My Super sport is awesome
Discussion
I did my third trackday in my little 1.6 sigma supersport. What a hoot that car is. My old caterham was a VX with about 230bhp. I'm 100bhp down and I have more fun. The car is so well balanced it's untrue. No understeer, just drifting and oversteer. brilliant. anybody lookig for a fun caterham on road or track need look no further. embarresed a supercharged atom
Which one are you going for Tim? The 140 seems to be a great engine, free revving, great noise and fun around roads especially tracks. I am hoping to get a 180 once I have tested both back to back. I think the extra torque will be good for a heavier SV, fully loaded for touring with my bulk and wife.
I wonder how much heavier an SV is, they certainly won't be doing the 0-60 times Caterham claim in their specs, these will be for S3 surely.
I wonder how much heavier an SV is, they certainly won't be doing the 0-60 times Caterham claim in their specs, these will be for S3 surely.
Morning. I'm going for a S3 Sigma Supersport (140bhp), unpainted, aeroscreened, Tillett seats etc. Not so bothered about 0-60 times. Just that the car is fun, quick and well balanced (which it is!). Yeah I've often thought that with an SV with windscreen, 2-up etc you might feel a little underwhelmed with 140, but to be honest, even then there's huge fun to be had keeping up the momentum.
Zagster said:
Which one are you going for Tim? The 140 seems to be a great engine, free revving, great noise and fun around roads especially tracks. I am hoping to get a 180 once I have tested both back to back. I think the extra torque will be good for a heavier SV, fully loaded for touring with my bulk and wife.
I wonder how much heavier an SV is, they certainly won't be doing the 0-60 times Caterham claim in their specs, these will be for S3 surely.
The SV chassis is 25kg heavier than the S3, but that seems to have no bearing on the rate of acceleration in my R500 .I wonder how much heavier an SV is, they certainly won't be doing the 0-60 times Caterham claim in their specs, these will be for S3 surely.
I'm also going unpainted to be able to afford it all and will just paint the bonnet/nose locally - dark green solid with later type yellow & white stripe probably in vinyl! I like the classic look and really liked the bare ali look before I started researching Caterhams. I will also probably have to fore-go the weather gear and windscreen as I will need to fork out extra for the SV & 180. I only ever used the full hood twice on my Nostalgia Jag X120 so can save up for it at a later point for touring even though it will be more expensive to buy then (don't like doing credit). Will get Caterham to drill holes for wipers etc.
25KG extra for an SV - need to lose a few pounds then cos that's 40KG overhaul with the heavier Duratec - I wonder if it's worth it!
I am surprised they criticize the Caterham aerodynamics, it can't be that bad surely, especially compared to a road car. I can see the wheel guards would create drag but as it's so small and racing shaped it can't be that bad... Suppose I'm used to Land rovers though...
Great footage Chris against the Cayenne, all helps to sell it to my wife!! Showed her the TopGear build also, they are not exactly hard to sell to anyone are they, so respected. She wouldn't go on my bike but feels safe enough in the Seven - evil grin!
25KG extra for an SV - need to lose a few pounds then cos that's 40KG overhaul with the heavier Duratec - I wonder if it's worth it!
I am surprised they criticize the Caterham aerodynamics, it can't be that bad surely, especially compared to a road car. I can see the wheel guards would create drag but as it's so small and racing shaped it can't be that bad... Suppose I'm used to Land rovers though...
Great footage Chris against the Cayenne, all helps to sell it to my wife!! Showed her the TopGear build also, they are not exactly hard to sell to anyone are they, so respected. She wouldn't go on my bike but feels safe enough in the Seven - evil grin!
Edited by Zagster on Thursday 16th May 10:27
Zagster said:
I am surprised they criticize the Caterham aerodynamics, it can't be that bad surely, especially compared to a road car. I can see the wheel guards would create drag but as it's so small and racing shaped it can't be that bad... Suppose I'm used to Land rovers though...
A 7 is not particularly aerodynamic at all, especially compared with something like an Exige or a Radical.Aero, NOT!! that's why mine is aero screened, need a smuch help in the speed steaks as it can get. They are great little cars. Ideally it could do with about 30bhp more, then it would have plenty for the straights. But I wouldn't swap the sigma for duratec. The sigma just suits the caterham so well.
just did second trackday at Knockhill reverse last night and got lucky with weather. Started out wet then greasy then dry - was awesome. 140bhp Supersport and seems ideal for that weather - though straight line can get frustrating if power is all you care about. Vbox really does help for letting you know where you are going wrong as well.
Still needing to sort height before anyone reminds me
Still needing to sort height before anyone reminds me
Edited by Andy Bell on Thursday 16th May 19:11
They've still got to be bloody quick though, right. 140 BHP in a 500 kg car has to be shifting. I suppose it depends what you are comparing it with or racing against. It's never going to be rip your hands off motorbike acceleration etc. I drove a SAAB Viggen which was 190 BHP after fiddling and that seemed pretty bloody quick, damn things were dangerous as the tyres would just spin at even 40 mph with the Turbo.
Think i'd better book myself in for a test drive pronto. I'm not forking out 28K for something that could do with more power. I'd rather try and sort the pedal space out in a lower powered 100BHP, cheaper S3, and use it more of a Sunday toddle about, kind of classic car that will still be pretty quick. It would save 16K that I could get more toys with!
Will try and book in for Saturday afternoon, I'm sure 140 or 180 even in an SV will be plenty of oomph for me.
Think i'd better book myself in for a test drive pronto. I'm not forking out 28K for something that could do with more power. I'd rather try and sort the pedal space out in a lower powered 100BHP, cheaper S3, and use it more of a Sunday toddle about, kind of classic car that will still be pretty quick. It would save 16K that I could get more toys with!
Will try and book in for Saturday afternoon, I'm sure 140 or 180 even in an SV will be plenty of oomph for me.
You sound tortured with indecision, Zagster. You'll probably be less so once you've had a test drive of a couple of cars, but the reason no one has come along with a definitive answer to your questions is that there isn't one. It's ALL personal preference and personalising your car around yourself in the world of Caterham. There are so many permutations of options that it soon gets mind-boggling and as everyone's said, no one can make the decision but you. You may think that 140bhp is more than you could ever want; you may think that 180bhp is nowhere near enough. Get as much in-car time as you can lay your sweaty hands on and start forming an opinion from there - preferably while you're still in the car as your mind will start to over-hype some bits and down-play others after the event.
framerateuk said:
Your ride height looks pretty high there Andy!
Ya as I described it my arse to head must be quite long. It came with a tillett and I swapped it for a beaded seat that previous guy had (grips body in car great) but way too high. Sat in car with seats out and kind of have a mind for angles I need to use. Was waiting until decent temperatures to try foam seat but perhaps I shouldn't want forever given weather Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff