Building R300 Superlight from starter kit?

Building R300 Superlight from starter kit?

Author
Discussion

m.barnes

Original Poster:

191 posts

218 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
I was just wondering if this was possible?

I was hoping to build a Superlight, pretty much with engine spec as per the R300 but with some of the carbon/cosmetics from the R500 but after having the starter kit price list sent through it only talks about:

Sigma roadsport 125 and Duratec 175 roadsport.

Obviously i could phone Caterham up but only just had the starter kit info and dont want to start bombarding them with numpty questions from the off.

Has anyone build an R this way? or is it not allowed / not a proper Superlight?

Main reason for wanting to do it this way is:
A - i am a slow worker! so would rather get bits as i have time to fit them
B - helps spread the costs

Thanks in advance everyone

TimR74

2 posts

154 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
I think it all depends whether Caterham would sell you an R300 chassis assembly which has the Superlight dash. Wouldn't surprise me tho. if they wouldn't sell you one.

I've just started building a Duratec S3 from the Roadsport 175 starter kit for reasons similar to yourself. You could build this with all the same options that an R300 has and would it be essentially the same, bar the Superlight dash and instruments. It however wouldn't be an R300 and hence have (a bit) lower residuals.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,
Tim

mickrick

3,705 posts

180 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
The 175 roadsport is basically the same car as an R300. Just speck your starter kit chassis with a carbon dash and any other options you would like. (Big red starter button, and horn push on the dash, 4 point harness etc.)
Then speck the widetrack suspension, and uprated brakes when you need them, LSD, carbon bits, adjustable ride hight billies, and all that's different then is the stickers.
More or less wink

m.barnes

Original Poster:

191 posts

218 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
Cheers guys.

I will keep planning then. Out of interest how are you finding costs of doing it from a starter kit versus buying the full kit and building straight away?

A quick tally made a roadsport done from a start kit seem more expensive than buying the lot outright but I am not entirely sure whether that's just because of one having more options.

So is the chassis on the R and the roadsport the same? It's just the dash etc that's different?

Thanks again

BertBert

19,682 posts

218 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
You'd expect that buying a starter kit then the bits in batches from Caterham would be more expensive than buying the full kit (do they still call it CKD?) in one go. So to make it cheaper, people source their own bits to bolt on to the starter kit. That will be hard if you want to claim it's an R300 or close to one.

So if money is not the object then just buy the kit in one go and assemble at leisure.

m.barnes

Original Poster:

191 posts

218 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
Yeah that's the conclusion I am reaching slowly. I am not bothered as such about it being a 300 but it does seem silly to spend more building something that isn't quite a 300.

That said the supersport is looking a good option, cheaper than a 300 but still sporty.

Think I need to keep looking at what each model offers and what I really want out of that. Sometimes I think the 300 and supersport are leagues apart sometimes i think it's just an engine change

TimR74

2 posts

154 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
I'd agree, if money isn't an object to you then get the whole kit in one go. If you do a bit of research here and on BlatChat most people advise against going for a starter kit but it depends on what suits your situation.

I really wanted to get a Duratec powered Caterham and build from new, so went down the starter kit route to spread the cost rather than wait and save or get a big loan. I enjoy having a project in the garage and tinkering away with it, gives you time for plenty of research and learn about the car.
When I looked at the costs, getting on for a year ago, it worked out a little bit more expensive with a starter kit but not a lot more. Having said all that, I have only just started 6 or 7 weeks ago, so may well change my mind and be itching to get it on the road in a few months time.

The chassis's are the same, Roadsport and Superlight, just the dash and instruments that are different. Like yourself, I initially fancied an R300 but having looked at a few I actually preferred the tradition dash layout and wasn't bothered by having a real R300.

Sigma or Duratec is another debate....

m.barnes

Original Poster:

191 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Hmm decisions then lol.

Superlight r300 - but pretty much only if I buy outright.

Supersport - could build from a starter kit buying specing up a roadsport.

Supersport duratec - could also spec a roadsport with supersport bits and 175bhp engine.

Cheers for the help guys. Not busy at work today lol so will do some sums!

The stack dash is a big lure for me, I have wanted one ever since I was about 17 lol and saw them in track cars. Not an outstanding reason for buying a 27k car but a factor!

POORCARDEALER

8,542 posts

248 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all


I BOUGHT A BUMPED r500 AND BUILT THE GOOD BITS INTO A STARTER KIT...WORKED WELL.