Hello, I've ordered a Supersport 140

[anniesdad]

Hi,

My first post in this forum so please welcome a newbie!...

So after a bit of deliberation and a chat with SWMBO, I've decided that a Caterham is the car for me and more specifically the Supersport 140. I've driven a couple over the years and my original thoughts were that I wanted a Roadsport, for the better touring capability but have come to the conclusion that it's unlikely I'll be taking my wife on any extended touring holidays in the Caterham anytime soon. Probably just overnight stays not too far away from where I live, such as the Lake District. I had a 996 GT3 with sport seats as opposed to buckets previously and my wife, probably went in it only on a handful of occasions, so with that in mind I'm buying the car that I think is more in tune with what I want out of it and the Supersport fit's the bill. I'll be driving it on blats out to some nice roads on fair weather days, commuting in it and of course driving it occasionally on track. I'll be getting a factory build as I just know that if I build it, it probably wouldn't be right, nor would it ever get finished! One has to be realistic about these things...

Spec. is yet to be decided but I'm told by Greg at Caterham Midlands that it's changeable up to the point when the build is due to start. Kit availability should be June, with the build to be completed 4-6 weeks after that so hopefully I'll get it when the weather is nice and start to get to know it straight away. I do know that it will be either orange or yellow with a black stripe. My preference (at the moment!) is yellow.

I'll be reading all the threads in the coming weeks/months and I'm sure I'll have a number of questions to ask you guys, so thank you in advance for your advice.

My spec. sheet reads (subject to change);

Ballistic Orange/Firecracker Yellow Caterham Supersport 140 - factory build
5 speed gearbox
13" alloys with Avon CR500 tyres (6"f + 6"r)
Composite race seats
Tonneau cover
Silver filler cap
Carbon dashboard
Side screen armrests
Momo QR wheel
12v Power Socket
Painted bonnet stripe + noseband - Black
Painted "7" grill

Possibles
Weather equipment
Heater
Track day roll over bar

edit: not sure why the angry face, it was meant to be a thumb up but I can't seem to change it? maybe a mod could do the honours?

Yours

A Giddy Kipper.

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:14

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:15

[anniesdad]

Many thanks fellas.

Heater is on my list of possible options along with the weather equipment, I'm just contemplating about the likelihood of me driving it in the wetter months which at the moment is unlikely. Sorry...

But I agree being warm is always a bonus!

Talking of distance. There's a chance I'll be doing Spa in September which for me would be a c.1000 mile round trip. In a helmet with aeroscreen...doable?

Edited by anniesdad on Monday 20th January 12:41

[anniesdad]

thequietone said:

Yes. Driven to both Spa and the 'Ring with aeroscreen/helmet. 1/2 doors will be nice and that heater! I use my motorbike oversuit (totally waterproof) so I actually dont care how much it rains!

I'm not a biker, but as you say decent waterproofs could come in handy! I did Spa in a Boxster with wind deflector last year , the weather was great but got part way back and had to put the roof up as my ears were getting that battered and burnt it was actually becoming painful.

So it's doable then if not necessarily advised.

[anniesdad]

ghibbett said:

Congratulations!

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

Regarding Roadsport vs Supersport, I was amazed at how good the ride is in a Supersport on 13" wheels. Far better than my current road car and more than acceptable for daily use (or for when SWMBO is onboard).

Oh and if at any time you question your decision to buy a Caterham, please feel free to watch my sunny day blat to confirm your decision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqy3P3CDmt0

Thanks! I've read that the FIA rollover bar is a requirement for Lotus Seven club trackdays but not necessarily for ordinary trackdays? Any idea on how loud the standard exhaust is? As long as I can get on at Oulton I'll live with it.

I'll be sure to watch your video at home later, with a cup of tea.

[anniesdad]

Dick Seaman said:

Great choice, you'll love it.

