'put these in order' game

[jackal]

need to create a priority list. On a new S3 build what would be your relative importantce of the following:



1. carbon fibre skin, scuttle & bonnet

2. nitron/ohlins dampers

3. Motec ADL

4. Motec M400 pro

5. Sequential Drenth DG400 gearbox

6. Image billet rims

7. aerofoil wishbones

8. carbon fibre interior panels

9. pro shifter kit with paddles (asuming the drenth has been specced)

[jeremyc]

Here's my attempt working on the assumption that you want to optimise handling & powertrain before trying to save a few grammes in weight.

You don't say what the alternatives are (e.g. for the rims) - they may be perfectly acceptable in my opinion. Oh, and bear in mind I've no idea what the Motec bits are.

2. nitron/ohlins dampers
3. Motec ADL
4. Motec M400 pro
6. Image billet rims
5. Sequential Drenth DG400 gearbox
9. pro shifter kit with paddles (asuming the drenth has been specced)
7. aerofoil wishbones
1. carbon fibre skin, scuttle & bonnet
8. carbon fibre interior panels

>> Edited by jeremyc on Wednesday 24th August 11:25

[Mark_H]

What's an S3?

[jackal]

series 3 i.e. normal catreham not an SV

i think your right, decent dampers have to come right near the top. i think sequetial is very important as well cos it adds to the fun considerably

[dannylt]

I say sequential is boring, though undoubtedly quicker. Why bother with MOTEC - should be no perceptible power in it. Does your handling bother you now? In which case the only reason for all the above is aesthetic or brag factor; not really bringing any more fun or speed (that couldn't be better spent on tuition).

IMHO .

Of course, you're missing the really important bit, which is a proper > 2.3 engine and lots more power.

[Mark_H]

Are you building a new car?

[jackal]

you're too macro focused here ...... the only reson for ANY of it is boredom and/or bragging ! Having said that i do rate the sequential massively high on the fun factor list and the reason for motec is quite simply because, it is, THE BEST.

and the proposed powerplant will be a step on from a duratec, 2 or 2.3 or 2.5 even. They are so 2003 you know !

[MikeE]

What about the super wide track suspension (I know you'de need a new trailer). Allegedly this gives better road holding so should improve lap times

What power plant are you going for Rich, a Hyabusa turbo?

[Murph7355]

(a) lightweight V8 engine with nearly 400bhp
2. nitron/ohlins dampers
5. Sequential Drenth DG400 gearbox
9. pro shifter kit with paddles (asuming the drenth has been specced)
1. carbon fibre skin, scuttle & bonnet
8. carbon fibre interior panels
6. Image billet rims (though I'd probably replace them with something else - Dymags probably)
3. Motec ADL
4. Motec M400 pro

I'd be taking these off the list unless I was getting them free:

7. aerofoil wishbones

[dannylt]

Maybe find a cheaper, more satisfying hobby?

Or, just drive it, and have some fun?

I strongly recommend skinny tyres approach for the fun bit - ever tried it? J5 might lend you a set if you ask nicely Come to Croft on the 17th!

[jackal]

dannylt said:

Maybe find a cheaper, more satisfying hobby?

???? this is my hobby and has been for teh last 6 years or so.... caterhams for over 3 years now and very satisfying at that

dannylt said:

Or, just drive it, and have some fun?

??? did over 200 miles at donnington the other day, using and loving it as per usual. Not sure what you mean ?

dannylt said:

I strongly recommend skinny tyres approach for the fun bit - ever tried it? J5 might lend you a set if you ask nicely Come to Croft on the 17th!

yep, have 6" rims all round, as well as my slicks and had skinny tyres for my SLR as well. Bit bored of that type of driving tbh, used to do alot of it in my evo6 and evo7. Sadly wont be able to make croft despite the fact that i had it pencilled in....

[dannylt]

Pity about Croft! I just mean that I think none of the things on the list would make it more fun to drive, especially new rims and carbon interior etc. IMHO obviously; though it's clearly going to more GJOBy.

[jackal]

not looking to make it more fun necessarily

just thinking up what i would spec if i did make a buy one..... id still love to build one myself at some point , as much as anything to give me something over the winter to do. Looks very unlikely this xmas however. Hopefully winter 2006.

[MikeE]

I can highly recommend building one yourself - was very enjoyable researching, sourcing bits, speccing the stuff from CC, chasing my engine supplier, and finally geting it all together.

Only thing is, if you do a bespoke spec&build the options list is endless, you'll easily manage to reach the £40K mark and probably wouldn't struggle that much to get to £50K.

If I did it again I think I'd concentrate more on the go fast bits and less on the bling

[Murph7355]

MikeE said:

That's not you in your profile is it Mike?

Did the guy clean the car after, and had he been drinking the night before? Or was he just a bad passenger?

[jackal]

MikeE said:

I can highly recommend building one yourself - was very enjoyable researching, sourcing bits, speccing the stuff from CC, chasing my engine supplier, and finally geting it all together.

exactly... ive always wanted to build one and choose the exact spec i want down to the last anodised rivet. Its looking highly unlikely that i'll do it this winter so maybe the following winter.

My only problem would be the powerplant. The duratec is fast, reliable, light, unstressed and runs nice and cool.... there really is little need to choose anything else unless you want ultra bike-style lightweight and revs. That appeals to me but I don't think i'll ever get over the BE fragility issue or the fact that to have a >230-250 bhp BEC there simply arent any neat/attractive solutions. I dont like the idea of a blown BEC, na busa tuning is horrendously expensive and not exactly reliability proven in a longtitudinal install so theres no single attractive proposition there.

A supercharged honda K20a is one option but it would be more of a sidestep really (especially as 2.3's are readily giving out 280bhp) and would almost certainly be heavier. Nice revs though and decent reliability. Not NA though although im told the delivery is very linear and controllable.

If i was doing it all again and probably it would be the only time i ever custom build a caterham then it really would have to be the baby RST-V8. The expense is enourmous but it certainly has the sound, the weight and the power. If I was going to the trouble of a whole new car it would be silly compromising on the engine.

[Murph7355]

jackal said:

If i was doing it all again and probably it would be the only time i ever custom build a caterham then it really would have to be the baby RST-V8. The expense is enourmous but it certainly has the sound, the weight and the power. If I was going to the trouble of a whole new car it would be silly compromising on the engine.

But surely you'd have to go the whole hog and go 2.4l? No trouble with revs, and plenty more power (that you could effectively switch out if you weren't in the mood with the traction control - impure as that technically is)...

[MikeE]

Murph7355 said:

MikeE said: That's not you in your profile is it Mike? Did the guy clean the car after, and had he been drinking the night before? Or was he just a bad passenger?

No that's not me!

The guy was/is an Elise driver and had been driving his Elise on track all morning without issue. I take him out in a 135bhp Superlight and after 15 minutes he lost his lunch

[Murph7355]

MikeE said:

No that's not me! The guy was/is an Elise driver and had been driving his Elise on track all morning without issue. I take him out in a 135bhp Superlight and after 15 minutes he lost his lunch

Fantastic.

I can only imagine the laughter!

I once had a guy go very pale and unable to get out of the car for 5mins as his legs didn't work. Luckily no effluent.