R400 Options and Spec
Discussion
Everyone
Now that I have decided to get a new R400, it's time to sort spec! To that end, I have got the latest spec sheet and have been working through it... Most of it seems fairly straight forward, but I have some questions for you all (bear in mind - I want to spec the car as a county lanes fun car with track days thrown in):-
1. Stack dash - Yes or No?
2. Track day dampers - Who are they made by and would you recommend them?
3. Heater - Can this be fitted at a later date? I fancy trying no heater for the summer months and then maybe getting one fitted in the winter if I get the car out enough and my rear gets cold enough!
Thanks all!
Now that I have decided to get a new R400, it's time to sort spec! To that end, I have got the latest spec sheet and have been working through it... Most of it seems fairly straight forward, but I have some questions for you all (bear in mind - I want to spec the car as a county lanes fun car with track days thrown in):-
1. Stack dash - Yes or No?
2. Track day dampers - Who are they made by and would you recommend them?
3. Heater - Can this be fitted at a later date? I fancy trying no heater for the summer months and then maybe getting one fitted in the winter if I get the car out enough and my rear gets cold enough!
Thanks all!
Hi,not so sure about the dash,it looks nice but is it something else to go wrong?
Trackday setup is by Bilstein so should be good but there are very good aftermarket options,Nitrons etc.
The heater is a matter of taste but i've got one and would'nt do without it at this time of year!
Hope this helps,Mark
Trackday setup is by Bilstein so should be good but there are very good aftermarket options,Nitrons etc.
The heater is a matter of taste but i've got one and would'nt do without it at this time of year!
Hope this helps,Mark
1) Yes - other than the cost, I'm not aware of a downside to it.
2) If it's going to be primarily a trackday car then yes. If you will do trackdays and can put up with a reasonably harsh ride on the road then yes. If comfort is your thing then no.
3) It can be retro-fitted, but will obviously cost more that way. Personally I doubt you'll need one.
2) If it's going to be primarily a trackday car then yes. If you will do trackdays and can put up with a reasonably harsh ride on the road then yes. If comfort is your thing then no.
3) It can be retro-fitted, but will obviously cost more that way. Personally I doubt you'll need one.
Edited by sfaulds on Monday 22 January 22:10
Subirg,
I had the previous R400 up until a couple of years ago; seriously wish that I still had it. Silver R400C? Anyone know where it is? Anyway:
The Stack Dash is excellent and in my experience totally reliable.
Never had any complaints about the Bilstein dampers either.
If you are in 2 minds about the heater, it is probably easier to get it from new as removing it will be slightly easier than fitting it. It only weighs a few Kg though and is excellent for winter and late summer evenings. However, as the purists will tell you, it may add a few thousandths of a second to your lap time?
Al D
I had the previous R400 up until a couple of years ago; seriously wish that I still had it. Silver R400C? Anyone know where it is? Anyway:
The Stack Dash is excellent and in my experience totally reliable.
Never had any complaints about the Bilstein dampers either.
If you are in 2 minds about the heater, it is probably easier to get it from new as removing it will be slightly easier than fitting it. It only weighs a few Kg though and is excellent for winter and late summer evenings. However, as the purists will tell you, it may add a few thousandths of a second to your lap time?
Al D
On the old R400 the stack came as standard. I am not surprised they're trying to squeeze money out of punters by optioning it on the new one. Spec the heater now if you think you'll want it. Not sure what "track day" dampers are - does this spec include different ARBs too?
Edited by rubystone on Tuesday 23 January 09:01
Re Trackday dampers - there is a £1,000 option for trackday dampers. These are adjustable vs the non adjustable standard ones. I would like adjustable dampers, but I have noticed lots of chat about aftermarket dampers (e.g. Nitron, Spax etc) and wondered whether it was better to get the standard set up and add aftermarket adjustables, or go for the caterham adjustables from day 1.
Re stack dash - looks like that's a good idea
Re heater - am still in two minds over this one primarily because of the added weight. If it's 5 or 6 Kgs, then that's not going to ruin my day and I will probably get it.
Re R400 delivery dates - Caterham quoted me June last week. I'll call them later today for an update on that. They did not have a demonstrator available but were expecting to have one soon...
Views?
Re stack dash - looks like that's a good idea
Re heater - am still in two minds over this one primarily because of the added weight. If it's 5 or 6 Kgs, then that's not going to ruin my day and I will probably get it.
Re R400 delivery dates - Caterham quoted me June last week. I'll call them later today for an update on that. They did not have a demonstrator available but were expecting to have one soon...
Views?
subirg said:
Re Trackday dampers - there is a £1,000 option for trackday dampers. These are adjustable vs the non adjustable standard ones. I would like adjustable dampers, but I have noticed lots of chat about aftermarket dampers (e.g. Nitron, Spax etc) and wondered whether it was better to get the standard set up and add aftermarket adjustables, or go for the caterham adjustables from day 1.
