R500 Duratec, CSR 260...
Discussion
Approximately 3 years ago I had an r500 Duratec 2.3l 250bhp built by Mick Attree, which unfortunately I decided to sell almost immediately upon completion – only covered approx 100 miles – madness I know. Don’t ask me why, as I don’t think I have reasonable answer, anyway I ended up selling the car to Danny, who many of you know on here.
I have been through many cars incl. CSL, GT3 964 rs cs, and I am now wishing I had held on to the Caterham - because of the fun factor and maintenance costs, which are low in comparison to the other cars I have owned.
So, I am contemplating getting back into Caterham ownership, but now there are also a number of other cars that fit the bill:
Bespoke r500 (or I suppose it’s an r400 now) chassis with a 2.3l Duratec - basically the car I had built 3 years ago.
Superlight CSR 260
KTM X-bow - if I can get one?
Arial Atom 300
The only car I have driven is the first one, albeit only for a few miles, and never on track – unbelievable!!
Just wondering what your thoughts are? Of course posting on a Caterham forum I do expect the responses to be slightly skewed in favour Caterham, but nevertheless genuinely interested in your views.
Many thanks,
Mark
I have been through many cars incl. CSL, GT3 964 rs cs, and I am now wishing I had held on to the Caterham - because of the fun factor and maintenance costs, which are low in comparison to the other cars I have owned.
So, I am contemplating getting back into Caterham ownership, but now there are also a number of other cars that fit the bill:
Bespoke r500 (or I suppose it’s an r400 now) chassis with a 2.3l Duratec - basically the car I had built 3 years ago.
Superlight CSR 260
KTM X-bow - if I can get one?
Arial Atom 300
The only car I have driven is the first one, albeit only for a few miles, and never on track – unbelievable!!
Just wondering what your thoughts are? Of course posting on a Caterham forum I do expect the responses to be slightly skewed in favour Caterham, but nevertheless genuinely interested in your views.
Many thanks,
Mark
Mark,
Danny took me out in his R500 at Brands Hatch GP circuit recently, he now has a 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec in it - it goes alright I guess
Depends what your priorities are really - is it for mainly track use? Do you want it to be reasonably civilised on the road? Are you bothered about resale value? Could you deal with source bits from various sources and nailing it together yourself?
There's various Caterham options for you from ordering a new R400 (minimal hassle and good resale value), ordering an X330 (CSR with the new 2.3l supercharged engine) if CC will comit to building it, buying an R400 kit and getting it built with a Raceco 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec (you'll end up with possibly the ultimate N/A Duratec engine in the lightest package), R400 kit with the new 2.3l (or 2.0l) Supercharged engine for 350bhp+ or of course going for a different make altogether?
Danny took me out in his R500 at Brands Hatch GP circuit recently, he now has a 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec in it - it goes alright I guess
Depends what your priorities are really - is it for mainly track use? Do you want it to be reasonably civilised on the road? Are you bothered about resale value? Could you deal with source bits from various sources and nailing it together yourself?
There's various Caterham options for you from ordering a new R400 (minimal hassle and good resale value), ordering an X330 (CSR with the new 2.3l supercharged engine) if CC will comit to building it, buying an R400 kit and getting it built with a Raceco 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec (you'll end up with possibly the ultimate N/A Duratec engine in the lightest package), R400 kit with the new 2.3l (or 2.0l) Supercharged engine for 350bhp+ or of course going for a different make altogether?
MikeE said:
Mark,
Danny took me out in his R500 at Brands Hatch GP circuit recently, he now has a 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec in it - it goes alright I guess
Depends what your priorities are really - is it for mainly track use? Do you want it to be reasonably civilised on the road? Are you bothered about resale value? Could you deal with source bits from various sources and nailing it together yourself?
