I've bought a R300!
Discussion
The deed is done! After weeks of pondering over which to go for I went for a test drive this morning and signed on the dotted line. Sadly looks like it might be 10 days before the car is ready and my monies lined up.
Was looking at R500s but in my price bracket would have been early K series and the amount of rebuilds potentially needed, noise issues and the driveability problems of the one I tried put me off. Seems a mad thing to say when buying a Caterham, but I've made a sensible purchase - it hasn't got the brutal acceleration of the R500 but is massively more tractible and shouldn't cause noise problems on trackdays - felt easy to gell with and quick enough to have fun with.
It looks a minter - 2003, x power, in mango, lsd, dry sump, 13" wheels, some tasty carbon bits and clearly been very well looked after.
Thanks are due to Scott at Roadsporthire, and Jody at Caterham Midlands without whom I'd never got here (Oscar speech anyone?)
Only damper is having to part with my beloved Porsche - it's seriously going to hurt to let it go to someone.
I'm sure I'll have a load of stupid questions to ask. First up - how can you carry kids in it? I'm not sure my lad will wait till he's 12 for a ride - can you do something legal and safe in terms of a bolster seat. On the other hand I'm not sure my wife's going to let him out with me in it anyway. I doubt whether she'll go out in it herself!
Is there anything I should get Caterham to do to it before I pick it up (they're obviously doing a service etc)? I was wondering about getting a carbon airbox, or an aeroscreen, or getting the exhaust re-packed - but none of these sound anythng like essentials at present. Pedal box feels a bit tight, even with driving shoes on, but I guess it's just about getting used to where the pedals are.
Was looking at R500s but in my price bracket would have been early K series and the amount of rebuilds potentially needed, noise issues and the driveability problems of the one I tried put me off. Seems a mad thing to say when buying a Caterham, but I've made a sensible purchase - it hasn't got the brutal acceleration of the R500 but is massively more tractible and shouldn't cause noise problems on trackdays - felt easy to gell with and quick enough to have fun with.
It looks a minter - 2003, x power, in mango, lsd, dry sump, 13" wheels, some tasty carbon bits and clearly been very well looked after.
Thanks are due to Scott at Roadsporthire, and Jody at Caterham Midlands without whom I'd never got here (Oscar speech anyone?)
Only damper is having to part with my beloved Porsche - it's seriously going to hurt to let it go to someone.
I'm sure I'll have a load of stupid questions to ask. First up - how can you carry kids in it? I'm not sure my lad will wait till he's 12 for a ride - can you do something legal and safe in terms of a bolster seat. On the other hand I'm not sure my wife's going to let him out with me in it anyway. I doubt whether she'll go out in it herself!
Is there anything I should get Caterham to do to it before I pick it up (they're obviously doing a service etc)? I was wondering about getting a carbon airbox, or an aeroscreen, or getting the exhaust re-packed - but none of these sound anythng like essentials at present. Pedal box feels a bit tight, even with driving shoes on, but I guess it's just about getting used to where the pedals are.
Congrats!!!
You will love it - what ever the spec...
As for kids, not sure it was legal, but my daughter has been riding in the 7 since she was a real nipper - some years back as she's 16 now, so laws may have changed. But I just found a booster set that fitted. Aren't kids allowed in the front of a 2 seater as there is no back seat???
Talking of having a 7 for some time (20+ years now) I'm sure Mike 'what end do I hold the spanner' Ebery will be along in a moment, but don't listen to him as he can't even locate a dodgy fuse
You will love it - what ever the spec...
As for kids, not sure it was legal, but my daughter has been riding in the 7 since she was a real nipper - some years back as she's 16 now, so laws may have changed. But I just found a booster set that fitted. Aren't kids allowed in the front of a 2 seater as there is no back seat???
Talking of having a 7 for some time (20+ years now) I'm sure Mike 'what end do I hold the spanner' Ebery will be along in a moment, but don't listen to him as he can't even locate a dodgy fuse
We have a Roadpsort with the Leather Caterham style seats in it.
For the Kids we purchased a Foam Style booster cushion and trimmed the back corners to fit in the Seats. With the 4 Point harness's we dont have any problems.
My Kids are 3 1/4 & 6. My wife often uses it for School runs when it is only one.
For the Kids we purchased a Foam Style booster cushion and trimmed the back corners to fit in the Seats. With the 4 Point harness's we dont have any problems.
My Kids are 3 1/4 & 6. My wife often uses it for School runs when it is only one.
Really pleased for you Mike. Many congratulations and sounds like a super choice. Look forward to seeing you and the car at a meet/run somewhere. Hope Jody did you a decent deal
I'm constantly pleased (though not surprised any more) by how many customers turn up in great cars and still get smitten by the Caterham thing - happened to me and that's now six chaps (not all gone to caterham) who have gone on to buy cars. (Maybe I'm missing something here!)
Lynda sends her best wishes accompanied by a "Boys will be boys" style comment
Cheers
Scott.
