Ex race car?

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Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy my first Caterham having been out for a drive in one and I'm pretty much set on a 1.6 sigma engined supersport. I want to have fun on the road without losing my licence and also do a couple of track days a year so I think this will fit the bill perfectly! One thing I have noticed is there are a few ex academy cars for sale that have then been upgraded and then raced in the supersport chamionship and then converted back to a road car. What I want to know is, are these ex race cars going to be the same as a supersport that has just purely been built for the road? I'm pretty sure the engine will be the same with the upgrade from academy to supersport including taking the engine to 140bhp. What I really want to know about is the suspension. On various road tests of the supersport the car is praised for its suspension offering the best of road and track ability. This is one of the reasons this particular model appeals to me. What I want to know is the Supersport road car suspension the same as the supersport race car? It looks the same with wide track and bilstein dampers, but will the suspension be set for race use and far too stiff to use on the road? I know ex race cars have probably been well maintained and looked after, but is there anything specifically I should look out for if I go to view one? Many thanks!

[spaceibizadance]

Ok great thanks for your input! I'll give Caterham a call and see if the springs and dampers are the same. So the main thing to do is get a proper set up. Is that just a case of adjusting the geometry? I live about 20 mins from Donington. Are there any recommended places to get it set up around the Midlands? Would Caterham Midlands do it? Also what do you mean by flat floored? Are you referring to the lowered floors that some of them have? Thanks!

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Ok thanks for that. I've seen one for sale that looks like a really nice car, I just need to get my car sold first. What about the front anti roll bar? Would a road supersport with the wide track suspension have a front anti roll bar at all? I know this car I've been looking at has a red anti roll bar which I believe is one of the firmer ones. Would it be best to fit one of the softer ones or just remove it completely for road use? I would still like to do a couple of track days in it so if it's a simple swap, I could always put the firm one back on again before.

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framerateuk said:

Mine's an orange one and I use it on trackdays and the road. I don't change anything for trackdays other than take the doors off.

Don't worry about having to set things up for road/track. A Caterham is already the perfect track car when it's setup for the road. Once you buy it, get out there and drive it and then have it adjusted once you've got some miles on it.

When you get better at driving it you might want to consider all these things, but it's fair to say that the biggest improvement to the car will be you improving your skill behind the wheel.

I will definitely need to learn how to drive it properly. Only ever had front wheel drive cars in the past. I think I'll probably get a bit of on track tuition at some point. I saw from your profile that your car has lowered floors. This one I've been looking at has lowered floors and tillet seats.. I know the lowered floors are supposed to be for taller drivers, but I want my missus to be able to drive it as well and she's only 5 foot. Do you think she will be ok in it? I know the real test is to go and try, but thought I would ask anyway!