Supersport or Roadsport
Discussion
Am intending to purchase a ckd kit shortly but looking for bit of advice. It will be used on the road only and as basically weekend car
so long distance comfort etc isnt a priority, the driving experience is. Looking at prices/specs keep coming back to the conclusion
that the Supersport is probably the better option for what I want but couple points holding me back from definitely going that way.
Hoping someone here who has some experience can give some advice.
1) The suspension, I am presuming the ground clearance on the supersport is lower especially as running 13'' wheels with lower profile Avons
and that the springs/dampers are stiffer, with the profusion of speed bumps etc and state of the roads in this country is this an issue
2) This is tied in with first point really, and as i'm saying the driving experince is the most important thing ist a bit naff, but the 13''
wheels seem to make it look rather strange at the rear with the big gap between the wheels and arches has anyone one fitted 14 or 15''
wheels or higer profile tyres.
Lastly is it possible to specify a windscreen and wipers without the weather gear?
Advice/opinions etc greatly appreciated
so long distance comfort etc isnt a priority, the driving experience is. Looking at prices/specs keep coming back to the conclusion
that the Supersport is probably the better option for what I want but couple points holding me back from definitely going that way.
Hoping someone here who has some experience can give some advice.
1) The suspension, I am presuming the ground clearance on the supersport is lower especially as running 13'' wheels with lower profile Avons
and that the springs/dampers are stiffer, with the profusion of speed bumps etc and state of the roads in this country is this an issue
2) This is tied in with first point really, and as i'm saying the driving experince is the most important thing ist a bit naff, but the 13''
wheels seem to make it look rather strange at the rear with the big gap between the wheels and arches has anyone one fitted 14 or 15''
wheels or higer profile tyres.
Lastly is it possible to specify a windscreen and wipers without the weather gear?
Advice/opinions etc greatly appreciated
Can't offer any help on the Supersport v Roadsport, but most sevens will probably be set up to run on the road with around 75mm sump clearance and that's whether you have 13,14,15 or 16" wheels.
Pretty sure you can specify no weather gear with a windscreen.
13" wheels will offer better handling as less unsprung weight and rotational mass. I use 185/70/13 profile tyres on the road. The Yokohama 021R are a popular all year round choice for many seveners and they are only approx. £55 per corner inc. VAT.
Pretty sure you can specify no weather gear with a windscreen.
13" wheels will offer better handling as less unsprung weight and rotational mass. I use 185/70/13 profile tyres on the road. The Yokohama 021R are a popular all year round choice for many seveners and they are only approx. £55 per corner inc. VAT.
Edited by Aeroscreens on Saturday 27th October 12:55
If you spec 13" Avon CR500's in the 175, and 205 widths, the 205's have the same daimeter as the 195 x 15's, so the ground clearance will be the almost same.
You don't need low profile tyres on a Seven, as the car is so light.
The higher profile of 13" tyres will give you a better ride on the road, and a much more progressive feel.
If you spec windsreen and weather gear, you will get the wipers and washers fitted, and sidescreens. You won't want to drive with a screen and no sidescreens, as there is a lot of wind buffeting.
You can always sell the hood later on if you decide you don't want it.
Cheers,
Mick.
Must type quicker!
You don't need low profile tyres on a Seven, as the car is so light.
The higher profile of 13" tyres will give you a better ride on the road, and a much more progressive feel.
If you spec windsreen and weather gear, you will get the wipers and washers fitted, and sidescreens. You won't want to drive with a screen and no sidescreens, as there is a lot of wind buffeting.
You can always sell the hood later on if you decide you don't want it.
Cheers,
Mick.
Must type quicker!
Edited by mickrick on Saturday 27th October 13:20
Have you joined the L7C? You'll find it useful to get along to your local meet. There'll be lots of friendly advice on tap and cars in various configurations you can look at and be taken out in. You'll also probably find the technical section of the club website useful during the build and for any subsequent issues as they arise.
You can blur the lines as much as you like when speccing a 7.
Mine's a Roadsport. 1.6 Sigma 140bhp, wide track superlight suspension, carbon bits, LSD, 6 speed. It's pretty much the same as the current Supersport model but with the addition of a windscreen and full weather gear.
I've got the 15" wheels though. The car is mostly used on road, but will get some trackday use next year. I'll see how the 15's behave and decide if the 13's are a worthy upgrade just for the track
I do agree the 15's look better on the car though.
