Lotus Exige s to R300/400
Discussion
Hi all,
I currently have an 06 exige s with close to 300bhp which ive owned from new, but im seriously thinking about selling it an getting a Caterham R300 or 400 superlight, i would ideally like to get new one and build my own but not ruled out the second hand option yet, but i have a few questions.
1) So has anyone made the move from an exige? just dont know if i will regret it or not, the car would be a second/third car.
2) As I only have a single garage, has anyone built a caterham in a standard single garage is it possible?
3) I have contact caterham who have told me its not too dificult to build but ive never attempted anything like this before so would it be a mistake?
I currently have an 06 exige s with close to 300bhp which ive owned from new, but im seriously thinking about selling it an getting a Caterham R300 or 400 superlight, i would ideally like to get new one and build my own but not ruled out the second hand option yet, but i have a few questions.
1) So has anyone made the move from an exige? just dont know if i will regret it or not, the car would be a second/third car.
2) As I only have a single garage, has anyone built a caterham in a standard single garage is it possible?
3) I have contact caterham who have told me its not too dificult to build but ive never attempted anything like this before so would it be a mistake?
In response to your Q2 this is what you can achieve in a single garage and I'd never had any previous experience. Building a kit will be much less work.....
I went from a Caterham to a new Elise SC as i wanted something a little less full on to use on the road, I bought it, did 500 miles in it over 6 weeks (200 miles were collecting it) and sold it and bought another Caterham! I actually think the Caterham is a better ride on the road, Elise was sooooo hard I didnt think it was quick at all and it didnt make a nice noise (had a sports exhaust which did nothing but give me a headache! ) wasnt keen on the handling when pushing it either I prob didnt give it a fair chance in the limited time I had it but for me other than the looks I just couldnt get away with it after having sevens for the last 9 years.
Ive pretty much built mine in a single width garage and it was no problem at all and if you are building I would personally go for the R400D if you have the option, Ive owned a 180bhp duratec, 260bhp and 300bhp and my current car at 220bhp for me is the best out them all quick enough but not to quick!
Ive pretty much built mine in a single width garage and it was no problem at all and if you are building I would personally go for the R400D if you have the option, Ive owned a 180bhp duratec, 260bhp and 300bhp and my current car at 220bhp for me is the best out them all quick enough but not to quick!
Not a Caterham, but I built my kit car in a single garage, photos and info here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Sorry about being unable to help with the rest!
Where you from? Maybe a passenger tide in someone elses Caterham will help you to decide.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Sorry about being unable to help with the rest!
Where you from? Maybe a passenger tide in someone elses Caterham will help you to decide.
MarkExigeS said:
Hi all,
I currently have an 06 exige s with close to 300bhp which ive owned from new, but im seriously thinking about selling it an getting a Caterham R300 or 400 superlight, i would ideally like to get new one and build my own but not ruled out the second hand option yet, but i have a few questions.
1) So has anyone made the move from an exige? just dont know if i will regret it or not, the car would be a second/third car.
2) As I only have a single garage, has anyone built a caterham in a standard single garage is it possible?
3) I have contact caterham who have told me its not too dificult to build but ive never attempted anything like this before so would it be a mistake?
I had an S2 Exige and R400 at the same time and they were very different cars. The R400 gave the most smiles but was far more extreme (not surprising really!) whereas the Exige could be used more of the time. I didn't regret having either of them at all. Maybe consider a secondhand car as an initial one? It helps give a much better idea of the options boxes to tick for a new one at a later stage if you still wanted to build a new car.I currently have an 06 exige s with close to 300bhp which ive owned from new, but im seriously thinking about selling it an getting a Caterham R300 or 400 superlight, i would ideally like to get new one and build my own but not ruled out the second hand option yet, but i have a few questions.
1) So has anyone made the move from an exige? just dont know if i will regret it or not, the car would be a second/third car.
2) As I only have a single garage, has anyone built a caterham in a standard single garage is it possible?
3) I have contact caterham who have told me its not too dificult to build but ive never attempted anything like this before so would it be a mistake?
No problem building a new kit in a single garage as long as you store unneeded parts out of the way until needed (wings, nosecone, bonnet, seats etc.) also I put my chassis on a small dolley (4 supermarket trolley wheels and a big bit of plywood) that allowed it to be pushed sideways to maximise the limited space available.
