semi auto gearbox on new r400 - can it be done ?
Discussion
I am about to place an order for a self build new r400
however I really like auto gearboxes these days
I would like the sequential from the 620 fitted to my r400
no need to honk about paddles as these are readily available
it is the sequential I want to know if can be fitted
calls and emails to factory have been ignored so not impressed so far with customer service
many thanks
however I really like auto gearboxes these days
I would like the sequential from the 620 fitted to my r400
no need to honk about paddles as these are readily available
it is the sequential I want to know if can be fitted
calls and emails to factory have been ignored so not impressed so far with customer service
many thanks
They do reply to emails, but they can take a few days.
To be honest, if you want to appear serious about buying, then you're better off phoning them or popping in.
That said, I don't think you'll have any problem with that at all. They already fit the Sadev box to the R300 race car as standard now, and it was always an option for the R500, so I can't see any problem there.
To be honest, if you want to appear serious about buying, then you're better off phoning them or popping in.
That said, I don't think you'll have any problem with that at all. They already fit the Sadev box to the R300 race car as standard now, and it was always an option for the R500, so I can't see any problem there.
I'm fitting a Sadev to a R400 and, and would pose no issues for the factory build. But I'm not sure that's what you want.
It is a long way from being an 'auto' and will change the character of the car from a 'pleasant' six speed to a noisy, harsh, and tricky road car. Unless you put a lot of money, and kit, to get seamless shifts (down in particular), you might not find it any easier to drive.
It is a long way from being an 'auto' and will change the character of the car from a 'pleasant' six speed to a noisy, harsh, and tricky road car. Unless you put a lot of money, and kit, to get seamless shifts (down in particular), you might not find it any easier to drive.
Edited by DCL on Monday 20th October 10:03
thank you for the responses.
should I therefore be 'put off' by how harsh it will make road driving ?
how much is the Sadev gearbox (ball park) please ?
i've had a 6 speed R300 before and the gearchange I found rubbish until v hot. I'm not looking for 'auto' 'smooth' - just want to be able to drive it hard with little risk of fluffing gear changes and also not having to use my clutch foot !
should I therefore be 'put off' by how harsh it will make road driving ?
how much is the Sadev gearbox (ball park) please ?
i've had a 6 speed R300 before and the gearchange I found rubbish until v hot. I'm not looking for 'auto' 'smooth' - just want to be able to drive it hard with little risk of fluffing gear changes and also not having to use my clutch foot !
I think when I looked into the Caterham prices they where quoting around £6K - but they are no longer listing the Sadev in their online store. You may get some off that as an new build option (ie no six speed supplied). I bought mine from SWR Motor sport, for considerably less than that.
The Sadev is a sequential dog box, it will shift up and down without the clutch but its a very brutal life, with the clutch its miles better (read smoother/ kinder) and unless you put the best shift system with it (read Geartronics) there is not much point unless you're running big numbers or you are an animal stick with the 6 speed. Swr will help with the input shaft machining and or release bearing spacers if you run a concentric set up, but the factory will obviously know all this. Outright cost if you do the fitting yourself is circa 8k plus Vat. I dont run a gearlever and I live and drive in West London plus the trackdays, its never missed a shift! Dont get me wrong its motorsport pedigree is always there, but mine is neither harsh or noisy and a delight to use, kinder on the driveline and when you have pulled the engine 3 times in one year for box repairs then none in 2 years thats good enough for me.
k20erham said:
I live and drive in West London plus the trackdays, its never missed a shift! Dont get me wrong its motorsport pedigree is always there, but mine is neither harsh or noisy and a delight to use,
I agree .I have the Sadev in my 620R and its quite easy to "pootle " around on the road and not use the clutch on the upshifts , you just need to keep the pressure on the throttle .In fact its smoother doing that than using the clutch at low revs which tends to lead to jerky progress if your timing is too slow . On the track its awesome ( and addictive ) on the upshifts .Downshifts need a bit of practice and i always use the clutch . Don't get put off by horror stories of sequential boxes on the road . The Sadev is light years ahead of the old sequential run in a few of the R500 cars .
k20erham said:
I live and drive in West London plus the trackdays, its never missed a shift! Dont get me wrong its motorsport pedigree is always there, but mine is neither harsh or noisy and a delight to use,
I agree .I have the Sadev in my 620R and its quite easy to "pootle " around on the road and not use the clutch on the upshifts , you just need to keep the pressure on the throttle .In fact its smoother doing that than using the clutch at low revs which tends to lead to jerky progress if your timing is too slow . On the track its awesome ( and addictive ) on the upshifts .Downshifts need a bit of practice and i always use the clutch . Don't get put off by horror stories of sequential boxes on the road . The Sadev is light years ahead of the old sequential run in a few of the R500 cars .
Get an elite Il200, stick a xoomspeed box on it with related pneumatic system, and there you have it auto up shifts and seemless downshifts, minimal if any wear on box and much cheaper and as effective as the gear tronics, also traction control available for the wetter days or track time with wheel speed sensors for not a lot of £'s.
Each to their own but as the Seven is such a determinedly analogue car - 57 years and counting - whose USP is what it doesn't have (pas, abd,abs etc) that it seems counter intuitive to stick something so up to date in it as a semi auto box. WRT 6 speed mine is slightly notchy when cold but hot knife through butter within a few miles. And heel and toeing is all part of the fun.
I'm not sure of the geartronics exactly but I'm sure its 3 grand ish all in fitted and working, the Xoom box is half that and an il200 last time I bought one was 2,750 ish....was a while back. The good thing about the xoombox is that they have fitted and hill climbed this combo with success, I'm sure the same is with the geartronics but its expensive and I think over priced.
http://www.xoomspeed.com
http://www.xoomspeed.com
coppice said:
Each to their own but as the Seven is such a determinedly analogue car - 57 years and counting - whose USP is what it doesn't have (pas, abd,abs etc) that it seems counter intuitive to stick something so up to date in it as a semi auto box. WRT 6 speed mine is slightly notchy when cold but hot knife through butter within a few miles. And heel and toeing is all part of the fun.
Couldn´t agree more - the whole essence of the car for many owners, especially road users is as an ultimate driving machine - emphasis on driving machine - not a racing machine (nod & wink to BM´s here but sorry, I don´t think so...). As a racing machine yep, flappy paddles all the way, they save time & time saved wins races, but for a road machine the the pleasure of driving is all about coordination & synchronisation: a solid H pattern box, heel & toeing smoothly through your favourite set of curves, balancing the brakes on the point of lock with no artificial assistance, all in a fantastic handling car is what it´s all about - you can keep your paddles & playstations thanks 
One of my most fav vids says it all:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P8pURqBAVQ&in...
And another (yeah ok it´s a race car but at least with a proper box
)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOon9x10i4Q&in...
Edited by Farlig on Tuesday 28th October 00:24
Edited by Farlig on Tuesday 28th October 00:25
I guess it's each to their own, but have big power and torque through a 6 Speed box and drive it like it was made for it will break,plus I'm 2 up a lot of the time and she's less than happy with my left elbow!!! Expensive it is and far away from a 1600 crossflow but I know which I'd prefer pay now or pay later but you will pay
k20erham said:
I guess it's each to their own, but have big power and torque through a 6 Speed box and drive it like it was made for it will break,plus I'm 2 up a lot of the time and she's less than happy with my left elbow!!! Expensive it is and far away from a 1600 crossflow but I know which I'd prefer pay now or pay later but you will pay
I ran a hard driven 9000+ rpm 280bhp VX through a 6 speed and it never complained.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff