Supersport R

[scatty72]

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Evening folks,

Could I ask people’s opinions on the above car. I’ve been to view and bar the stripes I like it. It’s been for sale since sept I think.

I’d kind of had my heart set on a 420r, but this seems to have everything except the 420r badge. I’m just concerned it may be harder to sell on if I didn’t like it compared to a 420. Is it a lesser model?? Or just an older version. Would an r400 be s better buy.. questions questions....

Any opinions and views greatly received... thanks

This is what I had in mind.

[Mike_C]

I'm new to the Caterham world, but doesn't seem a bad price for a 2.0 Duratec car with 220bhp and an LSD! Agree the white stripes need a change, though...

EDIT: although for that price I'd be hard pushed not to go for a CSR260...!

Edited by Mike_C on Monday 23 April 23:19

[anonymous-user]

It looks a good price for what appears to be in reality a R400/420R, as you said.

If I’m right a SS would start at 175bhp? So at some point it’s had a lot of money spent getting it to 220. 210-220 is £3k retro fitted.

It’s got everything you need to go with the 220, so why not?

I wonder, if it’s in all but name an R400 why not badge it as such? Caterham have no problem rebadging 270Rs as 310Rs after a bit of tuning.

Then again, an R400 of that year would have a different dash.

[scatty72]

I had thought about a csr260, but the fact it was older and I like the green one st chapmans but at £40k I thought was slightly overpriced. And hearing folks say it’s not quite the caterham feel.

[framerateuk]

The Supersport R does not have the full Superlight suspension - it's missing the watts linkage at the back.

[scatty72]

I’ve no idea what that means. ;-)

Is that bad or not really..

[anonymous-user]

framerateuk said:

The Supersport R does not have the full Superlight suspension - it's missing the watts linkage at the back.

Yes, of course!

[anonymous-user]

scatty72 said:

I’ve no idea what that means. ;-)

Is that bad or not really..

Its an extra short control arm joined to the main one by a linkage, as shown here during my build.

I believe its meant to make the rear axle move up and down in a straight line as opposed to an arc, but not sure what significant difference it makes.

[sfaulds]

REALIST123 said:

Its an extra short control arm joined to the main one by a linkage, as shown here during my build.

I believe its meant to make the rear axle move up and down in a straight line as opposed to an arc, but not sure what significant difference it makes.

Have you refitted the rearward arm the right way round since then?

[Mike_C]

scatty72 said:

I had thought about a csr260, but the fact it was older and I like the green one st chapmans but at £40k I thought was slightly overpriced. And hearing folks say it’s not quite the caterham feel.

The green CSR260 @ Chapman Cars is a CSR260 Superlight, hence why it's £40k - they do seem to demand a premium for the extra carbon bits.

PT Sports Cars have a lovely yellow CSR260 up at £35-£36k, I test drove it and is a very nice car. I went for a cheaper car as this is my first venture into Caterham world and that amount of cash on a weekend toy felt a bit steep, but that's not to the detriment of the car - if you have £35k-£40k to spend then I'd be considering that.

[anonymous-user]

sfaulds said:

REALIST123 said:

Its an extra short control arm joined to the main one by a linkage, as shown here during my build.

I believe its meant to make the rear axle move up and down in a straight line as opposed to an arc, but not sure what significant difference it makes.

Have you refitted the rearward arm the right way round since then?

Haha! Well spotted! I’d forgotten about that.

I got the other side right first time and could never figure out why I put this one on like that. It was corrected before the wheels went on.

To be fair, other than that, the only real issue I had was doors that I couldn’t get to fit properly. Turned out the two were different sizes!

[BertBert]

framerateuk said:

The Supersport R does not have the full Superlight suspension - it's missing the watts linkage at the back.

Would it have the bush in the chassis to allow the Watt linkage to be retrofitted? Is the DD tube pickup point the same for the Watt setup as the normal radius arm, or would that need a new DD tube?
Bert

[mic]

Looks a nice car. I wouldn't worry about watts link unless your out to break any records.

[framerateuk]

BertBert said:

Would it have the bush in the chassis to allow the Watt linkage to be retrofitted? Is the DD tube pickup point the same for the Watt setup as the normal radius arm, or would that need a new DD tube?
Bert

I was only really aware of the differences since the Supersport 140 was brand new out when I was looking for a 7, and I happened to come across a Roadsport 140 with the Superlight suspension (along with every extra the Supersport had, along with a 6 speed box) - which eventually became my car.

I did a load of reading up on the differences and the watts linkage was the only major difference I could find. No idea if the bush would be there on the Supersport sorry.

[griffchris]

My 2015 420R doesn't have a Watts Linkage - I did enquire at the time of the build and was told radius arms were the way forward, I do recall it being said that whilst the Watts has theoretical advantages, many racers preferred the radius arms.

Does anyone know for a fact that Watts are being currently fitted to 420Rs?

[BigCol]

As an SV, the car in the original post should have a Watt’s Linkages as standard (my 2013 mere 140 SuperSport does!)

[radical78]

all the metric chassis ive seen have the bush fitted

[sfaulds]

All the chassis have the bush as standard, but only 620R's and 420R Racecars (and Donington Editions) are fitted with the Watts as standard now.

[mharris]

Watts link is a fairly easy bolt on kit. Doesn't need any of the de dion changing.
https://caterhamparts.co.uk/watts-linkage/169-watt...


The radius arms have an element of passive rear wheel steer engineered into their geometry. The watts linkage minimises that effect by only allowing the rear wheel to move in the vertical direction (or thereabouts). Of course, rear wheel steer can sometimes be desirable so it will depend on the application.

[V7SLR]

I've ditched the Watts link on my SLR in favour of radius arms.