Quick question - R500

[Lefty Guns]

Will it hit the limiter in top gear?

Or is its vmax limited by the aerodynamics?

Cheers
Lefty

[thequietone]

Will bump the limiter in top no problem - even going uphill into the wind! Top speed determined by ratios not aero. Would easily pull the limiter with a slightly longer final drive but you'd loose the manic acceleration.

[atom-ick]

I got a passenger ride at an RMA track event at RAF Odiham last summer and the car was easily hitting it's limiter (150 something) on the (very long) straight. In fact, i think it hit the limiter on the straight when we came out of the pits from a standstill - so in about a standing mile and a bit...(straight was 1.5 miles long ISTR)

The car is genuinely, furiously and endlessly rapid (and i begrudgingly admit it sounds waaaaaaay better than my atom). I have to say that in my experience Caterham's usually die about about 110 - 120mph so i was surprised it just kept on going. It was enough of an experience to remind me why i fell in love with Caterhams the first time around...

[BertBert]

are we talking k-r500 or D-r500?

[atom-ick]

Sorry - i may have got the wrong end of the stick as i am talking about a ride i had in a "new" R500 (the ford powered one)

I had a K Series R400 and that probably would have hit the limiter in 6th but it would have needed a hell of a run up to do so! - it really used to run out of steam above about 120mph (for example at Silverstone) but in its defense it did have a windscreen fitted which can't help.

The thing with all of this is that top speed doesn't really matter because you so rarely get to stretch a car's legs, and they are really not intended for it (especially given their aerodynamics that are similar to that of a brick)

[rubystone]

Never got above 127 mph in my SLR or HPC - both had windscreens. My K R500 with aeroscreen hits 137 before braking at the end of the Revitt straight - I am sure someone braver could go even faster. The car isn't flat out at that speed, but it is pretty lively. No reason why it shouldn't top 140 give space. 150?...not sure about that...

[S6PNJ]

If you fancy seeing the difference between a 300, 400 and 500 along a very long straight come along to the RAF Odiham track day on Sunday 26 July as we expect to have all 3 of the variations there. You'll need to book through RMA to attend though unless you are already based there.