CSR

[Wah00]

I’m curious to understand why the CSR was not more popular , effectively causing Caterham to stop production. I know you can still get them special order or from abroad . Is it similar to the Porsche 911 scenario I wonder.

[kitcat7]

I can guess at a couple of reasons, the main one being the unavailability of the Cosworth 2.3 motor, although they could just as easily have used a modified 2.5, there are several well known tuners who do versions of this. The other reason, I suspect, is that it is a complicated car and expensive to manufacture and build, with possible lower margins, so they put their resources into the most profitable models?

[BertBert]

Hehe, we've been here before a few times I think.

I think it's something to do with it being complex and expensive and didn't give much discernable benefit for the customer.

And now we'll be distracted with whether caterham are insulting their customers with an archaic design, or whether caterhams customers are too blinkered and stupid to buy new stuff

[DCL]

As BertBert says, this is an old discussion that comes up from time to time. There are those that have the idea that Caterham are selling a 60 year old design that just doesn't compete with the modern competition. But the truth is Caterham's core market likes the purity and simplicity of the design.
The more complex it becomes, the smaller the market becomes.

[Wah00]

So really it’s the 911 effect then. In my opinion the CSR out handles and out brakes the S3 . I presume the only difference when compared to the SV is the rear suspension. The CSR I’ve driven is circa 295 bhp and gives quicker lap times than my R500D though it does have the quaife not the Sadev. Would be good to see how it stacks up against a 620R.
Anybody driven all 3 ?

[BertBert]

Wah00 said:

So really it’s the 911 effect then. In my opinion the CSR out handles and out brakes the S3

It may well do, but noone cares enough about the marginal advantage it seems. I don't think marginal improvements in lap times really make that much difference to people buying a road/track car.

[Blue7]

I participated in a a L7 Club / Caterham Cars Zoom type Webinar earlier this year and Caterham explained that the reason they stopped production of the CSR was that Cosworth would not supply any more engines. Interestingly, CC also intimated that the CSR chassis and suspension set up was a superior design worthy of use in future models, maybe an electric version? The CSR available to all but UK residents is not a Cosworth.

[Tazio77]

The reality is that CSR chassis are still being made in small quantities by Arch for Caterham, and is for sale in export markets, so the lack of the Cosworth engine comment by CC is simply a fib.

[Equus]

Wah00 said:

I presume the only difference when compared to the SV is the rear suspension.

No, the chassis and suspension were comprehensively different (front and rear).