New R400 - 'oh yes!' and 'oh dear...'
Discussion
Well, it's been precisely a week since I picked up my new R400. As reported elsewhere, the driving experience is exceptionally good. I'm very very pleased with that part. But... all is not yet well in Caterham land. I took the car to Caterham Midlands for it's first service on Friday and took the opportunity to get some build niggles fixed - you know, minor stuff like the speedo not working, the shift lights not working and other not so critical stuff. All was sorted and I set off for home pleased with life.
It was on the journey home that I noticed that the car was still pulling lots more revs than I had expected for the speed it was doing. It was in fact doing 63mph at 4000rpm in 6th... A quick mental calculation reveals that this translates into a top speed of 120mph at 7600rpm. I immediately headed back to Cat Midlands for an emergency conference.
After much scratching of chins, a back to back test with another new R400 and a look under the car aided by jacks and axle stands the root cause of the problem has been established. Yes, my new factory built car has THE WRONG DIFF!!!!!!!!!!!! Not surprisingly, they didn't have a spare diff on the racks, so I'm going to have to take another day off work to get this sorted. I have a track day coming up in 8 days time, so I'm expecting Caterham to deliver - and deliver fast.
Advice to all new R400 owners - check your diffs!!!
It was on the journey home that I noticed that the car was still pulling lots more revs than I had expected for the speed it was doing. It was in fact doing 63mph at 4000rpm in 6th... A quick mental calculation reveals that this translates into a top speed of 120mph at 7600rpm. I immediately headed back to Cat Midlands for an emergency conference.
After much scratching of chins, a back to back test with another new R400 and a look under the car aided by jacks and axle stands the root cause of the problem has been established. Yes, my new factory built car has THE WRONG DIFF!!!!!!!!!!!! Not surprisingly, they didn't have a spare diff on the racks, so I'm going to have to take another day off work to get this sorted. I have a track day coming up in 8 days time, so I'm expecting Caterham to deliver - and deliver fast.
Advice to all new R400 owners - check your diffs!!!
Murph7355 said:
Where's the track day?
At least it should be accelerating like a bastard, and if the track's a tight one, use what you've got and tell them to swap it afterwards
I thought of that too...! Unfortunately, the track day is on Silverstone's GP circuit... Not the best place for a super short diff...!At least it should be accelerating like a bastard, and if the track's a tight one, use what you've got and tell them to swap it afterwards
As for the acceleration - it is mental :-)
Guess what!! Yep - mine's the same (3.9 instead of 3.6)!! So, fuel gauge not working, speedo 'dodgy' at best a few other small issues and now a fairly major component wrong. I got mildly flamed for criticising the handbook and literature that came with the car on the basis that it's a small volume and hand built but I'm rapidly heading through mildly amused to singularly unimpressed! I'll say again this thing cost £34K.
Come now Pugsey, the pocket rocket still works 
Serious balls up by the company, especially for two to be hit at the same time (wonder if the same chap built both). But it's not as if you're without the car and as long as they "make good" by not inconveniencing you to rectify it (and perhaps chucking in a service for you), it's not going to be that big a deal.
The "problem", such as it is, is that these cars are so customisable, even from the factory, that the more you allow this the more likely it is that some bits will be wrong on delivery.
That said, (a) 2x diff cock ups is odd (wonder if there are none of the other type at the moment?) and (b) have always agreed that 34k for a car like this is a serious amount of money.
PS Have both you and subirg checked that you have the right engine in there? Might be worth a look
Serious balls up by the company, especially for two to be hit at the same time (wonder if the same chap built both). But it's not as if you're without the car and as long as they "make good" by not inconveniencing you to rectify it (and perhaps chucking in a service for you), it's not going to be that big a deal.
The "problem", such as it is, is that these cars are so customisable, even from the factory, that the more you allow this the more likely it is that some bits will be wrong on delivery.
That said, (a) 2x diff cock ups is odd (wonder if there are none of the other type at the moment?) and (b) have always agreed that 34k for a car like this is a serious amount of money.
PS Have both you and subirg checked that you have the right engine in there? Might be worth a look
Murph7355 said:
Come now Pugsey, the pocket rocket still works
Serious balls up by the company, especially for two to be hit at the same time (wonder if the same chap built both). But it's not as if you're without the car and as long as they "make good" by not inconveniencing you to rectify it (and perhaps chucking in a service for you), it's not going to be that big a deal.
The "problem", such as it is, is that these cars are so customisable, even from the factory, that the more you allow this the more likely it is that some bits will be wrong on delivery.
That said, (a) 2x diff cock ups is odd (wonder if there are none of the other type at the moment?) and (b) have always agreed that 34k for a car like this is a serious amount of money.
PS Have both you and subirg checked that you have the right engine in there? Might be worth a look
Yes I'm sure all will be resolved eventually.Serious balls up by the company, especially for two to be hit at the same time (wonder if the same chap built both). But it's not as if you're without the car and as long as they "make good" by not inconveniencing you to rectify it (and perhaps chucking in a service for you), it's not going to be that big a deal.
