Oh boy! I love being a sinner man.......
Discussion
R500 XX is a cute little fellow. He reminds me of my 1 year old son. My son is sweet and charming with a nice balance of cheeky. He isvery tenacious and determined. Yet when he decides to take chaerge and go after something there is almost no stopping him. Sometimes I even call him Savage or Peperami. When he arrived it was as if I had known him for a long time. I fell in love straight away.
My latest experience collecting my new Caterham and spending my first weekend with it was very much like my exepiences with my son. The fact that it is the first factory built customer R500 (No 4 - Nige yours is No 3?) also helped.
I arrived at Caterham on Friday afternoon and spent about 1 hour walking round it looking at all the details - the fact that they still had to check a few things before handover gave me more time to drool at my own car.
There are lots of beautiful details and the finish was excellent. I love the aluminium gear knob with R500 etched on the top, the Carbon nose band with a curved side stripe, 1 in green and 1 in Red, the polished exhaust. There is a lettle mobile phone tray (or immobiliser tray) and the finish on the sequential box is excellent. The dash really looks tidy in the flesh and actually is easy to use, as are the indicators on the wheel. I love the little carrbon fins on the side of the nose and the trade mark R500 carbon kevlar seats.
What was funny was that I had seen the press car close up but as this was mine I just fell inlove with it.
I went home and came back 2 hours later with shoes that fitted and minus a car in toe.
The chaps at Caterham had cleaned the car now and the white was translucent in the evening sun. the colours of my car are really vibrant and it really feels like mine. The chaps did an excellent handover and although there were two items missing they said they would come to my house to fit them and generally made the whole ocassion feel very special - well done chaps.
As I started R500 XX, I realised that the rev counter was not moving - this could be problematic for running it in. Another hour whilst the chaps apologised profusely and checked connections and plugged lap tops in. I was quite happy anticipating the first drive. The discovered that the map had been updated 10 dys ago but not been set for the R500 stack - all fixed and I was off.
Starting te car involves pressing the start button to turn it on then pressing it again and holding it down to start it - there is a 2 second delay then it starts. Sounds raspy but not unlike an R400 just a bit deeper. Pull the sequential lever into 1st, listen to the rifle bolt sound (now one of my all time favourite sounds) and ease the clutch and off we go. The first two things I notice, the car feels like a glove - fits better than any Caterham I have jumped in before - I am sure like all new Caterhams it is the same - like discovering a long lost friend and also it is easy to drive. The gearbox is the easiest and best gearbox I have ever used (if you ignore the noise). So I drive out of Caterham and down the A25 towards guildford. Bedding in the brakes and suspension and the other moving parts I am reasured by how easy life is with the car. R50 XX makes alot of noise and squeeks as most new cars do only noisier when poodling along at 3,000 rpm. When I get a breather of traffic free road and open her up over 5,000 rpm suddenly R500 XX only makes one noise abeautiful crackling rasp. She is waking up and stretching.
So the first 50 miles on Friday night are cautious - I want to scrub the tyres and brakes and bed her in. There is also alot of traffic which is ok as I amtaking my time. First impressions are of a car that is a very well sorted Caterham nly more solid, torquey and with that gearbox, even at steady pace, is fingertip sharp. A lovely car.
Saturday is the day that I really discover who R500 XX is. I start to build the pace and drive to a karting venue as I have a commitment to some friends. 30 minutes on the Kart track and the adrenaline is going. Then I get to drive home without having to keep a convoy of cars in toe. And, Oh boy! there is no keeping anything in toe with this peperami once you wake her up proper. The engine is quick up to 6,000 rpm and then....6,000 to 7,000 rpm is like unleashing a swarm of killer buzz saws from some 1970's horror movie. The sound is reminiscent of an F1 car - not so much in it's pitch but in it's anger and intent. The kick upto 7,000 is ferocious. 7,000 to 8,000 the anger builds but the effect is truelly mind blowing - I am trying to keep up with the gear chanes as I don't really want to rev her more than 7,000 when she is this new but the engine is not too tight and the sound and the acceleration is intoxicating. I never hit the red line but 3 or 4 times I get close to 8,000 rpm. At first this is on a straight dual carraige way and I am moving so fast on the easy rifle bolt lever but the revs move faster. I feel like I am a hurtling projectile - part computer game (except for the sensual overload) and part coen brothers movie camera panning across the road in search of more speed. I am near the house but decide to take a left. Stopped at the lights, green, normal revs then pedal to the metal once moving - it starts steady as I am off cam then 5 then 6 then 7 thousand rpm - rear wheels slide, rifle bolt, 6,7,8, slide again, rifle bolt, third gear, 7,8 4th, 7,8 5th ,7,8, 6th 130 mph, slight left, heal and toe down 5t, 4th, 3rd through round about and start again to another round about and.................
