SR3 maintenance costs
Discussion
would anyone be able to tell me approximately how much it would cost to keep this 2010 SR3 in good working order?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
- not for any kind of competition
- track days only - lets say twice a month, for the 8 months of the year when UK weather doesn't suck.
- cost of converting this to road legal status so i could drive it to tracks in UK rather than having to trailer it around.
- excluding tyres + fuel, purely focusing on mechanicals - engine, transmission, suspension
- obviously it depends on how hard its being driven etc... lets go for an average...
any ideas at all? i did google it but information seems sparse around the web.
also is the car i've linked to actually road legal? I can't tell, i don't know if those are just headlight 'covers' or blanked out.
thanks
EDIT...looks like i'd need an SR3 SL to be able to do what i wanted, and seems like they are outside my budget of 30k. oh well.
i wonder how much it would cost to convert the above to road legal use.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
- not for any kind of competition
- track days only - lets say twice a month, for the 8 months of the year when UK weather doesn't suck.
- cost of converting this to road legal status so i could drive it to tracks in UK rather than having to trailer it around.
- excluding tyres + fuel, purely focusing on mechanicals - engine, transmission, suspension
- obviously it depends on how hard its being driven etc... lets go for an average...
any ideas at all? i did google it but information seems sparse around the web.
also is the car i've linked to actually road legal? I can't tell, i don't know if those are just headlight 'covers' or blanked out.
thanks
EDIT...looks like i'd need an SR3 SL to be able to do what i wanted, and seems like they are outside my budget of 30k. oh well.
i wonder how much it would cost to convert the above to road legal use.
Edited by wioifoiee on Thursday 3rd May 20:51
I bought my SR3RS as an ultimate track day car and did 4 trackdays in it. First time out was at Bedford, where I spent several hours trying to make it quiet enough to pass the noise test. It never really passed the test, but judicious use of the throttle around the noise meters kept me on track after the organisers took pity on me and got me out on track. 2nd time was at Malory, where noise didn’t seem to be a problem. 3rd time was at Combe, where I couldn’t get anywhere near passing the noise test, but the torrential rain and empty track, with help from the TDO got me out, along with a promise not to give it too many revs got me on track. 4th time was at Donington, where keeping off the throttle near the noise meters kept me on track. All of those days were with a “quiet” Radical exhaust fitted (they aren’t quiet).
You can work out from that, that whilst an SR3 is in my opinion the ultimate trackday car, that assumes that you can get it on track. My issues were 4 years ago, and noise issues are more of a problem now, than they were then.
Eventually, I just went racing instead.
As for driving it to and from Trackdays, unless you are superman or have an extraordinarily high pain threshold, I would guarantee that you never did it twice, so making a racing car road legal isn’t really an option, even if practically you could do it.
You would love the car on track, but realistically, if you want a pretty good road legal track car, you would be much better off with an Atom or a Caterham.
Hope this helps.
You can work out from that, that whilst an SR3 is in my opinion the ultimate trackday car, that assumes that you can get it on track. My issues were 4 years ago, and noise issues are more of a problem now, than they were then.
Eventually, I just went racing instead.
As for driving it to and from Trackdays, unless you are superman or have an extraordinarily high pain threshold, I would guarantee that you never did it twice, so making a racing car road legal isn’t really an option, even if practically you could do it.
You would love the car on track, but realistically, if you want a pretty good road legal track car, you would be much better off with an Atom or a Caterham.
Hope this helps.
People do it, but my experience of track days in a Radical is of utter pain and frustration! I recommend against.
However, if you didn't want to compete, you could get a race licence and do test days. Much more sensible.
As for the road, as described ,don't bother. The SR3 works flat out, it is a vile thing on the road. Yes I know, now an army of people will come along and say how great it is, but really, it's not.
So go do test days. Then you have a licence...maybe just the odd race or two
Bert
However, if you didn't want to compete, you could get a race licence and do test days. Much more sensible.
As for the road, as described ,don't bother. The SR3 works flat out, it is a vile thing on the road. Yes I know, now an army of people will come along and say how great it is, but really, it's not.
So go do test days. Then you have a licence...maybe just the odd race or two
Bert
I have run Radicals on track days for the last 10 years starting with a Clubsport and now on my second SR3.
My comments would be forget about one on the road, firstly it will be very uncomfortable and secondly the damage that our pot hole
covered roads would do would be expensive.
An SR3 for track days need not be to expensive.
I would recommend a 1340 engine as maintenance will be much less without the extra strain that a 1500 puts on all of the components.
My first SR3 was a 1300 which did over 200 hours on track before needing a rebuild whereas my current 1500 is rebuilt every 60 hours.
We have broken or worn gears on the 1500 whereas the 1300 was never a problem.
Consumables need not be expensive for regular oil and filter changes and for track days try and get in contact with one of the racers who put new tires on their cars to get lap times as their old tires will do perfectly well for track days.
