five or six gears
Discussion
Is this for a new build or a second hand car? The six speed will help you get the best out of either - it was originally designed for the 1.4 super sport which is a really revvy engine and ideally needs the close ratio box to fully exploit it. If it's a new build then, if you can afford it, go for it. It's not something that you would typically upgrade at a later date. On the five speed box, 1st is way too low for a light weight car and fifth is an overdrive - OK for touring I guess but not much use when pressing on (I haven't driven a 5 speed so only going on what I have heard). People might tell you that the 6 speed with 1:1 6th gear (same as 4th on the 5 speed!) is vey noisy at motoway speed but I don't find it a problem.
Forget the 6 speed gearbox - spend the extra money on at least a 1.6 engine. You can't easily upgrade the 1.4 and you WILL want more power, especially if you are buying the puny 100bhp 1400 
(please tell me that you aren't).
I was surprised this weekend at just how capable a 115 bhp 1.6 5 speed Roadsport is on both motorway and A and B roads.
(please tell me that you aren't). I was surprised this weekend at just how capable a 115 bhp 1.6 5 speed Roadsport is on both motorway and A and B roads.
mikeww said:
The 1.4 supersport with a 6 speed box is a great road car.
Mungo, I think you will find that the actual power difference between the 115bhp and 135 bhp 1.6 engines is actually less than you might think.
MikeW
The Caterhams that have been in my custody include 138 SS and 115 Roadsport. IMHO there is a lot of diference on road and track between the two and to my mind it is worth spending that bit extra on the Supersport conversion.
Don't waste your money on a 6 speed gearbox for only 105 bhp, preferably change your spec now to a more powerful engine and stay with the 5 speed 'box which is fine for your first Caterham, or live with 105 bhp and 5 speed and be prepared to (try to) sell the car at a later stage to buy a more powerful one. The 6 speed was absolutely essential in the 1.4 SS - I've driven several of these with 5 and 6 speed boxes and IMHO they are dreadful with the 5 speeder (but Nifty Stiles wouldn't agree).
AS far as resale goes, I think you'll find it very difficult to sell the car on at decent price - Most buyers look for at least a 1.6K - your best bet would be to chop it in at Caterham for a more powerful car (but I warrant that they'll not give you a good price).
If you do spec the 6 speed 'box, it will increase your chances of selling the car, but anyone buying it will want to whip the engine out and swap for a more powerful one - not that easy given the need for different wiring looms (generally) and ECUs.
A couple of people I know did a deal with Caterham whereby they sold their cars back to Caterham at an agreed value 1 or 2 years down the line - this was for an SLR and R500, mind - they might not do the same deal on your car.
All IMHO and I am sure you will enjoy the car come what may
Hi Personally id be tempted by more power but thats only because ive only got 100bhp in mine. Having said that its still totally different to anything else i have driven and still great fun. Always going to be time in the future to sell and upgrade.
I wonder if the Lease company will notice If I put my type R engine in the caterham before its returned to them.
I wonder if the Lease company will notice If I put my type R engine in the caterham before its returned to them.
I think Ruby's on drugs - playing up to his new wheels no doubt 
If you have limited funds and it's a choice between a 1.6K 5spd or 1.4K 6spd, get the 6spd car every time.
The box was designed to go with that car, and even if it isn't a Supersport version, adding the bits needed to make it so is shit loads cheaper than getting a decent gearbox to go in the car rather than one that was designed to lug caravans on the back of a Sierra.
Similarly, as and when funds allow, it'd be shed loads cheaper to simply drop a new K series in there.
With a low powered car, much fun can be had keeping it on the boil if you have the right gearbox (i.e. 6spd and not 5spd), and you learn to drive the car so much more fluidly. On the Le Sept trips there were people with 100bhp cars keeping up with cars with much greater power...
A 1.4K Supersport with 6spd is one of the nicest Caterhams I've driven. Also has the added bonus of not getting you into license losing territory quite so quickly!
If you have limited funds and it's a choice between a 1.6K 5spd or 1.4K 6spd, get the 6spd car every time.
The box was designed to go with that car, and even if it isn't a Supersport version, adding the bits needed to make it so is shit loads cheaper than getting a decent gearbox to go in the car rather than one that was designed to lug caravans on the back of a Sierra.