Ok. So what do I think of this car besides an obvious love affair.
It is incredibly fast and feels fast in a way that only normally aspirated cars that have power building with revs. It revs very quickly from 5,000 to 8,000 rpm. Whilst everything happens very quickly because the gear change is so easy and yet so physical it never seems to be a concern - instead i always enjoy changing gear and seem to do it just for fun. Handling is typical Caterham fantastic - not sure yet i the car is set up neutral or a bit understeerey - one corner was understeerey but the tyre were cold and it seemed to settle - I need to drive it more in anger for longer and ultimately on track. The sound is all nuts and bolts at lower rpm or under partial load but under full load and at higher rpm it is all race car and feels somewhat F1 to me but less high pitch. I have driven an F1 car once and in common there was a sensation of being hunted by the engine. I think having the windscreen and so not wearing a helmet is a good thing. I think being a passanger will be terrifying.
Today it is raining so I'll wait till it is dry again and let youknow what else I discover.
I will add some pictures in the next half hour but they are very dull as I took them in a garage with no lights - sorry - wait til the weekend and I'll get some nice ones.
My latest experience collecting my new Caterham and spending my first weekend with it was very much like my exepiences with my son. The fact that it is the first factory built customer R500 (No 4 - Nige yours is No 3?) also helped.
I arrived at Caterham on Friday afternoon and spent about 1 hour walking round it looking at all the details - the fact that they still had to check a few things before handover gave me more time to drool at my own car.
There are lots of beautiful details and the finish was excellent. I love the aluminium gear knob with R500 etched on the top, the Carbon nose band with a curved side stripe, 1 in green and 1 in Red, the polished exhaust. There is a lettle mobile phone tray (or immobiliser tray) and the finish on the sequential box is excellent. The dash really looks tidy in the flesh and actually is easy to use, as are the indicators on the wheel. I love the little carrbon fins on the side of the nose and the trade mark R500 carbon kevlar seats.
What was funny was that I had seen the press car close up but as this was mine I just fell inlove with it.
I went home and came back 2 hours later with shoes that fitted and minus a car in toe.
The chaps at Caterham had cleaned the car now and the white was translucent in the evening sun. the colours of my car are really vibrant and it really feels like mine. The chaps did an excellent handover and although there were two items missing they said they would come to my house to fit them and generally made the whole ocassion feel very special - well done chaps.
As I started R500 XX, I realised that the rev counter was not moving - this could be problematic for running it in. Another hour whilst the chaps apologised profusely and checked connections and plugged lap tops in. I was quite happy anticipating the first drive. The discovered that the map had been updated 10 dys ago but not been set for the R500 stack - all fixed and I was off.
Starting te car involves pressing the start button to turn it on then pressing it again and holding it down to start it - there is a 2 second delay then it starts. Sounds raspy but not unlike an R400 just a bit deeper. Pull the sequential lever into 1st, listen to the rifle bolt sound (now one of my all time favourite sounds) and ease the clutch and off we go. The first two things I notice, the car feels like a glove - fits better than any Caterham I have jumped in before - I am sure like all new Caterhams it is the same - like discovering a long lost friend and also it is easy to drive. The gearbox is the easiest and best gearbox I have ever used (if you ignore the noise). So I drive out of Caterham and down the A25 towards guildford. Bedding in the brakes and suspension and the other moving parts I am reasured by how easy life is with the car. R50 XX makes alot of noise and squeeks as most new cars do only noisier when poodling along at 3,000 rpm. When I get a breather of traffic free road and open her up over 5,000 rpm suddenly R500 XX only makes one noise abeautiful crackling rasp. She is waking up and stretching.
