Discussion
The best way is to try one yourself - there are a lot of differences between a CSR and an S3, not least that they are different size cars! From my experience:
Size - The CSR and SV cars have more room in them, particularly if you have two in the car and don't want to rub shoulders. Once you get over around 6' and 100kg the S3 can be a bit snug, although plenty manage OK. The boot on the SV is the biggest, with the S3 next followed by the CSR as you lose a bit of boot depth because of the I.RS.
Handling - really depends on the geometry setup, but the SV and CSR normally have wide track suspension which makes the car a bit less 'darty". Some S3 cars have widetrack some don't.
Suspension. The CSR has independent suspension, the SV has Dedion and the S3 has Dedion or Live axle. I haven't driven a live axle car, but the biggest difference between the IRS and dedion is that the IRS rides bumps much more smoothly - you are aware of teach wheel pitter pattering over the surface, whereas with a dedion you are more aware of the bumps. When cornering, the IRS feels more planted, whereas on the Dedion you are aware of the back of the car rolling in the corner. Both are good to drive - they are just different.
Get yourself along to a club meeting and blag some rides.
Steve
Size - The CSR and SV cars have more room in them, particularly if you have two in the car and don't want to rub shoulders. Once you get over around 6' and 100kg the S3 can be a bit snug, although plenty manage OK. The boot on the SV is the biggest, with the S3 next followed by the CSR as you lose a bit of boot depth because of the I.RS.
Handling - really depends on the geometry setup, but the SV and CSR normally have wide track suspension which makes the car a bit less 'darty". Some S3 cars have widetrack some don't.
Suspension. The CSR has independent suspension, the SV has Dedion and the S3 has Dedion or Live axle. I haven't driven a live axle car, but the biggest difference between the IRS and dedion is that the IRS rides bumps much more smoothly - you are aware of teach wheel pitter pattering over the surface, whereas with a dedion you are more aware of the bumps. When cornering, the IRS feels more planted, whereas on the Dedion you are aware of the back of the car rolling in the corner. Both are good to drive - they are just different.
Get yourself along to a club meeting and blag some rides.
Steve
I had a CSR260 which i sold and replaced with a 620R. The ride much is better in the CSR as it is a lot more compliant. Not sure exactly what you are asking but I found the CSR to be very comfortable (mine had carbon Tillets and the flat dash). There is plenty of room in the CSR compared to the S3 but lots of differing opinions on which is best. I sold mine because I wanted something more track focussed as I didn't do many road miles and really enjoy the track days. I was sad to see it go and sometimes wonder if I made a poor decision. The CSR's seem to hold their money very well too.
I haven't had an S3, but I currently have a CSR and I had a R400 Duratec SV before.
The ride is a lot better in the CSR, some may call it softer, to me it just seems to be more compliant and a more comfortable car for road driving. The R400 rear end used to crash over bumps a little bit but was fantastic on smoother roads.
CSR feels a little more developed I guess and is IMO a nicer road car. I haven't tried mine on a circuit yet, but with 265bhp I can't imagine it will disappoint.
The ride is a lot better in the CSR, some may call it softer, to me it just seems to be more compliant and a more comfortable car for road driving. The R400 rear end used to crash over bumps a little bit but was fantastic on smoother roads.
CSR feels a little more developed I guess and is IMO a nicer road car. I haven't tried mine on a circuit yet, but with 265bhp I can't imagine it will disappoint.
I've tracked and sprinted my CSR as well as my previous 1.8 vVVC SV. It is hard to make a comparison because of the power difference (260vs150bhp) but I would agree that the CSR ride is better described as more compliant, rather than softer.
As tracks tend to be very smooth, the main areas where I notice the CSR being better than the SV are:
1) riding kerbs doesn't rattle your teeth out
2) you can get the power down earlier out of corners as you don't need to wait for the dedion beam to settle
That said, if you are purely track focussed, you'll get better returns by adding power and adjustable suspension to a dedion car.
Steve
As tracks tend to be very smooth, the main areas where I notice the CSR being better than the SV are:
1) riding kerbs doesn't rattle your teeth out
2) you can get the power down earlier out of corners as you don't need to wait for the dedion beam to settle
That said, if you are purely track focussed, you'll get better returns by adding power and adjustable suspension to a dedion car.
Steve
I have never driven a CSR, but have had a modern high spec Westfield and a modern S3 Caterham so I could be wrong but.............
To me the the Di-Dion is the attraction of a Caterham and one of the cars USP's as it fidgets and moves around a little on non perfect road surfaces and in doing so feels alive and fun at slightly lower speeds that a CSR is capable of. I think my Westfield was better on bumpy roads and faster too but I didn't enjoy it as much. The window of up to and over the limit in cornering was smaller in the IRS car too.
I have ordered a new 420R and for the above reasons I never considered a CSR or the R500 Evo with IRS that was for sale recently.
No doubt a CSR would be better for touring but I can't see any other reason for one.
To me the the Di-Dion is the attraction of a Caterham and one of the cars USP's as it fidgets and moves around a little on non perfect road surfaces and in doing so feels alive and fun at slightly lower speeds that a CSR is capable of. I think my Westfield was better on bumpy roads and faster too but I didn't enjoy it as much. The window of up to and over the limit in cornering was smaller in the IRS car too.
I have ordered a new 420R and for the above reasons I never considered a CSR or the R500 Evo with IRS that was for sale recently.
No doubt a CSR would be better for touring but I can't see any other reason for one.
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