R300 or Roadsport?
Discussion
Hi Gents,
Just need a bit of advice really. I'm going to Caterham tomorrow to test an R300 and Roadsport 175, and just wondered what the real difference is, apart from the obvious weight difference and 6 speed gearbox on the R300.
Does the R300 come with a windscreen, or is it even an option? Can you get the R300 as an SV? What things should I look out for, and what options would you suggest? Why would you pick a Roadsport over the R300 and vice versa?
The purpose is mainly for track days, but would like to use for road use too, mainly weekends.
I spoke to a Caterham specialist (David at Mark On Europe) who suggested that getting the Matt black headlight surrounds would be better as otherwise, in night time driving, the reflection off the standard ones are very annoying.
The car will not be mine, but it is being bought new.
Any advice or real life tips would be much appreciated!!
Just need a bit of advice really. I'm going to Caterham tomorrow to test an R300 and Roadsport 175, and just wondered what the real difference is, apart from the obvious weight difference and 6 speed gearbox on the R300.
Does the R300 come with a windscreen, or is it even an option? Can you get the R300 as an SV? What things should I look out for, and what options would you suggest? Why would you pick a Roadsport over the R300 and vice versa?
The purpose is mainly for track days, but would like to use for road use too, mainly weekends.
I spoke to a Caterham specialist (David at Mark On Europe) who suggested that getting the Matt black headlight surrounds would be better as otherwise, in night time driving, the reflection off the standard ones are very annoying.
The car will not be mine, but it is being bought new.
Any advice or real life tips would be much appreciated!!
I went to Caterham a couple of weeks ago looking at pretty much the same thing. It all comes down to what options you want. You can get SV on all except R500( I think).
The big thing is what you want to use it for, If youre looking at a lot of track days, youll want 6 sp, LSD big brakes etc it makes sense to go R300.
It seems pretty much everyone has a heater and weather kit, even on superlights.
When I was there the guys were really helpful and I didnt get the impression they were trying to stiff me into buying something I didnt want/need.
Hope this helps.
The big thing is what you want to use it for, If youre looking at a lot of track days, youll want 6 sp, LSD big brakes etc it makes sense to go R300.
It seems pretty much everyone has a heater and weather kit, even on superlights.
When I was there the guys were really helpful and I didnt get the impression they were trying to stiff me into buying something I didnt want/need.
Hope this helps.
"what the real difference is, apart from the obvious weight difference"
The weight difference is not that great at all! If you add a screen and heater, then the carbon bits do not make a significant difference. It's more cost effective to replace the Banner battery with a gell cell than to fit all carbon!
"or is it even an option?" - Everything is an option! You can up grade a roadsport to be a Superlight, or add "comfort" options to make a Superlight a roadsport with a Superlight chassis plate. All sevens are basically the same, but with different options (and just because it does not appear on the price list, does not mean that it is not an option!)
The weight difference is not that great at all! If you add a screen and heater, then the carbon bits do not make a significant difference. It's more cost effective to replace the Banner battery with a gell cell than to fit all carbon!
"or is it even an option?" - Everything is an option! You can up grade a roadsport to be a Superlight, or add "comfort" options to make a Superlight a roadsport with a Superlight chassis plate. All sevens are basically the same, but with different options (and just because it does not appear on the price list, does not mean that it is not an option!)
You'll find both of them great cars. The R300 is also "soft" enough to use on the road, even with more track-biased spring rates. I wouldn't buy one without a 6 speed though. Plus the re-sale on an R300 will be better and it will be easier to sell on in the future. I'd buy one with interchangeable aero too - you can then use it on road and track. Using a car with an aero on road will virtually guarantee that you'l be driving it alone - maybe tha's what you want!
I've said it before, but that 175bhp Duratech with its broad torque and power curves really does make for a pretty much perfect road and track car.
I've said it before, but that 175bhp Duratech with its broad torque and power curves really does make for a pretty much perfect road and track car.
We should be taking delivery of our R300 SV kit next week, so you can see which side of this debate I came down on. Interestingly, in the intervening time since placing the order, all the motor press pundits who have tested the R300 against the Roadsport 175 have come down on the same side. The main differences are the gearbox, final ratio, suspension setup and of course that last bit of weight - though I've added the heater back into that equation, but did go for the CF/Kevlar Tillets which softens the blow a little.
I figure going for the R300 you can always add creature comforts, but it's more expensive and less fitting to go the other way.
I figure going for the R300 you can always add creature comforts, but it's more expensive and less fitting to go the other way.
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