420R Kit Build Spec Advice
Discussion
Hi Guys - I'm speccing up a new 420R kit and would appreciate some of your opinions on a few points please before I go back for some more chats with the dealer. I want the car to be real occasion to drive on the road, comfort is not very important. I also would like it to be reasonable fun on track days although I won't ever go too hardcore in the track scene. I'll be building the car my self and want to 'stretch' it out with some new mods after a year or so...
FYI - The other items I am pretty set on choosing are 420, R-pack, lowered floor, 13" wheels (6/8), track day roll bar, weather kit, carbon boot cover, sequential shift light, heater?
Seats: When I test drove the 420R it had standard leather seats, these felt great but I do like the look of the composite race seats and would prefer them - the problem is they squeeze by ribs a bit too much for my liking (breathing problems). I wondered if anyone knows if the carbon seats with padding are the same size or slightly wider?
Track Day Exhaust: I'm likely to want to do a few track days, I don't particularly like the look of the track day exhaust. I thought about getting a section to swap in and out when required, does anyone have an idea of price and ease of this? Or is it best to just buy the CC option one?
Suspension Track Pack: I was advised by the dealer that the 'sport' suspension is best for mainly road use but have read conflicting advice from owners. From what I can see (from a far), it is only the springs that are changed or does the track width alter at all?
4 pot Brakes: I've read the CC 4 pot brakes are quite easy to purchase as an after thought and would be priced similarly to the option price but can't find a kit price, anyone had experience of upgrading? I'd like to try the standard brakes and decide if I need an upgrade.. am I wasting my time and should just get the uprated brakes from day 1?
Appreciate any replies, thanks.
OC.
FYI - The other items I am pretty set on choosing are 420, R-pack, lowered floor, 13" wheels (6/8), track day roll bar, weather kit, carbon boot cover, sequential shift light, heater?
Seats: When I test drove the 420R it had standard leather seats, these felt great but I do like the look of the composite race seats and would prefer them - the problem is they squeeze by ribs a bit too much for my liking (breathing problems). I wondered if anyone knows if the carbon seats with padding are the same size or slightly wider?
Track Day Exhaust: I'm likely to want to do a few track days, I don't particularly like the look of the track day exhaust. I thought about getting a section to swap in and out when required, does anyone have an idea of price and ease of this? Or is it best to just buy the CC option one?
Suspension Track Pack: I was advised by the dealer that the 'sport' suspension is best for mainly road use but have read conflicting advice from owners. From what I can see (from a far), it is only the springs that are changed or does the track width alter at all?
4 pot Brakes: I've read the CC 4 pot brakes are quite easy to purchase as an after thought and would be priced similarly to the option price but can't find a kit price, anyone had experience of upgrading? I'd like to try the standard brakes and decide if I need an upgrade.. am I wasting my time and should just get the uprated brakes from day 1?
Appreciate any replies, thanks.
OC.
Few thoughts from my experiences
420r is a fantastic track day car, you will enjoy it
13” tyres ZZS and 8” rears are a very good start
Shift up lights, dont forget it already comes with a change up light and duratec isnt a revvy engine, do you need it?
Brakes, i have the new standard AP 2 pot calipers (not big brakes) with Mintex pads and these are completely fine, again, do you need the big brakes?
Heater, DEFINITELY, you will reallly miss it when it not there!
Make sure you add aero screen brackets inside scuttle when you buil so you can easily flip between windscreen and weather gear and aeroscreen for track days
Rear exhaust, if you are planning on doing tracks like Brands with low noise tolerance then i would consider it, i got black flagged recently at Brands on standard setup (but did have a decat pipe), getting black flagged for noise will ruin your day and is frustrating so the exhaust is probably worth it
I dont have one, but everyone swears by the 6 speed box for track days, can you spec one now (or the sequential?) this is probably your most important decision since its fundamental and very expensive to change later
Enjoy
420r is a fantastic track day car, you will enjoy it
13” tyres ZZS and 8” rears are a very good start
Shift up lights, dont forget it already comes with a change up light and duratec isnt a revvy engine, do you need it?
Brakes, i have the new standard AP 2 pot calipers (not big brakes) with Mintex pads and these are completely fine, again, do you need the big brakes?
Heater, DEFINITELY, you will reallly miss it when it not there!
Make sure you add aero screen brackets inside scuttle when you buil so you can easily flip between windscreen and weather gear and aeroscreen for track days
Rear exhaust, if you are planning on doing tracks like Brands with low noise tolerance then i would consider it, i got black flagged recently at Brands on standard setup (but did have a decat pipe), getting black flagged for noise will ruin your day and is frustrating so the exhaust is probably worth it
I dont have one, but everyone swears by the 6 speed box for track days, can you spec one now (or the sequential?) this is probably your most important decision since its fundamental and very expensive to change later
Enjoy
Oh, missed a few things
I have leather seats and on an S3 would recommend them, they are roomier and comfortable, completely fine for track days.
Suspension, dont bother with upgrades, standard R setup is fine to begin with, most experts would say focus on flat flooring car and getting tuition as a first
My take is to have a car that is practical (haha) and can be driven to a track day but is competitve once there.
