Which Caterham!?
Discussion
I've recently bought an AM V8 Vantage and if I'm honest, as much as I love it I find it a little unrewarding. I'm toying with buying a Caterham and getting back on track.
My question is am I better buying at the bottom end of the market and having a cheap, fun toy....or trade the Vantage for a later, higher specced car?
Cheers in advance......anyone fancy a deal!?
My question is am I better buying at the bottom end of the market and having a cheap, fun toy....or trade the Vantage for a later, higher specced car?
Cheers in advance......anyone fancy a deal!?
hi golbo
Having sold my V8 vantage and bought a R500D last year hopefully I am well qualified to answer this. The short answer is sell it!. I LOVED my aston and its sense of presence and beauty, but I can honestly say i havent thought twice about it since getting the caterham. The caterham is so much more engaging and fun to drive you will never look back. It also costs a fraction of the cost to run and is "fairly" deprecitaion free.
Having sold my V8 vantage and bought a R500D last year hopefully I am well qualified to answer this. The short answer is sell it!. I LOVED my aston and its sense of presence and beauty, but I can honestly say i havent thought twice about it since getting the caterham. The caterham is so much more engaging and fun to drive you will never look back. It also costs a fraction of the cost to run and is "fairly" deprecitaion free.
I had a V8 Vantage for 4.5years and a Caterham Superlight joined it mid way through and they complimented each other very well, loved having both of them plus the daily driver.
Last year I sold both of them within the space of a month as I was struggling to use them and bought an R500 instead.
The cars really are chalk and cheese and have very different attributes but not sure whether you'll find someone will to swap, good luck and hope it comes off for you.
Last year I sold both of them within the space of a month as I was struggling to use them and bought an R500 instead.
The cars really are chalk and cheese and have very different attributes but not sure whether you'll find someone will to swap, good luck and hope it comes off for you.
Edited by Token Jock on Thursday 10th September 22:09
Edited by Token Jock on Thursday 10th September 22:09
I think I'm going to start looking at the lower end and go from there. I'd like to be able to keep the AM but I know what it's like when you start upping the budget and thinking, 'If I just spend a tiny bit more I could get this!' If I really fall for something higher up the fun/cost scale then I can always sell it 
As BertBert says, you need to go and drive several cars of differing power to really make your mind up. However, since you said in the OP you want to track it, I suspect you'd be best off with something in the middle of the range ie the 180bhp SuperSport as the lower powered cars can lose out on the longer straights. That may or may not bother you, but if you 'go ugly early' you might want more power after 6-12 months of ownership.
you definitely need to drive a selection of Caterhams to decide on a spec. Caterham will have a few different spec demonstrators, or if you want to kill a few birds with one stone, we have an Academy, R300 and 620R on our rental fleet and can arrange for you to drive all three on-track on the same day if you want a back-to-back test of each car.
Jonny
BaT
Jonny
BaT
I had a Jaguar F-type V8 before my Caterham, and have a K-series 1.8 165HP car, and I haven't look back, the Caterham is so much more fun.
There is too much credence to BHP rather than "feel" and "fun". The Caterham I have is brilliant, I wished I had bought one years ago.
Go for it, I haven't regretted it.
- Pete
There is too much credence to BHP rather than "feel" and "fun". The Caterham I have is brilliant, I wished I had bought one years ago.
Go for it, I haven't regretted it.
- Pete
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
XGT said:
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
This is where I got to as well. Having got up to the R500-k, I found the subsequent 135bhp 1600ss to be utterly brilliant. I never thought on track days that I was "losing out on the straights". I've no idea even what that means.However everyone is different so who know what you will like! But whatever you do, don't fall into the "more bhp"="more fun" trap!
Have fun finding out.
Bert
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
REALIST123 said:
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
Whilst the 360 was quicker (as in could be deep into 3 figures quick in a short straight whereas mine was would just about be there over the same distance) and had the newness factor, I couldn't say it was any more fun to drive and in some ways seemed a step backwards.
For some years we had a mod'd M5 and our SV. Best of both worlds actually in as much for when creature comfort was required, the M5 delivered an abundance but when sheer fun was required, the SV delivered by the bucketload. Which to take touring was often a decision, more on the time of year was what swayed SWMBO and I on which car.
PS> Our SV-VPHD is for sale, and you could pick up a very well maintained car, paint it what you want and have a heck of a lot of fun! Have a look in the For Sale on it -- I dropped the price only as it has stone chips after 13 years to give the new owner an opportunity to paint as they like. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
PS> Our SV-VPHD is for sale, and you could pick up a very well maintained car, paint it what you want and have a heck of a lot of fun! Have a look in the For Sale on it -- I dropped the price only as it has stone chips after 13 years to give the new owner an opportunity to paint as they like. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...
SidewaysSi said:
REALIST123 said:
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
Whilst the 360 was quicker (as in could be deep into 3 figures quick in a short straight whereas mine was would just about be there over the same distance) and had the newness factor, I couldn't say it was any more fun to drive and in some ways seemed a step backwards.
If you move quickly you could join us in getting one of these!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Amris said:
SidewaysSi said:
REALIST123 said:
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
Whilst the 360 was quicker (as in could be deep into 3 figures quick in a short straight whereas mine was would just about be there over the same distance) and had the newness factor, I couldn't say it was any more fun to drive and in some ways seemed a step backwards.
REALIST123 said:
Amris said:
SidewaysSi said:
REALIST123 said:
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
Whilst the 360 was quicker (as in could be deep into 3 figures quick in a short straight whereas mine was would just about be there over the same distance) and had the newness factor, I couldn't say it was any more fun to drive and in some ways seemed a step backwards.
13s 6" all round on my Supersport. Avon ZZR's and CR28's in the wet.
Never tried 15's so can't comment on a comparison.
XGT said:
REALIST123 said:
Amris said:
SidewaysSi said:
REALIST123 said:
XGT said:
I used to be an advocate of more power is better but after many years of driving Caterhams I have gone the other way!
Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
Only having driven R400Ds I can't compare other models but I don't find the power of the R400 an issue either way. Currently having the most fun I have had in any car on track in my 140hp Caterham Supersport. Really makes you focus on driving technique rather than relying on power.
Can understand getting bored of the vantage. I couldn't gel with a 997 turbo, beautiful and impressive as it was, a drivers car it was not!
As others have said you will need to drive a few. No right or wrong answer, just personal preference. But be careful not to get blinded by the stats. More power does not necessarily make more enjoyment!
For what it's worth I didn't really enjoy my R400 on the road. Just felt like I had to hold back all the time. For mixed road/track use c.140hp sigma would be a great choice in my view.
What I do wonder about is the stiffness of the ride. It's fine on decent roads but sadly they are few and far between in the UK in truth, and on the average country lane the Caterham quickly shows the problems we have with poorly laid surfaces.
I assume the lower powered models are also less stiffly sprung and damped?
Whilst the 360 was quicker (as in could be deep into 3 figures quick in a short straight whereas mine was would just about be there over the same distance) and had the newness factor, I couldn't say it was any more fun to drive and in some ways seemed a step backwards.
13s 6" all round on my Supersport. Avon ZZR's and CR28's in the wet.
Never tried 15's so can't comment on a comparison.
nigelpugh7 said:
If you move quickly you could join us in getting one of these!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Are you on commission Nigel? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff