Superlight R 500
Discussion
Hi
Second hand they're usually around 30K (see www.caterham.co.uk) depending on age/spec. The new prices vary according to spec as well, you can have Windscreens/weather equipment/paint - etc etc.
Pretty sort after but a Caterham being a fairly 'personal' car may lead people to buy new so they can get exactly the spec they want.
It's based around a fairly highly strung K series 'Minister' engine, so reliability can be an issue (it's worth the worry!). But if out and out acceleration is your thing then a bike engined car can thrill.
Watch out for a few 'Duratec' engined cars (Ford engine, similar power, arguably better reliability and drivability) it may become the engine of choice, undervaluing the R500 and causing prices to fall.
The joys of alternative motoring!
j.
Second hand they're usually around 30K (see www.caterham.co.uk) depending on age/spec. The new prices vary according to spec as well, you can have Windscreens/weather equipment/paint - etc etc.
Pretty sort after but a Caterham being a fairly 'personal' car may lead people to buy new so they can get exactly the spec they want.
It's based around a fairly highly strung K series 'Minister' engine, so reliability can be an issue (it's worth the worry!). But if out and out acceleration is your thing then a bike engined car can thrill.
Watch out for a few 'Duratec' engined cars (Ford engine, similar power, arguably better reliability and drivability) it may become the engine of choice, undervaluing the R500 and causing prices to fall.
The joys of alternative motoring!
j.
Duratec is not a current official Caterham engine so this will have an effect on values. All R500 reliability issues seem to be sorted now after early issues (all sorted by Caterham with a recall).
R500's are incredibly fast bonkers cars. Don't let anyone tell you that they are totally inflexible as it is possible to put it in 6th at 30/35mph and it will pull from there right to the redline.
Awesome car go for it!
R500's are incredibly fast bonkers cars. Don't let anyone tell you that they are totally inflexible as it is possible to put it in 6th at 30/35mph and it will pull from there right to the redline.
Awesome car go for it!
The R500 is an incredible car. You have to go in one to realise just how fast it is (genuinely shocking).
Reliability is no longer a big issue. Early cars had problems but these were all sorted by Caterham with a recall. Make sure the car has had the uprated big end bearings done (should be done at the recall).
Don't let anyone tell you it isn't a flexible engine. You can stick it in sixth at 35 mph and it will pull all the way through to max from there!
Reliability is no longer a big issue. Early cars had problems but these were all sorted by Caterham with a recall. Make sure the car has had the uprated big end bearings done (should be done at the recall).
Don't let anyone tell you it isn't a flexible engine. You can stick it in sixth at 35 mph and it will pull all the way through to max from there!
Dino, I'm not sure whether Keith did the work himself - I was at Minister with my SLR last year when his was in there. Graham Fuller told me Keith's was in for the bearing upgrade, so we may be talking about 2 different events.
As for the desirability of an R500, what is interesting is that they are coming down in price secondhand. With dry sump as standard and higher quality components in the engine I'd buy one over an SLR, execially since the price diferential between an SLR & R500 is a couple of grand
As for the desirability of an R500, what is interesting is that they are coming down in price secondhand. With dry sump as standard and higher quality components in the engine I'd buy one over an SLR, execially since the price diferential between an SLR & R500 is a couple of grand
He did himself after a training course with Peter Carmichael where they stripped one of Richard Ince's engiens which had decided to part company with some of its internals.
The K is not as reliable as other engine options for a Seven at this level of tune.
>> Edited by fat arnie on Saturday 25th October 15:57
The K is not as reliable as other engine options for a Seven at this level of tune.
>> Edited by fat arnie on Saturday 25th October 15:57
The Stealth B6 also beat the McLaren, I know because I wrote about it, but I'd forgotton before, and I also don't really classs that as a production car either! Bt can't remember whether it was timed properly and was registered.
But it was basically a scaled down Toyota GT1 race car rather than a road car.
But it was basically a scaled down Toyota GT1 race car rather than a road car.
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