Mine's a Roadsport. 1.6 Sigma 140bhp, wide track superlight suspension, carbon bits, LSD, 6 speed. It's pretty much the same as the current Supersport model but with the addition of a windscreen and full weather gear.
I've got the 15" wheels though. The car is mostly used on road, but will get some trackday use next year. I'll see how the 15's behave and decide if the 13's are a worthy upgrade just for the track
I do agree the 15's look better on the car though.For two days earlier in the year, I drove a Roadsport that had been upgraded to Supersport spec. It had the Supersport dampers and 140bhp engine upgrade but retained its leather seats and windscreen. I drove it only on the road in East and North Yorkshire, on a range of surfaces from smooth to pretty bad. It wasn't crashy at all and just felt on its toes the whole time. The power output was perfect for the car and I was driving on many clear-sighted fast B and smaller A roads. Just a perfect little car that was with you all the way. Only things I would have changed are the leather seats (for Tilletts) and the windscreen (for an aeroscreen).
Forget about the looks. You sure will once you're driving it. You won't have any regrets.
Tim
Forget about the looks. You sure will once you're driving it. You won't have any regrets.
Tim
TBKBABAB said:
Thanks for all the replies think I'm realsing that there is no 'one' answer to something when it comes to 7's but that if I go
for the Supersport can always chnage a few thing afterwards. I wil join L7C.
Tim do you know what size wheels and tyres it was running?
Absolutely right. Just a remarkable chassis and then lots of interchangeable bits. for the Supersport can always chnage a few thing afterwards. I wil join L7C.
Tim do you know what size wheels and tyres it was running?
The car I drove was running on 15 inch wheels, so as Mick says, the ride would be even better on some high profile 13s.
coppice said:
Superlight is perfectly fine for long journeys;have done many 300-500 mile days in mine.The speccing of a Seven is such that you can do what I did which essentially is getting Roadsport comforts with SL go and grip.
Absolutely spot on.I drove my R300 with Tillets down to Mallorca. No worries whatsoever.
I also specced full screen and weather gear, and even a spare wheel with the high level brake light, amongst other things.
) but it can certainly be done.Hi, I've owned the current Supersport for the last 7 months. Had no issues with speed bumps, cats eyes, road cambers etc, however, you need to be carefully as there is only approx 70mm clearance to the sump. The suspension is firm so there is minimal movement which compensates for the low clearance. I have stock 13 x 6 rims and CR500 tyres 175x55. I considered the wider rear rims and tyres but was advised by caterham the car would be 'over-tyred' -I would tend to agree with this, the lightweight, standard tyre set-up suits the car/power very well. The rears do look quite small in the arches but it's not that bad because the car sits so low.
Go for the Supersport, great spec for the £££.
Go for the Supersport, great spec for the £££.
I picked up my Supersport three months ago. Before I collected it, I'd also had a few doubts about the rear wheel/arch aesthetics, but when I saw it in the flesh I thought it looked fine as a package.
Certainly larger rears would make the car look more purposeful, but the relatively modest rears are necessary to achieve the fun factor balance with 140 bhp. You'll never think about it when you're driving.
As mentioned, you do need to be careful over speed bumps and ramps, I've had a couple of gentle grazes that I wasn't expecting.
I haven't found the suspension unsuited to our roads, it is firm, but it's also compliant enough; timrw81 describes it above as 'on its toes', I think that's a very good depiction.
Certainly larger rears would make the car look more purposeful, but the relatively modest rears are necessary to achieve the fun factor balance with 140 bhp. You'll never think about it when you're driving.
As mentioned, you do need to be careful over speed bumps and ramps, I've had a couple of gentle grazes that I wasn't expecting.
I haven't found the suspension unsuited to our roads, it is firm, but it's also compliant enough; timrw81 describes it above as 'on its toes', I think that's a very good depiction.
If you are going for a windscreen you will defo need sidescreens. A windscreen without creates the vortex effect meaning that you really struggle to breathe at anything above 30mph. I keep trying to drive without them but a quick trip up the road always reminds me that it just doesnt really work.
delmatt said:
If you are going for a windscreen you will defo need sidescreens. A windscreen without creates the vortex effect meaning that you really struggle to breathe at anything above 30mph. I keep trying to drive without them but a quick trip up the road always reminds me that it just doesnt really work.
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