Having something that needs to be trailered defeats the object, hence leather seats, heater, weather gear etc
Dont forget lowered floors and do consider the SV if you are big, it doesn't slow you down
I have leather seats and on an S3 would recommend them, they are roomier and comfortable, completely fine for track days.
Suspension, dont bother with upgrades, standard R setup is fine to begin with, most experts would say focus on flat flooring car and getting tuition as a first
My take is to have a car that is practical (haha) and can be driven to a track day but is competitve once there.
Having something that needs to be trailered defeats the object, hence leather seats, heater, weather gear etc
Dont forget lowered floors and do consider the SV if you are big, it doesn't slow you down
The 6 speed is discontinued. It’s the 5 or sequential.
The composite seats are great but if you’re too big for them you’ll not really have an option but the leather, or the fancy leather ones from Thundersport maybe.
The big brakes work really well especially on track, never get close to too hot. The standard are OK but the big ones are better IMO.
I have a 2015 R400D. I built it as 210 then had RBTBs fitted a year or so later. Huge improvement.
I only have the standard 7” side silencer but have never had a noise issue at Snet or Silverstone, it’s usually under 100DbA static. It’s an SV though so Intake noise is a little muted by that.
The shift lights are handy. The Duratec might not be a ‘revvy’ engine but it still pulls well over 7500 and will hit the limiter very quickly in 3rd and 4th. My shift lights are set so the first one comes on at 5000, which I tend to use on road, especially at night to keep things in check......
I got the weather kit with mine. Used it maybe twice. My advice would be leave it out and buy a half hood instead. Heater and Aeroscreen on track are definites.
The composite seats are great but if you’re too big for them you’ll not really have an option but the leather, or the fancy leather ones from Thundersport maybe.
The big brakes work really well especially on track, never get close to too hot. The standard are OK but the big ones are better IMO.
I have a 2015 R400D. I built it as 210 then had RBTBs fitted a year or so later. Huge improvement.
I only have the standard 7” side silencer but have never had a noise issue at Snet or Silverstone, it’s usually under 100DbA static. It’s an SV though so Intake noise is a little muted by that.
The shift lights are handy. The Duratec might not be a ‘revvy’ engine but it still pulls well over 7500 and will hit the limiter very quickly in 3rd and 4th. My shift lights are set so the first one comes on at 5000, which I tend to use on road, especially at night to keep things in check......
I got the weather kit with mine. Used it maybe twice. My advice would be leave it out and buy a half hood instead. Heater and Aeroscreen on track are definites.
6 speed not available - might make the decision easier :/
I'm only looking at the weather kit so that I can get the screen for when my wife comes out with me, the rest of the time it'll be aero... I've struggled to find an easy way to get a screen and wipers without paying 3/4 of the cost for a full wrather kit. Any ideas/thoughts?
Thanks.
I'm only looking at the weather kit so that I can get the screen for when my wife comes out with me, the rest of the time it'll be aero... I've struggled to find an easy way to get a screen and wipers without paying 3/4 of the cost for a full wrather kit. Any ideas/thoughts?
Thanks.
The OC said:
6 speed not available - might make the decision easier :/
I'm only looking at the weather kit so that I can get the screen for when my wife comes out with me, the rest of the time it'll be aero... I've struggled to find an easy way to get a screen and wipers without paying 3/4 of the cost for a full wrather kit. Any ideas/thoughts?
Thanks.
Ah, I didn’t realise the screen and wipers were bundled with the full hood, hoodsticks etc. but thinking about it I guess they are, with the doors too. I'm only looking at the weather kit so that I can get the screen for when my wife comes out with me, the rest of the time it'll be aero... I've struggled to find an easy way to get a screen and wipers without paying 3/4 of the cost for a full wrather kit. Any ideas/thoughts?
Thanks.
If you can’t get it all without the hood, go for the lot. For me I much prefer a full screen on road, which necessitates doors too, they’re awful with a screen and no doors.
As long as you fit the captive nuts for the stanchions, it’s a 5/10 minute job changing from screen to aero or back.
Again, for me, aero is essential on track. A full screen and doors is quieter and less buffetty but the drag is so obvious.
I have a carbon aero with carbon mirrors, though, in hindsight, I think the clear aero screens are better, the carbon impedes vision. Clear is cheaper too, though maybe not so good to look at!
Be careful to spec correctly what’s difficult to change later... ie engine, diff (and gearbox?)
Most of the other bits can (will?!) be replaced (and removed stuff sold on) later when you change your mind/learn what you want.
If I was to do it again... I’d buy a used 7 and drive it to work out what’s important and then sell it and build my perfect car (assuming Caterham play ball and don’t force me to buy things like weather gear when I only want a windbreak for the annual drive with the Speed Limiter or suspension bits when I want Quantums or front brakes when HiSpecs are better/lighter)
Most of the other bits can (will?!) be replaced (and removed stuff sold on) later when you change your mind/learn what you want.
If I was to do it again... I’d buy a used 7 and drive it to work out what’s important and then sell it and build my perfect car (assuming Caterham play ball and don’t force me to buy things like weather gear when I only want a windbreak for the annual drive with the Speed Limiter or suspension bits when I want Quantums or front brakes when HiSpecs are better/lighter)
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