R400

[Scottsumner]

4 weeks ago i did a day at Brands Hatch with Caterham learning how to drift, fantastic fun but to many people and not enough time in the cars!

I was so impressed with how they feel and perform i visited there showroom on the weekend after!

Fell for a nice R400 so called my wife and she said "No No No" i said "Yes Yes Yes" Guess who won

Picked it up on the Wednesday

I have had a RS4, RS6 & now have a C63AMG but none of them compare to the feeling, fun and smile this R400 makes me feel!

I love it and cant wait to do a track day, i live only one mile from Brands hatch!

I cant beleve how fast it is, and the noise of the engine and exsaust (i ve been missing out for to long)

God knows what the R500 must be like!

Roll on the summer

[fatvik]

Hey Scott,
Welcome to the fold. Have you gone for a k-series or a duratec powered 7? I picked up my 7 in August and I still grin every time I drive it
I too am in Kent so if you fancy a hoon with some company, let me know.

The chaps at 7 club in Kent (North) are a great bunch, I'd recommend you pop-along to a meet.

See you around
-FatVik
ps - where are the pics

[Scottsumner]

Cheers for the reply mate,

Not the best picture but best i have so far,

I have no idea what it is just no its a R400 (from the number plate!) and what the sales guy said, i really didnt care i just wanted to drive it!

I have driven it about 100 miles so far but it just keeps bldy raining

I know nothing about them but now i am hooked and have one i feel i should find out at least what engine it has!

Whats the web site of the Carterham club thing?

Will take you up on a drive (in the dry!)

[fatvik]

Hi Scott,
From the exhaust positioning, I'd guess that its a k-series. The Duratec engine has the exhaust come out on the drivers side. Tomorrow and Sunday arnt looking too bad if you fancy popping out
I was planning on popping by to the PH Sunday Servicethis weekend in the 7 (although I wont be able to stay for long) so if you fancy going we can "convoy" across
The 7 club's URLs are
http://www.blatchat.com/ - forum
http://www.lotussevenclub.com/ - club's main site (check out area meets) the North Kent one is held in Eynsford - with the next one being Jan 2010 now I believe.

Happy driving!
-FatVik

[Scottsumner]

Thanks for the info,

I to am looking to go to the meet on Sunday morning with a friend of mine (weather depending)

I will let you know if we are going (have a heavy night before hand!)

Cheers

Scott

[Epimetheus]

That's an SV isn't it?

[Epimetheus]

That's an SV isn't it?

[allen l]

If possible, I'd like to ask you to take a picture of your car from the side.

[Fatbuddha]

Hi Scott,

Did we once meet at the caterham showroom a few weeks back? We chatted for a bit (me doing my best Caterham salesman impression!) I probably bored you silly but after recently getting my R400, I am trying to convert anyone that will listen to try these amazing little cars.

If we haven't met, then apologies! If it was, and you fancy arranging a blat with another new owner then let me know as I'm not too far from brands.

Enjoy the 7 (much better than an R8 )

[Scottsumner]

Fatbuddha said:

Hi Scott,

Did we once meet at the caterham showroom a few weeks back? We chatted for a bit (me doing my best Caterham salesman impression!) I probably bored you silly but after recently getting my R400, I am trying to convert anyone that will listen to try these amazing little cars.

If we haven't met, then apologies! If it was, and you fancy arranging a blat with another new owner then let me know as I'm not too far from brands.

Enjoy the 7 (much better than an R8 )

Hi Mate, i remember you came from Docklands area and you had a red R400 and you use the car on a daily basis!

Thanks for your advice (as i new nothing about them at all) Sales man Damian was very helpful and it didnt take long for me to decide i was making the right decision (taken my wife a little longer!).

I am enjoying it more than i ever expected and cant wait for the better weather to come along, i know you said you use it as your main car on a daily basis but i dont think i could manage that with the rain, roof and no radio.

