What is the difference between.........

[smifffymoto]

a R300 and a R500,apart from the power.
Is it more cost efficient to buy a R300 and get it tuned to R500 levels of performance or is that just overkill for French mountain roads.

[Angus7]

Have a look at the Caterham website for the differences.

If you still cannot decide you could always split the difference and go for an R400 .....

Angus

[Dave J]

about £7000 of engine parts if you do it yourself.
compared to a speced up R300 the R500 actually represents quite good value for money.
compared to the cheapest model or a starter kit it doesn't.

[JeffC]

Angus7 said:

Have a look at the Caterham website for the differences.

If you still cannot decide you could always split the difference and go for an R400 .....

Angus

good advice Ive had both a 260bhp and a 300bhp caterham and currently own a 210bhp r400d which I bought with the intention of tuning but after using on road and track , to my surprise I really dont think I will bother, its the best all rounder i have owned, more than quick enough for both road and track.

[smifffymoto]

By difference I was meaning chassis,set up etc...

Funnily enough I am more interested in the r400 because it is the half way,best of both world model.

[JeffC]

I spoke to caterham when i started looking for a car to ask what the difference between a superlight chassis and standard chassis as I was looking at a kit built car and they told me they were the same, it was just the bits that were bolted on that could be different ?

Im no expert but wouldn't think there will be a lot between an R300 and R400 other than the motor, the R500 will prob have a different diff ratio, mine has a 3.9 and tops out just shy of 130mph where as the R500 will be quicker. Ive noticed the dash seems different in the R500s ive seen but not sure if that is optional ?

[dukest]

I was told when enquiring that the R500 has extra bracing to deal with the high levels of power. That was possibly one of the reasons that they aren't now offered as self builds as I recall.

[nigelpugh7]

dukest said:

I was told when enquiring that the R500 has extra bracing to deal with the high levels of power. That was possibly one of the reasons that they aren't now offered as self builds as I recall.

Having owned and built two new R500 Duratecs I can speak from experience, let me know what specifics you are looking for.

Cheers,

Nige.

[johnvthe2nd]

nigelpugh7 said:

Having owned and built two new R500 Duratecs I can speak from experience, let me know what specifics you are looking for.

Cheers,

Nige.

just being pedantic, I would have thought you would have had the experience required if you had built an R300 and an R500

[mic]

The only difference is the R500 has diff struts fitted and a prop guard if it has a sequential box. The extra money goes on engine, g/box, front wishbones, seats and dash wiring etc.