R300 or Superlight?
Discussion
Just want people's thoughts on whether the R300 is worth the extra money. Stats wise they compare very favourably (0-60 circa 4.5 secs), and spec wise they are not too different either, but they are £5k+ apart in price. Looking for a predominatly road car with plenty of acceleration (on the road the car is too good to really press on in the corners) but which can hold it's own on the track. I thought initially that I just had to have an R300, but having had a crack in both, performance wise (on the road) there's not much in it.
Had a k-series roadsport so looking for a quicker model. Question is do I spend £15k on a 2002 Superlight or £20k on a 2005 R300? Would be grateful for any pointers.
Had a k-series roadsport so looking for a quicker model. Question is do I spend £15k on a 2002 Superlight or £20k on a 2005 R300? Would be grateful for any pointers.
Hi Will,
If it were me I'd go for the superlight. the R300 may be a better car but I doub't it's worth the extra £5K. You shouln't have to look too hard to find a tidy superlight. I've always thought that the lower end of the Caterham range gives the best value for money.
Good luck in your search.
If it were me I'd go for the superlight. the R300 may be a better car but I doub't it's worth the extra £5K. You shouln't have to look too hard to find a tidy superlight. I've always thought that the lower end of the Caterham range gives the best value for money.
Good luck in your search.
rubystone said:
Murph7355 said:
MGYoung said:
If it were me I'd go for the superlight. ...
Ditto.Although if you're looking for something *quicker* and have 20k to blow, I'd probably entertain an SLR.
Thanks for the pointers, I was coming to that conclusion myself.
Murph7355 said:
Rubystone will bore your arse off about them, but broadly speaking:
SL with a 190bhp K-series engine in. Easy enough to get them to 200bhp and a bit (ECU, remap).
60 in around 4secs (maybe less if you're optimistic). 140mph or so.
Cheers, will keep an eye open, sounds like the ticket - wonder what the reliability is like with that BHP! SL with a 190bhp K-series engine in. Easy enough to get them to 200bhp and a bit (ECU, remap).
60 in around 4secs (maybe less if you're optimistic). 140mph or so.
In the meantime if anyone is selling an SL please e-mail me the details.
PS Murph I hope to copy your garage in the not too distant future - Caterham and F355. Perfect.
ETA - in fact I'll take the other two as well.
Edited by will_ on Thursday 7th June 18:57
As long as you take sensible precautions (and buy well!) , reliability should be fine.
As with all k-series engines you need to keep an eye on coolant levels, and not be sloppy if anything ever looks amiss. You can get uprated head gaskets - worth getting a car that has one already if possible.
Regular oil changes are also advisable.
Finally, a car with a dry sump system would be wise.
Other than that, it's an SL. And tbh, same things apply to the SL IMO.
As with all k-series engines you need to keep an eye on coolant levels, and not be sloppy if anything ever looks amiss. You can get uprated head gaskets - worth getting a car that has one already if possible.
Regular oil changes are also advisable.
Finally, a car with a dry sump system would be wise.
Other than that, it's an SL. And tbh, same things apply to the SL IMO.
A very nice spec'd SLR has just come up on Blatchat for your budget
http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
Tango7 said:
A very nice spec'd SLR has just come up on Blatchat for your budget
http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
Bit pricey though Tango eh? http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
As it happens, it'll probably be a very nice car...BTW the man who bought your other car has been a bit quiet...time to "out" him?
rubystone said:
Tango7 said:
A very nice spec'd SLR has just come up on Blatchat for your budget
http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
Bit pricey though Tango eh? http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=133042
Cheers
T
As it happens, it'll probably be a very nice car...BTW the man who bought your other car has been a bit quiet...time to "out" him?
If you're talking about my car Ruby, it's gone to Norway!
will_ said:
For £20k I'd rather have a later R300. However I'll make an enquiry and see what happens - thanks very much for the heads up, I'll keep an eye on blat-chat.
If you're talking about my car Ruby, it's gone to Norway!
Drive an SLR. Then drive an R300. Then make your decision....If you're talking about my car Ruby, it's gone to Norway!
No Will I was just having a private joke with Tango. He tends to collect high powered K series Caterhams....
rubystone said:
will_ said:
For £20k I'd rather have a later R300. However I'll make an enquiry and see what happens - thanks very much for the heads up, I'll keep an eye on blat-chat.
If you're talking about my car Ruby, it's gone to Norway!
Drive an SLR. Then drive an R300. Then make your decision....If you're talking about my car Ruby, it's gone to Norway!
No Will I was just having a private joke with Tango. He tends to collect high powered K series Caterhams....
Will,
It's my SLR for sale. If you have emailed me, sorry but i just realised that emails would have gone to my work email which I won't be at until Monday. If you want to know anything further about my car perhaps you could email me through my profile on here.
Car made 199.8bhp on Dave Walker's rollers when i had the emerald ecu installed. Quite a hike on an R300.
Cheers,
Jon
It's my SLR for sale. If you have emailed me, sorry but i just realised that emails would have gone to my work email which I won't be at until Monday. If you want to know anything further about my car perhaps you could email me through my profile on here.
Car made 199.8bhp on Dave Walker's rollers when i had the emerald ecu installed. Quite a hike on an R300.
Cheers,
Jon
jon.b said:
...Quite a hike on an R300.
Indeed.Will - if you've had one around the 140 mark, the SL/R300 won't feel immeduately quicker. Better round corners etc, and much better on track, but that's about it (and nothing wrong with that).
The SLR will feel much quicker though. But with all the good points of an SL.
Murph7355 said:
jon.b said:
...Quite a hike on an R300.
Indeed.Will - if you've had one around the 140 mark, the SL/R300 won't feel immeduately quicker. Better round corners etc, and much better on track, but that's about it (and nothing wrong with that).
The SLR will feel much quicker though. But with all the good points of an SL.
jon.b said:
Rubystone - see you've had an SLR in the past. Did you have the emerald ecu fitted?
My car currently runs with an emerald and definitely runs better/stronger than when standard. What were your thoughts?
Whilst not a factory SLR, ruby was looking after my 7 when it moved from MBE to Emerald. The difference is marked.My car currently runs with an emerald and definitely runs better/stronger than when standard. What were your thoughts?
Whilst I'm sure the MBE could have been mapped much better, it runs very well with the Emerald (just avoid hidden kerbs) and Dave's a class act.
Murph7355 said:
jon.b said:
Rubystone - see you've had an SLR in the past. Did you have the emerald ecu fitted?
My car currently runs with an emerald and definitely runs better/stronger than when standard. What were your thoughts?
Whilst not a factory SLR, ruby was looking after my 7 when it moved from MBE to Emerald. The difference is marked.My car currently runs with an emerald and definitely runs better/stronger than when standard. What were your thoughts?
Whilst I'm sure the MBE could have been mapped much better, it runs very well with the Emerald (just avoid hidden kerbs) and Dave's a class act.
. Andy's car - a Protune built engine - didn't come on cam in the same way, even on MBE when it wasn't running cleanly at all. Once we'd fitted the Emerald (and fitted a new gearbox...another story...) it was transformed...but a totally different torque curve to an SLR on MEMS - very broad, still no real "on cam" moment. I'd be interested in your opinion on yours Jon. Tango 7 has also bought an SLR with Emerald - if he lets me drive it
I think it'd feel the same as Andy's.Will - SLRs really are a hoot - real "warp factor" stuff and hugely grin inducing. They really mark themselves out (as do R500s) in their ability to hit 100mph (not on British roads, clearly) in no time at all.
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