So the first 50 miles on Friday night are cautious - I want to scrub the tyres and brakes and bed her in. There is also alot of traffic which is ok as I amtaking my time. First impressions are of a car that is a very well sorted Caterham nly more solid, torquey and with that gearbox, even at steady pace, is fingertip sharp. A lovely car.
Saturday is the day that I really discover who R500 XX is. I start to build the pace and drive to a karting venue as I have a commitment to some friends. 30 minutes on the Kart track and the adrenaline is going. Then I get to drive home without having to keep a convoy of cars in toe. And, Oh boy! there is no keeping anything in toe with this peperami once you wake her up proper. The engine is quick up to 6,000 rpm and then....6,000 to 7,000 rpm is like unleashing a swarm of killer buzz saws from some 1970's horror movie. The sound is reminiscent of an F1 car - not so much in it's pitch but in it's anger and intent. The kick upto 7,000 is ferocious. 7,000 to 8,000 the anger builds but the effect is truelly mind blowing - I am trying to keep up with the gear chanes as I don't really want to rev her more than 7,000 when she is this new but the engine is not too tight and the sound and the acceleration is intoxicating. I never hit the red line but 3 or 4 times I get close to 8,000 rpm. At first this is on a straight dual carraige way and I am moving so fast on the easy rifle bolt lever but the revs move faster. I feel like I am a hurtling projectile - part computer game (except for the sensual overload) and part coen brothers movie camera panning across the road in search of more speed. I am near the house but decide to take a left. Stopped at the lights, green, normal revs then pedal to the metal once moving - it starts steady as I am off cam then 5 then 6 then 7 thousand rpm - rear wheels slide, rifle bolt, 6,7,8, slide again, rifle bolt, third gear, 7,8 4th, 7,8 5th ,7,8, 6th 130 mph, slight left, heal and toe down 5t, 4th, 3rd through round about and start again to another round about and.................
Ok. So what do I think of this car besides an obvious love affair.
It is incredibly fast and feels fast in a way that only normally aspirated cars that have power building with revs. It revs very quickly from 5,000 to 8,000 rpm. Whilst everything happens very quickly because the gear change is so easy and yet so physical it never seems to be a concern - instead i always enjoy changing gear and seem to do it just for fun. Handling is typical Caterham fantastic - not sure yet i the car is set up neutral or a bit understeerey - one corner was understeerey but the tyre were cold and it seemed to settle - I need to drive it more in anger for longer and ultimately on track. The sound is all nuts and bolts at lower rpm or under partial load but under full load and at higher rpm it is all race car and feels somewhat F1 to me but less high pitch. I have driven an F1 car once and in common there was a sensation of being hunted by the engine. I think having the windscreen and so not wearing a helmet is a good thing. I think being a passanger will be terrifying.
Today it is raining so I'll wait till it is dry again and let youknow what else I discover.
I will add some pictures in the next half hour but they are very dull as I took them in a garage with no lights - sorry - wait til the weekend and I'll get some nice ones.
Marcello,
Your description of your experience makes me want to drive mine even more now.
It looks fantastic in the pictures, cant wait to see some quality ones with proper lighting.
Re your note on the build numbers, I am afraid that mine is actually chassis no 8, I had hoped it would be number 7, but 8 is my little boys favorite number so perhaps its a fate thing.
It looks like you are waiting on your quaife sequential gear indicator, do you know where they are going to mount it?
On that point do you have a gear indication in the stack display at moment instead?
Also are your reverse lights working at present? I assume they are to pass the SVA test, which means that the part of the loom for the gear indicator is already installed.
And finally it looks like you are waiting for the full carbon airbox, just like I am.
Thanks for the write up and the story.
Have a great time together.
Nige.
Your description of your experience makes me want to drive mine even more now.
It looks fantastic in the pictures, cant wait to see some quality ones with proper lighting.
Re your note on the build numbers, I am afraid that mine is actually chassis no 8, I had hoped it would be number 7, but 8 is my little boys favorite number so perhaps its a fate thing.
It looks like you are waiting on your quaife sequential gear indicator, do you know where they are going to mount it?
On that point do you have a gear indication in the stack display at moment instead?
Also are your reverse lights working at present? I assume they are to pass the SVA test, which means that the part of the loom for the gear indicator is already installed.
And finally it looks like you are waiting for the full carbon airbox, just like I am.