I reckon anyone with a a small degree of ability can build a Caterham. There is masses of help available on Blatchat that you can read and search for free but need to be a member to post. You need a good socket set (Halfords Professional set is around £100 and does the trick) and a torque wrench. You should be able to borrow any other bits of equipment for the very limited time you need them (41mm nut and 200lbs torque wrench, engine hoist). Working with all brand new bits is like working with a large scale meccano kit and very rewarding when you get to the end.
HTH
T
Being a mechanical numptie I can't offer input into the technical bit about building one.
I do have an R300, an Elise 111R and an F360 Spider and can say that unless you are one of these really hardy types of Caterham owner, you will use the car far less than your Lotus tho. That is no real issue if it is a 3rd car or genuine weekend toy but in terms of useability each journey really is all about the car with the Caterham where as you do get some semblance of (relative) practicality in the Lotus. IMHO
I do have an R300, an Elise 111R and an F360 Spider and can say that unless you are one of these really hardy types of Caterham owner, you will use the car far less than your Lotus tho. That is no real issue if it is a 3rd car or genuine weekend toy but in terms of useability each journey really is all about the car with the Caterham where as you do get some semblance of (relative) practicality in the Lotus. IMHO
Can a Caterham be built in a single garage? What a good question. I asked members of this forum and I have been assured (with accompanying photos) that it is eminently do-able. Unfortunately, my kit still hasn't been delivered. Grrrr. I was told it would be ready at the start of March, so we are a month late, more or less.
When it arrives, I will either post that there is loads of space in a 3m wide garage, or I will cry.
When it arrives, I will either post that there is loads of space in a 3m wide garage, or I will cry.
Usually the item of concern is fitting the de dion tube as it seems you need more than double the width of the car to slide the tube in sideways. In reality though you can easily fit it at a sharp angle, feeding it in from the near vertical as its goes into the chassis. A spare pair of hands is useful at this stage! Otherwise, wheel the chassis on to the drive on its dolly and its easy to get sorted!
I built my SV in a single garage last year. I don't recall any issues with the DD tube.
I stored the engine at the back of the garage behind the car and the the biggest pain was getting the engine back past the car when it was ready to be installed from the front of the garage. Only a minor issue. Get cracking!
I stored the engine at the back of the garage behind the car and the the biggest pain was getting the engine back past the car when it was ready to be installed from the front of the garage. Only a minor issue. Get cracking!
Thanks for all the replies guys, some really great information for me 
I think I really need to get down to Midlands Caterham for a test drive of a few, the problem with me is that if I do that I know I will want one.
Cant make my mind up on R300 or R400 though I gues the answer lies with me driving them. Im hoping the R300 will be close performance to my modified exige if that is the case then Id be happy with that spec.
I think I really need to get down to Midlands Caterham for a test drive of a few, the problem with me is that if I do that I know I will want one.
Cant make my mind up on R300 or R400 though I gues the answer lies with me driving them. Im hoping the R300 will be close performance to my modified exige if that is the case then Id be happy with that spec.
Okay, it's confession time on the test drive side of things. I was taken out as a passenger in a CSR and managed to get my pulse down after about a week. I arranged a proper test drive a few weeks' later, but the available car was previously owned by a person of alternative stature and had the pedals set too far rearwards and also the seat too far towards the wheel. I could get in, but my feet were behind the pedals.
I looked at my wife and said "look, shall we cut to the chase and both just stop ignoring the inevitable. We're going to order one. If we build it and don't like it, we can sell it on." My wife agreed without even the slightest pause in the conversation. (Cool wife).
I have gone for the SV model and the lowered floor. I'll put the pedals at the correct position.
I looked at my wife and said "look, shall we cut to the chase and both just stop ignoring the inevitable. We're going to order one. If we build it and don't like it, we can sell it on." My wife agreed without even the slightest pause in the conversation. (Cool wife).
I have gone for the SV model and the lowered floor. I'll put the pedals at the correct position.
pipnjones said:
Okay, it's confession time on the test drive side of things. I was taken out as a passenger in a CSR and managed to get my pulse down after about a week. I arranged a proper test drive a few weeks' later, but the available car was previously owned by a person of alternative stature and had the pedals set too far rearwards and also the seat too far towards the wheel. I could get in, but my feet were behind the pedals.
