Which Caterham for £30k?

[Dick Seaman]

Hello
Looking for a car for weekend road use and occasional track use. Budget of £30k.
Have had my heart set on a new R300 Duratec, but having seen these two I'm not so sure.....

JPE: Too hardcore? Too old and temperamental?
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1867033.htm

CSR200: Suit mainly road use? Less 'fun' than a Superlight?
http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/preowned/pre...

Thanks for any advice.

[BertBert]

Can you expand on what you are looking for from a caterham and why you came to settle on 30k? That'd help us make lots of biased comments to help

Bert

[Dick Seaman]

Why £30k? I think because that's about the cost of a new R300 and that's what I've been lusting after since they were launched. Also I can't justify spending any more than that on a toy, not without fear of the wife reaping retail revenge.

I'm really after something for weekend blasts. One hour fun drives around the Isle of Wight. I've had an Exige in the past, and loved it, but really fancy something more raw and visceral. I have an old Esprit too, which is great, but it's getting on a bit, so it's driven with careful enthusiasm.

[DaveK-S1]

If its mainly Road use i'd go with the CSR, Not quite as intimate as an S3 chassis, but all the better for it.

[BertBert]

So the CSR is the fatboy chassis, so you'll need to decide which size you want, that or the svelte S3.

Then you'll need to decide which feels better to you on the road, so you'll need to drive both.

Then you'll need to decide which engine you prefer, the 2.3 200bhp or the 2.0 175 bhp. You'll need a test drive again.

The caterham range isn't very obvious when you compare the CSR with the S3. I feel (although it's just a feeling) that the CSR's more sophisticated suspension is redundant. I'm not sure what place it has in society. It doesn't seem to be completely mainstream.

Regarding the JPE, that's not likely to be a sensible option. It's a lot of money because it is such low mileage. If you use it, the value will drop. I'd dispense with that idea, it's a bit of a relic.

My advice, stick with plan A - the R300.

HTH
Bert

[timrw81]

If you've had an Exige, you're gonna understand what these cars are about, and I reckon you'll come to the conclusion that with the R300 you're getting a lot of car for the money.

Loads of lovely torque, a chassis and suspension that provides delicious adjustability when you're steering on the throttle, and reliability. I'd advise the R300 too.

Good luck!

[Atomic Gibbon]

IMO Duratec R400.

After that, R300. The SV chassis is very capable, but IMO it is too capable, in that to get the fun factor, you need to be cornering more quikly that i am willing to on public roads.

[1st_petrolhead]

Atomic Gibbon said:

The SV chassis is very capable, but IMO it is too capable, in that to get the fun factor, you need to be cornering more quikly that i am willing to on public roads.

I think you mean the CSR chassis.

[Murph7355]

Try an S3 chassis as well as a fatboy one.

I'm far from small (6'4" and have weighed up to 18.5st), but wouldn't give you a thank you for the bigger chassis. Too big IMO. One of the joys of 7 ownership is the intimacy you get, feeling part of the car. To me, some of this is lost with the bigger car.

With 30k to spunk, I'd be looking at something more than an R300 - something with R400 power levels is spot on IMO.

[huwdm]

I agree - I have just bought an R400 Duratec - whilst you will likely need patience or luck to find one it will be worth the wait. Best car I have ever driven on the road - first track visit next month.

[rdodger]

A mint K series R500 with around 5k in reserve for engine/gearbox/diff refresh.

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/preowned/pre...

Edited by rdodger on Wednesday 21st July 18:17

[keechy]

I have a r500 k and it is amazing for about an hour then you just need to stretch your legs. Been there done that the choice for me would be a nice 260.

[keechy]

I have a r500 k and it is amazing for about an hour then you just need to stretch your legs. Been there done that the choice for me would be a nice 260.