Almost an owner! Now torn

Almost an owner! Now torn

Author
Discussion

masbooth

Original Poster:

15 posts

155 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
I am so close to buying but now torn between buying a 2005 k series R300 fully loaded for circa 21k or pushing the boat out to get a 2008 R400 for 30k from Caterham. This is my first caterham and have not owned a fast car for 5 years, previously a Lotus Exige.
I think the R300 will feel very fast, but is the r400 worth the investment. I will use for a few track days but not racing, and want to enjoy Sunday mornings etc. is the durathec far more reliable and will the R300 be fast enough? I know this is a very personal view but views appreciated? My head says buy the R300 learn to drive it, improve my skills and then move up to the R400.

DCL

1,224 posts

186 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
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I don't think you have a problem with a R400 - it's power delivery is quite tame and you'll learn fast. I'm biased as I have a R400 Duratec but they are bullet proof at 210-220 BHP if it has a dry sump (the 2008 models generally didn't but it may have been upgraded so it's worth asking). That said there are a lot of fans of the k series who say the characteristics of the engine make a better 'driver's' car - maybe also better value for money as the Duratec cars tend to go for a premium.

Test drive them and see what you think.

Edited by DCL on Saturday 21st January 22:56

BertBert

19,683 posts

218 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
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depends on your disposable, but going in at the r400 end for a first caterham seems complete overkill somehow. You need to build up to itbiggrin

adsvx220

705 posts

190 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I had never driven a 7 before until last August when I hired one form caterham south. It was a 1.6 sigma with the brilliant 6 speed box. That was brilliant and felt quick so god knows what a r400 or 300 would be like. if its your first 7 I think the r300 would be plenty mad enough.

I am buying my first 7 this spring so can't wait.

Adam

mickrick

3,705 posts

180 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I had a R300K as a first Caterham, and it was great for the first year, then I wanted more.
If it was me, it would be a no brainer! Bulletproof Duratec, or Grenade?
My K never went pop, but it always felt to me like it would.
But saying that, it's a 2005 car and still being hooned around tracks in France! smile
You can never have enough power! Those who say otherwise are just Pussies! biggrin

Edited by mickrick on Sunday 22 January 09:55

BertBert

19,683 posts

218 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I'm a pussy. More is not always better.in fact in many ways a bonkers power 7 is completely missing the point of the car.

mickrick

3,705 posts

180 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I think it depends if you've ever owned a motorcycle. There's nothing like the accelleration and handling of a quick bike. it's better than drugs. If you can achieve that with four contact patches and tractable power, then you've achieved the ultimate machine.
Some folks just need to man up... tongue outgetmecoat

grenpayne

2,018 posts

169 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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Best advice is go and drive them both, assuming of course you can afford both. If not the R300K is 99% of the time (IMO of course biggrin ) all you need on the road and you will love it. There's no reason that a well looked after K series pushing 160-170bhp should go bang either.

Also Caterhams are not depreciating by much at all, so if you do find you want more after a year, you should find that you can practically sell the R300K for what you paid and get the R400D.

ChrisG C2S

235 posts

193 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I'm in a similar position as Mickrick. Started with a K series (highly strung 214bhp) but the fear of it spitting its guts out took away from the enjoyment. Now with a R400 Duratec I don't have that to worry about.

angusfaldo

2,801 posts

281 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I now have a R400D after first owning a R300K. And as others have said, for me it's a no-brainer. The only thing I prefer in the K is the noise. But in every other aspect the D-engined car is better. Maybe I'm slightly blinded by the additional (almost) 30% BHP and, as a lazy driver, the D needing less work to use the power. But if I ever had to choose again, it would be Duratec every time.

JeffC

1,718 posts

219 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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Ive had slower and faster Caterhams and R400D to me is the perfect balance for track and road smile

BobTurner

398 posts

217 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
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I went through a similar thought process almost a year ago and ended with an R300k; it does everything that I want, and more, and I use mine in the same way you say you are going to use yours. Although I've never driven an R400, I can tell you that by the time you've used the first 3 gears and started getting stuck in to 4th, in the real world and in public, you'll probably be running out of space in an R300k - there's a video of mine on you tube, together with passenger reaction.

I can, however, understand the "just get an R400" brigade's point if money's no object. If you're so inclined, you may also want to consider the relative merits of metric and imperial chassis - however it didn't really bother me.

Whatever, I love mine, they're just that sort car - if you see what I mean.

michaeljclark

613 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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I test drove an Duratec R300 at Caterham, but bought a 150 Sigma. I figured that I'd rather end up wanting more power than having too much and end up in an accident or some such - that may be the wrong logic, but it sounded reasonable at the time.

Yes NOW (after 2 years) I'd like a touch more power, but as it's always driven on the road (not tracked it - yet) 150BHP is plenty.

Mike

Smollet

11,740 posts

197 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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michaeljclark said:
I test drove an Duratec R300 at Caterham, but bought a 150 Sigma. I figured that I'd rather end up wanting more power than having too much and end up in an accident or some such - that may be the wrong logic, but it sounded reasonable at the time.

Yes NOW (after 2 years) I'd like a touch more power, but as it's always driven on the road (not tracked it - yet) 150BHP is plenty.

Mike
Assuming it is churning out 150bhp. My 150 Sigma was dynoed at 138.4 bhp.

ghibbett

1,904 posts

192 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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BobTurner said:
...there's a video of mine on you tube, together with passenger reaction...
Link?

BobTurner

398 posts

217 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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ghibbett said:
Link?
video

Bang goes my posts:months ratio hehe

Edited by BobTurner on Tuesday 24th January 10:44

BBL-Sean

336 posts

183 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
masbooth said:
I am so close to buying but now torn between buying a 2005 k series R300 fully loaded for circa 21k or pushing the boat out to get a 2008 R400 for 30k from Caterham. This is my first caterham and have not owned a fast car for 5 years, previously a Lotus Exige.
I think the R300 will feel very fast, but is the r400 worth the investment. I will use for a few track days but not racing, and want to enjoy Sunday mornings etc. is the durathec far more reliable and will the R300 be fast enough? I know this is a very personal view but views appreciated? My head says buy the R300 learn to drive it, improve my skills and then move up to the R400.
For the money you're talking about, this one looks good to me.

timrw81

244 posts

195 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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BBL-Sean said:
For the money you're talking about, this one looks good to me.
Ditto. A well sorted, dependable and very fast car.

And much scope for further tuning too.

ghibbett

1,904 posts

192 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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BobTurner said:
Luuuuuuuvely yum

Thanks for sharing smile

masbooth

Original Poster:

15 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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Thanks for all your views - deposit down on a late, mint and loaded R300 K-series - must be a pussy from the comments! Test drove an uprated R400 and a standard R500, which were just mental, hats off to those who get anywhere near the potential of either car. Maybe one day! Came to the conclusion that in order to be part of he whole Caterham thing I need to build it, but given I have no clue currently I will start with this and build a R 500 in a couples of years.

If I do need more power by he summer what are the best Caterham approved upgrades?