Best Caterham for me ...
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I am looking to buy a real track day car
but unsure of what to buy!
My budget is up to 15k.
Having never really driven Caterham's, I am unsure of what suspension/brakes etc I should be looking for? Maybe I am best looking for something that has been modified already for proper track day use? What engine should I go for? I am thinking min 1.8 (140 bhp?) I see there is also a fireblade caterham for sale on here, what kind of performance should I expect from that car? What does everyone think of the motorbike engine in these cars???
Sorry for all the questions!!
Cheers
Rich
I am looking to buy a real track day car
but unsure of what to buy! My budget is up to 15k.
Having never really driven Caterham's, I am unsure of what suspension/brakes etc I should be looking for? Maybe I am best looking for something that has been modified already for proper track day use? What engine should I go for? I am thinking min 1.8 (140 bhp?) I see there is also a fireblade caterham for sale on here, what kind of performance should I expect from that car? What does everyone think of the motorbike engine in these cars???
Sorry for all the questions!!
Cheers
Rich
I would look for a Superlight.
Standard specification includes:
135bhp 1.6 Supersport engine
6 speed gearbox
widetrack front suspension
adjustable spring platforms
LSD
vented AP 4 pot front brakes
some carbon bits (front wings, nosecone, dash, poss. rear wings)
i.e. a bunch of things you'd end up upgrading to at some point. If you can find a Roadsport that had been upgraded to that spec then that would be suitable too. £15k should get you a good private sale Superlight. This one is a good specification.
N.B. I started with a 1997 Superlight and have upgraded engine, suspension, wheels etc. so you'll still want to change stuff - upgraditus cannot be cured
One thing to think about is that if you want to upgrade the engine at a later date, you need to think about emissions - a pre August 1998 kit built car is visibile smoke only! Later cars will have to pass a catalyst test.
The fireblade car would be great on track - other than that I have no knowledge of the BECs.
>> Edited by Shaun_E on Tuesday 11th April 15:42
Standard specification includes:
135bhp 1.6 Supersport engine
6 speed gearbox
widetrack front suspension
adjustable spring platforms
LSD
vented AP 4 pot front brakes
some carbon bits (front wings, nosecone, dash, poss. rear wings)
i.e. a bunch of things you'd end up upgrading to at some point. If you can find a Roadsport that had been upgraded to that spec then that would be suitable too. £15k should get you a good private sale Superlight. This one is a good specification.
N.B. I started with a 1997 Superlight and have upgraded engine, suspension, wheels etc. so you'll still want to change stuff - upgraditus cannot be cured
One thing to think about is that if you want to upgrade the engine at a later date, you need to think about emissions - a pre August 1998 kit built car is visibile smoke only! Later cars will have to pass a catalyst test.
The fireblade car would be great on track - other than that I have no knowledge of the BECs.
>> Edited by Shaun_E on Tuesday 11th April 15:42
Agreed a Superlight would seem to fit very nicely within your specifications. No real need to upgrade much on it for track use because as Shaun says, so many bits are already upgraded specification. You need a mimimum of an Anti-Cavitation oil tank (Apollo tank)for serious track use and this wasn't standard on the Superlight. Dry sump is a must if you are going to put slicks on or are planning to live on the circuit.
1.6SS engine can be upgraded to Supersport R spec by Caterham which basically makes it almost an R300 (160 bhp).
I have one of these and it is great, and I have driven a lot of the rest of the Caterham range.
1.6SS engine can be upgraded to Supersport R spec by Caterham which basically makes it almost an R300 (160 bhp).
I have one of these and it is great, and I have driven a lot of the rest of the Caterham range.
Now join the club: www.lotus7club.co.uk/7subs.htm which will allow you access to Blatchat
pic here: www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/trackdays2005/rockingham1/Picture%20049.jpg
some movies here, mainly 2nd movie down (we both had zero grip): www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/trackdays2005/trackdays2005_snet1.html
as a bit of an amateur suspension guru, he's done a lot of work on the handling, former R500 owner (one of the early adopters) so he knows plenty about sevens and how they shoudl handle etc. We used to have lots of fun going round together... nothing in it straight line wise with me in my 220bhp Duratec Cat.
some movies here, mainly 2nd movie down (we both had zero grip): www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/trackdays2005/trackdays2005_snet1.html
as a bit of an amateur suspension guru, he's done a lot of work on the handling, former R500 owner (one of the early adopters) so he knows plenty about sevens and how they shoudl handle etc. We used to have lots of fun going round together... nothing in it straight line wise with me in my 220bhp Duratec Cat.
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