Exige or Caterham R500 Advice Please
Discussion
Depending on your size you might struggle with a Caterham. They are VERY tight for personal space but also with the pedal box.
I have a 240S Exige and a friend of mine has a Caterham. Following him you can see the back end skipping about round corners all the time, they're a lot more hands on.
The exige grips better out of corners and is a lot easier to jump in and drive whenever you like, unlike the Caterham.
I have a 240S Exige and a friend of mine has a Caterham. Following him you can see the back end skipping about round corners all the time, they're a lot more hands on.
The exige grips better out of corners and is a lot easier to jump in and drive whenever you like, unlike the Caterham.
Bebee said:
That's exactly what happened to me, I have worked out the man maths but have SWMBO to deal with yet.
Dealerships should offer help and advice on getting round the other half, perhaps a 'how to' booklet.
I told my other half it wasn't going to cost any money up front as I'd just trade in my S2. That was a small miscalculation after I spec'd my car up though. She still was ok even so!Dealerships should offer help and advice on getting round the other half, perhaps a 'how to' booklet.
Kiltie said:
That's a good point.
Possibly the only thing I find an inconvenience is not being able to drive in shoes.
I probably look a bit odd arriving in the office wearing an M&S suit and OMP bootees.
My noble was like that the clutch and brake pedals were really close so you couldn't wear shoes, I ended up buying some racing bootsPossibly the only thing I find an inconvenience is not being able to drive in shoes.
I probably look a bit odd arriving in the office wearing an M&S suit and OMP bootees.
Viperzs said:
Depending on your size you might struggle with a Caterham. They are VERY tight for personal space but also with the pedal box.
I have a 240S Exige and a friend of mine has a Caterham. Following him you can see the back end skipping about round corners all the time, they're a lot more hands on.
The exige grips better out of corners and is a lot easier to jump in and drive whenever you like, unlike the Caterham.
I'm 5'10" and 12 stone so I should fit ok looking at some of the people that fit in them.I have a 240S Exige and a friend of mine has a Caterham. Following him you can see the back end skipping about round corners all the time, they're a lot more hands on.
The exige grips better out of corners and is a lot easier to jump in and drive whenever you like, unlike the Caterham.
The exige is a more practical choice having a proper roof and a boot. I'm looking forward to trying out both cars........just need to sell my car first to fund the move
Very different cars. Caterham is a pain in the ass in the rain/snow/winter etc. Many, myself included don't use ours in the winter as the salt ruins the chassis without keeping on top of it. A Lotus ia a lot more practical, and not just from a cabin room point of view.
A Seven will thrill on a test drive but living with one as your sole driver's car can get wearing as a year round proposition unless you take the "right" approach.
A Seven will thrill on a test drive but living with one as your sole driver's car can get wearing as a year round proposition unless you take the "right" approach.
I'm not sure you can far wrong with either. Other than a buy/sell spread, which can't be more than £3-5k, you're not going to see any appreciable depreciation. So, if you don't love it you can try the other a year later.
Both are good track cars and weekend blast machines. The exige is rather more practical/habitable and the caterham is faster and more of a hooligan. On a track the exige wouldn't see which way the Caterham had gone. Speed isn't the only bringer of joy on a track and the Caterham can be so fast that you get rather bored waiting to pass people.
I have a caterham in r500 evo spec and it's unusable on almost any track day. It's just too fast and I either annoy other drivers or get frustrated. The exige is probably more track day useable from that perspective. That being said, it's more about how the car makes you feel. I'm looking for a S1 exige just because I love the look and I raced an Elise/exige mash up back in the day.
Both are good track cars and weekend blast machines. The exige is rather more practical/habitable and the caterham is faster and more of a hooligan. On a track the exige wouldn't see which way the Caterham had gone. Speed isn't the only bringer of joy on a track and the Caterham can be so fast that you get rather bored waiting to pass people.
I have a caterham in r500 evo spec and it's unusable on almost any track day. It's just too fast and I either annoy other drivers or get frustrated. The exige is probably more track day useable from that perspective. That being said, it's more about how the car makes you feel. I'm looking for a S1 exige just because I love the look and I raced an Elise/exige mash up back in the day.