The "problem", such as it is, is that these cars are so customisable, even from the factory, that the more you allow this the more likely it is that some bits will be wrong on delivery.
That said, (a) 2x diff cock ups is odd (wonder if there are none of the other type at the moment?) and (b) have always agreed that 34k for a car like this is a serious amount of money.
PS Have both you and subirg checked that you have the right engine in there? Might be worth a look
I'm pretty sure the engine's Ok - Skoda lumps have come a long way haven't they!
subirg said:
Pugsey - I agree with you. Getting small stuff wrong or having minor set up issues is one thing, but having the wrong bloody diff is quite another! I am on the case to try and get mine sorted, but significant lack of results so far. Any luck at your end?
I do agree with you both of course (and think it would be well worth you having a consolidated response with Caterham over it, bearing in mind the issues are the same).There are two marques I love and with whom I won't go near the main dealers on - Caterham and Ferrari.
Caterham may argue that their products are somewhat cheaper than Ferraris, but like you both I feel this is besides the point. And anyway, Caterham's product is significantly less complex and has been in production in broadly the same form for 50yrs.
Thankfully there really is no need to go near the main dealers for the majority of things with either marque.
Good luck getting both cars sorted and make sure you post the outcome.
Edited by Murph7355 on Monday 13th August 18:42
Murph7355 said:
subirg said:
Pugsey - I agree with you. Getting small stuff wrong or having minor set up issues is one thing, but having the wrong bloody diff is quite another! I am on the case to try and get mine sorted, but significant lack of results so far. Any luck at your end?
I do agree with you both of course (and think it would be well worth you having a consolidated response with Caterham over it, bearing in mind the issues are the same).There are two marques I love and with whom I won't go near the main dealers on - Caterham and Ferrari.
Caterham may argue that their products are somewhat cheaper than Ferraris, but like you both I feel this is besides the point. And anyway, Caterham's product is significantly less complex and has not been in production in broadly the same form for 50yrs.
Thankfully there really is no need to go near the main dealers for the majority of things with either marque.
Good luck getting both cars sorted and make sure you post the outcome.
Lets be absolutely clear - my new R400 is now performing exactly as the bits installed on it should allow it to. It has done about 1,000 miles and all bits are still attached to the car.
However - Caterham have still not sorted my diff issue - and it is right royally getting on my a**e. I do not know when it is going to be sorted and I am not happy about it given that I picked the car up nearly 6 weeks ago...
So overall - build quality as good as I would have expected (so far) - after sales service requires improvement. The strange thing is, I'm the sort of customer that would very easily upgrade year after year, so I do not understand why I am not being treated as such. I think the idea of upgrading to a CSR 260 SL is going to get dropped soon...
Will keep you posted.
However - Caterham have still not sorted my diff issue - and it is right royally getting on my a**e. I do not know when it is going to be sorted and I am not happy about it given that I picked the car up nearly 6 weeks ago...
So overall - build quality as good as I would have expected (so far) - after sales service requires improvement. The strange thing is, I'm the sort of customer that would very easily upgrade year after year, so I do not understand why I am not being treated as such. I think the idea of upgrading to a CSR 260 SL is going to get dropped soon...
Will keep you posted.
Just had my wee tin finally 'treated' (i.e. paint corrected) by Matthew from www.offyormarks.com and at last, the finish no longer resembles that which passed through the PDI sequence at the Freddy Kruger Paintshop.
It had been like that from new and was a damn disgrace.
Nevertheless, they are so wonderfully iconic, the stance and purity something uniquely quirky, the sense of purpose derived from simply contemplating the uber snug, superlight cockpit, palpable.
Timeless quality.
It had been like that from new and was a damn disgrace.
Nevertheless, they are so wonderfully iconic, the stance and purity something uniquely quirky, the sense of purpose derived from simply contemplating the uber snug, superlight cockpit, palpable.
Timeless quality.
subirg said:
Lets be absolutely clear - my new R400 is now performing exactly as the bits installed on it should allow it to. It has done about 1,000 miles and all bits are still attached to the car.
However - Caterham have still not sorted my diff issue - and it is right royally getting on my a**e. I do not know when it is going to be sorted and I am not happy about it given that I picked the car up nearly 6 weeks ago...
So overall - build quality as good as I would have expected (so far) - after sales service requires improvement. The strange thing is, I'm the sort of customer that would very easily upgrade year after year, so I do not understand why I am not being treated as such. I think the idea of upgrading to a CSR 260 SL is going to get dropped soon...
Will keep you posted.
Pretty typical of Caterhams customer service if you ask me, we've had nothing but trouble with our CSR and I know of several other owners with the similar problems.However - Caterham have still not sorted my diff issue - and it is right royally getting on my a**e. I do not know when it is going to be sorted and I am not happy about it given that I picked the car up nearly 6 weeks ago...
So overall - build quality as good as I would have expected (so far) - after sales service requires improvement. The strange thing is, I'm the sort of customer that would very easily upgrade year after year, so I do not understand why I am not being treated as such. I think the idea of upgrading to a CSR 260 SL is going to get dropped soon...
Will keep you posted.
Stephen
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