Advice on the right Caterham for me.

[jimsayshi]

Hi Guys.

Looking for some advice on the right Caterham for me.

I'm looking to pick up something in the mid teens and have been thinking about a K series Superlight, ideally an SV.

Would be used for between 6-10 track days a year, being a mix of UK and European circuits including an annual visit to the Ring and Spa.

Some European touring to Classic Le Mans and the yearly pilgrimage to the Alp doing the usual suspects of Stelvio, Rombo and Furka, etc. So I'll need a good heater too. Plus there'll be plenty of UK summer weekend runs in the Pennines, etc. It's a genuine 50/50 mixed bag.

Probably looking for 150/190 bhp.

I've got plenty of questions.

Is the wider front track on the Superlight pretty much the same as the SV's track anyway. But am I right in thinking you can pick up an SV Superlight! The SV is also about 25kgs heavier?

I've heard the Superlight is over braked as you don't really need the 4 pot calipers. But I do prefer the lower floor and racing seats as for me it's a better driving position, I'm a slim lad so size isn't really an issue. Although even for me there's bugger all elbo room in the none SV.

Have been told that the race seats don't hold any warmth so I'll go with some lightweight padding to help insulate them.

Also for track work I fancy going aeroscreen and using a windscreen for road work.

The Academy don't run 4 pot, dry sumps or LSD's but I've heard people say you should be looking for these. Is the dry sump in answer to a K series issue?

What's the reliability of the VHPD engine like in the Caterham. Trust they're the same 160 or 190 bhp as in the S1 Elise. Or should I be looking to stay around 150 bhp? Do I go butterfly or roller barrels? Although I suspect bhp will determine this.

Looking at my usage should I go full cage or FIA approved roll bar.

I believe the Superlight has an adjustable roll bar and heard a softer roll bar is a noticeable help when in the wet and on poor surfaces etc. But that the orange bar is a good half way house, so do I really need to go Superlight, etc.

What's the Watts linkage and S111 chassis geometry? Plus type 9 gear box?

You get the drift. I'm looking for the right car and set up but need to know what to look for.

Any advice and opinions would be a good start. Do have a look at my usage intentions.

Cheers, Jim.

Edited by jimsayshi on Sunday 22 November 17:06

[jimsayshi]

Thanks for all the advice.

Am I right in thinking a 12 to 17k SLR is going to be a 240bhp VHPD K series. And how often does that need rebuilding?

I've come from a Toyota block 240 Exige Cup that in reality weighted in at nearly 1000kg, not the 935kg started. And often felt the weight was becoming a issue, holding it back (particularly under acceleration) and starting to corrupt the power to weight enjoyment I was looking for.

So decided to look for something lighter but didn't want to go down the Elise S1. If I did that route I'd have to go Honda NA or SC and I know they cost more to run with their higher levels of maintenance. Reason for Honda is that the S1 Elise Sport 190 VHPD K series also needs high level of maintenance.

So for me the answer was to think about going really light helping to bring maintenance costs down while keeping performance up. But more importantly finding that perfect power to weight ration.

In my mind an Atom kicking out 300bhp in a 500kg car is an exercise in driver correction not driver connection. I know part of that is engine positioning, aero and the damping. But it's still over powered.

A 240 SLR sounds like it might be a bit of a skittish beast too. Is it? With that much power not being over the driven rear wheels. But I also know a Caterham is much easier to play with.

Any opinions on the perfect Caterham power to weight ration?

[jimsayshi]

RMac said:

if you know your elises then you will know all the k series engine issues. The SLR has the same engine as the VHPD elise 190 I think! And will therefore require similar levels of maintenance?

I was going to ask how Caterham owners have found the K series and VHPD heads for reliability.

Also if they've had the VVC heads that also appeared in the K series.

In the S1 Elise K series HGF usually goes around the 45k mark. And is a reasonably frequent affair with a good number of the cars needing it done.

The Lotus 190 VHPD uses forged pistons to make the extra power revving to 8k, but has poor lower down torque and not much cop at idle. Needing a remap to sort it along with a couple of other things. The problem with the VHPD is with the stronger forged steel pistons. When cold they're smaller as they're designed to expand when hot. But when cold they wear quicker as they rattle around until hot and being a long stroke engine it doesn't help with the, when cold wear rate. The forged pistons are more expensive than standard ones and a Lotus VHPD head is about 6k, (< so I've been told). The VHPD lotus service is a FULL engine rebuild at 30k.

The other option is a VVC Head (Variable Valve before anyone else did it). Plus the stronger trophy pistons, although I don't think you can get the Trophy Pistons anymore.

Standard S1 gives you around 120. The VVC Head makes around 143 in Series 1 and 160 in Series 2. And there's a Dave Andrews DVA K06a port and that will raise this to 170/180 bhp. Add a Dave Andrews DVA K06a port to a VVC head and you've probably got a better package than the VHPD.

What experience do you guys have of these options and what routes have K series Caterham owners gone down.

Even thought I know the Duatec produces more torque than the K series. Is the Duatec a shallower engine than the K series, as I've noticed just how low the sumps can be on the K series in a Caterham.

The more I think about it the more I'm considering going with a Duatec. As I believe Caterham aren't the only guys that have dropped one into a 7. Did others do it before Caterham and if so, it opens up the possibilities of picking up a 7 with a Duatec at a lower price Caterham.

Cheers again.

Edited by jimsayshi on Saturday 28th November 18:16

[jimsayshi]

Ouch.

Is the Duratec a shallower engine with greater sump clearance? And does anyone have anything to add to my previous post asking about K series work Caterham owners have experience of? I.e recommendations if I go K series. Thanks.

[jimsayshi]

Thanks for all the advice guys, plenty to consider. Thanks for the offer A, I may take you up on the offer of a run in one of your mates Superlight's, sometime next year when it's dryer. As I've had a run in a Roadsport 125 but felt it was soon out of puff.

What are the handling characteristics of a 7 like? An S1 Elise having good aero means at high speed it's very stable underfoot. Rear engined gets the power down well but with a short square wheel base it's quicker to snap oversteer under heavy trail breaking, and more consideration is needed when wanting to play with the rear abroad in the mountains.

I'm sure I'm right is saying the rear of a 7 is much more accessible and controllable to play with. And with it being an open wheeled car very probably gives you more confidence encouraging you to explore the limits more. But what's it like under heavy breaking, whats the front like in general, getting power down and quick directional changes?

Edited by jimsayshi on Friday 25th December 14:08

Edited by jimsayshi on Friday 25th December 14:08