Joining the club!

[edb49]

I'm dead chuffed; a dream I've had since I was at uni is starting to be realise. I signed the order form & placed my deposit on a Caterham last week; I've been told delivery will be in October. I think the next few months are going to be a painful wait!

I went for an R400 with a few custom bits. Can't wait to take it out on a few blats with fellow 7 owners

[Murph7355]

Well done.

How long a wait was it? Regardless, it'll be worth it.

[edb49]

I started thinking about Caterhams in 2002, so quite a long wait so far.

[JamieBeeston]

edb49 said:

I started thinking about Caterhams in 2002, so quite a long wait so far.

The 400 is a mental vehicle.. R500's are insane but just not as practical on the roads if you plan to use it often imho..

Enjoy it

[edb49]

I was going to get a 300, but I was doing power/weight calculations and got this result:


M3 - 414bhp, 1655kg +85kg passenger = 238bhp/tonne
R300 - 175bhp, 525kg, 2x85kg occupants = 251bhp/tonne

So there's hardly any difference, and the M3 was quick but not *mental*. The R400 with passenger works out at about 300bhp/tonne, so significantly more than the M3.

I'm making the M3 because it's the fastest car I've owned previously...

[JamieBeeston]

The joy of the smaller vehicles, fast with a Pax in.. Awesome when just you..

[edb49]

Heh, that genuinely hadn't occurred to me.... some of the time I will be *on my own* in the car. That brings it up to 344bhp/tonne, that will be crazy!

[JamieBeeston]

edb49 said:

Heh, that genuinely hadn't occurred to me.... some of the time I will be *on my own* in the car. That brings it up to 344bhp/tonne, that will be crazy!

That's mentally fast..

My TVR was 312Bhp in just over 1 Tonne and that was awesomely quick.. you're talking porsche turbo power/weight.. but just so much quicker getting there too

Make sure IOM have Critical cover on you :P

Enjoy it!

[taffyracer]

The M3 weight is EU weights, so includes for luggage and fuel, actual weight is about 80-90ks lighter, R300 would slaughter an M3 even it it had the same ptw, great car but no match

[edb49]

How much does a R400 weigh with say 170kg of flesh in it, plus 3/4 tank fuel, all fluids, etc?

[Murph7355]

edb49 said:

How much does a R400 weigh with say 170kg of flesh in it, plus 3/4 tank fuel, all fluids, etc?

Depends what options you have on it (wheels, roll over bar, screen etc) and whether it's an SV or S3 (can you have the R400 in both flavours?).

I reckon it will be 700kg or so. Or about the same as S1 Elise with nothing in it IIRC.

[edb49]

Murph7355 said:

edb49 said:

How much does a R400 weigh with say 170kg of flesh in it, plus 3/4 tank fuel, all fluids, etc?

Depends what options you have on it (wheels, roll over bar, screen etc) and whether it's an SV or S3 (can you have the R400 in both flavours?).

I reckon it will be 700kg or so. Or about the same as S1 Elise with nothing in it IIRC.

In terms of options that will affect the weight....

- S3 chassis (yes, you can get the R400 in a wide chassis one too)
- Leather seats
- Track day roll bar
- No screen, carbon wind deflector only
- 13" rims, 6" wide front and rear
- Heater + 12V socket

Also having lowered floors, I'm not sure if this affects the weight though.

[Murph7355]

I'd guess in the 700-730kg range