6 speed.....and its just so darn f*ckin cool.
Cage- if you are knocking around on a nice summers eve' with a full cage it's a pain jumping in and out while you show off, on the other hand they look better and having rolled one the added safety factor is a bonus. Go one get it.
I would really recommend some time with a pro racer in a quick |Caterham....now I am biased, I run my race car with Fauldsport with tuition from Simon Mason (google either of them for details). IMO they have been the best bang for buck out there. They will get you and your Catherm running quicker. One step further while your waiting for the 500 is to hire Bookatracks new R300 race car and get Simon along for the day, believe me you will benefit.
Lastly, you sound like me 5 years ago, no matter how much you crave the speed and rush it all gets run of the mill pretty quickly......... you should consider racing. Caterham's Academy is an excellent start, there are others but this is where I started, so it's what I know. The rush of being on a grid with 30 or so other RSA cars when the 5 second board goes up still makes the hair on my neck stand up......
, this with just 120hp.
Heater- once the car is fitted with the heat shielding the cockpit is fine, believe me I have raced in one without one and it's aint nice. So if you intend doing early morning or late night road work with it, I would spec it.
Race Dampers- I wouldn't bother until you get "into" the car, a C400 is brutal with a seq box, I mean really quick, on a track day it will muller pretty much anything without aero. TBH if you are half decent you will find your body starts to fade before you start worrying about race dampers....on the other hand looking at a spec sheet is a bugger, kid in a candy store and on reflection know I would tick it.
Seq Box - hell yeah, C400's racers where looking at nearly a second a lap quicker in testing at Snett over the 6 speed.....and its just so darn f*ckin cool.
Cage- if you are knocking around on a nice summers eve' with a full cage it's a pain jumping in and out while you show off, on the other hand they look better and having rolled one the added safety factor is a bonus. Go one get it.
I would really recommend some time with a pro racer in a quick |Caterham....now I am biased, I run my race car with Fauldsport with tuition from Simon Mason (google either of them for details). IMO they have been the best bang for buck out there. They will get you and your Catherm running quicker. One step further while your waiting for the 500 is to hire Bookatracks new R300 race car and get Simon along for the day, believe me you will benefit.
Lastly, you sound like me 5 years ago, no matter how much you crave the speed and rush it all gets run of the mill pretty quickly......... you should consider racing. Caterham's Academy is an excellent start, there are others but this is where I started, so it's what I know. The rush of being on a grid with 30 or so other RSA cars when the 5 second board goes up still makes the hair on my neck stand up......
, this with just 120hp.Edited by James.S on Tuesday 10th February 20:28
Edited by James.S on Tuesday 10th February 20:32
James.S said:
Lastly, you sound like me 5 years ago, no matter how much you crave the speed and rush it all gets run of the mill pretty quickly......... you should consider racing. Caterham's Academy is an excellent start, there are others but this is where I started, so it's what I know. The rush of being on a grid with 30 or so other RSA cars when the 5 second board goes up still makes the hair on my neck stand up......, this with just 120hp.
That could be an interesting option , this with just 120hp.Buy an academy car also
I have one of the first R500's and as most have said the sequential is a must.
I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
fastcello said:
I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
The dampers don't stop it bottoming out. This is a function of the spring rates & ride heights (i.e. partly a function of spring preload) and whether bump stops have been used! You can still bottom out suspension on 'race dampers'....On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
fastcello said:
I have one of the first R500's and as most have said the sequential is a must.
I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
I'm a little worried about your 101db reading. I do a lot of days at combe and they are strict 99..100db. I've specced mine with trackday silencer and airbox and was told i'd have no problems at combe.??I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
martin
martin thomas said:
fastcello said:
I have one of the first R500's and as most have said the sequential is a must.
I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
I'm a little worried about your 101db reading. I do a lot of days at combe and they are strict 99..100db. I've specced mine with trackday silencer and airbox and was told i'd have no problems at combe.??I had the standard dampers and hated them but have changed to the race dampers which are miles better.
On the standard dampers I found it bottomed out on some country roads and had lots of rear end squat under acceleration/out of corners. Harder to notice on the road but on the track it was not nice. The new set up is a must as it just handles right and suits the car. The top gear lap was done on race dampers.
I also have a race exhaust for trackdays which has a drive by of about 87.5db and a static of arround 101. I have subsequently taken the baffle out of the standard road exhaust and that sounds great.
Have fun.
martin
martin thomas said:
Fergus this is what i'm worried about!! Turning up in my brand new R500 and having to strap a massey ferguson silencer to it!! I'm not going down that roadf!!
Martin
The induction noise is the one to worry about, as the silencing can solved on the day by loads of very crude measures. How much is an airbox btw?Martin
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