caterham engines.....
Discussion
I was reading the latest autocar this week and there is a small article about the caterham R300, it states that the nature of the engine means that it has to be revved hard to get the most out of the engine, is this true with the other x-powered engines on offer?? I'm saving at the moment for a roadsport 1.8 VVC 160 and was wondering what the engine was like, does it have to be thrashed to be enjoyed or does it have good low and middle range grunt as the car would be mostly if not solely used on the road.
thanks, any opinions would be great.
>>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 10th September 11:29
>>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 10th September 11:30
thanks, any opinions would be great.
>>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 10th September 11:29
>>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 10th September 11:30
You'll have to try one! I thought my superlight would need thrasing constantly but as the car weighs nothing it will go well in any gear, but thrasing to 7600rpm is more fun 
For more informed or technical views have a look a www.blatchat.com and search the archives
For more informed or technical views have a look a www.blatchat.com and search the archivesAs was said it'll go in any gear at any revs as it's so light. All the x-power cars are now based on the 1800cc K-series engine so being a small(ish) capacity you're bound to have to thrash them to get the most out of them.
Why are you going for the VVC? I've got a Superlight which comes with all sorties of things a roadsport doesn't (although it doesn't have a windscreen, hood, doors, heater or spare wheel but who needs those anyway). I would definitely recommend getting either a Superlight or at the least look for a car with the 6 speed box.
cheers,
Mike.
Why are you going for the VVC? I've got a Superlight which comes with all sorties of things a roadsport doesn't (although it doesn't have a windscreen, hood, doors, heater or spare wheel but who needs those anyway
). I would definitely recommend getting either a Superlight or at the least look for a car with the 6 speed box. cheers,
Mike.
I don't know where this idea of having to thrash the 1800s comes from. Although I suppose it depends on your definition of "thrash". There is so much torque to weight ratio in most Caterhams (barring maybe a Classic) that they pull well at all revs (OK definition of "pull well" etc). If you want the back end to light up, then yes, you need to get up the revs, but this is a whole different world and cannot be compared with virtually any other car. The normal ideas of thrashing and pulling well don't apply to Caterhams. All IMHO obviously.
For the definitive on the R300, get the latest issue of Sprint. It's road tested by the editor. IIRC he reckons he had it pulling well, from cold, up Caterham Hill in 6th gear.
Edit - overuse of word "virtually" deleted some
>> Edited by DavidP on Tuesday 10th September 17:56
For the definitive on the R300, get the latest issue of Sprint. It's road tested by the editor. IIRC he reckons he had it pulling well, from cold, up Caterham Hill in 6th gear.
Edit - overuse of word "virtually" deleted some
>> Edited by DavidP on Tuesday 10th September 17:56
The R300 that was out on test had a cr@p map on the MBE ECU, so Caterham say anyway!
The production cars all have a map thats spot on now so you should get good power from 2000rpm upwards.
If you want a Caterham with pulling power then you will have to get a VX 5 spd.
However drive the R300 and you *will* want one!
The production cars all have a map thats spot on now so you should get good power from 2000rpm upwards.
If you want a Caterham with pulling power then you will have to get a VX 5 spd.
However drive the R300 and you *will* want one!
Talking to a 5spd 1800cc K supersport owner the other day, he said he could not get away from a 1400cc K supersport with 6spd box...
I have only ever had the 6spd so I dont know what its like to live with the 5 spd but I have never heard anyone go from 5 to 6 and say they regreted it!
I have only ever had the 6spd so I dont know what its like to live with the 5 spd but I have never heard anyone go from 5 to 6 and say they regreted it!
My first experience of a Caterham was in a friends 1400 K-series with a 6 speed box. Since then I've been planning my way to getting a 6 speed box for my G27! I think the 6 speed box with any of the engines is excellent, obviously the more CCs you get the quicker you'll be.. I don't think they thrashed them too much, they seemed to pull well though through the full rev. range. Personally *if* I was buying a Caterham then I'd opt for either a 1.6 or 1.8 with the 6 speed box, plus if a 1400 was in the offing then I wouldn't turn that down. Although it depends on the condition of the engine in question, etc..
Try a few out, I think you'd opt for a 6 speed every time.
PS
Try a few out, I think you'd opt for a 6 speed every time.
PS I've had a V.V.C. and now drive the SLR500.
If you want the Caterham for road only, then your choice of V.V.C. is very good. It's got plenty of torque right through the rev range and has impecable manners in traffic. (You could pull away in almost any gear). As for 5 or 6 speed box - well to be honest, for road, there isn't that much difference. 5 would be fine, 6 is better - but means a little more work (and expense), but gives more control.
If you are thinking of doing track days, then I suggest that the V.V.C. is almost the worst Caterham you could buy, as once you've been on track, and want to go again, you'll find it's very expensive to upgrade...(believe me you'll want to) and end up selling it for a Superlight. I did.
You'll love whichever one you get though.
Tin Tops - PAH!
Steve
>> Edited by getcarter on Tuesday 17th September 13:58
If you want the Caterham for road only, then your choice of V.V.C. is very good. It's got plenty of torque right through the rev range and has impecable manners in traffic. (You could pull away in almost any gear). As for 5 or 6 speed box - well to be honest, for road, there isn't that much difference. 5 would be fine, 6 is better - but means a little more work (and expense), but gives more control.
If you are thinking of doing track days, then I suggest that the V.V.C. is almost the worst Caterham you could buy, as once you've been on track, and want to go again, you'll find it's very expensive to upgrade...(believe me you'll want to) and end up selling it for a Superlight. I did.
You'll love whichever one you get though.
Tin Tops - PAH!
Steve
>> Edited by getcarter on Tuesday 17th September 13:58
At the moment Caterham don't have proper maps for the R300 & R400..
Mined you at the moment Caterham's build quality and customer service seems to be at an all time low..
There seems to be a lot of unhappy customers around at the moment who have parted with a lot of good money only to be disappointed with the product..
I am one of them, I took delivery in January of a brand new Caterham 1.6k-series Superlight built be the factory and it was a pile of rubish..
Mined you at the moment Caterham's build quality and customer service seems to be at an all time low..
There seems to be a lot of unhappy customers around at the moment who have parted with a lot of good money only to be disappointed with the product..
I am one of them, I took delivery in January of a brand new Caterham 1.6k-series Superlight built be the factory and it was a pile of rubish..
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