The right caterham for me?

The right caterham for me?

Author
Discussion

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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Evening All,

I'm finally going to bite the bullet and get myself a caterham. I've been running a 996.2 GT3 as a track car for the last 3 years and as much as I absolutely adore it the values have now got to the state that I can't enjoy it like it used to.

Unfortunately I can only have one toy so that will have to go to make way for a caterham.

I've got a few mates with cars ones an R300 and the other a roadsport both have been out in my GT3 and suggest I go with a 420R or R400.

I'll admit I'm quite a tart and happy to pay a bit more for a newer car with the new dash etc.

I tried a 360R SV at Caterham Gatwick and really enjoyed it but it lacked a bit of top end explosiveness which I'm told the 420 has.

I'm based in West Malling in Kent if anyone is near enough to me that could take me out.

Then random one how much bigger is the fuel tank in the SV?

Thanks
Joseph

nammynake

2,587 posts

172 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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There’s also the new 420 Cup if you’re looking for a specific track car. It’s a decent wedge more than the standard 420 though.

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
quotequote all
nammynake said:
There’s also the new 420 Cup if you’re looking for a specific track car. It’s a decent wedge more than the standard 420 though.
I saw that 420Cup but can't make the maths work on that doesn't feel like good value.

Needs to be something I'd use on the roads as well

KnifeySpoony

54 posts

22 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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A 420R makes a fine track weapon. Mine has the roller barrel upgrade and has a very strong top end and lots of character/noise. Only a well driven GT3 will be able to keep up if you do your part.

BertBert

18,953 posts

210 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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I don't get it. I could give 996 GT3s a run for their money round donington in my 135bhp 1600k.


Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Oh 100% a well driven roadsport will keep up with a flabby GT3.

The want for something 420 like is not only for bigger circuits like Spa etc but also experience in how the motor feels. So a duratec on bodies for example feels like to me it could be closer to that mental Mezger.

Simon Owen

798 posts

133 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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You might prefer a Premier Power fettled Sigma if a sweet free reving drivetrain is on the tick list, also a better balanced car they say.

Cooperracer05

16 posts

95 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Go to sevens and classics and GP sevens and talk it through with the guys there, they will guide you through it and find the right thing.

I'd say R400/420R...I'd make sure you get a dry sump, was an option on R400s, but standard on 420R I think.

I have an R400 k series which is pretty similar to Ford cars, less torque more revs (probably more like your 996). I'm in Mid Sussex, if you fancy heading over I'd happily take you out especially if you take me for a ride in the GT3..it's a dream car for me, never been in one. Let me know!

BertBert

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
quotequote all
KnifeySpoony said:
A 420R makes a fine track weapon. Mine has the roller barrel upgrade and has a very strong top end and lots of character/noise. Only a well driven GT3 will be able to keep up if you do your part.
There's no comparison. A 996gt3 is an old person's pootling car compared to a 420R on rbtbs. You'd need a race track that was two one mile straights connected by two hairpins for the gt3 to have even half a chance biggrin

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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BertBert said:
KnifeySpoony said:
A 420R makes a fine track weapon. Mine has the roller barrel upgrade and has a very strong top end and lots of character/noise. Only a well driven GT3 will be able to keep up if you do your part.
There's no comparison. A 996gt3 is an old person's pootling car compared to a 420R on rbtbs. You'd need a race track that was two one mile straights connected by two hairpins for the gt3 to have even half a chance biggrin
If I'm honest the caterhams I've driven haven't felt that much more hardcore than my gt3. It's pretty much rose jointed all round, cup car diff Ohlins suspension etc etc. I have no doubt a caterham is more nimble but the old girls isn't a slouch it is after all 400bhp pushing something that weighs less than a 993 which for a 911 isn't that bad.



Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
quotequote all
Cooperracer05 said:
Go to sevens and classics and GP sevens and talk it through with the guys there, they will guide you through it and find the right thing.

I'd say R400/420R...I'd make sure you get a dry sump, was an option on R400s, but standard on 420R I think.

I have an R400 k series which is pretty similar to Ford cars, less torque more revs (probably more like your 996). I'm in Mid Sussex, if you fancy heading over I'd happily take you out especially if you take me for a ride in the GT3..it's a dream car for me, never been in one. Let me know!
I'd love that dude. My mate has an R300 duratec with a sadev and a racecar 400 which feels miles faster than the 300. When I get the car back from its current work I'd of course be up for that.



Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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This is the old girl just for ref

Cooperracer05

16 posts

95 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Joehow said:
Cooperracer05 said:
Go to sevens and classics and GP sevens and talk it through with the guys there, they will guide you through it and find the right thing.

I'd say R400/420R...I'd make sure you get a dry sump, was an option on R400s, but standard on 420R I think.

I have an R400 k series which is pretty similar to Ford cars, less torque more revs (probably more like your 996). I'm in Mid Sussex, if you fancy heading over I'd happily take you out especially if you take me for a ride in the GT3..it's a dream car for me, never been in one. Let me know!
I'd love that dude. My mate has an R300 duratec with a sadev and a racecar 400 which feels miles faster than the 300. When I get the car back from its current work I'd of course be up for that.
Well message me when you have some time, I can meet you over on the Ashdown Forest for a natter. I've driven pretty much all but 620R and owned two so had a taste of the range.

Sadev is incredible but not so good for road I don't think but crikey, it comes alive belting round a track.

The lower powered Duratec feels a bit lazy to me, it isn't a power train that suits the car IMHO, good for touring though and still fast, but not exciting. I'd have a 310R over a 360R myself.

