Discussion
Just got rid of my Radical and replaced with a duratec engined R500. Absolutely fantastic fun on the road, and can't wait to play on track.
First impressions - indicator switch is utterly crap (why oh why???), is fine without a heater since feet are nice and warm and you can keep hands on the silencer, your bottom gets really cold when you go quick (lowered floor make a difference?).
First impressions - indicator switch is utterly crap (why oh why???), is fine without a heater since feet are nice and warm and you can keep hands on the silencer, your bottom gets really cold when you go quick (lowered floor make a difference?).
Welcome to the world of Caterham!
It would be interesting to hear your comments on comparing the Radical to the 7 on the track. I know that a Radical is quicker but I've heard that the 7's are a lot more fun? Less grip = more sliding!
Did you ever use the Radical on the road or just trackdays?
It would be interesting to hear your comments on comparing the Radical to the 7 on the track. I know that a Radical is quicker but I've heard that the 7's are a lot more fun? Less grip = more sliding!
Did you ever use the Radical on the road or just trackdays?
Depends how you like your fun I guess. The Radical is much faster than any Caterham, so if you're into speed it wins hands down. It was certainly fun for a couple of years, but I missed lurid oversteer. I tried crap tyres on the SR3 but I think the aerodynamics get upset at large slip angles, and it's obviously trickier with the inherent grip. Maybe the weight distribution too, but I find the Elise far easier to slide around.
The Duranail with it's huge torque should be hilariously hooligan - certainly seems happy to spin the wheels any time you like!
The Duranail with it's huge torque should be hilariously hooligan - certainly seems happy to spin the wheels any time you like!
Yep - R500 chassis with the car and engine built by Mick Attree for Mark H. It looks absolutely perfect, and with the power so well distributed much more fun than the peaky 230bhp Minister engine on the road at least.
Editted to match your edit - yes, Honda Irish Green - a colour that has to be seen in reality rather than photos!
>> Edited by dannylt on Monday 24th January 10:21
Editted to match your edit - yes, Honda Irish Green - a colour that has to be seen in reality rather than photos!
>> Edited by dannylt on Monday 24th January 10:21
The Radical is now sold - and yes, a bargain at 32k - I should have had a higher price given the interest!
How useable on the road? I commuted through several winters on an unfaired motorbike but it was too extreme for me! Sunday bimbling around was fine, but it attracts too much attention, is very low geared, loads of vibration from bolted-in engine and couldn't do speed bumps. Need a slave battery to start from cold. I would never have driven to a track day without a support car with toolkits/tyres/spares/petrol etc., so may as well tow. Still - it was fun! By comparison, the Cat with straight-cut dog box is a delight on the road!
How useable on the road? I commuted through several winters on an unfaired motorbike but it was too extreme for me! Sunday bimbling around was fine, but it attracts too much attention, is very low geared, loads of vibration from bolted-in engine and couldn't do speed bumps. Need a slave battery to start from cold. I would never have driven to a track day without a support car with toolkits/tyres/spares/petrol etc., so may as well tow. Still - it was fun! By comparison, the Cat with straight-cut dog box is a delight on the road!
That's kind of what I expected I guess, it was a bit too much to hope that it would be particularly usable on the road.
Still an absolutely awesome bit of kit and perhaps one day when funds allow a Radical solely for trackdays and an R400 for road blasts then it I can have a dream garage!
Although at the moment just to have the R400 back from Dartford would suffice!
Still an absolutely awesome bit of kit and perhaps one day when funds allow a Radical solely for trackdays and an R400 for road blasts then it I can have a dream garage!
Although at the moment just to have the R400 back from Dartford would suffice!
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