New R500. Conventional or Sequential Box?

[Pugsey]

Thinking of getting one of these. Anyone got views on which box to go for. My thoughts are that on road I'll be glad of the conventional box but on track I'll wish I'd gone sequential. Struggling to decide frankly.

[Pugsey]

Thanks guys. Yep a test drive is a must I think. I'm very used to the sequential box in my Radical and a number of other cars I've raced so know without a doubt that I'll regret it on track if I don't get one BUT I really worry that I might fall out of love with the car over time on road - where the car will get a lot of it use. On the other hand, as some has already said, if I go non sequential it's really 'JUST' a hot R300 or 400 isn't it? I'll get myself a good long on road test I think.

[Pugsey]

fergus said:

BertBert said:

Out of interest, with both a Rad and an R500, how would you decide which to take on a track day?

looking to move into an SR3 next year (to race), but I'd imagine to have fun; the caterham, to go quickly the radical.

That's exactly it - wouldn't take the Rad near a track day, it's just a liabilty. People just don't allow for the braking, entry and cornering speeds it's capable of and you end up very frustrated. Caterham on the other hand can be driven round the 'fun' way - even if sideways isn't quickest, who cares!

[Pugsey]

All interesting comments. My Caterhams are never really purely track cars - I've got other things for that - and need to be reasonably 'friendly' (a relative term I'll grant you!) on long hauls to trackdays, the 'Ring or just a hoon round Scotland/wherever. Think this means I'm going to go normal gearbox............................or maybe not. Bugger, I don't know!

[Pugsey]

I think they (diffs) ARE noisy - or at least more audible - it's just that regular Caterham users become immune! When I got my R400 last year, after a while away from Caterhams, I genuinely thought that there was something amiss with the diff. WHAT a racket. In reality the proximity of diff, gearbox etc - all wrapped up and magnified in a thin echoing 'tin can' - plus no carpets and thin carbon seats just mean that you hear all the noises that are actually probably going on in your M3 or whathaveyou aswell but that you are well insulated from. That's MHO anyway!

[Pugsey]

I'm sure the LC option will be fun but also as far as I'm concerned pretty pointless. Not really in to drag racing and can't really remember the last time I 'went for' a 0-60 time - racing aside of course and even then only the once each race. That apart I've decided to go sequential on the basis that if I'm going for the ultimate Caterham model I might as well go the whole hog. I'm sure I'll regret it on the odd occasion around town but I'm sure the highs will outweigh the lows!

Thanks for all your views guys.

[Pugsey]

DoctorD said:

Pugsey said:

I'm sure the LC option will be fun but also as far as I'm concerned pretty pointless. Not really in to drag racing and can't really remember the last time I 'went for' a 0-60 time - racing aside of course and even then only the once each race.

Thanks for all your views guys.

That was my initial view also, I can't remember the last time I performed a serious standing start outside of a race, but the LC system is a thoroughly clever piece of engineering that works extremely well. Let's face it, most of us blokes like gadgets and LC is the kind of gadget that first of all does exactly what it says on the tin, and secondly can be adjusted to suit your mood and circumstances. With more conventional systems such as on the M3, we were afraid to use them in case the car broke, whereas Caterham's is fully usable.

I could see myself engaging setting '2' and enjoying the full ferocity of the R500's performance off the line, just because you can. I don't know if I would tire of doing so, but there's something quite intriguing about 'knowing' you've just experienced a 3 second 0-60 launch. Gimmick? I don't think so. Gadget? probably. But if I were in Caterham's shoes I would just bundle LC in with the price of the sequential box as just an interesting feature to add to the 'nutty' R500's repetoire. Try it for yourself when you get a chance and see.

Wouldn't argue with any of that and given it's an option that won't exactly break the bank I'm sure I'll spec it. Maybe I'll even use it more than I currently think I will

As an aside - and while we're on gearboxs - I've just tried Porsche's PDK and, for me, felt it was completely out of character with the car (don't know why, just didn't seem to 'fit' with the 911) whereas the F430's F1 box suits the car perfectly. It may be because (again IMHO) the Ferrari feels a much more 'modern' car My point being that I'm going sequential with the R500 because it seems to fit the car. I love slotting home four down shifts for a hairpin while hard on the brakes into what SEEMS like only a couple of yards in the Radical.

[Pugsey]

derestrictor said:

Pugsey, are you sure that a singular mortal coil can cope with all this epic automotive porn wot you seem to be subjecting yourself to?

It's a struggle I can tell you - but I'm giving it a go! Still waiting for that holy grail that will bathe me in the light of understanding and cause me to so "enough, this is it!" I have a feeling I may find it in the shape of a Pitts Special sometime soon................

[Pugsey]

fergus said:

Pugsey said:

derestrictor said:

Pugsey, are you sure that a singular mortal coil can cope with all this epic automotive porn wot you seem to be subjecting yourself to?

It's a struggle I can tell you - but I'm giving it a go! Still waiting for that holy grail that will bathe me in the light of understanding and cause me to so "enough, this is it!" I have a feeling I may find it in the shape of a Pitts Special sometime soon................

you're not going into aerobatics now are you?

I'll need to feed my wallet with whatever yours is fed with!!!

A trifle premature as I'm only just about to get my PPL but yes have already started aerobatics in a small way. Re £s listen, a very nice 'cooking' Pitts can be had for £50k/£60kish. A good serviceable Piper Warrior that will take 4 mates to France and back for lunch - or down to the Italian lakes for a long w/e is only £40k or so. I see my next couple of years being a decent superbike for cheap kicks, decent car for day to day (M3 or similar) and a nice little plane. All for less than a new F430! Went up with a multiple world aerobatics champ the other day - cars? TAME by comparison. And expensive.