Has anyone gone from or gone to a Caterham from an Exige S3

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

I currently own an orange 20th Edition Exige 410 S3, it is currently listed in the Classified's on PH. Had a few offers around 70k which I have refused simply because I know I have a really good car, it is essentially 420 Final Spec as it has AIM dash, upgrade Focal/Kenwood sound system, PPF.

However I love driving it on track but have also decided it has to go by end of this year, so plan is to do a few more track days in it and then let it go, I feel values of Exige S3 are going to remain steady now, maybe even increase a little with no production due to Emira.

I've got my eyes set on a Caterham but I find them an absolute mindfield and have no idea what to go for as it will be driven on the road, I will also drive it to track days and I want something that feels as quick as the Exige does in a straight line.

I am guessing I need to be looking at one with 150-200HP and want a manual.

Has anyone gone from an Exige S3 to a Caterham and if so how did you find it and what Caterham did you go for please?

[BertBert]

I've not done that specific journey, but I'd say that the Exige and the Caterham are completely different driving experiences. I have driven Jamie at B&C a bit mad over the years with test drives and every time I went, I drove there in my Caterham of the time and no matter how much I liked the Exige the drive home in my 135bhp Caterham made me never buy a Lotus. I didn't buy one (Evora) until I had been out of the Caterham for some while.

I would say that on the road a 135bhp Caterham is at least as exhilarating and visceral as the Exige. Probably way more so.

So I'd not be thinking you need 200bhp in a Caterham for that purpose. I also enjoyed my 135 horses much more than the 230 of the R500 I had. Just too fast for me to be fun. Others say that you need more bhp for track use otherwise the straights are boring. I think straights are boring full stop - even in my 280bhp BDG March F2 car!

I guess to my point, Caterhams are quite individual to different tastes as there are plenty who go for mega BHP. In the reasonably recent world, you have the Sigma engine Caterhams which I think are a really good combo. Although not made new any more. So unless you go retro to the k-series ore older, the choice is probably the Duratec in all it's guises. maybe the 360 at 180bhp.

Starting point is go get a drive in one.

I'm finishing a resto of a crossflow live axle Caterham with the xflow rebuilt to about 150ish bhp which I think will be mega! Last winter's winter project. Let's hope I get it finished before the end of this winter!

[BertBert]

And PS, yes a manual one is best

[Rick101]

Different experience. Went from a 150bhp 7 to a 350.
Personally I think if you want to pull akin to a 410 you need to be in the 200bhp range for the Caterham.

Don't think they are really about that though. Best option would be to have both!

[gashead1105]

I had a K series superlight for a year or so, most of 2021 basically. When it worked, it was fabulous; I've done numerous trackdays in S2 and V6 exiges and the seven was the most fun I've had on track. Full stop. But it ate alternators like they were going out of fashion, 3 in a year and it was a pig to work on due to the layout and narrow body chassis. Parts were harder to find than i expected and it just seemed to cost me quite a lot to keep running. My mate had a 420r fatboy duratec at the time and that was easier to work on (and he'd build it himself) but it wasn't much faster than mine, which was running 140-150hpish, had the 6 speed crazy ratio box and weighed close to 100kg less we reckon. He's now got a Westfield track car, which might be a better option that could mean you keep the exige? For what its worth, I got back in an exige 260 cup at the start of last year and have no regrets whatsoever. I wouldn't have another 7 but I'm glad I've done it, whereas I love my exiges (though I couldn't get the man maths for a 410 to stack up so went with the S2 cup).

[BertBert]

That's really interesting. I've had numerous 7s and several k-series and found them all really easy to work on and not a single alternator consumed in my entire 7'ing career! What killed them?

[gashead1105]

BertBert said:

That's really interesting. I've had numerous 7s and several k-series and found them all really easy to work on and not a single alternator consumed in my entire 7'ing career! What killed them?

First one I suspect was just worn out, the car had 55k miles showing on the odo when I bought it. Second one failed during the first trackday after it was fitted (something exploded out the casing) and while the third was OK for the rest of the time I'd lost faith by that point - I had to take the gearbox out shortly after buying the car for a rebuild! Doing it again I'd probably buy a Westfield, would have got a much newer car at the same price point and they seem very easy to work on. As I say though, when it was working and on the right road, or track, there was nothing better. 6 speed box, lsd, lightweight tillers and the k series is such a great engine in a lightweight car.

[BertBert]

gashead1105 said:

But it ate alternators like they were going out of fashion

gashead1105 said:

First one I suspect was just worn out, the car had 55k miles showing on the odo when I bought it. Second one failed during the first trackday after it was fitted (something exploded out the casing) and while the third was OK

So two then

[gashead1105]

It was on its third in 12 months 😜

[BertBert]

gashead1105 said:

It was on its third in 12 months ??

Just debating for the fun of it, but it had consumed 2 in somewhere just over 55k miles. It borked 2 of them. One after 55k miles and then one quite quickly. You don't sound all that enamoured of your k-series Caterham, I assumed you had a head gasket tale of woe, but it seems not

[gashead1105]

Engine was good, no head gasket issues and pulled really well. I just had some bad luck really. I didn't test the car on track after the third alternator, I didn't want to risk it as I'd pretty much decided I wanted another exige by that point and I only have room in the garage for one car.