Thanks for the write up and the story.
Have a great time together.
Nige.
Marcello
What a fantastic write up!! I find my Superlight electric, god knows how I would feel in this!!
I think I am quite local to you (I live in Fleet) and would be great to meet up sometime to have a look & hear the beast!! I would say go for a blat too, but I would be too far behind
Look forward to more photos
Cheers
MikeGF
What a fantastic write up!! I find my Superlight electric, god knows how I would feel in this!!
I think I am quite local to you (I live in Fleet) and would be great to meet up sometime to have a look & hear the beast!! I would say go for a blat too, but I would be too far behind
Look forward to more photos
Cheers
MikeGF
Great to hear your story - R500 XX sounds as awesome as we all hoped. I'd love to see the car - my office is in Guildford and I'm in Dorking. Hoping to make a start on a few bits on mine at the weekend but am off the the US on Sunday for a week - damn! How do you know what number your car is - I don't have the little plate for the dash yet but my chassis number ends in 691.
Marcello,
Could you do me a favour and take some photos to help me with my build please.
I would like the following close ups if you can get them.
1 The back of the steering wheel showing the wiring for the switch gear.
2 The wiring under the dash that comes out of the steering shaft.
3 The area around the ECU and battery, several shots if possible to show the detail, I really want to know what the silver bolt is, I think it is where a battery ground cable is connected, but I could be wrong.
I also noticed on your car, that yours has the standard plastic oil filler cap on the engine, but perhaps that has been changed now.
It should be like mine here:
Thanks in advance.
Nigel
Could you do me a favour and take some photos to help me with my build please.
I would like the following close ups if you can get them.
1 The back of the steering wheel showing the wiring for the switch gear.
2 The wiring under the dash that comes out of the steering shaft.
3 The area around the ECU and battery, several shots if possible to show the detail, I really want to know what the silver bolt is, I think it is where a battery ground cable is connected, but I could be wrong.
I also noticed on your car, that yours has the standard plastic oil filler cap on the engine, but perhaps that has been changed now.
It should be like mine here:
Thanks in advance.
Nigel
Nige,
I'll get the pics and try and take other details also - may have to wait till the weekend when I am home in the day time - is that too late?
Schlaeppi - I will try and dig out some dates for a get together in Surrey for us chaps. Also I am working on a track day later in October (I am away for a week on the 9th), would be good to get a few of you up there and tp try and get the a Caterham chap to join and help with setip (they offered).
I hope it is dry tonight.....
I'll get the pics and try and take other details also - may have to wait till the weekend when I am home in the day time - is that too late?
Schlaeppi - I will try and dig out some dates for a get together in Surrey for us chaps. Also I am working on a track day later in October (I am away for a week on the 9th), would be good to get a few of you up there and tp try and get the a Caterham chap to join and help with setip (they offered).
I hope it is dry tonight.....
get it set up properly asap, preferably trackside where you can fine tune it to the last degree
no point wasting miles on it with a boggo setup and not flat floored
http://www.racecardoctor.co.uk/
and yes, his other job is a real life doctor
no point wasting miles on it with a boggo setup and not flat floored
http://www.racecardoctor.co.uk/
and yes, his other job is a real life doctor
Marcello,
I hope you are still out enjoying your new R500, but looking at the weather today you are probably sat in the garage, just playing with the stack dash or something like that.
On that subject I now see from powering up my dash that there is a new and much larger gear indicator in the display, I would still like to know if you have the external quaife gear display, and where it is mounted. And also if your reverse lights are wired up and working too.
I could do with those pictures I asked you about before as soon as you can take them today.
I would also really like a couple of shots looking down and up the oil tank to see how its mounted and where they have routed the oil pipes.
Thanks in advance.
Nigel.
I hope you are still out enjoying your new R500, but looking at the weather today you are probably sat in the garage, just playing with the stack dash or something like that.
On that subject I now see from powering up my dash that there is a new and much larger gear indicator in the display, I would still like to know if you have the external quaife gear display, and where it is mounted. And also if your reverse lights are wired up and working too.
I could do with those pictures I asked you about before as soon as you can take them today.
I would also really like a couple of shots looking down and up the oil tank to see how its mounted and where they have routed the oil pipes.
Thanks in advance.
Nigel.
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