There's various Caterham options for you from ordering a new R400 (minimal hassle and good resale value), ordering an X330 (CSR with the new 2.3l supercharged engine) if CC will comit to building it, buying an R400 kit and getting it built with a Raceco 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec (you'll end up with possibly the ultimate N/A Duratec engine in the lightest package), R400 kit with the new 2.3l (or 2.0l) Supercharged engine for 350bhp+ or of course going for a different make altogether?
Hi Mike,Danny took me out in his R500 at Brands Hatch GP circuit recently, he now has a 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec in it - it goes alright I guess
Depends what your priorities are really - is it for mainly track use? Do you want it to be reasonably civilised on the road? Are you bothered about resale value? Could you deal with source bits from various sources and nailing it together yourself?
There's various Caterham options for you from ordering a new R400 (minimal hassle and good resale value), ordering an X330 (CSR with the new 2.3l supercharged engine) if CC will comit to building it, buying an R400 kit and getting it built with a Raceco 300bhp+ 2.2l Duratec (you'll end up with possibly the ultimate N/A Duratec engine in the lightest package), R400 kit with the new 2.3l (or 2.0l) Supercharged engine for 350bhp+ or of course going for a different make altogether?
Mainly track, with weekend road use. Don't like throwing money away, so depreciation is a factor - but when I was losing 1k per month on the GT3, it's all relative. Not interested in self build - leave it to the professionals.
How much are the Raceco 300bhp 2.2 engines? 350bhp - I would have thought too much power - I want it to be fast on circuit, not just in a straight line!
Curious as to why you didn't mention the Superlight CSR 260...?
Thanks,
Mark
Well if you do a self build (even if Mick builds it) made from a number of non-standard Caterham bits then it's going to be more difficult to sell on - a standardish R400 fully built from Caterham will depreciate the slowest imho
2.2l Duratec? You'd have to ask Ammo that question, give him a call, details on his website www.raceco.com
CSR superlight, well it's just a CSR without a windscreen isn't it? I've been told (not that I've driven one) that they need more power (or that could be that the chassis can handle more power) hence the advent of the supercharged Duratec.
When you had you car built 250bhp was a healthy figure for a Caterham, now people are pushing 300bhp+ from a Duratec, I reckon in 12 months time they'll be a few 400bhp supercharged Duratecs around - you need to plan ahead
2.2l Duratec? You'd have to ask Ammo that question, give him a call, details on his website www.raceco.com
CSR superlight, well it's just a CSR without a windscreen isn't it? I've been told (not that I've driven one) that they need more power (or that could be that the chassis can handle more power) hence the advent of the supercharged Duratec.
When you had you car built 250bhp was a healthy figure for a Caterham, now people are pushing 300bhp+ from a Duratec, I reckon in 12 months time they'll be a few 400bhp supercharged Duratecs around - you need to plan ahead
I agree that a factory built car will always be easier to sell on than a self build - although I consider Mick to be a "professional" and when you compare his cars to some of the factory built ones... far better! Having said that I don't think a tuned car would be that hard to sell on, as they are desirable - provided you can show that everything has been done properly, and there is no question to the provenance of the car - look at Rich's (Jackal)
Hopefully someone will comment on the CSR 260 who has had say a r500 - performance times seem almost identical - the car must be doing something right - maybe the car is just too accomplished, compared to the r500?
400bhp is just insane - I struggle to see how anything much above 300bhp would be driveable! I think some people just chase figures for the sake of it - pub talk! Personally I want something very fast, but driveable.
Hopefully someone will comment on the CSR 260 who has had say a r500 - performance times seem almost identical - the car must be doing something right - maybe the car is just too accomplished, compared to the r500?
400bhp is just insane - I struggle to see how anything much above 300bhp would be driveable! I think some people just chase figures for the sake of it - pub talk! Personally I want something very fast, but driveable.
Oh without doubt Mick is the best Caterham builder in the business, but you'll still get a high proportion of prospective owners who just want a factor spec and built car though....and I say that from the perspective of someone who built one of the first home grown R400 Duratecs (2.0l 230bhp) in summer 2004.