Re stack dash - looks like that's a good idea
Re heater - am still in two minds over this one primarily because of the added weight. If it's 5 or 6 Kgs, then that's not going to ruin my day and I will probably get it.
Re R400 delivery dates - Caterham quoted me June last week. I'll call them later today for an update on that. They did not have a demonstrator available but were expecting to have one soon...
Views?
Done a spec. for mine - if I go ahead - it comes out at £38k, gulp! I'm going for heater as I'm a skinney eleven and a half stone so whats 5 or 6 kgs to me in return for a bit of comfort when the guy in the same car I'm chasing probably weighs 14 stone. Re stack dash - looks like that's a good idea
Re heater - am still in two minds over this one primarily because of the added weight. If it's 5 or 6 Kgs, then that's not going to ruin my day and I will probably get it.
Re R400 delivery dates - Caterham quoted me June last week. I'll call them later today for an update on that. They did not have a demonstrator available but were expecting to have one soon...
Views?
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 23 January 10:58
subirg said:
£38k!!!! Blimey!
When I did my spec it came out at about £32.5k. Even if I go down the option list and tick absolutely everything I only get to £35k...?! Are you working off the correct price list? The base price of the new car is quite a bit cheaper than the k series R400.
When I did my spec it came out at about £32.5k. Even if I go down the option list and tick absolutely everything I only get to £35k...?! Are you working off the correct price list? The base price of the new car is quite a bit cheaper than the k series R400.
R400 £27,495
Track Dampers 1,000
Carbon W. Def. 245
Weather Equip 1,100
Aero Filler Cap 80
Carbon Pack 950
Stack 500
Carbon kev. seats 550
Starter button 35
Heater 250
Side screen arm rests 125
Harness x 2 150
Track Roll Bar 175
Master switch 150
Uprated master cyl. 150
Plumbed extinguisher 250
Paint (approx) 1,000
Drysump 1,000
Reg, tax, blah, blah 213
Excellent - thanks matey. Due to less than O level maths abilities I'd got it wrong. Thinks it's around £35.5k. So still 'ouch' but possibly no longer 'bugger'! Sorry for duff info. - hopefully you haven't got a weak heart!
Pugsey said:
Thinks it's around £35.5k. So still 'ouch' but possibly no longer 'bugger'!
This could be another reason to buy a used R400; you could save yourself up to £15K or so! Of course the really sought after examples are the original, limited run Superlight Rs ...
Edited by jeremyc on Tuesday 23 January 11:32
Re car price at £35.5k - that's more like it. You can also save another £1,000 off that as, in contrast to the k engined cars, you don't need a dry sump (there isn't one on the options list either!).
Re second hand R400s, I can't find anything under £22 - 23k unless it's an ex race car. Hence the difference between new and second hand is £8 - 10k. And don't forget they have totally different engines (and a different chassis). Having said all that, a decent k engined R400 has to be a tempting buy if you can find the right one.
Re second hand R400s, I can't find anything under £22 - 23k unless it's an ex race car. Hence the difference between new and second hand is £8 - 10k. And don't forget they have totally different engines (and a different chassis). Having said all that, a decent k engined R400 has to be a tempting buy if you can find the right one.
Pugsey - interesting that you are going for all the carbon bits. I looked into this and decided that weight saving (less than 10kgs if you go for everything - seats, nose, rear wings, wind deflector) wasn't worth nearly £2k! However, I may change my mind 'cos it looks too flash! Also, if I add the heater, I can save almost all that weight by adding the carbon seats... tempted again now!
subirg said:
Re second hand R400s, I can't find anything under £22 - 23k unless it's an ex race car. Hence the difference between new and second hand is £8 - 10k. And don't forget they have totally different engines (and a different chassis). Having said all that, a decent k engined R400 has to be a tempting buy if you can find the right one.
You're right - they're rare and desirable beasts. There is this one - I don't know the car but it looks quite tidy. And of course the yellow ones are fastest ...
subirg said:
Re car price at £35.5k - that's more like it. You can also save another £1,000 off that as, in contrast to the k engined cars, you don't need a dry sump (there isn't one on the options list either!).
Re second hand R400s, I can't find anything under £22 - 23k unless it's an ex race car. Hence the difference between new and second hand is £8 - 10k. And don't forget they have totally different engines (and a different chassis). Having said all that, a decent k engined R400 has to be a tempting buy if you can find the right one.
Caterham told me that the dry sump option will appear shortly - at £1,000 - but I'm happy to save the dosh! However I've always been lead to believe that any engine that is going to be subjected to prolonged lateral g. will benefit from dry sumping. Is the new engine different in this respect - other than being stronger at the bottom end than the reputedly weak k series? Re second hand R400s, I can't find anything under £22 - 23k unless it's an ex race car. Hence the difference between new and second hand is £8 - 10k. And don't forget they have totally different engines (and a different chassis). Having said all that, a decent k engined R400 has to be a tempting buy if you can find the right one.
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