Looking for my first Caterham
Discussion
Hello, Recently I've sold my Nissan GTR and now looking to get into Caterham. I plan to use it mostly on track but also on road
Just found this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c... and was wondering if anyone know this car?
And here comes question, what are the differences between new models and 2004? Is chassis, suspension etc the same?
Just found this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c... and was wondering if anyone know this car?
And here comes question, what are the differences between new models and 2004? Is chassis, suspension etc the same?
Edited by stachowij on Friday 7th October 09:00
Edited by stachowij on Friday 7th October 09:05
Edited by stachowij on Friday 7th October 09:18
I don't know the car, but the main differences between it and a current model are the engine and gearbox. Current 1600 Caterhams use Ford Sigma engines which develop 135bhp (or 155) and use a Mazda MX5 gearbox which has closer (but still quite wide) ratios compared with the Ford T9. I don't know where they got the figure of 130mph from, but even without a windscreen you won't get near that, with one it will be even less, and that may be the issue for a car used mainly on the track days. On anything with a vaguely long straight you'll be passed by pretty much everything, even if by virtue of its cornering the Caterham can lap faster. (Caterham claim 122mph for the current 135bhp version, and I suspect that's only true sans windscreen). On the road 120bhp is fine, not in the GTR league, but enough to have a lot fun.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 7th October 09:12
sorry, I pasted wrong link, I am looking at this one http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
stachowij said:
sorry, I pasted wrong link, I am looking at this one http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
Some weapon! I trust you have large gonads. The engine is "current" but obviously in a unique state of tune - but it looks like the gearbox isn't the current Mazda box and a Titan diff rather than the BMW one now fitted.Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 7th October 10:10
This is my car and it would be a fitting replacement for your GTR as you obviously have a fixation for speed.
Its a one off spec car that will give you close to 620r pace (have a look at the Autocar review of the 620r) without the silly price tag.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Carl
Its a one off spec car that will give you close to 620r pace (have a look at the Autocar review of the 620r) without the silly price tag.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Carl
And here comes question, what are the differences between new models and 2004? Is chassis, suspension etc the same?
In answer to the question, all of the running gear, suspension, engine etc are current spec. The dimension of the chassis, pick up points for the suspension etc remain the same since 1989.
I realise the GTR is a very powerful and fast car, but how much experience do you have of incredibly light, quick cars without any driver aids at all?
I'm not saying this car would literally be "too much" for you, but that you might actually find you enjoy something with a bit less power, certainly as you learn to drive a Seven.
I have an R400 (220bhp or so), and any more power on the road would be completely unnecessary and would likely make the car less fun to drive (in fact it would probably be more fun with less power). On track there are of course always times when you want more power, in a Caterham you'll find that above 120mph they always feel slow (relative to performance below 80mph), as the terrible aerodynamics becomes more important than the weight.
It depends of course on your exact experience levels, and what you want to use it for, but I'd think you'd be better going for something lower powered as your first Seven.
I'm not saying this car would literally be "too much" for you, but that you might actually find you enjoy something with a bit less power, certainly as you learn to drive a Seven.
I have an R400 (220bhp or so), and any more power on the road would be completely unnecessary and would likely make the car less fun to drive (in fact it would probably be more fun with less power). On track there are of course always times when you want more power, in a Caterham you'll find that above 120mph they always feel slow (relative to performance below 80mph), as the terrible aerodynamics becomes more important than the weight.
It depends of course on your exact experience levels, and what you want to use it for, but I'd think you'd be better going for something lower powered as your first Seven.
Thank you, that answers my question 
I couldn't find any info online
I couldn't find any info online Hedgetrimmer said:
And here comes question, what are the differences between new models and 2004? Is chassis, suspension etc the same?
In answer to the question, all of the running gear, suspension, engine etc are current spec. The dimension of the chassis, pick up points for the suspension etc remain the same since 1989.
In answer to the question, all of the running gear, suspension, engine etc are current spec. The dimension of the chassis, pick up points for the suspension etc remain the same since 1989.
I emailed you this morning Carl via pistonheads
Hedgetrimmer said:
This is my car and it would be a fitting replacement for your GTR as you obviously have a fixation for speed.
Its a one off spec car that will give you close to 620r pace (have a look at the Autocar review of the 620r) without the silly price tag.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Carl
Its a one off spec car that will give you close to 620r pace (have a look at the Autocar review of the 620r) without the silly price tag.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Carl
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