I was in exactly the same position a few years ago with those same choices and bought a 2-Eleven 
I found that it combined the best bits of the R500 and Lotus - i.e. very quick, focused enough to be properly rewarding on track, stiff chassis, well judged suspension, stable at high speed, beautiful steering.
I would offer you mine, but I sold it last week. You're right on the money at £30k-£35k though. Give one a try!
I found that it combined the best bits of the R500 and Lotus - i.e. very quick, focused enough to be properly rewarding on track, stiff chassis, well judged suspension, stable at high speed, beautiful steering.I would offer you mine, but I sold it last week. You're right on the money at £30k-£35k though. Give one a try!
I went to Caterham South last Friday and had a look around, the salesman Justin really looked after me which is quite refreshing. I've dealt with some proper idiots in garages before and had to walk away.
He had me sitting in different cars to see which chassis felt right and I settled on a series 3 with lowered floors.
I tried out an R400 with a 6 speed box which I thought was amazing to drive, I loved how responsive it was and being able to feel everything the car was doing being sat over the rear axle.
Next I had a go in an R500 with a sequential box, to be honest I think I would get annoyed with the sequential box on the road and it's bloody noisy lol. My god when you hammer it it's like going into warp speed and the induction noise is mental. The guy said it would need a rear exit exhaust and and an adaption for the air filter to quieten it down to get through drive by noise restrictions on a track.
If I go for one it would be a second hand R400 or a brand new 420R with a six speed box, I think it would be a good balance for road and track.
I just need to go and try the Exige I've got my eye on to see which one I prefer
He had me sitting in different cars to see which chassis felt right and I settled on a series 3 with lowered floors.
I tried out an R400 with a 6 speed box which I thought was amazing to drive, I loved how responsive it was and being able to feel everything the car was doing being sat over the rear axle.
Next I had a go in an R500 with a sequential box, to be honest I think I would get annoyed with the sequential box on the road and it's bloody noisy lol. My god when you hammer it it's like going into warp speed and the induction noise is mental. The guy said it would need a rear exit exhaust and and an adaption for the air filter to quieten it down to get through drive by noise restrictions on a track.
If I go for one it would be a second hand R400 or a brand new 420R with a six speed box, I think it would be a good balance for road and track.
I just need to go and try the Exige I've got my eye on to see which one I prefer
Sounds good 
Yes, you'll find salesmen in this sector of the market far more receptive, enthusiastic and good at knowing who's serious and who isn't.
In my mind, the R400 and 500 are like being in the front row of a rock concert and the Exige is like listening at home on a really nice hi-fi. In other words, the Exige is far more subtle and detailed with its feedback, whereas the 7 is the more full on singular experience. I love both, they're just different. Safety is one big difference of course, the Exige is a very safe car, and the Caterham less so.
Yes, you'll find salesmen in this sector of the market far more receptive, enthusiastic and good at knowing who's serious and who isn't.In my mind, the R400 and 500 are like being in the front row of a rock concert and the Exige is like listening at home on a really nice hi-fi. In other words, the Exige is far more subtle and detailed with its feedback, whereas the 7 is the more full on singular experience. I love both, they're just different. Safety is one big difference of course, the Exige is a very safe car, and the Caterham less so.
RobM77 said:
Sounds good Yes, you'll find salesmen in this sector of the market far more receptive, enthusiastic and good at knowing who's serious and who isn't.
In my mind, the R400 and 500 are like being in the front row of a rock concert and the Exige is like listening at home on a really nice hi-fi. In other words, the Exige is far more subtle and detailed with its feedback, whereas the 7 is the more full on singular experience. I love both, they're just different. Safety is one big difference of course, the Exige is a very safe car, and the Caterham less so.
Ha ha I love that analogy Yes, you'll find salesmen in this sector of the market far more receptive, enthusiastic and good at knowing who's serious and who isn't.In my mind, the R400 and 500 are like being in the front row of a rock concert and the Exige is like listening at home on a really nice hi-fi. In other words, the Exige is far more subtle and detailed with its feedback, whereas the 7 is the more full on singular experience. I love both, they're just different. Safety is one big difference of course, the Exige is a very safe car, and the Caterham less so.
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