Similarly, as and when funds allow, it'd be shed loads cheaper to simply drop a new K series in there.
With a low powered car, much fun can be had keeping it on the boil if you have the right gearbox (i.e. 6spd and not 5spd), and you learn to drive the car so much more fluidly. On the Le Sept trips there were people with 100bhp cars keeping up with cars with much greater power...
A 1.4K Supersport with 6spd is one of the nicest Caterhams I've driven. Also has the added bonus of not getting you into license losing territory quite so quickly!
OC7 said:
to all...
finally ordered car, just waiting now. out of interest I went for the standard 5 gears with the intention to upgrade the engine in the coming years.
thanks all the same.
...and slot a Duratec in, sort out a reskin if you're bothered and you can still keep the 5 speeder. Enjoy the car
Without wishing to sound too dramatic, but you've just done the biggest thing that will piss you off with Caterham ownership.
These are serious driving machines. Sell your girlfriend/pet (could be the same)/grandmother and tick the "6spd" box. It'll save you sooooooo much money in the long run, and confirm that you bought the best motor on the planet!
Ruby (and I oh so put your address and number here), you've done the guy a wrong un, much as I regard you as a chum!
These are serious driving machines. Sell your girlfriend/pet (could be the same)/grandmother and tick the "6spd" box. It'll save you sooooooo much money in the long run, and confirm that you bought the best motor on the planet!
Ruby (and I oh so put your address and number here), you've done the guy a wrong un, much as I regard you as a chum!
murph7355 said:
Without wishing to sound too dramatic, but you've just done the biggest thing that will piss you off with Caterham ownership.
These are serious driving machines. Sell your girlfriend/pet (could be the same)/grandmother and tick the "6spd" box. It'll save you sooooooo much money in the long run, and confirm that you bought the best motor on the planet!
Can't say it any better than that, you NEED the six speed.
Have you driven both? If not give it a try before it's too late.
Murph. I tried to tell him to upgrade the engine, not the 'box. After all, 'twas you that advised me to buy a 1.6 SS with 5 speeder....(and that advice was sound - the car was a great introduction to Caterhams).
Now as you know, I don't like spending money unnecessarily....
I costed out buying a 1.4SS 6 speed and junking the engine. Not wishing to do the work myself, I was looking at £3k plus for a decent engine (160bhp ish), nigh on £1k for Emerald and RR time and then the installation costs - circa £1k. Add that to the (reasonable) purchase price of the 1.4 SS and I was up into SL territory. The car still didn't have widetrack, bigger front brakes or any carbon though and its resale value would never have been as strong as a genuine SL.
So in short, what I really wanted to say to OC7 was "save the £14k plus that you'll be investing in this 7 and spend it on a secondhand Superlight - examples of which can be found for sub £15k if you are patient".
I still can't work out why anyone would specify a 105 bhp 1.4K in a new car, frankly. To then go and add a further £2k to the bill for a 6 speed gearbox is just plain crazy. All IMHO of course....
Now as you know, I don't like spending money unnecessarily....
I costed out buying a 1.4SS 6 speed and junking the engine. Not wishing to do the work myself, I was looking at £3k plus for a decent engine (160bhp ish), nigh on £1k for Emerald and RR time and then the installation costs - circa £1k. Add that to the (reasonable) purchase price of the 1.4 SS and I was up into SL territory. The car still didn't have widetrack, bigger front brakes or any carbon though and its resale value would never have been as strong as a genuine SL. So in short, what I really wanted to say to OC7 was "save the £14k plus that you'll be investing in this 7 and spend it on a secondhand Superlight - examples of which can be found for sub £15k if you are patient".
I still can't work out why anyone would specify a 105 bhp 1.4K in a new car, frankly. To then go and add a further £2k to the bill for a 6 speed gearbox is just plain crazy. All IMHO of course....
rubystone said:Insurance costs maybe? OC7 is a mere whippersnapper I believe....
I still can't work out why anyone would specify a 105 bhp 1.4K in a new car, frankly. To then go and add a further £2k to the bill for a 6 speed gearbox is just plain crazy. All IMHO of course....
Witness Caterham's promotion of the car/insurance/driver training offer at the Motorshow.
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