6 speed makes a huge difference to the character too, although it feels a bit unnecessary with a torquey Duratec, the 420R is fun because it can lose traction so easily low down in the rev range, but you don't want to ring it's neck. Apparently with throttle bodies they are a bit more zingy to rev out and sound better.

Key thing is there isn't really a bad one and they hold their money and easy to px with the dealers.

For me, 200bhp, dry sump, 6 speed is perfect for a 7

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
quotequote all
Cooperracer05 said:
Well message me when you have some time, I can meet you over on the Ashdown Forest for a natter. I've driven pretty much all but 620R and owned two so had a taste of the range.

Sadev is incredible but not so good for road I don't think but crikey, it comes alive belting round a track.

The lower powered Duratec feels a bit lazy to me, it isn't a power train that suits the car IMHO, good for touring though and still fast, but not exciting. I'd have a 310R over a 360R myself.

6 speed makes a huge difference to the character too, although it feels a bit unnecessary with a torquey Duratec, the 420R is fun because it can lose traction so easily low down in the rev range, but you don't want to ring it's neck. Apparently with throttle bodies they are a bit more zingy to rev out and sound better.

Key thing is there isn't really a bad one and they hold their money and easy to px with the dealers.

For me, 200bhp, dry sump, 6 speed is perfect for a 7
Yeah dry sump seems vital to me. Mates who properly lean on their 7s tell me 5 speed is more reliable? Thanks pal just message me when free

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
quotequote all
Cooperracer05 said:
Well message me when you have some time, I can meet you over on the Ashdown Forest for a natter. I've driven pretty much all but 620R and owned two so had a taste of the range.

Sadev is incredible but not so good for road I don't think but crikey, it comes alive belting round a track.

The lower powered Duratec feels a bit lazy to me, it isn't a power train that suits the car IMHO, good for touring though and still fast, but not exciting. I'd have a 310R over a 360R myself.

6 speed makes a huge difference to the character too, although it feels a bit unnecessary with a torquey Duratec, the 420R is fun because it can lose traction so easily low down in the rev range, but you don't want to ring it's neck. Apparently with throttle bodies they are a bit more zingy to rev out and sound better.

Key thing is there isn't really a bad one and they hold their money and easy to px with the dealers.

For me, 200bhp, dry sump, 6 speed is perfect for a 7
Yeah dry sump seems vital to me. Mates who properly lean on their 7s tell me 5 speed is more reliable? Thanks pal just message me when free

Cooperracer05

16 posts

95 months

Friday 3rd June 2022
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Joehow said:
Cooperracer05 said:
Well message me when you have some time, I can meet you over on the Ashdown Forest for a natter. I've driven pretty much all but 620R and owned two so had a taste of the range.

Sadev is incredible but not so good for road I don't think but crikey, it comes alive belting round a track.

The lower powered Duratec feels a bit lazy to me, it isn't a power train that suits the car IMHO, good for touring though and still fast, but not exciting. I'd have a 310R over a 360R myself.

6 speed makes a huge difference to the character too, although it feels a bit unnecessary with a torquey Duratec, the 420R is fun because it can lose traction so easily low down in the rev range, but you don't want to ring it's neck. Apparently with throttle bodies they are a bit more zingy to rev out and sound better.

Key thing is there isn't really a bad one and they hold their money and easy to px with the dealers.

For me, 200bhp, dry sump, 6 speed is perfect for a 7
Yeah dry sump seems vital to me. Mates who properly lean on their 7s tell me 5 speed is more reliable? Thanks pal just message me when free
The 6 speed is pretty robust, but it is probably fair to say 5 is stronger, although it's more about ease of sourcing parts than anything for me. The issue with the 5 speed is you effectively have 2 gears on track, it is fast but not as smile enducing. The 6 speed is a riot, as the ratios are tight and you are always on song, but if I got a 420R I'd go 5 speed as that's pretty much all that is available and it works well with the torque, something more revvy the 6 is brilliant. It totally makes every car 7 I've driven memorable....mine has done 24k miles and feels absolutely perfect, but I may get a preventative rebuild done this winter for around £1k, or wait for an issue and it's more like £2k.

ghibbett

1,900 posts

184 months

Saturday 4th June 2022
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In terms of 420R (mine on RBTB) and 6 speed, I did Donington in the week and could easily just run round in only 4th & 5th and still be quick, the car pulling strongly out of the Esses in 4th.


Simon Owen said:
You might prefer a Premier Power fettled Sigma if a sweet free reving drivetrain is on the tick list, also a better balanced car they say.
This is a very good shout.

Having owned both Sigma (140) and Duratec (220), a 200bhp Sigma would probably be the best Seven for both road & track.

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Saturday 4th June 2022
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Thanks all for the hints. GT3 should officially be up for sale next week!

gixermark

742 posts

186 months

Saturday 4th June 2022
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I can help…..

I’ll do a straight swap with my 250hp k series with 6speed
Sequential box 😜

In a serious note any seven will be peanuts to track compared to your 996. Did you do much road work in the 996 too?

R400 duratec might be a sweet/safe bet..

Have you considered an exige too?

Joehow

Original Poster:

569 posts

114 months

Monday 6th June 2022
quotequote all
gixermark said:
I can help…..

I’ll do a straight swap with my 250hp k series with 6speed
Sequential box ??

In a serious note any seven will be peanuts to track compared to your 996. Did you do much road work in the 996 too?

R400 duratec might be a sweet/safe bet..

Have you considered an exige too?
Yeah did about 18k in three years, it's pretty hardcore though as it's dripping in cup car parts so any potholes etc not good. The 360R I drove felt super comfy compared to the GT3.

I think 420R feels a good bet from what I am told.