Looking for an R300 or Superlight
Discussion
Hello,
always dreamt of having my own Caterham and now I decided, that dreaming isn't enough, but to really buy one
So maybe someone here can help me fullfill my dreams and has a Caterham to sell.
I'm lookin for an R300 with the 1,8 VVC-engine and the S3-chassis or a Superlight with the 1,6 or 1,8 engine.
Really lookin forward to any replies !
Greetings
Martin
always dreamt of having my own Caterham and now I decided, that dreaming isn't enough, but to really buy one
So maybe someone here can help me fullfill my dreams and has a Caterham to sell.
I'm lookin for an R300 with the 1,8 VVC-engine and the S3-chassis or a Superlight with the 1,6 or 1,8 engine.
Really lookin forward to any replies !
Greetings
Martin
Hi Martin,
Just my opinion, so do take it with a pinch of salt, but I wouldn't limit myself to just an R300. Don't know what experience you have of Caterhams, but I have a Roadsport, and it is anything but slow, and has all the trick bits like tillets, full harnesses, fire extinguisher, CR500s on 13" Lightweights, QR steering wheel etc. They can be excellent value as a first Caterham. You get alot for your money in the "lower spec" models that someone has upgraded thoughtfully.
Having said that buy your dream and never look back. I know I haven't. Good hunting.
Just my opinion, so do take it with a pinch of salt, but I wouldn't limit myself to just an R300. Don't know what experience you have of Caterhams, but I have a Roadsport, and it is anything but slow, and has all the trick bits like tillets, full harnesses, fire extinguisher, CR500s on 13" Lightweights, QR steering wheel etc. They can be excellent value as a first Caterham. You get alot for your money in the "lower spec" models that someone has upgraded thoughtfully.
Having said that buy your dream and never look back. I know I haven't. Good hunting.
Spent 20 years dreaming of a Se7en in my garage just spent 18 months hunting for the right one. Found an R300 back in November (was gong to wait until the Spring but the right one came up) love it to bits! Duratec 10 months old, 3000 miles fully loaded. You cant go wrong with one of these cars. Had it out twice in December and once so far in the January. Roll on the Spring and Summer, Planning a road trip to the Stelvio Pass and other good roads this summer. Enjoy your car when you get it. The R300 is the ideal for the road I looked at the 400 and 500 for the money the 300 is best for roads and the odd track day or three.
Hello again Martin. I've had contact back from the seller of the Superlight I mentioned so hopefully he'll make himself known to you one way or another.
Sounds like you've been through the same thought process as I had, and reached a similar conclusion. I spent an age reading everything I could find and settled on an R300 as the right spec of car for me - enough to get me going without feeling like I'd want to upgrade straight away, but (hopefully) not too much to handle. I searched long and hard for the right car but very unfortunately wrote it off on day one (end Oct 2012).
Having actually driven a lot more cars in the search for a replacement than I did first time round, and originally convinced that I wanted/needed another R300, I'm actually buying what is badged a Supersport but has every bit of R300 spec apart from the engine - much like the list you wrote above: wide track Superlight suspension, 6 spd, lsd, R300 exhaust, tillets, etc, but with a dry sumped 1.6K. On paper it's 120 bhp but tbh it didn't feel a whole lot different from my R300 when I drove it. (Now waiting for lots of comments saying I don't know how to drive it if I can't tell much difference. Guilty
) Certainly quick enough for me as a first timer and gives me all the 'feelings' of driving a Caterham. I was v pleasantly surprised, nay, amazed by the driving experience, having told myself that I couldn't manage with any less than 150 bhp because I'd only driven cars with at least 160.
Now I'll have (when it's delivered in a couple of weeks) a newer car than I could have otherwise afforded with all the bits I wanted and a fairly standard engine upgrade will get me back to R300 power if and when I feel the need (yes, I know - it'll be soon). For now I'll have a more sensible/realistic car to 'learn' in.
I was drawn by the "Superlight" badge and belief in the extra-firm residuals but in the end I found a car that isn't what I thought I wanted, but is actually a better buy for me, now. At least, I hope it will be !!
The other thing I've found after watching the market for a couple of years is that even when there doesn't seem to be much around, or you think you've just missed your perfect car, there's always something else just around the corner.
Good luck in your decision making and your search. PM me your number if you'd like to chat over what I've learned as a newbie buyer (twice !).
Cheers,
Andy
Sounds like you've been through the same thought process as I had, and reached a similar conclusion. I spent an age reading everything I could find and settled on an R300 as the right spec of car for me - enough to get me going without feeling like I'd want to upgrade straight away, but (hopefully) not too much to handle. I searched long and hard for the right car but very unfortunately wrote it off on day one (end Oct 2012).
Having actually driven a lot more cars in the search for a replacement than I did first time round, and originally convinced that I wanted/needed another R300, I'm actually buying what is badged a Supersport but has every bit of R300 spec apart from the engine - much like the list you wrote above: wide track Superlight suspension, 6 spd, lsd, R300 exhaust, tillets, etc, but with a dry sumped 1.6K. On paper it's 120 bhp but tbh it didn't feel a whole lot different from my R300 when I drove it. (Now waiting for lots of comments saying I don't know how to drive it if I can't tell much difference. Guilty
) Certainly quick enough for me as a first timer and gives me all the 'feelings' of driving a Caterham. I was v pleasantly surprised, nay, amazed by the driving experience, having told myself that I couldn't manage with any less than 150 bhp because I'd only driven cars with at least 160.Now I'll have (when it's delivered in a couple of weeks) a newer car than I could have otherwise afforded with all the bits I wanted and a fairly standard engine upgrade will get me back to R300 power if and when I feel the need (yes, I know - it'll be soon). For now I'll have a more sensible/realistic car to 'learn' in.