Mine's primarily for road weekend fun so I have a windscreen and a heater. I also have the GT seats, which are very comfy and supportive but sit a little higher than the composites, they're better if combined with lowered floors.

For the colour, I'd go yellow with black stripes, or orange with white stripes.

When's your due date?

What's not to love!

I'm interested in the GT seats, they do look a great shape and to offer quite good support and probably strike a good compromise. I can always retrofit some in time should I want to. I'd like to think the car will stay with me forever or at least until I hand it over to my boys, so I'll have plenty of time to change it around which is surely all part of the fun.

[anniesdad]

My order on Saturday read Ballistic Orange, now reads Firecracker Yellow.

[anniesdad]

uremaw said:

Congratulations - you'll love it. I braved the Scottish winter to commute in to work in mine this morning. Fantastic fun. No better way to start the day.

That's what it's all about, getting thrills at reasonably responsible speeds and on a simple commute. Loved Porsche's for a long time but the GT cars are expensive to run and some would say too fast for the public roads. I want to feel a thrill at 10mph not 100.

[anniesdad]

uremaw said:

P.s. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid, i'd go for the heater if I was you. Better to have it and not need it, than etc etc...

Yeah, it's only a little bit of extra weight, that I'm planning to lose by dieting any way! Did anybody else diet before their Caterham arrived!?

[anniesdad]

ghibbett said:

My understanding is the pea-shooter registers 105db. My forthcoming SS has the pea shooter exhaust - something that I'm seriously excited about - but I will be looking to buy a track day silencer too.

I'll probably do the same as you then as the car will be predominantly a road car so a little extra noise is welcome!

[anniesdad]

framerateuk said:

Congratulations! You'll love it

I did my first blat of the year in mine yesterday and it was good to get back in.

ghibbett said:

If you're going to do trackdays, then the trackday rollover bar is a good idea. Also the trackday exhaust as I believe the standard pea-shooter exhaust is too loud for most track venues.

I definitely agree with the above. The standard roll bar isn't as strong as the trackday bar, and if you intend to do trackdays I would go for it for the additional protection.

In regards to the exhaust - my base car is a Roadsport 140, I have the standard Roadsport exhaust (which I believe is the same as the "trackday silencer"). You'll be wanting that if you intend to go a lot of trackdays as the peashooter exhaust is seriously loud! The trackday one is loud enough so don't feel like you'll be missing out on anything!

I won't do a lot of trackdays but will do some....although that's subject to change depending on the amount of fun one has! A few people have advised to take the trackday bar so it's definitely a possibility.

It'll be this with the extra strengthening piece I guess? http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=...

[anniesdad]

That looks neat, and obviously is more fit for purpose. Lovely car by the way, I'm a Man United fan and Red/Black or Black/Red would be highly appropriate. Can't keep my eyes off the brighter ones though.

[anniesdad]

V7SLR said:

We'll not hold it against you (honest!), but have you wandered down yet to the L7C LADS area meet which I assume must be fairly close to you?

Stu.

Thanks Stu. It's not a good time at the minute!

I know some of them already from Le Mans 2005 when I went out there in a mates 911 with them, he was part of the LADS at the time, his car available for sale here - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

I've exchanged a few emails with Paul R already from the LADS and I'm going to see them in Feb at their usual meet.

[anniesdad]

coppice said:

Track day roll bar - it's better than the standard effort. Ditto what Caterham call trackday harnesses. I'd add lowered floor and heater . Full screen as well and half hood- just means you can do a nice long run in any conditions whilst going aero when you want.

The Supersport comes as standard with "Race Harnesses", are these different to what you call "Trackday harnesses"?

http://www.thundersport.co.uk/luggage/s3-boot-bag-...

I quite like this for if we did need a bit more luggage capacity, any idea if this would fit with the TD roll bar? I'm guessing the bar supports are the same and it's only the x brace in the middle of the bar that's different? Would anybody know?

