RE: Caterham spots a gap, goes for it
Discussion
Will probably be huge fun to drive - like pretty much every Caterham or 7 ever made (provided you REALLY like wind in your face and flies in your teeth ... hehe).
But for my money it would be an Elise and a couple a grand left over. No less fun .... just different ... and warmer ... and safer.
But for my money it would be an Elise and a couple a grand left over. No less fun .... just different ... and warmer ... and safer.
I WISH said:
Will probably be huge fun to drive - like pretty much every Caterham or 7 ever made (provided you REALLY like wind in your face and flies in your teeth ... hehe).
But for my money it would be an Elise and a couple a grand left over. No less fun .... just different ... and warmer ... and safer.
Having driven an Exige and now owning a Caterham (I drove them back to back to make the choice). While the Exige was a hugely impressive car, it doesn't have the same sense of occasion that driving a Seven does. 40mph is fun in a 7, and just seeing people's reactions to the car as you drive by is enough to bring a grin to your face.But for my money it would be an Elise and a couple a grand left over. No less fun .... just different ... and warmer ... and safer.
You don't buy a 7 to be warm or practical. You buy one because you can do without it all for the sake of the drive.
That said, obviously, if I didn't have room for 2 cars, then it would be pretty hard to justify the Caterham as my only car! The Elise/Exige would probably be my choice then.
thinfourth2 said:
You could get a well specked Golf for that money
In resale grey and black leather of course
Hmmm. Do you really see someone stumbling out of this car, awash with adrenalin and involuntarily grinning, saying "Well I could have got a well specced Golf for this money!" ?In resale grey and black leather of course
thinfourth2 said:
A Scotsman said:
£28k price tag won't attract a huge number of punters.
You could get a well specked Golf for that moneyIn resale grey and black leather of course
kamochaccino while you plough your way along the M3 between Bracknell and Basingstoke.5pen said:
suffolk009 said:
Does anyone else prefer the older style racing stripes they used to put on the bonnet? You know the nose ring that blended into a line?
And I don't get the need to need to stick CATERHAM down the sides of the car (or about a dozen other places either). For a pared down car they do go heavy on the logo.
I'm sure you can still have the old style stripes if you prefer. They are painted though, I'm guessing the new style double stripes are decals and possibly cheaper (for Caterham if not the customer).And I don't get the need to need to stick CATERHAM down the sides of the car (or about a dozen other places either). For a pared down car they do go heavy on the logo.
No compulsion to have the CATERHAM logo on the side either I wouldn't have thought.
It does look as though this has replaced the R300. Does it have the 6-speeder?
NickGibbs said:
The Superlight R300 was more expensive as £30,995 built, but as someone pointed out, the Superports doesn't get the six-speeder.
Yep, but the 6-speed gearbox option on the Supersports R is £2995.00, so the total price for the two is £5 different when specced to be as identical as you can. If you can put up with a 5 speed box though you can have an R300 for £3k less is the upshot.
Krikkit said:
Yep, but the 6-speed gearbox option on the Supersports R is £2995.00, so the total price for the two is £5 different when specced to be as identical as you can. If you can put up with a 5 speed box though you can have an R300 for £3k less is the upshot.
R300 - no limited slip diff. Supersport R - limited slip diff. Cost of limited slip diff - £1250.00.This is a good value car.
Have any of the people that say this car is over-priced actually driven a Caterham?
One Caterham looks like the next and with the money you pay for them,you would think they would put more spend into the development of the looks.
With that kinda money you could have three differently well specked kit car's for what ever mood your in.
Then again I probably still would.
With that kinda money you could have three differently well specked kit car's for what ever mood your in.
Then again I probably still would.
timrw81 said:
R300 - no limited slip diff. Supersport R - limited slip diff. Cost of limited slip diff - £1250.00.
This is a good value car.
Have any of the people that say this car is over-priced actually driven a Caterham?
The R300 has ventilated front discs and quad calipersThis is a good value car.
Have any of the people that say this car is over-priced actually driven a Caterham?
R300 has Carbon dash
R300 has quick release wheel
R300 has Watt linkage
R300 has -20kg
R300 has carbon front wings
So we can see where the lower price comes from. So not really better value than an R300, maybe better packaging.
According to the horse's mouth, Caterham's PR company: "You can technically still buy a Superlight R300, but they feel you'd be mad to given the Supersport R ticks the same boxes."
... all but saying it will cost you less to get near-as-damn-it the same car.
Whether you think that cosmetic carbon is of true worth in the value for money stakes is up to you Bert. As for a 20kg weight saving, i'll believe it when I see the two cars next to each other on the weighing scales.
Either way it's all a moot point and not really worth arguing about. I still think this is a great car for the money. I know you disagree on the 5/6 speed 'box debate but I think their choice of torquey Duratec with longer legged gears and the sharpness of race damping is just inspired in terms of prolonged fun factor.
Tim
... all but saying it will cost you less to get near-as-damn-it the same car.
Whether you think that cosmetic carbon is of true worth in the value for money stakes is up to you Bert. As for a 20kg weight saving, i'll believe it when I see the two cars next to each other on the weighing scales.
Either way it's all a moot point and not really worth arguing about. I still think this is a great car for the money. I know you disagree on the 5/6 speed 'box debate but I think their choice of torquey Duratec with longer legged gears and the sharpness of race damping is just inspired in terms of prolonged fun factor.
Tim
TheEnd said:
It kinda looks like just another Caterham like they've been doing for years.
That is sort of the point- they all look the same more or less and even the original 1957 car is recognisably the same DNA as a 2012 R500. Marmite cars, expensive toys, not built anything like as well as mainstream cars, noisy. draughty, crap in the wet etc but if you love 'em you really don't want anything else.Nor do you care about the fact that other folk don't like them. I've had them for the last 15 years and nothing I have driven - EVEN a well specced Golf !- comes near. 
coppice said:
but if you love 'em you really don't want anything else.Nor do you care about the fact that other folk don't like them. I've had them for the last 15 years and nothing I have driven - EVEN a well specced Golf !- comes near.
Drove a Gallardo a few months before the Caterham test drive. Caterham gave biggest smiles.Pr1964 said:
otolith said:
Or an M135i,
Wow that's some comparison. £1 for £1 bonkers.Technological development for ummmmmmm a little filing her and there and who knows what?
How can BMW be making a profit,,, how can Caterham be making a who knows what?
The mad world that is the British car industry.
timrw81 said:
Krikkit said:
Yep, but the 6-speed gearbox option on the Supersports R is £2995.00, so the total price for the two is £5 different when specced to be as identical as you can. If you can put up with a 5 speed box though you can have an R300 for £3k less is the upshot.
R300 - no limited slip diff. Supersport R - limited slip diff. Cost of limited slip diff - £1250.00.This is a good value car.
Have any of the people that say this car is over-priced actually driven a Caterham?
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