Give the car a full spanner check before each outing and you shouldn't suffer lost days due to unrealiabiity.
If you don't feel confident about the car get one of the teams that run these cars ( such as Puremotion motorsport ) to give the car a thorough going over before your first time out to ensure it is right from the start.
The paddle shift is also much kinder to the gearbox than manual shifting by the way.
I don't know where you are based but I am in Kent and if you want to chat about owning a Radical let me know.
David.
My comments would be forget about one on the road, firstly it will be very uncomfortable and secondly the damage that our pot hole
covered roads would do would be expensive.
An SR3 for track days need not be to expensive.
I would recommend a 1340 engine as maintenance will be much less without the extra strain that a 1500 puts on all of the components.
My first SR3 was a 1300 which did over 200 hours on track before needing a rebuild whereas my current 1500 is rebuilt every 60 hours.
We have broken or worn gears on the 1500 whereas the 1300 was never a problem.
Consumables need not be expensive for regular oil and filter changes and for track days try and get in contact with one of the racers who put new tires on their cars to get lap times as their old tires will do perfectly well for track days.
Give the car a full spanner check before each outing and you shouldn't suffer lost days due to unrealiabiity.
If you don't feel confident about the car get one of the teams that run these cars ( such as Puremotion motorsport ) to give the car a thorough going over before your first time out to ensure it is right from the start.
The paddle shift is also much kinder to the gearbox than manual shifting by the way.
I don't know where you are based but I am in Kent and if you want to chat about owning a Radical let me know.
David.
I’ve had my 1300 for 7 years and would echo what’s been said above about running costs being significantly cheaper than the 1500. I think they are quieter than the 1500s too. I’ve not tried Bedford yet but with the “quiet” pipe on I’ve not had any issues. I have a supertrapp just in case and will try Bedford one day.
Mine is road legal so has done a lot more miles than a track only car would have done too, just not flat out everywhere which would clearly make a difference.
And it is fun on the road. Really it is. Just not everyone’s cup of tea, which is fine too.
Mine is road legal so has done a lot more miles than a track only car would have done too, just not flat out everywhere which would clearly make a difference.
And it is fun on the road. Really it is. Just not everyone’s cup of tea, which is fine too.
dh00065p said:
I have run Radicals on track days for the last 10 years starting with a Clubsport and now on my second SR3.
My comments would be forget about one on the road, firstly it will be very uncomfortable and secondly the damage that our pot hole
covered roads would do would be expensive.
An SR3 for track days need not be to expensive.
I would recommend a 1340 engine as maintenance will be much less without the extra strain that a 1500 puts on all of the components.
My first SR3 was a 1300 which did over 200 hours on track before needing a rebuild whereas my current 1500 is rebuilt every 60 hours.
We have broken or worn gears on the 1500 whereas the 1300 was never a problem.
Consumables need not be expensive for regular oil and filter changes and for track days try and get in contact with one of the racers who put new tires on their cars to get lap times as their old tires will do perfectly well for track days.
Give the car a full spanner check before each outing and you shouldn't suffer lost days due to unrealiabiity.
If you don't feel confident about the car get one of the teams that run these cars ( such as Puremotion motorsport ) to give the car a thorough going over before your first time out to ensure it is right from the start.
The paddle shift is also much kinder to the gearbox than manual shifting by the way.
I don't know where you are based but I am in Kent and if you want to chat about owning a Radical let me know.
David.
Hi David,My comments would be forget about one on the road, firstly it will be very uncomfortable and secondly the damage that our pot hole
covered roads would do would be expensive.
An SR3 for track days need not be to expensive.
I would recommend a 1340 engine as maintenance will be much less without the extra strain that a 1500 puts on all of the components.
My first SR3 was a 1300 which did over 200 hours on track before needing a rebuild whereas my current 1500 is rebuilt every 60 hours.
We have broken or worn gears on the 1500 whereas the 1300 was never a problem.
Consumables need not be expensive for regular oil and filter changes and for track days try and get in contact with one of the racers who put new tires on their cars to get lap times as their old tires will do perfectly well for track days.
Give the car a full spanner check before each outing and you shouldn't suffer lost days due to unrealiabiity.
If you don't feel confident about the car get one of the teams that run these cars ( such as Puremotion motorsport ) to give the car a thorough going over before your first time out to ensure it is right from the start.
The paddle shift is also much kinder to the gearbox than manual shifting by the way.
I don't know where you are based but I am in Kent and if you want to chat about owning a Radical let me know.
David.
I just came across your post from a couple of years back.
I’m currently running a track-prepped M2 Competition for general track days and after a passenger ride in my mate’s SR1 I’m now interested in exploring a move to a Radical.
If you do get this message it would be great to have a conversation with you to find out more about owning one.
Cheers,
Karl
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