more 1st caterham advice please.

[mnrvortxf20c]

hi again,im still interested in a caterham but for sure at the lower end of the scale. i have a few questions;
1; are the supersprint the same chassis as the roadsport apart from de dion back axle?
2;do the live axle cars handle as well as de-dion?
3; are the long cockpit versions heavier than others?
4; what sort of weight and performance would a decent powered (150 bhp) 1700cc crossflow give?
5; would a live axle crossflow powered supersprint be a worse option thean the 1600cc k-series de-dion roadsport?
thanks and sorry for all the questions

Edited by mnrvortxf20c on Monday 9th July 23:43

[HustleRussell]

mnrvortxf20c said:

hi again,im still interested in a caterham but for sure at the lower end of the scale. i have a few questions;
1; are the supersprint the same chassis as the roadsport apart from de dion back axle?
2;do the live axle cars handle as well as de-dion?
3; are the long cockpit versions heavier than others?
4; what sort of weight and performance would a decent powered (150 bhp) 1700cc crossflow give?
5; would a live axle crossflow powered supersprint be a worse option thean the 1600cc k-series de-dion roadsport?
thanks and sorry for all the questions

Welcome, Sorry to be brief but;
2; in a word, no. Quite a bit more skittish about the rear end and the ride quality of the LA car is worse. Any Caterham handles fabulously though so live axle shouldn't necessarily put you off.
3; not as far as I know, there was not reputed to be significant difference
4; Probably ~520kg, on standard road tyres somewhere between 5 and 6 seconds to 60, Brands indy in maybe 55 seconds. It won't be slow.
5; depends on your requirements. There is no 'worse' option really, if you're going for the classic appeal the sweet characterful old crossflow will be lovely, supremely easy to work on and marginally lighter. The k-series car will be newer with modernish ignition and fuel injection and as over 100 racing in the UK alone will testify, they take abuse pretty well.

[coppice]

If I were buying my first Seven again it would be a 1.4 or 1.6k (which would be De Dion) with 6 speeds and leather seats and FIA rollbar.5 speed tolerable in 1.6 and 1.8 but hopelsss in 1.4 . Mileage irrelevant- I sold my first Seven at nearly 60k miles and it was going like a train. Xflows very characterful but inherently more temperamental than K car, many would say.

[Hooch747]

Find a zetec engined car, because they were'nt a factory option they sell for far less than K engined cars, tough, torque rich and easily tuned, recently sold a 2004 200 bhp zetec engined car with AP brakes & close ratio box for under £ 8K. The crossflow that was in it leaked and vibrated all the ancilliaries off regularly..

[CanAm]

mnrvortxf20c said:

hi again,im still interested in a caterham but for sure at the lower end of the scale. i have a few questions;
3; are the long cockpit versions heavier than others?

The long cockpit cars are the same size as all the others, it was just a slight change in the bulkhead behind the seats. One other thing to watch out for is the passenger footwell - it should be the same length as the driver's. Many (ex-)racers have a short passenger footwell with the battery mounted low down in front of the footwell rather than on top of it.

[Tom_C76]

CanAm said:

mnrvortxf20c said:

hi again,im still interested in a caterham but for sure at the lower end of the scale. i have a few questions;
3; are the long cockpit versions heavier than others?

The long cockpit cars are the same size as all the others, it was just a slight change in the bulkhead behind the seats. One other thing to watch out for is the passenger footwell - it should be the same length as the driver's. Many (ex-)racers have a short passenger footwell with the battery mounted low down in front of the footwell rather than on top of it.

Though putting the battery low down does lower the centre of gravity... My car is an ex-racer and none the worse for it.

One significant point in favour of a k-series over the crossflow cars is that on a cruise you may get 40mpg from a k. More like 25mpg from a crossflow.

[mnrvortxf20c]

thanks very much for all the help. im seriously interested in a couple but the k series roadsports seem a little more expensive, and i read on-line they suffer from head gasket faliure due to poor head- block design?

[coppice]

There are far more threads on HGF on t'internet than there are HGF failures in Sevens. It's not unknown , but it isn't common. I had 2 K cars which ran like trains(possibly wrong comparison-visions of plumes of steam etc )

[BertBert]

coppice said:

It's not unknown , but it isn't common.

I think I'd put it differently. It is extremely common, but not all k-engines have done it. Of the 5 k-series engines I've owned, 2 haven't done it. Interestingly that was the two most powerful!

[VHPD]

BertBert said:

coppice said:

It's not unknown , but it isn't common.

I think I'd put it differently. It is extremely common, but not all k-engines have done it. Of the 5 k-series engines I've owned, 2 haven't done it. Interestingly that was the two most powerful!

Either way does it warrant opting for a crossflow instead?

Not in my opinion

[mnrvortxf20c]

thanks again.
the 3 im interested in are all on pistonheads
1; yellow 1.6 k series roadsport £10,995
2;black/ally 2.0 16v vx engined de-dion £11,000
3;green/ally dry sumped 158BHP live axle crossflow supersprint.
im no good with links etc but are these all viable options or well known cars?

[CanAm]

Tom_C76 said:

Though putting the battery low down does lower the centre of gravity... My car is an ex-racer and none the worse for it.

Exactly; nothing wrong with it at all, as long as your passenger isn't on the tall side.

[BertBert]

VHPD said:

Either way does it warrant opting for a crossflow instead?

Not in my opinion

Nope, with you there!

[7ss]

Personal opinion but at the bottom of the market it's a no brainer to go for a K series car.

Crossflows are artificially over valued as they are easier to export due to their age.

If you want a budget car for the UK hold out for an early K racer or maybe a 1.4. They don't come to the market often but are available.

Of course all the crossflow guys will be on in a minute to disagree.

[mnrvortxf20c]

even over the 2.0 vauxhall?

[thinfourth2]

mnrvortxf20c said:

even over the 2.0 vauxhall?

The vauxhall is a boat anchor and its a boat anchor mounted at the front of the car


The K series is far lighter and is mounted further back in the car


This makes a big difference to the handling


Even if the head gasket does go in a caterham with a K-series it is a piece of piss to fix. The hardest bit is getting the exhaust manifold off and then lift the entire engine out. Which can be done in about an hour

[mnrvortxf20c]

thanks. i was reading that the vx powered car is 630kg compared to the 1700 crossflow supersprint at 540kg. what weight are the 1600 k series roadsport?

[VHPD]

mnrvortxf20c said:

thanks. i was reading that the vx powered car is 630kg compared to the 1700 crossflow supersprint at 540kg. what weight are the 1600 k series roadsport?

Spare wheel removed 520ish but there are a few variables

[thinfourth2]

Go and test drive this

http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Probably the best 7 caterham made has made that isn't a super light

The 6 speed box is a thing of beauty

[mnrvortxf20c]

hi there. it looks nice but i hate those clamshel wings! can they be replaced?