Good spec for fast road and odd track day??

[richyd]

After lots of test drives I have opted for a 2004 1.6 Supersport with a 5 speed box. My choice was really made based upon price and the condition of the specific cars I looked at. I have got a cracking car with only 1200 miles on the clock, in showroom condidtion. I really wanted a 6 speed but the guys at Caterham reconed I would be happy with a 5 speed, at least for the first year or so. I'm now having thoughts along the lines of "is this going to be fast enough for me??" - If it's not, what are my options - is it worth spending the £2200 on a 6 speed box, or even taking the engine up a few levels?? - I want to keep an eye on re-sale as this really is a as-new car and buying from Caterham meant I have paid a premium as well....

Cheers - Rich

[ewenm]

I don't think you'll have any difficulty going quickly enough with the 5 spd box. Remember 6th gear on the 6 speed is 4th in the 5 speed. If you're wanting to drive everywhere at 10/10ths then you might want the 6 speed, but for normal blatting a 5spd is fine and much better on motorways or dual carriage ways.

I've had a 5 spd for nearly 7 years now and done 60,000 miles and have upgraded the engine, not the gearbox. At some point I am going to change the ratios to get longer 1st and 2nd gears but no rush for me.

Factory approved upgrades include the Supersport-R conversion for more power...

[murph7355]

Had Caterham had the car for a while?

Notwithstanding the comments above, the K-series really does benefit from the 6 speed box, both in terms of enjoyment and residual value.

The 5 speed's ratios can be changed to better suit the engine, but the 6 speed really is a nice box.

Still, enjoy the car for a bit without worrying about it. Then see what you want to do in 6-12mths time.

[richyd]

Caterham said they'd had the car for 3 weeks or so - although the tax disk ran out in February! - is this a bad spec to buy then?? 1.6SS with 5 speed??

[ewenm]

richyd said:

Caterham said they'd had the car for 3 weeks or so - although the tax disk ran out in February! - is this a bad spec to buy then?? 1.6SS with 5 speed??

No it's not a bad spec. You'll find there are people who insist a 6spd box is the only way to go and those who feel that a 5spd box is fine. The split is usually about 50/50. So, in your position, I'd take the car, drive it for a year or so and then decide if you want to change it. And bear in mind you can switch to a 6spd box without getting Caterham to do it. There are plenty of people at your local www.lotussevenclub.com meeting that will help out.

[richyd]

ewenm said:

richyd said:

Caterham said they'd had the car for 3 weeks or so - although the tax disk ran out in February! - is this a bad spec to buy then?? 1.6SS with 5 speed??

No it's not a bad spec. You'll find there are people who insist a 6spd box is the only way to go and those who feel that a 5spd box is fine. The split is usually about 50/50. So, in your position, I'd take the car, drive it for a year or so and then decide if you want to change it. And bear in mind you can switch to a 6spd box without getting Caterham to do it. There are plenty of people at your local www.lotussevenclub.com meeting that will help out.

Thanks - am very excited about picking the car up next week, but am already thinking about upgrades to engine..!!

[ewenm]

In my nearly 7 years of driving my 7, I've never found that someone with a similar power 7 and a 6spd box has been noticably quicker on the road. The other 7 drivers that are much quicker either have much more power or are just much better drivers.

On the track it may be a different matter although at the last trackday I was on the two fastest cars were an R500 and a 1.8 K-Series SV (140bhp) on a 5spd box. The lower powered car was just very well driven.

You'll enjoy it! But remember it's a very different proposition on the road to a Scooby - be careful at first!

[casbar]

I doubt if the R500 was running a standard 5 speed box, it was probably a BGH geartech box with better suited ratios. The 6 speed box in a K series is a much better box on the track. But on the road, there is nothing wrong with the 5 speed offering, infact for motorway stuff, the 5 speed will be better.

[ewenm]

casbar said:

I doubt if the R500 was running a standard 5 speed box, it was probably a BGH geartech box with better suited ratios. The 6 speed box in a K series is a much better box on the track. But on the road, there is nothing wrong with the 5 speed offering, infact for motorway stuff, the 5 speed will be better.

Yeah, worded that badly, the R500 was on a 6spd. I was trying to make the point that the two fastest cars were fastest because they had the best drivers, not due to one gearbox or another.

[casbar]

I'd agree with that, you can have all the trick bits, but if you can't drive well, then lower spec cars will be quicker. I had a similiar experience, I saw a Grad driver in a 140ish SV, in France, and he was all over the R500 boys and one of the cars was a R500 Evo.