I looked at my wife and said "look, shall we cut to the chase and both just stop ignoring the inevitable. We're going to order one. If we build it and don't like it, we can sell it on." My wife agreed without even the slightest pause in the conversation. (Cool wife).
I have gone for the SV model and the lowered floor. I'll put the pedals at the correct position.
Good story, but what model exactly have you gone for?I looked at my wife and said "look, shall we cut to the chase and both just stop ignoring the inevitable. We're going to order one. If we build it and don't like it, we can sell it on." My wife agreed without even the slightest pause in the conversation. (Cool wife).
I have gone for the SV model and the lowered floor. I'll put the pedals at the correct position.
Orange Roadsport SV 125, left hand drive. Lowered floors, leather seats, black pack, spare tyre + wobbly bit of metal for a suitcase in emergencies. Um, that's about it, I think. There isn't really a lot more that I needed to specify or could specify. It is for weekend driving, not for racing. I suspect that sitting that close to the ground will make it feel a lot faster than it is.
My weekday drive is a Diesel TT because I have a long motorway blast to and from work, so I can get the out and out speed out of my system quite easily. It is more about the pootling in the Caterham.
It is coming as a kit, so I am also paying for getting it through the TUV Prufung when I am finished with the build.
My weekday drive is a Diesel TT because I have a long motorway blast to and from work, so I can get the out and out speed out of my system quite easily. It is more about the pootling in the Caterham.
It is coming as a kit, so I am also paying for getting it through the TUV Prufung when I am finished with the build.
Mark, Im assuming youre also on NORLOG? I have a six week old Caterham Supersport, happy to take you out for a spin in it so you can get a feel for them - won't be as quick as an R300 but you'll get an idea.
I'm based at Charnock Richard just off M6 so if you're interested just let me know. I previously had an Elise and thought it was great, but the Caterham is in another league for involvement IMO.
I'm based at Charnock Richard just off M6 so if you're interested just let me know. I previously had an Elise and thought it was great, but the Caterham is in another league for involvement IMO.
Ady F said:
Mark, Im assuming youre also on NORLOG? I have a six week old Caterham Supersport, happy to take you out for a spin in it so you can get a feel for them - won't be as quick as an R300 but you'll get an idea.
I'm based at Charnock Richard just off M6 so if you're interested just let me know. I previously had an Elise and thought it was great, but the Caterham is in another league for involvement IMO.
Hi Adrian, yep im on Norlog, many thanks for the offer, may just take you up on that im I decide to progress things.I'm based at Charnock Richard just off M6 so if you're interested just let me know. I previously had an Elise and thought it was great, but the Caterham is in another league for involvement IMO.
What Elise did you have before? and did you build your own car etc? I do like the supersport too looks jsut righ and it very good value, have you got any pics / spec of yours?
MarkExigeS said:
Hi Adrian, yep im on Norlog, many thanks for the offer, may just take you up on that im I decide to progress things.
What Elise did you have before? and did you build your own car etc? I do like the supersport too looks jsut righ and it very good value, have you got any pics / spec of yours?
Mark, here are a couple of pics.What Elise did you have before? and did you build your own car etc? I do like the supersport too looks jsut righ and it very good value, have you got any pics / spec of yours?
I went for weather gear, carbon dash, carbon areoscreen, q/r steering wheel, superlight stripes, battery cut-out switch and the standard 'noisy' exhaust (105db!!)
I didn't build it myself....I didn't have the time, space or technical nous!
I had a standard S2 K Series Elise, so 120bhp. Your Exige would be in a different league to that so it might not feel such a step up in performance as it has to me. I'll probably do similar miles in the Caterham is I did in the Elise - weekend fun miles. Driving the Caterham seems much more of an event than the Lotus.
MarkExigeS said:
Very nice car and pics thanks for sharing, and that is exactly the options I would want, good spec.
The rear does look a little high though and have noticed this on lots of Caterhams but not on some, is the height adjustable?
Cheers for the comments.The rear does look a little high though and have noticed this on lots of Caterhams but not on some, is the height adjustable?
A few of my friends have commented that it looks high at the rear, I think this is mostly down to the 13" wheels fitted to the car rather than 15" fitted to some other cars. The hight isn't adjustable on mine and Caterham said the Supersport understeers badly on 15" wheels, so I'll leave it is - I agree it looks a bit 'jacked up'
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff