Caterham 420R Vs BMW M2
Discussion
As the title suggests I am in the market for a weekend/track car and currently considering a Caterham R400/420R Vs a F87 BMW M2 (comp or non-comp)
I recently owned a Caterham supersport (140hp), which is what got me into trackdays.
I know they are wildly different cars and will have all the obvious differences (weight, running cost, fuel etc.)
Just curious if anyone has owned or sampled both (or similar) ,particularly on track. And can give an insight into how fun and enjoyable they both are, and how they compared.
Obviously I am familiar with the caterham, however at a lower bhp level.
I have always fancied an M2, but after a few test drives, while exciting... I can't really gauge if I will regret getting one once bought and on track.
Thanks in advance
I recently owned a Caterham supersport (140hp), which is what got me into trackdays.
I know they are wildly different cars and will have all the obvious differences (weight, running cost, fuel etc.)
Just curious if anyone has owned or sampled both (or similar) ,particularly on track. And can give an insight into how fun and enjoyable they both are, and how they compared.
Obviously I am familiar with the caterham, however at a lower bhp level.
I have always fancied an M2, but after a few test drives, while exciting... I can't really gauge if I will regret getting one once bought and on track.
Thanks in advance
I can't comment on driving my 140bhp Caterham on a track, but I do enjoying driving it on the road though. I've also been fortunate to be a passenger around Cadwell in both an OG F87 M2 and F87 M2 Comp thanks to Nick on here(nickfrog). I've also owned a none Comp F82 M4 for the last 5 years and almost 50k miles to(not tracked it though).
For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
cerb4.5lee said:
I can't comment on driving my 140bhp Caterham on a track, but I do enjoying driving it on the road though. I've also been fortunate to be a passenger around Cadwell in both an OG F87 M2 and F87 M2 Comp thanks to Nick on here(nickfrog). I've also owned a none Comp F82 M4 for the last 5 years and almost 50k miles to(not tracked it though).
For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
Thanks this is a great insight. Taking the track aspect out of it, if you could only keep one out of the M4 and the caterham, strictly as a weekend car. Which would you pick? For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
For me, having owned an M2 Comp (2019) in manual and driven plenty of caterhams, the answer for a weekend fun car is categorically the caterham.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
For me, having owned an M2 Comp (2019) in manual and driven plenty of caterhams, the answer for a weekend fun car is categorically the caterham.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
For me, having owned an M2 Comp (2019) in manual and driven plenty of caterhams, the answer for a weekend fun car is categorically the caterham.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
I sold my M2 as I found it quite dull to drive on the road. The clue was when my wife asked me after six months of ownership why Inwadnt going out for weekend blasts anymore - something I did all the time in my 981 Boxster, Supercharged Lotus Elise and other similar cars.
The M2 is only fun when wound up to 10/10, the rest of the time I felt so insulated from everything around me that there was no engagement. Whilst an incredibly competent car (spare the awful anti stall on the manual) it was the car I regret buying the most and found the most dull.
Did Plamersport day at Bedford a few year ago - 2 x Caterham drives, M2, also a Le Man jag, F3000, Renault Clio cups, Sodi karts, off road in a Defender.
Caterham were a blast on shorter, twistier section of the main GT circuit plus we did a seperate handling circuit where the cars were setup to sideways everywhere and 360 donut around a cone, great fun! The M2 was caged, trick suspension and track tyres but i just couldnt get on with it.. alot of diving, movement under braking, disconnected, felt heavy esp into tighter bends.... 8 years with an Atom as my weekend/track car was probably the reason!! The M2 was fast and an aquired skill for sure but very diff offerings.
edit - to add a caterham/atom isnt v practical. Great you save on consumables/fuel, they are amazing drives, but driving to trackdays is a mission, you cant pop out in Jan or even June if is lashing down. Had Elise and 2 x vx220 so maybe Elise/exige is a decent middle ground. The Exige V6 would be awesome!