I would have loved a R8 but still to much money for me and i do beleve it would not have been as much fun as the R400

Safe driving (well sort of)

Scott

[CatMatt7]

Well done - great looking car.

I have recently upgraded to an R500 K-Series. would love to tell you how it is but I haven't had any dry weather to fully open it up yet.

Hoping to get it on track soon, but I think I need to address the sheer volume of the car first - it's a bit loud.

[Scottsumner]

Epimetheus said:

That's an SV isn't it?

You was right!

I have just called Caterham and got the spec

R400 SV Super light 04 reg
Rover engine (never thought i would have a Rover engine!)
205 BHP
400 BHP Per Ton

[Scottsumner]

CatMatt7 said:

Well done - great looking car.

I have recently upgraded to an R500 K-Series. would love to tell you how it is but I haven't had any dry weather to fully open it up yet.

Hoping to get it on track soon, but I think I need to address the sheer volume of the car first - it's a bit loud.

My god that sounds good, i was tempted by the R500 but not really knowing anything about them i decided best to be safe (sort of) and go for the R400, but i can see me also going down that route.

I am going to wait for the better weather before going on a track, still getting used to what it can do on the road (safely, sort of)

What it is 0-60 is it about 3 sec?

[Jam3s]

Scott,

Welcome tot he 7 madhouse, there is a meet from maidstone services going out at 13:30 today, sat 12th, dont let the rain put you off it makes it more interesting


J

[Scottsumner]

Thanks J !

I cant make that today as my wife is at Bluewater!!! (again)

But thanks for letting me know

[Scottsumner]

fatvik said:

Hi Scott,
From the exhaust positioning, I'd guess that its a k-series. The Duratec engine has the exhaust come out on the drivers side. Tomorrow and Sunday arnt looking too bad if you fancy popping out
I was planning on popping by to the PH Sunday Servicethis weekend in the 7 (although I wont be able to stay for long) so if you fancy going we can "convoy" across
The 7 club's URLs are
http://www.blatchat.com/ - forum
http://www.lotussevenclub.com/ - club's main site (check out area meets) the North Kent one is held in Eynsford - with the next one being Jan 2010 now I believe.

Happy driving!
-FatVik

Hi Vik,

We are going tomorrow and was going to leave West Kingsdown at 9am we can meet you somewhere if you are still going?

Scott

[Helluvaname]

Hi Scott, and Fatbuddha, welcome to caterham ownership

I'm one of the Area Reps for the North Kent area of the Lotus Seven Club, and you'd be most welcome to drop in at The Plough in Eynsford on the 1st Tuesday of the month for a natter (just ask for Lotus 7 Club and Ian B if you don't know anyone there).

We arrange a variety of events (both as part of the L7C and others), so come along and check it out; and if you have any questions about your car, you'll get loads of info (and different sugestions!) at the meeting!

Cheers
Ian

[sjmmarsh]

Scott

The R400 superlight quoted a 0-60 of 3.9s, but that was for 200bhp. Yours is an SV, so 25kg heavier, but if it has 5bhp more then should be able to get a similar figure.

Enjoy! (It isn't just about the straight line acceleration - wait until you experience the CORNERS)

Steve

[Scottsumner]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info! (this is what Caterham told me today about the car)

I dont care if its 100 BHP this is the most fun i have had in years, i just cant beleve how much fun you can get for your money!

I am hooked and double hooked

Scott

[StEVEN7]

Hi Scott glad you're having fun..i'm on my third Caterham now which i bought from the showroom recently
and oddly enough i saw your car there..my car is the same colour as yours and i saw yours and thought i would have the black stripes too......mines an S3 chassis 160vvc and awesome to drive
I run some of the Blats in the Kent Area so do come over onto Blatchat and join us for a blat. The last one i did we had 18 cars

all being well weather wise we should be doing a christmas blat too so look out for a post on Blatchat.


Have fun
StEVEN