Did I just buy the wrong car?

[bosshog]

So first day of owning a R400 and I think I have bought the wrong car ! It feels like it should be on a smooth racetrack and not on bumpy b roads. It pummelling my spine - it’s got Nitrons NTR1 and I have it nearly set to the softest setting with no avail. The noise coming from the LSD/diff is frankly ridiculous (I read tadts). With the side doors on the interior is consumed with fumes and I stink after and I hate to think what I’m breathing in. The dry sump is what 70-80mm off the floor and one miss-place stone on a country lane and it’s gonna be toast.
Very disappointing first day tbh.
I think I should have gone for a much more road spec - anyone wanna swap ? . I’ll give it few more weekends but I think it’ll be up sale quickly .

(Coming from an Exige V6)

[hidetheelephants]

It does sound like a very track-orientated set-up. The doors being flappy and useless is a feature of the product IIRC although the exhaust may need an extension if you're breathing it. My brother's one had the outlet slightly beyond the width of the rear wheel arch, which looked silly but got rid of the gases.

[bosshog]

The previous owner used an an aero screen with a lid ,map probably never noticed the fumes. However I don’t want to wear a lid . It’s a k series vphd with no cat so probably running rich a little . Either way I hate to think what I’m breathing in. It not sustainable.

[cliffords]

Did you test drive the car before you bought it . Did it have the fumes then, the harsh ride and the diff noise ?
I am absolutely not poking at you by the way just interested how you got here .

[V7SLR]

I have a K-Series VHPD Superlight R, the predecessor to the R400, similarly running Nitron NTR1s, dry sump and ground clearance set to 79mm.

I suspect that’s where the similarity ends, definitely no exhaust fumes in the cabin and it’s a pleasure on fast B roads, in fact comfy and predictable enough that I’ve done 600 mile days touring Europe and still want more.

Could your fumes issue by an oil catch can mounted on the engine side of the front bulkhead? That’s a common cause of bad gases in the cockpit.

Also maybe you need a proper chassis setup to suit your intended use, small changes can make a big difference to how the car behaves.

There’s always the possibility though that Caterhams simply aren’t for you, it does happen.

[Panamax]

bosshog said:

So first day of owning a R400 and I think I have bought the wrong car !
Coming from an Exige V6

Two possibilities IMO,
1. Just move it on.
2. Get straight down to some serious modifications.

Maybe I'm just a wuss, but I'd be looking at Option 1. Principally because Exige V6 is/was a real car and I'm not sure a Caterham R400 would ever get near to that experience on the road.

[Stan_brook]

Just bought an R300 as first Caterham and wondering if I went hardcore enough 🤔 🤦🏻