I was drawn by the "Superlight" badge and belief in the extra-firm residuals but in the end I found a car that isn't what I thought I wanted, but is actually a better buy for me, now. At least, I hope it will be !!
The other thing I've found after watching the market for a couple of years is that even when there doesn't seem to be much around, or you think you've just missed your perfect car, there's always something else just around the corner.
Good luck in your decision making and your search. PM me your number if you'd like to chat over what I've learned as a newbie buyer (twice !).
Cheers,
Andy
Martin777 said:
Hi David,
thanks for your advice! Funny, because I received nearly the same tip just a few days earlier, where I was told that a well equipped Roadsport (6-speed, wide track, LSD, AP-Breaks) is nearly as good as the Superlight.
So I think, I will extend my search
Thanks !
Martin
+1 on that.thanks for your advice! Funny, because I received nearly the same tip just a few days earlier, where I was told that a well equipped Roadsport (6-speed, wide track, LSD, AP-Breaks) is nearly as good as the Superlight.
So I think, I will extend my search
Thanks !
Martin
I bought a Roadsport 140 not long ago. I initially didn't consider them as I didn't think they'd be fast enough. After driving a Roadsport 125 Sigma I quickly realised that outright speed isn't so important with a 7. I was blown away at how fast the 125 felt and how much fun it was at lower speeds. It wakes up all your senses and figures quickly become irrelevant
.
Thanks a lot to you all for sharing your experiences with me !
Your comments confirmed my idea to look for a well equipped Roadsport, too.
@ Andy: Thanks for spreading my search and all the informations you already gave me!
@ Rob: I checked both sites, but right now I didn't find a real match. But I won't give up and continue my search
Cheers !
Martin
Your comments confirmed my idea to look for a well equipped Roadsport, too.
@ Andy: Thanks for spreading my search and all the informations you already gave me!
@ Rob: I checked both sites, but right now I didn't find a real match. But I won't give up and continue my search
Cheers !
Martin
Couldn't agree more with the "less is more" ethos. I have driven loads of cars, including faster Sevens but settled on a 140Bhp Superlight. The R300 for me wasn't as balanced or as much fun on the road IME.
I often think with Caterham, it is sometimes a case of diminshing returns - they know how to charge and whilst the more expensive/faster cars would possibly be more exciting, they are not always better.
So rather than a £35k Seven, I have a £15k Seven, a £15k Elise and a £3k Integra
I often think with Caterham, it is sometimes a case of diminshing returns - they know how to charge and whilst the more expensive/faster cars would possibly be more exciting, they are not always better.
So rather than a £35k Seven, I have a £15k Seven, a £15k Elise and a £3k Integra
Bet you a tenner you sell it within the year for a more powerful one. It's what happened to me and most of my friends who own 7s. Especially if you intend to do more than just one track day....you will soon get fed up with catching quicker cars up in the corners but dropping back on the straights.
The only 'one stop' 7 imho is the DR300. Magnificent car...well balanced, just enough power, good torque band but still a revvy engine. The best all rounder 7 ever built IMHO.
The only 'one stop' 7 imho is the DR300. Magnificent car...well balanced, just enough power, good torque band but still a revvy engine. The best all rounder 7 ever built IMHO.
I guess it depends if you're planning on doing lots of trackdays or not.
I think a 140bhp 1.6 is perfectly suitable for road use. Plenty fast to be able to overtake most things and definitely fast enough to have some fun!
On a track? I can't say as I haven't tracked mine, but from experience with previous cars, you're always going to want more power on straights no matter what you're in. Figures wise, my Megane and 7 would be pretty close on track. The 7 being quicker to 70/80, but above that the Megane should pull away from it.
The point is though the Caterham will feel faster than almost anything on a track anyway. I can't say I've ever recorded laptimes, I just do trackdays because I enjoy the driving, the times are pretty unimportant to me. (No to say that I hang about
).
I think a 140bhp 1.6 is perfectly suitable for road use. Plenty fast to be able to overtake most things and definitely fast enough to have some fun!
On a track? I can't say as I haven't tracked mine, but from experience with previous cars, you're always going to want more power on straights no matter what you're in. Figures wise, my Megane and 7 would be pretty close on track. The 7 being quicker to 70/80, but above that the Megane should pull away from it.
The point is though the Caterham will feel faster than almost anything on a track anyway. I can't say I've ever recorded laptimes, I just do trackdays because I enjoy the driving, the times are pretty unimportant to me. (No to say that I hang about
).cyderbelly said:
Spent 20 years dreaming of a Se7en in my garage just spent 18 months hunting for the right one. Found an R300 back in November (was gong to wait until the Spring but the right one came up) love it to bits! Duratec 10 months old, 3000 miles fully loaded.
Was that the orange one advertised on here?Looked fantastic.
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