I'm in love, but am I right?

[SamPet]

Hello All

I test drove this on Saturday, and I'm in love...but am I right to fall for a VVC.

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/preowned/pre...


What was strange was that I didn't think "Holy crap this is fast", but when I looked at the speedo I was going much quicker than I was expecting.

Would a 1.8 with 200BHP be a totally different experience?

[sjr-997]

if you want a 6 speed with half the miles (you need 6 speed not 5), better spec, 2006 and not much more money then you need to consider mine.

[SamPet]

I was under the impression that the 5 speed was better for touring?! I won't be doing any trackdays, just the odd commute and weekend driving.

Have you got a link to your car?

THe original question still stands, however, would I be better off with a NON VVC 1.8?

Sam

[ewenm]

The VVC engine really flies at high revs - did you get above 5500 to 6000rpm?

[SamPet]

Not really. Ironically, the highest I got to was 5500rpm. I didnt want to take the pee.

Must try harder :-)

So would you say the performance from the VVC is as good as I'll get, without going into R400s/500s or Duratecs?

[atom-ick]

SamPet said:

So would you say the performance from the VVC is as good as I'll get, without going into R400s/500s or Duratecs?

I think the thing you will find with the VVC is that it does everything well. Sure, a lot of people wind loads of horse power out of engines and do all sorts of things to them, but at the end of the day, reliability and usability would be at the top of my list of priorities if i were only using it as a bit of a fun road car.

Funnily enough, a mate of mine has a VVC and when we went out to the 'ring in both our cars, he was getting a fantastic MPG out of it compaired to my K series R400, and out on the track there really isn't as much difference in performance as you would expect - the R400 just sounds faster because of the roller barrels!

I would say go for it, as a first caterham i don't think you will go wrong.

[fergus]

SamPet said:

Not really. Ironically, the highest I got to was 5500rpm. I didnt want to take the pee.

Must try harder :-)

So would you say the performance from the VVC is as good as I'll get, without going into R400s/500s or Duratecs?

Seriously, get it up to the soft cut limiter. You'll see a lot more performance. The torque curve is very linear, so unless you've got some crazy cams fitted (which I doubt), the back end is likely to remain planted. If it does step out, a quick dab of oppo lock will have it pointing the right way again.

[sfaulds]

The VVC is a *very* nice road engine in a seven - it would be my first choice for that sort of work.

[SamPet]

Thanks for all the advice.

Anyone aware of a Roadsport SV with a VVC lump currently for sale?

I went onto blatchat, but the for sale section only seems to have one page of results (most of which are parts)...am I doing something wrong?

Cheers

Sam

[ewenm]

SamPet said:

Thanks for all the advice.

Anyone aware of a Roadsport SV with a VVC lump currently for sale?

I went onto blatchat, but the for sale section only seems to have one page of results (most of which are parts)...am I doing something wrong?

Cheers

Sam

There's a drop down at the top of the page to restrict the age of posts you see - I think it defaults to "within 1 day", so change that to a longer timespan.

[SamPet]

Nice one.

Thanks

[ewenm]

SamPet said:

Nice one.

Thanks

No probs. I have a dry-sumped 1.8VVC in my 7 so may be slightly biased in my replies

[Neal H]

I am very happy with my VVC powered R300. I recently had an on-track ride in a Duratec R400 and have to admit that had quite a lot more straight line grunt - an extra 50bhp goes a long way in a Caterham! - but it wasn't enough to make me want to rush out and upgrade.

I think the 6 speed box is too short geared for regular touring use though. You are better off with the 5 speed if it is to be a road car. Mine is used as a weekend fun car and a track toy, so the 6 speed is perfect - but it is a PIA when sat on the motorway!

Neal.

[rubystone]

Neal H said:

I am very happy with my VVC powered R300.

Just a point to note, AFAIK the R300 doesn't have a VVC engine....or am I wrong?

I'd have thought that for touring, a VVC with a 5 speed 'box is a sensible option - 2 litre VXs on injection and 5 speed are also nice touring cars as well.

[Shaun_E]

Later R300s had VVC engines. Earlier ones were 1.8 k series with roller barrels.
People make such a big deal about the 6 speed box and touring. Don't forget that a 6 speed car usually has a 3.62 ratio diff. and a 5 speed car usually has a 3.92 ratio diff. Using gearcalc @70mph a 6 speed/3.62 combo is 3918 rpm in 6th and a 5 speed/3.92 combo is 3500rpm in 5th. @80 mph it is 4478 vs 4000. 500 rpm isn't that big a jump and to be honest, at those speeds, wind and road noise will pretty much drown out the engine noise. You should really wear ear plugs for any long distances whatever Caterham you are driving.
I drive several thousand miles a year in a highly tuned Superlight (no carpet, 6 speed, LSD, etc.) and it is fine. If you have a passenger regularly then get an intercom with ear defender headsets or in ear headsets - reduces the noise and lets you talk to each other without shouting.
IMO the choice between 5 and 6 speed is usually a financial one (and nothing wrong with that). If you can afford it though, why not get the 6 speed. Many long term 5 speed owners have their ratios changed at some point to make 1st more usable and get the other gears closer together.
Having said all that a 5 speed won't make the car bad, just different in it's nature.

