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My first 30 miles on the Caterham 620R, Traded in my CSR


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Hey guys - I had my CSR last year and loved it on the track, but was looking to upgrade to a sequential. I decided to go a bit further and take the plunge into the 620R. It was delivered this afternoon and I was able to put a few miles on it.

 

I am not sure if my CSR was setup very aggressively as I had the Nitron 2-way adjustable suspension added to it with the 2.3L Cosworth 260. It was difficult to drive when not pushing the car and just driving it on the paddock or to refuel. I was not able to street drive it much because I had not yet known about registering the car in Montana under an LLC (which does not require a rigorous inspection by the Illinois State Police). My 620R will have (still on temps) real plates, so I was able to actually drive it on the street here.

 

Some major differences in the 620R. I found it to be more streetable by a very wide margin and also I think the sequential helped me feel more in control and that I could focus more on holding my line than shifting, heel-toe-ing and all of that. The power band is much different with the supercharger. The CSR liked to be in the high revs but at lower revs and lower speeds did not want to get up and go nearly as much as the 620R. I think the 620R is actually a bit quieter as well. I installed the cat-bypass on my CSR but it seemed to be actually louder (620 R also has cat bypass).

 

The S3 chassis I think fits me better (I'm about 5'-4.5"). The foot extension when engaging the clutch is a bit long for a guy at my height, but I am getting used to it. When cornering, I believe the 620R is more on the knife-edge vs the CSR which seemed a bit more planted and was harder to shake loose. It is also very soon to tell and it was cold here, about in the 40s, so I think I need more time to really get into handling differences.

 

I'm not sure if this is helpful for anyone considering the 620R. I am to understand there are a few units on order, but mine was the first here in the US. If you guys have any questions, I will do my best to answer. I am still mostly a novice racer, but I found it difficult to read some impressions that weren't from a car magazine and an actual 620R owner.

 

Thanks to all who post and share knowledge. :seeya:

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NJMP event is July 2nd and third, with arrival and set up on the 1st if you prefer to come in the day before. We also do a karting race and a Poolside BBQ dinner on the 1st for those who come in early. See this thread with all the details. Tom

 

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11111-2016-East-Coast-Sevens-HPDE-and-Social-Event-in-Millville-NJ

 

And here is a link to photos from last year.

 

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?10558-2015-East-Coast-Sevens-Event-Photo-Thread

Edited by yellowss7
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"The foot extension when engaging the clutch is a bit long for a guy at my height, but I am getting used to it."

 

What settings are the pedals on? Maybe they are on the middle - moving them to the forward position might help you.

 

My second 7 was a pain to drive sedately - too easy to kangaroo like a learner driver (no problems if I just put my foot down, mind :-) ). Such marsupial behaviour can normally be dialed out with an engine remap and / or adding a stop to the accelerator pedal.

 

" I think the 620R is actually a bit quieter as well"

 

I spoke to a well known 7'er in the UK who sold his sequential equipped 7 (I think it was an R500) because it was just too damn noisy and uncomfortable for him on the road (even with ear plugs). This was 5-6 years ago - not sure if they are still using the same sequential 'box?

 

Is the 620r only available in RHD?

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Hey Steve - Awesome tip! I will check out the pedal position. I was wondering if the ECU could be remapped, I think I may have source an unlocked unit.

 

I am not sure on the sequential box. I think it is the Sadev. Also, I'm not sure if there is an issue getting it into 6th. I can only get it into 5th and no higher. Maybe I wasn't going fast enough? Doubt it! :driving:

 

For right now, all 620Rs are RHD. I think there are some engineering issues to workout that make it not a simple flip to LHD. Personally, I like RHD. I am to understand they will not re-engineer it without stronger demand from the US market. Maybe we are getting close with the units on order?

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If you have a locked ECU then it can be remapped officially by getting SBD UK to remap remotely (i.e. by internet) at your local dyno tuner. Its been done once before and I think I am about to see it again shortly with a certain orange monster (ask yellowss7). If you prefer not to use the remote approach then a few people on here will PM you off line when you get to that point.

 

The sequential box probably has not been set up right. All gears should been accessible.

 

I doubt we will see the LHD 620R very soon as the impediment to it is something call a steering column which is pretty difficult to move so it requires a lot of rework to make it work. Anyway RHD is not too hard to live with (for me anyway).

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I think I read that the supercharger location blocks the steering column move to LHD, so the re-enginering effort to convert from RHD would be faily substantial.

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I think I read that the supercharger location blocks the steering column move to LHD, so the re-enginering effort to convert from RHD would be faily substantial.

 

Sorry Mike - I was speaking minglish this morning. You interpreted my franglish correctly.

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How do you know 6th is not engaging? It could be a calibration issue with the gear display. Sadev has specific instructions.

 

At last check, an outstanding order for about a dozen LHD 620r's would justify the engineering investment.

 

The CSR achieves it's power/performance differently than the 620R. The roller-barrels in a CSR generate quite a bit of (demonic) intake howl, while the blower on the 620R dampens intake noise. Of course, that noise is replaced with a very nice blower turbine sound, combined with sequential gear noise.

 

Congrats on the acquisition.

 

Best,

-Bruce

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