Well I have a 280bhp 2.3l Duratec sat in my garage waiting to be installed in the car this week so I'll let you know how drivable that is once it's track ready
Well I have a 280bhp 2.3l Duratec sat in my garage waiting to be installed in the car this week so I'll let you know how drivable that is once it's track ready
CSR Superlight is a little more than CSR without windscreen! It also gets Dynamic Suspension dampers, these are the dampers manufactured by Multimatic who developed the chassis. The standard CSR gets Bilsteins (tuned to Multimatics spec) the Superlight gets a stiffer set up with the Dynamics dampers.
I think the fact that the CSR Superlight set an identical time to the Atom 300 in the Evo 100 test says a lot! Atom is at least 40bhp more (a lot of strong rumours the press cars are often a bit over 300bhp) and is supposed to be a bit lighter. I am not sure I believe the weight figures for the Atom, I think it is a fair bit heavier than claimed. Even without the weight factor, to set an identical time suggests the Atom is still tricky to get the best out of.
A lot of Atom 300s get sold fairly soon after purchase (as do some Caterhams to be fair), I think they are just too viscious for many. Having driven a CSR Superlight recently, I have to say it could cope with more power but it is still visciously fast and very capable on the road.
I think the fact that the CSR Superlight set an identical time to the Atom 300 in the Evo 100 test says a lot! Atom is at least 40bhp more (a lot of strong rumours the press cars are often a bit over 300bhp) and is supposed to be a bit lighter. I am not sure I believe the weight figures for the Atom, I think it is a fair bit heavier than claimed. Even without the weight factor, to set an identical time suggests the Atom is still tricky to get the best out of.
A lot of Atom 300s get sold fairly soon after purchase (as do some Caterhams to be fair), I think they are just too viscious for many. Having driven a CSR Superlight recently, I have to say it could cope with more power but it is still visciously fast and very capable on the road.
mic said:
I have a CSR Superlight on oder!
Hi Mick, hope you are well? I saw yours for sale a few weeks ago, I was curious as to what you were going to get next. Are you going for a full factory spec, or are you building your own engine? I presume you are going to get he 260?Cheers, Mark
Well a few months on and I still haven't made my mind up - to be fair I haven't put much effort behind finding a car.
Quite like the look of this one - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/257433.htm - but it feels too expensive to me. Also, I would need to change the dampers to superlight ones (despite what it says in the advert) and put a Raceco silencer on - that would add another 2.5k on the price!
This car - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/243446.htm - is very similar spec to the above one(no lsd, but that could be fitted for 1k) for considerably less money - shame it is sold!
I haven't decided on a CSR - just they are the only ones that seem to come up. I want my old car back... Danny!
Even started to consider an S1 Exige with a SC Honda conversion (300bhp) - but I have heard lots of stories of diffs going, engine mounts etc. forever chasing weak points.
So no further forward... any ideas?
Know of any good cars coming up for sale?
Thanks, Mark
Quite like the look of this one - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/257433.htm - but it feels too expensive to me. Also, I would need to change the dampers to superlight ones (despite what it says in the advert) and put a Raceco silencer on - that would add another 2.5k on the price!
This car - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/243446.htm - is very similar spec to the above one(no lsd, but that could be fitted for 1k) for considerably less money - shame it is sold!
I haven't decided on a CSR - just they are the only ones that seem to come up. I want my old car back... Danny!
Even started to consider an S1 Exige with a SC Honda conversion (300bhp) - but I have heard lots of stories of diffs going, engine mounts etc. forever chasing weak points.
So no further forward... any ideas?
Know of any good cars coming up for sale?
Thanks, Mark
I'm thinking of selling at the moment.I spent more than 35k on my 2.3L 280 odd bhp Duratec S3 and it was finished just before work started to take off so now I hardly have the time to use it 
.It's an 07 plate and has 3k miles on it.
Email me if you fancy a chat or want to see some piccies
.It's an 07 plate and has 3k miles on it.Email me if you fancy a chat or want to see some piccies
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