RE: Cosworth-powered Caterham arrives
Discussion
DBSV8 said:
Could the factory fit the classic wheel arches ( original skirts ) as opposed to the cycle type fenders to this spec ?
cheers
DBSV8
On the S3 chassis it is not possible to fit flared wings on cars equipped with widetrack suspensions because the wheels would foul the wings. So in order to fit the flared wings I believe you'd have to revert back to the standard track suspension
However there were roumors about RichardInFrance planning to produce some carbon/kevlar flared wings which would also fit widetrack cars
I really have a hard time figuring out why these kitcars need to cost so much money.
I'm ready to accept that all the materials are top-class handcrafted and what have you, but for these amounts I can buy two Tiger kits or one second-hand Maserati 3200GT and strip it out and chip it until it has the same power/weight ratio.
I'm ready to accept that all the materials are top-class handcrafted and what have you, but for these amounts I can buy two Tiger kits or one second-hand Maserati 3200GT and strip it out and chip it until it has the same power/weight ratio.
A lot of the bits of Caterhams are made just for Caterham in tiny volumes. This means they cost many times what pieces of other cars cost even when made from the same materials. Tigers use lots of bits straight from donor or scrap vehicles and lower quality materials in almost all areas. Caterham by contrast have had lots of bits developed specially for them and this costs a heap of money.
The result is a better car however.
The result is a better car however.
Not really, if you can strip it to 1400kgs and boost the turbo's to get 550bhp, you'd get pretty close. Leaving out the aerodynamics. I know it's not relevant, because it's just a different type of car with a completely different feel and response.
I think Dino's right though, a lot looks handcrafted and even on closer inspection these things are beautiful. I'd just have a hard time to part with the money that's all - compared to what I could get when I would spend that kind of money boosting the cars I already have.
I think Dino's right though, a lot looks handcrafted and even on closer inspection these things are beautiful. I'd just have a hard time to part with the money that's all - compared to what I could get when I would spend that kind of money boosting the cars I already have.
Which is why "kitcar" ownership is a slightly different attitude. It's not about the headline figures but much more about the sheer thrill of driving it. I have far more fun in my 7 at legal speeds round the lanes than I have ever in any car at any speed. The delicacy, agility and immediacy of the car still makes me smile after 6 years of ownership (and it's only 115bhp!).
>> Edited by ewenm on Thursday 20th April 15:24
>> Edited by ewenm on Thursday 20th April 15:24
I guess value for money bhp/ton wise they don't make much sense (get a motorbike?), but there's a huge difference between a 500kg and 1500kg car with 300bhp/ton in terms in terms of feel and handling (let alone track use) as you say. But it's also about razor throttle response. And let's not even get into the seven-like clones vs the one-true-original debate 
errek72 said:
I really have a hard time figuring out why these kitcars need to cost so much money.
I'm ready to accept that all the materials are top-class handcrafted and what have you, but for these amounts I can buy two Tiger kits or one second-hand Maserati 3200GT and strip it out and chip it until it has the same power/weight ratio.
You are missing the point massively .... who cares what they cost in terms of outlay. What they *really* cost is what they cost over an ownership period after having taken depreciation into account. My last caterham cost me 1.5k per year... name me any other fast cars that can claim to be as cheap ? (other than classics)
Put it this way, id sooner spend 50k on owning something for 2 years then sell it back for 45k as opposed to spending 20k on something and selling it back 2 years later for 10k !
jackal said:
I really have a hard time figuring out why these kitcars need to cost so much money.
I'm ready to accept that all the materials are top-class handcrafted and what have you, but for these amounts I can buy two Tiger kits or one second-hand Maserati 3200GT and strip it out and chip it until it has the same power/weight ratio.
You are missing the point massively .... who cares what they cost in terms of outlay. What they *really* cost is what they cost over an ownership period after having taken depreciation into account. My last caterham cost me 1.5k per year... name me any other fast cars that can claim to be as cheap ? (other than classics)
Put it this way, id sooner spend 50k on owning something for 2 years then sell it back for 45k as opposed to spending 20k on something and selling it back 2 years later for 10k !
Well said, point taken.
There's a circuit day on Zolder circuit this spring where I can book a drive in one of these, I'll go for that to help me make up my mind.
dannylt said:
R500 is a mans car.....................
The Duratec is a great race engine, but as standard the CSR260 is far slower than the R500.
My Corvette would have beaten the CSR260 in EVOs 0-100-0 test if the reaction times to hit the brakes at 100mph were equal.
And neither the Corvette or the CSR260 were anywhere near the R500s 0-100-0 times.
jackal said:
I really have a hard time figuring out why these kitcars need to cost so much money.
I'm ready to accept that all the materials are top-class handcrafted and what have you, but for these amounts I can buy two Tiger kits or one second-hand Maserati 3200GT and strip it out and chip it until it has the same power/weight ratio.
You are missing the point massively .... who cares what they cost in terms of outlay. What they *really* cost is what they cost over an ownership period after having taken depreciation into account. My last caterham cost me 1.5k per year... name me any other fast cars that can claim to be as cheap ? (other than classics)
Put it this way, id sooner spend 50k on owning something for 2 years then sell it back for 45k as opposed to spending 20k on something and selling it back 2 years later for 10k !
Well said, no new cars touch a Caterham for lack of depreciation.
Keep it in tip top condition and it'll be worth what you paid for it.
JenkinsComp said:
The Duratec is a great race engine, but as standard the CSR260 is far slower than the R500.
interesting assertion .... on what facts do you base it ? Presumably you don't mean slower in a straight line ?
IIRC the CSRs at oulton were 5 seconds a lap quicker than the R400 race cars on the same day last year but the csr's were on slicks so the difference was actually not that great especially given the amount of corners at oulton.
Of course an R500 has more power but as i recall the best they ever did at oulton in the JCC series was high 1.40's at around 1.48, 1.49 on CR500's. So on that evidence definitely not quicker. I know that these are all race cars but the main differences across all cars are only dampers, springs, weight and proper setup. If anything the R500s running in teh JCC had an advantage because some of them AFAIK were running very trick 3 way dampers and were R101 spec (240-250bhp instead of 230bhp).
>> Edited by jackal on Friday 28th April 12:38
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