I'm constantly pleased (though not surprised any more) by how many customers turn up in great cars and still get smitten by the Caterham thing - happened to me and that's now six chaps (not all gone to caterham) who have gone on to buy cars. (Maybe I'm missing something here!)
Lynda sends her best wishes accompanied by a "Boys will be boys" style comment
Cheers
Scott.
How are you getting on. I am considering exactly the same. That is swapping a 911 (C2 997) for a Caterham.
Trying to find out more and decide what is best.
Would an R500 be too much for a Caterham newbie? If so what would be a good start for a newbie.
Something in my head doesnt want to have something that accelerates slower than the 911 - I know acceleration isnt everthing but it would niggle me rightly or wrongly.
Thinking of new (factory built) or maybe a used one from Caterham. As I know nothing and wouldnt be confident of buying one on my own. Thought if I get a new or used one from Caterham its going to be a good one.
Any views?
Trying to find out more and decide what is best.
Would an R500 be too much for a Caterham newbie? If so what would be a good start for a newbie.
Something in my head doesnt want to have something that accelerates slower than the 911 - I know acceleration isnt everthing but it would niggle me rightly or wrongly.
Thinking of new (factory built) or maybe a used one from Caterham. As I know nothing and wouldnt be confident of buying one on my own. Thought if I get a new or used one from Caterham its going to be a good one.
Any views?
huwdm said:
Would an R500 be too much for a Caterham newbie?
Any views?
Huw there is no "too much" for a new owner PROVIDED you treat the car with the respect in terms of power-weight it gives you. If you just give it beans in the wrong situation, or don't do a handling day early on, sure you could have trouble. If however you get a K of miles onto you with the R500 you'd be no worse off than others of us with the high HP cars. This is a very simple form to follow to insure long term success, I can attest after 7 years with a high HP SV-VHPD.Any views?
If you baby it too much, you'll never know what youre missing -- time and place of course...
huwdm said:
How are you getting on. I am considering exactly the same. That is swapping a 911 (C2 997) for a Caterham.
Trying to find out more and decide what is best.
Would an R500 be too much for a Caterham newbie? If so what would be a good start for a newbie.
Something in my head doesnt want to have something that accelerates slower than the 911 - I know acceleration isnt everthing but it would niggle me rightly or wrongly.
Thinking of new (factory built) or maybe a used one from Caterham. As I know nothing and wouldnt be confident of buying one on my own. Thought if I get a new or used one from Caterham its going to be a good one.
Any views?
I think you could think about it in a different way. I think you should discard your basic premise judging a caterham by whether it accelerates faster than a 911. It's an irrelevance.Trying to find out more and decide what is best.
Would an R500 be too much for a Caterham newbie? If so what would be a good start for a newbie.
Something in my head doesnt want to have something that accelerates slower than the 911 - I know acceleration isnt everthing but it would niggle me rightly or wrongly.
Thinking of new (factory built) or maybe a used one from Caterham. As I know nothing and wouldnt be confident of buying one on my own. Thought if I get a new or used one from Caterham its going to be a good one.
Any views?
It may be that an R500 provides the best fun for you. It might be not. I have been there and decided I enjoyed a 1600k series better than an R500 (regardless of whether it accelerates faster than my GT3). Your best best is to get some test drives and see which works and fits you and what you want.
You will need a dealer to help you with the test drives. So Caterham is a good place to go.
Bert
I had a bit of a Caterham epiphany - after I'd decided to buy to be honest.
Did a trackday in my 996, then got a ride in a CSR. Okay it's got a lot more bhp then my R300 but the thing that struck me was the huge difference the weight (or rather lack of it) makes. Suddenly my Porsche felt really hard work.
Don't know what you do with your Porsche, but if you want to drive it hard I think Caterham is the way to go.
Not picked up the R300 yet, and sort of wish I could afford a R500, but wouldn't go there till I could afford a Duratec. I think the R300 is going to be plenty quick enough to be fun - and so much more intense
Edited to add - when comparing Caterham specs I did set a base level of 0-60 of at least as quick as my Porsche, I wouldn't have wanted something "only" as quick as my current car - the R300 certainly feels at least as quick in a straight line.
Did a trackday in my 996, then got a ride in a CSR. Okay it's got a lot more bhp then my R300 but the thing that struck me was the huge difference the weight (or rather lack of it) makes. Suddenly my Porsche felt really hard work.
Don't know what you do with your Porsche, but if you want to drive it hard I think Caterham is the way to go.
Not picked up the R300 yet, and sort of wish I could afford a R500, but wouldn't go there till I could afford a Duratec. I think the R300 is going to be plenty quick enough to be fun - and so much more intense
Edited to add - when comparing Caterham specs I did set a base level of 0-60 of at least as quick as my Porsche, I wouldn't have wanted something "only" as quick as my current car - the R300 certainly feels at least as quick in a straight line.
Edited by MikeO996 on Tuesday 13th April 09:14
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