Caterham were a blast on shorter, twistier section of the main GT circuit plus we did a seperate handling circuit where the cars were setup to sideways everywhere and 360 donut around a cone, great fun! The M2 was caged, trick suspension and track tyres but i just couldnt get on with it.. alot of diving, movement under braking, disconnected, felt heavy esp into tighter bends.... 8 years with an Atom as my weekend/track car was probably the reason!! The M2 was fast and an aquired skill for sure but very diff offerings.
edit - to add a caterham/atom isnt v practical. Great you save on consumables/fuel, they are amazing drives, but driving to trackdays is a mission, you cant pop out in Jan or even June if is lashing down. Had Elise and 2 x vx220 so maybe Elise/exige is a decent middle ground. The Exige V6 would be awesome!
Edited by cheeky_chops on Wednesday 8th April 15:09
There really isn't a comparison if it's mainly track work & sunny days then it has to be the Caterham.
If you want a BMW then I'd go for one where someone else has done some of the work already carried out:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/147213036146?_skw=track...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/317941358618?_skw=track...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/188256173956?_skw=track...
If you want a BMW then I'd go for one where someone else has done some of the work already carried out:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/147213036146?_skw=track...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/317941358618?_skw=track...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/188256173956?_skw=track...
AlexMar97 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I can't comment on driving my 140bhp Caterham on a track, but I do enjoying driving it on the road though. I've also been fortunate to be a passenger around Cadwell in both an OG F87 M2 and F87 M2 Comp thanks to Nick on here(nickfrog). I've also owned a none Comp F82 M4 for the last 5 years and almost 50k miles to(not tracked it though).
For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
Thanks this is a great insight. Taking the track aspect out of it, if you could only keep one out of the M4 and the caterham, strictly as a weekend car. Which would you pick? For me personally I really enjoyed the ride in the M2's around a track for sure, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd take a Caterham for trackwork over an M2 or an M4 to be honest. Much cheaper on brakes/tyres/suspension/if you bin it etc in the Caterham too.
For me personally the M4 doesn't work as a weekend car, they're great cars don't get me wrong, but they're not special enough in my eyes as an occasional car though(a fantastic daily though for sure). So the Caterham all day long for me.
braddo said:
Get a caterham with a full hood and a heater and you will be dry and warm on the long drives, you just need a pair of earplugs.
My 370Z is loads louder exhaust wise than my Caterham is to be honest, but the wind buffeting(doors off) in the Caterham if it's windy does require earplugs for sure I reckon though! OP have you been on track in a normal car (e.g. as a passenger) or only a Caterham?
Road cars can feel ponderous on track when your frame of reference is a 7. I'm including a 997 GT3 in that; I had one for a decade and also a pretty basic Caterham for a couple of years during that time. The M2 is a good 200kg heavier than the 997....
The huge contrast on track is at braking and turn-in. Braking distances will be 2-3 times longer in the M2 and you'll really feel the weight under braking and when you turn into the corner. Add in numb steering, worse throttle response and brake feel - it's so hard to match the fun and engagement that a 7 offers.
Obviously the M2 will hit higher top speeds on long straights (Snett, Silverstone, Goodwood) but a 400hp/ton Caterham won't give up too much ground and then will make it up under braking.
Road cars can feel ponderous on track when your frame of reference is a 7. I'm including a 997 GT3 in that; I had one for a decade and also a pretty basic Caterham for a couple of years during that time. The M2 is a good 200kg heavier than the 997....
The huge contrast on track is at braking and turn-in. Braking distances will be 2-3 times longer in the M2 and you'll really feel the weight under braking and when you turn into the corner. Add in numb steering, worse throttle response and brake feel - it's so hard to match the fun and engagement that a 7 offers.
Obviously the M2 will hit higher top speeds on long straights (Snett, Silverstone, Goodwood) but a 400hp/ton Caterham won't give up too much ground and then will make it up under braking.
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