Independent rear suspension

Independent rear suspension

Author
Discussion

Olivera

7,139 posts

239 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
DCL said:
You are demonstrating a limited knowledge of the Caterham concept. It is still beating most things on track and here is one professional driver who thinks it is very cool. Here he his is driving my car - listen to the appraisal at the end https://youtu.be/Qglr6TJ9Wr0 and it is now is lapping quicker than his 1/4 million pound BTCC car ( https://youtu.be/37rmGbQBlL4 ). So your opinion is simply misaligned with reality.
Where is the faster lap than a BTCC car?

You did a 51.955, Rory's 2019 BTCC qualifying time was 50.451, in a car with half the power to weight ratio of your Caterham.

Edited by Olivera on Thursday 19th November 00:25

antonio.cocchi

172 posts

44 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
KN02LEY said:
I read somewhere that, while the CSR isn't marketed in the UK, it is available in other European markets. I've no idea whether this is true.
CSR485 still available as new in Italy

BertBert

19,038 posts

211 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
Olivera said:
DCL said:
You are demonstrating a limited knowledge of the Caterham concept. It is still beating most things on track and here is one professional driver who thinks it is very cool. Here he his is driving my car - listen to the appraisal at the end https://youtu.be/Qglr6TJ9Wr0 and it is now is lapping quicker than his 1/4 million pound BTCC car ( https://youtu.be/37rmGbQBlL4 ). So your opinion is simply misaligned with reality.
Where is the faster lap than a BTCC car?

You did a 51.955, Rory's 2019 BTCC qualifying time was 50.451, in a car with half the power to weight ratio of your Caterham.

Edited by Olivera on Thursday 19th November 00:25
But it's not a very helpful comparison in the context of the OP wanting IRS and Caterham not offering it on their core models. The caterham is on treaded road tyres and the touring car will have been on slicks. However if we go back to the OP's proposition that the DD arrangement is sub-optimal and insulting to their customers I think the performance of the R500 spec cars (and others) is not very supportive of the argument.

I'm not picking in you OP, lest you think I am, but you have put forward a position that is very easy to argue against - all in the fun of a PH debate biggrin

DCL

1,216 posts

179 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
Olivera said:
Where is the faster lap than a BTCC car?

You did a 51.955, Rory's 2019 BTCC qualifying time was 50.451, in a car with half the power to weight ratio of your Caterham.

Edited by Olivera on Thursday 19th November 00:25
Fair point! I based that on the BTCC lap times when we did that, and things have moved on since then with both car and track changes (you quote his 2020 qualifying lap record) At the time my laps on road tyres, not slicks, were comparable.

Without wanting to dig a bigger hole for myself, full club level track records are here. Caterham's are in there and my car currently holds its class record in both directions. http://www.smart-timing.co.uk/

It is also fair to say Westfields are currently faster at Knockhill. But that goes to support the themes of this thread - we are not suggesting that independent rear suspension would not be better, just that ''out of the box'' the Caterham is very good and needs nothing changed to the suspension design to be up there competing with the best.

V8 FOU

2,974 posts

147 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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If you "need" IRS, buy a Westfield.

wannabe-racer

139 posts

67 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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To the OP have you considered an Atom 4? it has what you are looking for by the sounds of it. It is completely redesigned from the 3.5 with wider track, longer wheelbase, a PDM and AIM dash with lap timing everything is completely adjustable. I just had more front and rear camber and increased rear toe on my car. It's the setup used whenever the stig drives it. I have the lovely Ohlins 3-way adjustable TTX shocks allowing fine tuning of the compression and rebound both front and rear... etc etc.

Atom's tend to be a little more expensive than most Caterhams though.

wannabe-racer

139 posts

67 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
quotequote all
DCL said:
You are demonstrating a limited knowledge of the Caterham concept. It is still beating most things on track and here is one professional driver who thinks it is very cool. Here he his is driving my car - listen to the appraisal at the end https://youtu.be/Qglr6TJ9Wr0 and it is now is lapping quicker than his 1/4 million pound BTCC car ( https://youtu.be/37rmGbQBlL4 ). So your opinion is simply misaligned with reality.


