Looking for a Superlight R300

[Dick Seaman]

But there doesn't seem to be many about.

Am I looking in all the right places? Caterham website, PH, Autocar, Millwood. Any other suggestions?


I'm hoping to find a well spec'ed Duratec, but have also been looking at K-Series cars.
Would appreciate any opinions on the following cars;

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986286.htm

or is this one worth £10k more?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2429083.htm


Will be mainly using the car for weekend fun and occasional tracking (4/5 times per year).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[pat the plumber]

what about this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2848341.htm Duratec, but with the fancy Freestyle suspension, and in the middle as finaces go.

[PiersR]

After I bought my R300 K last year, I tried to find out on BC how many Rover powered cars were made and the result was in the region of 130 cars. This may not be 100% correct, but supply is limited of the K series and they are holding their price very well. Buying a R300 Ford powered car is difficult as they are thin on the ground and expensive.

[Dick Seaman]

pat the plumber said:

what about this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2848341.htm Duratec, but with the fancy Freestyle suspension, and in the middle as finaces go.

That's an interesting one Pat, cheers. I don't know much about the Freestyle ones, only that they improved the ride, made the car more planted over bumps, in a similar way to the CSR. I think I want to experience a 'genuine' Caterham set-up though, if it's a bit more nervous and jumpy then I'll get used to that. If it doesn't suit longer term I can change or modify then.

I've only been in a Caterham once, for a 30 minute passenger ride in a CSR 260 on the road, that was a few years ago but it left a lasting impression. Brutal. Made the Exige I had at the time seem very tame.

[Dick Seaman]

PiersR said:

After I bought my R300 K last year, I tried to find out on BC how many Rover powered cars were made and the result was in the region of 130 cars. This may not be 100% correct, but supply is limited of the K series and they are holding their price very well. Buying a R300 Ford powered car is difficult as they are thin on the ground and expensive.

Thanks for the info Piers. Quite surprised at that, thought they would have made more. That certainly explains why there's so few for sale!

I'm leaning more towards a R300 K Series I think. I quite enjoy having to work the engine a bit to make progress, and I think that suits the character of the car. I'm prepared to wait for a decent one to come along. Cheers.

[AtomMan]

Don't discount the original Superlight - bit cheaper and arguably a better all round package. You lose 22bhp but fractionally lighter I think? Otherwise it is identical..

[PiersR]

Yes, the SuperLight is great too, but an original unmolested R300 will hold its value better. Look in the PH forsale adds and highly modified cars seem to be much slower to sell. There have been a few there for six months +

There is also the Superlight R that has 180 BHP and they are few and far between. They are very sought after.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Hi,

I just picked up a R300, tuned to R400 spec for £18k ish. Bought it on Wednesday, did my first track day on Saturday - absolutely thrilled to bits with it. See here http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2843583.htm

No need to pay more than £17 to £18k, just be patient.

Best of luck.

[AtomMan]

[quote=PiersR]Yes, the SuperLight is great too, but an original unmolested R300 will hold its value better. Look in the PH forsale adds and highly modified cars seem to be much slower to sell. There have been a few there for six months +

There is also the Superlight R that has 180 BHP and they are few and far between. They are very sought after.quote]

Not sure that is true-standard superlights are older but good road cars barely drop below 15k. Easy Job to get r300 power too. R300s were early 20ks..

[Dick Seaman]

Cool Hand Luke said:

Hi,

I just picked up a R300, tuned to R400 spec for £18k ish. Bought it on Wednesday, did my first track day on Saturday - absolutely thrilled to bits with it. See here http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2843583.htm

No need to pay more than £17 to £18k, just be patient.

Best of luck.

Nice one CHL, that looks like a fantastic car.
This advert has recently expired, but I'd be interested to hear what you think of this one;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986286.htm
Cheers

[rubystone]

PiersR said:

There is also the Superlight R that has 180 BHP and they are few and far between. They are very sought after.

Not ones with 10 bhp less than they left the factory with

The DR300 is a superb car. We put my K R500 up against a D R300 and a K R300 at Brands a few years ago for a Track and Racecar magazine feature. The D R300 was a peach and (I hate to say it) a far more driver-friendly trackday car than my K R 500. It has a decent spread of torque, yet an engine that still likes to rev - a totally different experience to a K with anything more than 140 bhp.

I would spend your money on a DR300. Or if you just want to drive in the roads, settle for a decent Superlight.

ETA that a Superlight is a cast iron investment, I can't speak for a K R300 - never owned one....

[Cool Hand Luke]

Dick Seaman said:

Nice one CHL, that looks like a fantastic car.
This advert has recently expired, but I'd be interested to hear what you think of this one;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986286.htm
Cheers

That looks good value as well. Newer than mine, but slightly higher miles although still very very low. I liked the idea of a roll cage, as it stiffens the whole car up, and is required on ot trac days if you want to run slicks.

The stack instrument panel looks lovely. Like I said before, £18k ish should get you something really nice.

I personally wouldn't pay the extra for a Duratec, its a heavier lump to start with, and the K Series just loves to rev.

[renmure]

I paid about £18K for a top spec, low miles, 2003, R300 Superlight earlier this summer that was advertised on PH.
I think the prices are fairly firm around the £18-20k mark (give or take a bit) since they are really fairly depreciation proof and desirable.

Personally, I am not overly keen on the stack dash but otherwise this one (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986286.htm) looks a nice car for the money.

[Lungauer]

I might have an R300 for sale if you're still looking. I say might because I haven't fully made up my mind to sell yet (see recent thread on Blat Chat)!

It's a 55 plate K series in Kawasaki Green with LSD, dry sump and all the bells & whistles. Only 9000 odd miles, never tracked or used in the rain - lives in the garage under a car cover. I would think I'd be looking for £19,000.

[rubystone]

An old mate of mine, despite the advice of many of us, seems determined to sell his R300 SV. If you are interested, pm me and I will supply details of this molly-coddled, heated garaged, high spec child substitute....

[Dick Seaman]

Lungauer said:

I might have an R300 for sale if you're still looking. I say might because I haven't fully made up my mind to sell yet (see recent thread on Blat Chat)!

It's a 55 plate K series in Kawasaki Green with LSD, dry sump and all the bells & whistles. Only 9000 odd miles, never tracked or used in the rain - lives in the garage under a car cover. I would think I'd be looking for £19,000.

Thanks for that Lungauer. Spec sounds ideal, although not sure I could live with that green if it's the shade I think it is, please post a pic if you have one easily available. Colour choice is totally subjective, but in my mind's eye I'm leaning towards Caterham orange, BRG/yellow, or just plain yellow.

[Dick Seaman]

rubystone said:

An old mate of mine, despite the advice of many of us, seems determined to sell his R300 SV. If you are interested, pm me and I will supply details of this molly-coddled, heated garaged, high spec child substitute....

Thank you Rubystone. I hadn't really considered a wider one, could be an option though, I don't need the extra space myself but have plenty of potential passengers who would. I'll send a pm.

[Lungauer]

Hi Dick,

My previous one was McLaren Orange. Prefer this one, but as you say it's all subjective. Not sure how to post a pic, but here goes...

Edited by Lungauer on Monday 22 August 15:09

[ghibbett]

^^^ I've got nothing to add to this post other than to say that that looks fantastic.

[Lungauer]

Well thank you