[anniesdad]

V7SLR said:

Small world, I was on that trip! I assume the 911 was a lovely dark blue Carrera 4S, a bit of a smoker if you get my drift?

Haha, small world indeed but please wash your mouth out it was a Carrera 2S... It was a bit of a Smoker indeed and it was only clean on one half of the car...I was too busy knocking back stubbies to clean my half! I had loads of fun that trip, jeez it was hot though!

[anniesdad]

framerateuk said:

We did a 1500 miles trip to Scotland and back with a Thundersport bag on the boot. Fits fine with the trackday bar. In fact, combined with the draft reducer and half hood, it keeps you nicely covered in the pouring rain! Be warned though, neither this bag, or the Soft Bits for Seven one are waterproof. We wrapped all our clothes in plastic bags and everything stayed dry, but they would have been soaked otherwise! You'll be surprised how much you can fit in there, we got 10 days worth of clothes and supplies in our seven during that trip.

Quick link to the video I did. Great trip, just a shame you need to go up the M5/6 to get there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPS8OBOm2yk

I assume "race" harnesses are the same as "trackday" ones. Caterham do a 4 point and a 6 point. I'm pretty sure they'll fit the 4 point as standard. This is what most people have. You'll definitely want harnesses, it wouldn't feel right to climb into a seven with inertia reel belts, plus the harnesses hold you in very well.

Thanks for the advice.

The video is great, I've sent the link to the missus to show her just how much fun she'll be having!

As for harnesses, personally I'll try out the 4 point standard ones and see then if I feel more support is required.

[anniesdad]

As always any/all advice is very much appreciated and welcome. I agree that submarining is not to be recommended and it's quite possible that I may add the extra crotch straps at some point. Safety is of course paramount...but then these are Caterham's...

At the moment if I went with everybody's advice (not just on this forum but offline also), I'd probably end up with the world's most expensive Supersport!

fergus said:

PS you'll notice there's a lot less "what's it worth" posts on this forum vs the Porsche one!

Edited by anniesdad on Tuesday 21st January 12:39

[anniesdad]

framerateuk said:

Quick link to the video I did. Great trip, just a shame you need to go up the M5/6 to get there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPS8OBOm2yk

swmbo said:

Yes I can cope with that!!! As long as I can keep dry I'm ok!! Xxx

I like to think of that as "The Caterham effect".

[anniesdad]

Just signed my order for the following;

Firecracker Yellow Caterham Supersport 140 - factory build
5 speed gearbox
13" alloys with Avon CR500 tyres (6"f + 6"r)
Composite race seats
Tonneau cover
Silver filler cap
Carbon dashboard
Side screen armrests
Momo QR wheel
12v Power Socket
Painted bonnet stripe + noseband - Black
Painted "7" grill - firecracker yellow
Track day exhaust
Track day rollover bar
Heater

I'll pick up the weather equipment pack separately, if the car is built with this I'll lose the wind deflector.

[anniesdad]

Davey S2 said:

Congrats matey.

The supersport is my current choice for a weekend car*

• or would be if I hadn't got married, moved house and have a baby on the way

Spec looks spot on and the heater would be a must IMO. Plenty of lovely crisp dry but bl00dy cold days perfect for a blat in winter and you will probably be glad of it.

Lots of the Caterham boys do Llandow track days as it's a good little track for small cars like Caterhams. Give me a shout if you ever come down.

Hi Dave, hope you're well mate, congrats on the wedding, house move and baby!!

A few years ago I did a sprint day at Curborough in a Caterham and it was great fun, came 3rd.

If I do get to Llandow I'll do just that.

[anniesdad]

tomwoodis said:

You did well to spec the 6" rears too, you'll have plenty of fun hanging the tail out with those on. 13 inch wheels also provide great ride comfort I've found with the supersport dampers.

The 6"r ones are standard, I quite like cars with a nice tyre wall as you say it improves the ride quality and aesthetically looks a little bit closer to race cars, but maybe that's just me.