Edited by DCL on Tuesday 17th November 20:30
That is a good time for Knockhill, nice car. What gearbox have you got?

EDIT: I just read the description, sadev - very nice. How are you finding the geartronics system?

Edited by wannabe-racer on Saturday 21st November 22:08

DCL

1,216 posts

179 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
quotequote all
wannabe-racer said:
That is a good time for Knockhill, nice car. What gearbox have you got?

EDIT: I just read the description, sadev - very nice. How are you finding the geartronics system?

Edited by wannabe-racer on Saturday 21st November 22:08
I was very pleased with it. Although not cheap, you tend to get what you pay for. Quality is superb but it was personal support from Neil Wallace (who designed the system) that made the difference. His software is good and incredibly clever in the way it controls rpm exactly, all in closed loop.

Since fitted this one things have moved on, and I liked the idea of having a dedicated gearbox ECU rather than using the engine ECU. That allowed logging of all the timings for every change and combining it with the Sadev barrel and throttle position data I could analyse and optimise the settings. Failed changes are rare, but even those that do fail are 'managed' to prevent gearbox damage (i.e. the shift either waits until conditions are met, or aborted if timed out). And because up and down shifts are fully synchronized, you can change gear when needed without fear of upsetting the balance.


Edited by DCL on Sunday 22 November 09:06

the av8er

Original Poster:

144 posts

123 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2020
quotequote all
Well.
After a little research and a lot of thought I've decided to stick to the 7 I have.
Be nice to own something new or nearly new but having looked about, I realise that my car is better built, better finished and definitely better spec,ed than nearly anything available. Also it's still mint.

Changing it would be a step down, though as it's not made by caterham I'm sure some of you would automatically disagree.

BertBert

19,038 posts

211 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2020
quotequote all
the av8er said:
Well.
After a little research and a lot of thought I've decided to stick to the 7 I have.
Be nice to own something new or nearly new but having looked about, I realise that my car is better built, better finished and definitely better spec,ed than nearly anything available. Also it's still mint.

Changing it would be a step down, though as it's not made by caterham I'm sure some of you would automatically disagree.
You won't find me disagreeing. It's a personal choice what one values and prefers. Good job!

ken46

37 posts

41 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
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If it's not made by Caterham, how is it a "Seven"?

the av8er

Original Poster:

144 posts

123 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
Ken46.
Who was granted a licence by Lotus to continue making the 7 ?

ken46

37 posts

41 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
Ah! Am I right in assuming you're the proud owner of an original 7 then, or am I up the creek without a paddle?

the av8er

Original Poster:

144 posts

123 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
I think your up a creek without a paddle or a boat !!

BertBert

19,038 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
the av8er said:
Ken46.
Who was granted a licence by Lotus to continue making the 7 ?
Er Caterham were. So whatever you have, it's not a 7. Whoever makes it and doesn't insult their customers that's great, but it's not a 7.

the av8er

Original Poster:

144 posts

123 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
No caterham were not the only company.
When you work out who else was, you can continue.

ken46

37 posts

41 months

Friday 4th December 2020
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Are you saying you've got a Steel Bros. Lotus? If so, it's a long way from home.

the av8er

Original Poster:

144 posts

123 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
No. Not heard of them.
Who are they ?

HustleRussell

24,691 posts

160 months

Friday 4th December 2020
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Birkin.

Glug69

71 posts

122 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
the av8er said:
I believe that not all caterhams have the de Dion rear end. Some have fully independent double wishbone rear set up. Or am I wrong ?
Nothing is mentioned in the model description or extras list on the cc web site.

I've also noticed that it's not mentioned in private ads either. If some do have double rear wishbone set up, how would you know ? And how many are there / how common are they ?
Or is asking the seller the only way to find out ?
This one has independent rear suspension mentioned, looks like a great car to me, https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11081179?c...
If only I was small enough to fit in an S3😉