Deposit!

[hahuang65]

After close to a year of deciding, I've finally put my deposit down with Rich Kamp for a 420R S3.

 

I initially posted

And got some great feedback. I'm unfortunately (maybe fortunately?) leaving the Bay Area for Texas as my family is growing. I won't get to experience the Seven in the Bay Area where I love.

 

My build date is currently August 2024 so I will be pondering options and colors until April 2024...

 

Any advice / suggestions are welcome!

Looking forward to joining the club finally!

[panamericano]

You have my deepest condolences about the move.

[JohnCh]

Congratulations!  What are your current thoughts about options and color?  That info will make a great starting point for the conflicting advice that is sure to follow  

 

-John

[Rodnok]

I moved out of Berkeley 23 years ago, planning to be in Arizona for a year or two. I quickly realized that I'll never be able to afford to go back. I've missed the bay area every day since...Congrats on finally pulling the trigger on a Caterham. I'm sure that's one move you'll never regret.

[CBuff]

Hahuang65,

 

I committed to purchasing a new 420 last year July. Thanks to the help of many folks here I was able to hone in on specs. Build slot was Nov 2022 then Feb 2023 now sept 2023 (with some hefty price increases thrown in with each delay) Hoping it will make it here by next season (north east ).  Fingers crossed. I don’t have the space to build so it will be factory built and final assembly near me. 
 

I saw your previous post with back and forth with the crowd. I had similar feedback. The big question that came up was “How much track time are you doing?”  Well at that point I had zero. So I started doing some track days in my daily driver to 1) see if that would be something I would do and 2). Improve my driving so I don’t crash the thing right out of the gate.  Well fast forward to this year with 9 track days under my belt. 1) I really enjoy going to the track 2) it’s shocking how much more I can/need to learn. Being on track really opens up how much there is to explore.  
 

My “final” specs:

420r sv

uprated brakes

leather seats with Schroth profi 6/4 point harness

track day roll bar

5 speed trans for rowing gears and reduced drivetrain noise on street vs sequential (will be registered )

full weather package windshield and aero swappable. 
13” staggered wheels

 

In, what many would see as, my quest for insolvency I am also exploring swapping the gauges out to the smiths units offered on the 600/2000 model line. Also trying to see if I can get the top and boot cover in mohair (also only offered on the 600/2000 line). And a few signature line options to make my accountant truly roll his eyes. 
 

I guess the take away for me was. Get out and hit the track and see if that is something you like. It also gives you an opportunity to meet some current owners and see their cars first hand.  I am heading down to New Jersey in sept for the annual get together. I think 16 came last year.  Not sure what the west coast meet ups are like. This community has been amazing and very welcoming to a new person like myself. 
 

Best of luck !!!

 

[hahuang65]

21 minutes ago, Rodnok said:

I moved out of Berkeley 23 years ago, planning to be in Arizona for a year or two. I quickly realized that I'll never be able to afford to go back. I've missed the bay area every day since...Congrats on finally pulling the trigger on a Caterham. I'm sure that's one move you'll never regret.

Yeah, I know I'm gonna miss the Bay Area and I'm sad my kids won't be able to grow up here. But we have family in TX, and we can afford so much more house over there for 3 kids. It's a definite trade off, but yeah, we'll likely never move back.

[hahuang65]

7 minutes ago, CBuff said:

Get out and hit the track and see if that is something you like

I know I'm going to like it. A few of my co-workers hit the track quite often up in Seattle area. I had intended to go to Laguna Seca with my STI since it's only 40 minutes away, but with 2 kids and 1 more on the way, I haven't been able to find the time... Nor will I before I move.

 

However, there is https://grandsportspeedway.com/ close to where I will live. I intend to eventually make it out there consistently, but it's likely not in the cards for another 5 years.

 

That said, to answer this

2 hours ago, JohnCh said:

What are your current thoughts about options and color?

 

I'm planning to go with fairly little changes to the car to begin with:

 

* 4 piston front brakes

* Quick release steering wheel

* Interchangeable windscreen/aeroscreen (without the full hood)

 

I had been torn on the 13" vs 15" wheels, but I'm gonna just stick with the 15" because I like the look and get a set of the 13"s down the road when I start hitting the track.

I'm also torn on standard rollbar vs track day rollbar, but looking at LegoCat, that's just got a standard rollbar, so I think that'll be fine with me. I could be convinced either way though.

 

I'm also wondering if I should step from the sport suspension to the track suspension... and whether the aero wishbones are recommended.

 

As far as the colors... I know I'm gonna want the double stripe with pinstriping. The pinstriping will definitely be white or black, depending on the body color. The double stripe will be white, black, or accent color, based on the body. I will get the painted grille.

 

For the body, I'm trying to decide between Firecracker Yellow, Detonator Yellow, Ballistic Orange, Arancio Argos, Gulf Blue, or Riviera Blue.

[CBuff]

The masses here steered me to the 13” after lots of discussion and checking other seven sites.  I was initially thinking of the 15”

 

I went with more subdued color setup. Vintage green with graphite double stripes and gunmetal pins. Black lettering. I also have the 7 and the roll bar painted nardo grey - it was the closest match to graphite I could decipher.  The general sense I get is people mostly like wilder colors. Doesn’t hurt in the visibility department. 
 

I believe the track day roll bar is slightly taller which can help with broomstick test especially without lowered floors. (Which I chose not to do)

 

I stuck with sport suspension as race can be a bit firm in the road (or so I’m told). Defer to folks here with first hand knowledge.  

[hahuang65]

On 7/20/2023 at 9:38 AM, CBuff said:

The masses here steered me to the 13” after lots of discussion and checking other seven sites.  I was initially thinking of the 15”

I was thinking 15" primarily cuz most of the driving I'll be doing will be street, and the slightly higher clearance might be desired. I was assuming I could just pick up some 13"s in the future, but now I'm realizing, the wings might be different? It might not be a simple swap...

 

@CBuffyou got some pics of your color setup?

[CBuff]

Most of the feedback was that the 13" have more sidewall which factors into the general handling of the car. It supposedly plays into the suspension as a whole and improves handling and feel. Again, that is what I have been told and seen in other discussions. I haven't tried it first hand. 

 

Photos just off the configurator as the car hasn't gone into production yet. The colors on the site dont match exactly. My importer sent me some samples so I could match things like paint color and stripe decal color.