first caterham wannabee questions
Discussion
Hello everyone. I am Dutch, and I am looking for a Caterham 7. I have been an avid Nürburgring rider for 30 years, but unfortunately motorcycles are now banned and I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms, so I want to try it on four wheels. Since there are exactly two Caterhams for sale in my country, and buying one from England would be an expensive nightmare to import, I am looking in Germany. Prices are high right now; for instance, a 2005 Caterham K Series 1.6 costs about 30,000 euros. And since these are private sales without guarantees or assurances, I am doing my research thoroughly. I have two questions about older Caterhams: what should I look out for with an older Caterham regarding wear and tear and minor issues? And secondly, if, for example, I buy a 2004 K-Series 1600 with low mileage and I want to ride it on tracks a lot, do I need to replace a lot compared to the standard equipment? I understand that shock absorbers and brakes can always be improved and that is no problem, but is the list of must-do upgrades long or is the car track bulletproof? I come from supersport motorcycles with over 200 hp on the Nürburgring, but I have zero experience with four wheels except doing 1 lap over the nurburgring when it rained in my old merceded c220 diesel going grannypace . so i have no idea but m gonna learn
Motorbikes are banned from tourist laps, but there are other options. I have booked two days with Motorrad magazine in July.
Otherwise I like your idea. If I could advise you of anything, it would be to get some limit driver training in a Caterham before you tackle the Nordschleife… or you accept that you will drive it sub limit around there.
Otherwise I like your idea. If I could advise you of anything, it would be to get some limit driver training in a Caterham before you tackle the Nordschleife… or you accept that you will drive it sub limit around there.
yes i also booked 2 days , but with the docsholl organisation , lets hope we both get dry days ! yes i am planning to do courses , and i will do them before i hit the nordschleife because i know nothing bout 4 wheels and im better off learning it the right way before developing wrong or bad habits .
Glad to hear that. I think you will have speed perception and throttle control advantages coming from your bike riding experience.
I am also looking to buy a Caterham in Germany, for just general driving fun, rather than track focus. I live in a good driving area, with good weather and I drove the old rover engined ones, with the six speed gearbox on track a lot and really enjoyed it. I have too many motorbikes though and the Caterham prices in Germany seem high for what is a toy.
Maybe our paths will cross at some point, who knows!
I am also looking to buy a Caterham in Germany, for just general driving fun, rather than track focus. I live in a good driving area, with good weather and I drove the old rover engined ones, with the six speed gearbox on track a lot and really enjoyed it. I have too many motorbikes though and the Caterham prices in Germany seem high for what is a toy.
Maybe our paths will cross at some point, who knows!
It sounds like you’re going to have some great fun!
Q1 the great advantage of all older cars is that not only have the problems been found, but also the solutions. The K series engine had some issues (head gasket etc) but there is now a lot of specialist knowledge on how to solve this
Q2 I guess a 2005 Caterham came with Bilstein dampers. Which depending on use may have been replaced/ need replacing. You can of course transform a car with better brakes and dampers, but, the standard ones are all good for track use. I race a Caterham on standard dampers and with pads from a Ford Escort on the rear (would like to invest in better dampers when funds allow)
Enjoy learning how to use it
Q1 the great advantage of all older cars is that not only have the problems been found, but also the solutions. The K series engine had some issues (head gasket etc) but there is now a lot of specialist knowledge on how to solve this
Q2 I guess a 2005 Caterham came with Bilstein dampers. Which depending on use may have been replaced/ need replacing. You can of course transform a car with better brakes and dampers, but, the standard ones are all good for track use. I race a Caterham on standard dampers and with pads from a Ford Escort on the rear (would like to invest in better dampers when funds allow)
Enjoy learning how to use it
womblecate tnx for your input . i thought so about suspension , how about the gearboxes and diffs , they last or when semi-raced need a lot of attention or repacement you think ? do you think the radiator/cooling system stock in a k series can coop with the heat or is that something that needs upgrading too ?
kawasicki are you german biker then ? if so then our paths probably already crossed , i was mostly racing ducatis , and im a short bald dutch guy )
kawasicki are you german biker then ? if so then our paths probably already crossed , i was mostly racing ducatis , and im a short bald dutch guy )
ferr said:
kawasicki are you german biker then ? if so then our paths probably already crossed , i was mostly racing ducatis , and im a short bald dutch guy )
No, I’m not German, I’m Irish… but haven’t lived there for well over 30 years. I live in southern Germany, I’ve done no motorbike racing and a little bit of car racing, at the Nürburgring. My job, vehicle dynamics tuning, had me working there a lot too.I have an old Ducati 999 that I am planning to ride at the Ring! I also did a fun side “gig” for Ducati Germany, running in their press bikes, so I have ridden a few of the modern ones also.
I’m sorry, but, the answer on diffs and gearbox has to be “depends”.
Mostly they’re bullet proof considering the very low loads you’re putting them through. Aside from sequential boxes they are simple and cheap to rebuild.
I only have experience with a Ford box and BMW diff. The former has pounded round track for years, yet, needed two rebuilds last year. We checked the diff torque last weekend and after years it’s still at the upper limit of what some classes would allow.
Mostly they’re bullet proof considering the very low loads you’re putting them through. Aside from sequential boxes they are simple and cheap to rebuild.
I only have experience with a Ford box and BMW diff. The former has pounded round track for years, yet, needed two rebuilds last year. We checked the diff torque last weekend and after years it’s still at the upper limit of what some classes would allow.
https://youtu.be/lY90DSXOLj8?si=fpl0Bl93TXKwV7Rj
I was at the Ring a couple of weeks ago in my 1.6K Supersport - 135bhp. No issues at all with cooling, and it was very warm, around 28 degrees! I have the standard radiator on my car. In terms of brakes, I have the 4-pot/vented disk setup on the front, standard brakes on the rear - Ferodo DS2500 pads all round. To be honest, you'd be fine with the standard brakes. Coming from bikes, I think you'll miss the straight line speed, especially on the long uphill drag out of Bergwerk - the Caterham aerodynamics don't help either
I was at the Ring a couple of weeks ago in my 1.6K Supersport - 135bhp. No issues at all with cooling, and it was very warm, around 28 degrees! I have the standard radiator on my car. In terms of brakes, I have the 4-pot/vented disk setup on the front, standard brakes on the rear - Ferodo DS2500 pads all round. To be honest, you'd be fine with the standard brakes. Coming from bikes, I think you'll miss the straight line speed, especially on the long uphill drag out of Bergwerk - the Caterham aerodynamics don't help either
i watched your video forzagilles , nice lap ( thought you almost lost it at hatzenbach lol ) . so you have a stock supersport 1.6 k series minus upgraded brakes ? what i noticed is that most onboards you hear a diff or a gearbox singing ( dont knwo wich ) but yours doesnt have that .
i know i will miss the bike speed but it is what it is . im new to 4 wheels and i got a feeling being so low to the ground at the ring , it will feel faster , besides i lived for the ring in summer for half my life , and now we are banned , and im sick of still going there to sit with my ringbuddys in leathers watching cars at brunchen . so im keen to buy , learn and become faster .
i know i will miss the bike speed but it is what it is . im new to 4 wheels and i got a feeling being so low to the ground at the ring , it will feel faster , besides i lived for the ring in summer for half my life , and now we are banned , and im sick of still going there to sit with my ringbuddys in leathers watching cars at brunchen . so im keen to buy , learn and become faster .
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