1.4 super sport or 1.6 road sport

[nosbigkin]

I have about £15000 to spend on a caterham so I've looked at the two engined cars above. Both have 120bhp but I assume with different power deliveries.
I won't be taking it on a track, just generally Sunday morning blats or the odd weekend away.
Which one would suit my needs better?

[Kenneth Danmark]

I own a '96 K-1.6 in standard trim since new, and can warmly recommend it for the purposes you describe. I wonder whether the K-1.4 SS is just as torquey?

[nosbigkin]

Suppose what I'm wondering really is,
Advantages of 1.6 over the 1.4 or visa-versa

[radical78]

standard 1.6 for road use the ss is a revvy race engine

[spanky3]

1600 gives you headroom if you want more power later. Stick a set of cams in and maybe an ECU and you gain 15-20bhp. Getting much more out of the 1400 will be expensive.

[coppice]

1.4 is lovely engine but no real go below 5k . Worth having with six speed box but not 5 speed whose ratios are hopeless for the engine characteristics. 1.6 more torquey- 1.8 even more so.

[rubystone]

coppice said:

1.4 is lovely engine but no real go below 5k . Worth having with six speed box but not 5 speed whose ratios are hopeless for the engine characteristics. 1.6 more torquey- 1.8 even more so.

Indeed. If the 1400 is a 5 speed you'll be very disappointed. Don't buy it in short.