[Gibbo205]

Hi there


So looking through Caterham configurator and what is for sale I think I have narrowed it down to either a 310R or 420R, but with the regular leather seats with harnesses ideally, but my guess is that swapping seats out is an easy job.

So I guess it comes down to 310 or 420 and if anyone here has driven both?

[Rick101]

420R obviously. Its the bigger number!

[CABC]

For road I’d go K or Sigma. More rev happy, fast enough. Std Duratecs feel heavy to me, they can be modded of course.

Completely different cars to Exige, have you driven a Cat?
I track a Sigma and do minimal road miles because I feel vulnerable, may not be my driving but the other boys and girls out there are trying to kill me! Mine has a roll cage, safer in some respects but I should wear a helmet on the road to protect my head from the cage itself, as it’s only 4” away.
I have an Elise for road fun, better steering and easy to drive distances. Less playful on track of course.

Bert, funny you chose the Evora. Awesome car, but completely different to Elise/Exige!

[keo]

Hi Gibbo go oakmere and drive a Caterham see what you think. I test drove a low powered one and loved it but decided the 420R would be a better option as I’d like a bit more power. But it didn’t come off in the end.

I have an Exige same as you and I like the practicality over a Caterham so I can use it more. But I would love to have a Caterham as well.

[BertBert]

CABC said:

Bert, funny you chose the Evora. Awesome car, but completely different to Elise/Exige!

That is a very astute observation! In retrospect I made a bit of a cockup. I chose the Evora over an Exige for reasons of practicality/luggage holding. I thought I could fit in two people plus all their kit for race weekends in the Evora but not the Exige. Well I couldn't, so I never really used the practicality. Then I sold the Evora in the peak of Covid car prices thinking that the Emira would kill Evora values and I had a huge offer for it. If I'd bought the Exige, I'd still have it and probably not have an Emira on order. Oh, first world life is so complex

[Edmundo2]

BertBert said:

CABC said:

Bert, funny you chose the Evora. Awesome car, but completely different to Elise/Exige!

That is a very astute observation! In retrospect I made a bit of a cockup. I chose the Evora over an Exige for reasons of practicality/luggage holding. I thought I could fit in two people plus all their kit for race weekends in the Evora but not the Exige. Well I couldn't, so I never really used the practicality. Then I sold the Evora in the peak of Covid car prices thinking that the Emira would kill Evora values and I had a huge offer for it. If I'd bought the Exige, I'd still have it and probably not have an Emira on order. Oh, first world life is so complex

Interesting...I had a Cayman in 2020 which I sold in the pursuit of something a bit quicker and more visceral.. Bought a Caterham, ( Freestyle 265bhp ), which I enjoyed but have just sold and now thinking V6 Lotus is the answer...Budget is really Evora S level but Exige S3 appeal too..I'm quite sure on different days I'd want the different attributes of each..

I tie myself in knots with it all!

[jimmyslr]

I’ve owned a Caterham for 20 plus years. I had an Elise Cup 250 for 2 or 3 years relatively recently plus all sorts of other sporty cars. The Caterham is a far more visceral experience and is more fun than anything else I’ve driven on track. It’s also cheap on consumables and very fast.

So long as they are looked after they go forever. You can pick up something fast for 20 grand with all sorts of tweaked parts. You really don’t need to buy one in OEM spec and in fact many/most owners have done things like spec up the radiator, the brakes, changed the dampers or spring rates etc etc.

I succumbed many years ago to more is better on the power front so mine is a c250bhp k series with cage, no windscreen, nitrons, emerald, specced up everything. Very very little will touch it on a track but for a Sunday blast it’s a bit hardcore.

Given their glacial depreciation, it’s not a huge cost to buy one, try it for a year and sell if not for you.

[andy tims]

I have a 420 Cup on order. I've loved my Exige Sport 410 but want to get back into a Seven.

The 420 will not be delivered until March 2024. My Exige will be up for sale autumn 2023.

I thought I wanted a 620 R but they are pretty stiffly sprung & would be a right handful on a damp, bumpy road.

After my 620 R test drive and long chat with the guys at Caterham Gatwick they recommended I try the 420 Cup. It took a few weeks before the demonstrator was available, but I absolutely loved it.

[GTRene]

andy tims said:

I have a 420 Cup on order. I've loved my Exige Sport 410 but want to get back into a Seven.

The 420 will not be delivered until March 2024. My Exige will be up for sale autumn 2023.

I thought I wanted a 620 R but they are pretty stiffly sprung & would be a right handful on a damp, bumpy road.

After my 620 R test drive and long chat with the guys at Caterham Gatwick they recommended I try the 420 Cup. It took a few weeks before the demonstrator was available, but I absolutely loved it.

I see also this >>Caterham 620R (and its slightly softer sibling, the 620S) is the most potent and hardcore Seven yet to wear a set of number plates and a tax disc. <<

so maybe a 620S could also be fun, a softer-ish 620