Talk to me re CSR260's

[DaveGB]

Have had a 140bhp K Series and R300 K series Csterham before and loved them.

Potentially looking to get back into the Csterham scene in the near future, probably R400 terroritory.

However still intrigued by the CSR260, but the prices seem mad to me. What's the score here ,as surely 10 year old cars aren't worth £35k or have I lost the plot ?

[Token Jock]

You've lost the plot Dave, but I think you already knew that

The prices of CSR's are certainly holding perhaps may even have risen slightly but if you want one it looks like you'll have pay a decent amount.

[DaveGB]

No comment John

[Shropcat]

Awesome machine............. The engine is never under strain and the amount power and torque it delivers results in a deceptively quick car. The suspension is so much better than the dedion setup and gives a brilliant comfortable ride. Due to low production numbers and many bespoke parts I suppose they will hold their price also they don't come up for sale very often which says something in itself. I'm biased as I've just upgraded to one from a R500.

Edited by Shropcat on Friday 22 July 20:07

[cambuscat]

I've also just scratched that itch - fantastic.

[cambuscat]

I've also just scratched that itch - fantastic.

[rubystone]

Shropcat said:

Awesome machine............. The engine is never under strain and the amount power and torque it delivers results in a deceptively quick car. The suspension is so much better than the dedion setup and gives a brilliant comfortable ride. Due to low production numbers and many bespoke parts I suppose they will hold their price also they don't come up for sale very often which says something in itself. I'm biased as I've just upgraded to one from a R500.

Edited by Shropcat on Friday 22 July 20:07

Upgraded from an R500? The two cars are very different animals but the 260 is definitely not an upgrade. It's a car built for covering miles on the road. An R500 is built for covering miles on track. Each is excellent at the role it was built to cover.

[bcr5784]

Shropcat said:

Awesome machine............. The engine is never under strain and the amount power and torque it delivers results in a deceptively quick car. The suspension is so much better than the dedion setup and gives a brilliant comfortable ride. Due to low production numbers and many bespoke parts I suppose they will hold their price also they don't come up for sale very often which says something in itself. I'm biased as I've just upgraded to one from a R500.

Edited by Shropcat on Friday 22 July 20:07

I've never driven a CSR (so I can speak with great authority) but I bound to think that it addressed a non-problem - ride and didn't really address a real problem - aerodynamics.(and it was bloody expensive). For the type of car it is the normal 7 (unless you choose a very track oriented spec) rides well. Factor in that the CSR is wide bodied, rather diluting one the Caterhams great virtues (lack of) size and I see why it never caught on.

I think the Aero 7 attempted to address the real problem, aero - but doesn't seem to have captured the buying public's imagination.

Morgan have a (vaguely) similar problem and have had somewhat similar reaction to their Aero 8.

[sjmmarsh]

I have had a 260 for the last 9 years, which was definitely an upgrade to the 1.8vvc SV that I had for 4 years before that. That I have kept it for 9 years tells you a lot. The only upgrade I felt it needed was an LSD as it was easy to break one wheel's traction in the damp.

The size doesn't worry me as I need to squeeze into an S3 and if I do there isn't really room for the passenger!

There is a big difference in the ride between the two cars - with the DeDion you are conscious of the back end moving independently of the front as you corner and over bumps. With the CSR it tends to ride more evenly, with the wheels pitter-pattering over the road. Neither is better, but there is definitely a different feel. My wife prefers the ride on the CSR as it is a lot smoother.

Do you need the extra power on the road? No. 95% of the time. However the torque means that you can choose to drive in cruise mode (I can pull away in 1st with m throttle and go through the gears to 6th without using the throttle at all. You can then accelerate in 6th all the way to losing your licence. If you want to work the engine instead, you can and the car really comes alive.

It is definitely better than an R500 for touring, but you won't be that far behind an R500 if you decide to take it on the track.

It all comes down to what you want to use it for - mine is touring, track days and sprints (winning my class 4 years ago at Curborough). It really is a good all rounder.

Oh, and if you do get hassle on the road, put it in 2nd and floor it and watch them disappear in the rear view mirror!

Steve

[Mitch911]

For track work, the race cars are fantastic and IMO a better steer than the S3 chassis. Turn-in is so much better; you don't have to bully the car in like you do a Duratec'd S3.

Not sure what is required to optimise a road CSR for the track but I reckon you could have a great best of both machine.

[kitcat7]

With regard to the residuals of CSR, it is arguably a better value car than an R400/500 SV. There are a lot of expensive parts on the CSR, not only the bespoke suspension, but things like the stiffer chassis, the swoopy dash is nice if you want a change from a flat dash, and gives you stalks on the column including intermittent wash wipe and 2 speed wipers, The engines on both the 200 and 260 are absolute peaches, just so torquey, both with standard dry sumps, big brakes are standard, big wheels on the back really help to get the power down.

Everything else which has been said about the ride is true, much much better, no matter if it is track or road modified. It does make a great touring car, although a spare wheel might be useful.

[Shropcat]

This helps make the CSR a little bit special !

[DaveGB]