[Blue7]

I just traded in my 160 bhp 1.8 K series VVC Xpower, very quick, reliable and good mpg. I got back what I paid for it privately two years ago so it was a worthwile investment. Only problem latterly was the oil pressure gauge showing low all the time but I think that was a faulty sender unit, which needed to be replaced. Also the speedo always showed 10 mph more than the actual speed but I think that was due to the none standard but very nice alloys fitted

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/preowned/pre...

My new Caterham has a 6 speed box and it has taken me some to get used to it in that I keep selecting 5th instead of 3rd but I had the same initial problem with a Cooper S and I eventuall mastered that.

Blue7

[SamPet]

Blue 7, you Cat is beautiful, although I'm not a huge fan of the wheels (but each to their own, alot of people hate my wheels on my Golf)

Do you mind me asking why you sold it?

[5pen]

Shaun_E said:

Later R300s had VVC engines. Earlier ones were 1.8 k series with roller barrels.
People make such a big deal about the 6 speed box and touring. Don't forget that a 6 speed car usually has a 3.62 ratio diff. and a 5 speed car usually has a 3.92 ratio diff. Using gearcalc @70mph a 6 speed/3.62 combo is 3918 rpm in 6th and a 5 speed/3.92 combo is 3500rpm in 5th. @80 mph it is 4478 vs 4000. 500 rpm isn't that big a jump and to be honest, at those speeds, wind and road noise will pretty much drown out the engine noise. You should really wear ear plugs for any long distances whatever Caterham you are driving.
I drive several thousand miles a year in a highly tuned Superlight (no carpet, 6 speed, LSD, etc.) and it is fine. If you have a passenger regularly then get an intercom with ear defender headsets or in ear headsets - reduces the noise and lets you talk to each other without shouting.
IMO the choice between 5 and 6 speed is usually a financial one (and nothing wrong with that). If you can afford it though, why not get the 6 speed. Many long term 5 speed owners have their ratios changed at some point to make 1st more usable and get the other gears closer together.
Having said all that a 5 speed won't make the car bad, just different in it's nature.

Completely agree. I no longer have my 7, but if (when!) I get another, a 6-speed gearbox would be a must. My 7 was only a 1.8K with 120bhp, but the 6-speed really made the most of it. My car was used for weekend fun mainly and never did I regret having the short top gear.

How often (even 'touring') are you going to spend any great length of time travelling at 80 on a motorway? It will be necessary occasionally of course, but in my opinion it really isn't a problem.

[ewenm]

5pen said:

Shaun_E said:

Later R300s had VVC engines. Earlier ones were 1.8 k series with roller barrels.
People make such a big deal about the 6 speed box and touring. Don't forget that a 6 speed car usually has a 3.62 ratio diff. and a 5 speed car usually has a 3.92 ratio diff. Using gearcalc @70mph a 6 speed/3.62 combo is 3918 rpm in 6th and a 5 speed/3.92 combo is 3500rpm in 5th. @80 mph it is 4478 vs 4000. 500 rpm isn't that big a jump and to be honest, at those speeds, wind and road noise will pretty much drown out the engine noise. You should really wear ear plugs for any long distances whatever Caterham you are driving.
I drive several thousand miles a year in a highly tuned Superlight (no carpet, 6 speed, LSD, etc.) and it is fine. If you have a passenger regularly then get an intercom with ear defender headsets or in ear headsets - reduces the noise and lets you talk to each other without shouting.
IMO the choice between 5 and 6 speed is usually a financial one (and nothing wrong with that). If you can afford it though, why not get the 6 speed. Many long term 5 speed owners have their ratios changed at some point to make 1st more usable and get the other gears closer together.
Having said all that a 5 speed won't make the car bad, just different in it's nature.

Completely agree. I no longer have my 7, but if (when!) I get another, a 6-speed gearbox would be a must. My 7 was only a 1.8K with 120bhp, but the 6-speed really made the most of it. My car was used for weekend fun mainly and never did I regret having the short top gear.

How often (even 'touring') are you going to spend any great length of time travelling at 80 on a motorway? It will be necessary occasionally of course, but in my opinion it really isn't a problem.

I used to do >10k miles a year in mine and found the marginal difference to be useful. When I get round to it I'm going to re-ratio my 5spd box to give a longer 1st and 2nd and keep 5th where it is (160bhp VVC currently).