jturrell Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Well, if $60k won't cover the car you'd like to order, you could always buy the Sliver R400 on the Caterham USA site. The asking price I was quoted was a bit south of $60k. It's not an SV, but it's built and ready to go. But I'll bet you can get exactly what you want for that price, given the exchange rate and your willingness to paint, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I saw that car, but I really want an SV. Since I plan on long roadtrips a larger cockpit and larger fuel tank is preferable. Also I'm not to keen on getting a car that was tested by automotive magazines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jturrell Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Here's my dream spec: - R400 kit (narrow body) - Lowered floors (I have a long torso.) - Push button start - Trackday rollbar - Battery master switch - Caterham blue paint - White bonnet stripe - White noseband - 13" wheels (6" fronts, 8" rears) I'm not planning on getting a full windshield, wipers, heater or weather gear. This will primarily be a track toy, although it will get registered and driven on the road on occasion. I'm debating the dry sump and heater. I'll build the car myself. Hopefully the IRS will be nice to me this April. Pending this and a reasonable exchange rate discount, I hope to take the plunge. If the IRS is NOT nice and the exchange rate discount is insignificant, I'll start thinking about a Birkin or a Westfield. The Caterham is my first choice, but the price premium is not trivial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 $54k w/ options for a CSR before engine/tranny from the rmsci calculator, which may be 1-2% higher than CatUSA is charging. I would opt for a a racline 2.0 duratec if u really want power. if u don't care and 160/160 is going to be fine than factory 2.3L is a better cruising engine mated with a type9 for its overdrive. as nice as a design as the Caterham 6 speed is, the lack of an overdriven gear will make any highway crusing longer than 1 hour more than u want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I was thinking about the CSR Roadsport. The pricelist I got prices it at $46,125. How much would a transmission, engine and the associated ancillaries add to the price? A seven w/ a 6speed is around 4k rpm at 70, right? I think my WRX is around 3.5-4k and it has an aftermarket exhaust. I don't think I'll mind the noise too much. I plan on bringing earplugs anyways. Anyone try those headsets w/ voice activated mics? Similar to the ones they use in helicopters? I was thinking of getting a set for roadtrips. Its kind of annoying to use regular walkie talkies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 jlumba81, I got the 6-speed Caterham box, but an uncommon 3:38 rear axle ratio, which should give me reasonable cruising in 6th direct. I also got the 15-inch tires, for a bit more clearance on the road. i got my narrow-chassis S3 primarily for touring, and am designing a rear luggage rack for those long road trips. Registering the car in Alaska was the easiest thing possible. I registered it for seasonal (April-November) use only; I think in Juneau you don't have CO2 limits in winter, so you should not even have this restriction. I got a form from DMV in Anchorage, and had the sheriff in Colorado come over to the garage (the car was still on sawhorses, partly assembled). He checked the VIN number on the chassis and ran his computer to see that nothing was listed as stolen; he signed the form; I brought the form back to Alaska, and I had my plates in 10 minutes. The DMV clerk even knew what a Caterham was! Only problem now is the my 2-year registration will expire before I get the car back to Alaska, but I'll just renew the seasonal use registration, and everything should be fine. Oh, by the way, the personalized Alaska plate, "SE7EN" is taken...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) Cool looks like no problem w/ the registering that's good. Do you happen to know if they have a taller rear axle ratio? I probably won't use it, but it would be nice to know. Just looked at Raceline's website they have a 3.14 ring gear(crown wheel) and pinion. Edited March 10, 2009 by jlumba81 Looked at raceline.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pksurveyor Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 The tax is Texas sales tax applicable to the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 FWIW-I wld recommend putting in 6 point belts, not 4 point. Per past discussions on this and other car forum sites, the addition of the anchor strap is essential to keeping the lap belt properly placed. The shoulder straps of the 4 point will lift the lap belt up and off your pelvic area in a collision. We have so little protection in these cars anyhow, optimising seat belts seems wise. Of course, 6 point belts means seats with a cutout for the anchor straps. So the standard Caterham seats won't work. And, FYI as a potential Caterham buyer, did you know it's pronounced Kate-trum, not Cat-tear-ham? Enjoy your pursuit of your dream car, its almost as much fun as actual ownership:). Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 jlumba81, There is apparemntly a 3.14 rear end ratio available (I think original equipment on some Ford Sierra diesel sedans on the Continent), but I have never read of someone using it with a 6-speed Caterham box to get an effective "overdrive" ratio on the highway -- I think the acceleration penalty is more than most would want to tolerate. Even the use of the 3:38 ratio is fairly uncommon (Alex Wong with a VX Evo engine on Blatchat and I are the only ones I've heard of so far). With 15-inch tires, the calculations show that in 6th, it is close to the Type 9 5-speed overdrive and the more common 3:56 (?) etc. rear end ratios on Sevens. That being said, there was a fellow advertising on USA7s with a 3.14 ring and pinion for sale. Last I checked, he still had it. I understand they are pretty rare. He was advertising it as ideal for a bike-engined Seven type, but I think you want to go the opposite direction with rear end ratios, given the much higher rev range of bike engines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Kitcat, that might make it to my future upgrade list. I'll just settle for the factory seat and 4point road harness for a while. Since the seven will be a street only car, I'd track it but I think the nearest track is 500+ miles away. How's the 6pt for daily driving? And what seat did you use? Alaskossie, I think I'll just use the standart 3.62. I can always swap it out if needed. Do you happen to know if anyone in the US sells them or is it a UK item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I think the standard Caterham 3 point harness is safer than the 4 point (with it, as your upper body shoves forward, it tightens the pressure of the belt across your lap-it's the opposite with a 4 point harness). Given all the hassles of getting in & out of a Seven, the extra step of connecting the anchor strap doesn't add much to the procedure. I also sometimes use the 3 point wh/came with the car around town. Both it and the 6 point are in the car. I have used the stock seat w/the 6 point, but that means it rides up over the front of the seat cushion and isn't as effective. I have a lovely Caterham carbon fiber racing seat in the basement for eventual installation. It has the anchor strap cut out. There are much less expensive solutions but I decided to go high end as I was having one of my periodic irrational episodes of up-grade-itis. I do track mine a lot so that was my lame justification. If I draw a 500 mile circle around Cincy, I can go to 10 tracks. I do 4-8 track days a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 That sounds nice to be around tracks. 500 was just a number I threw out. Checking on Mapquest its around 2000 miles to Washington and almost 800 miles to Anchorage, AK. I think Anchorage has a dragstrip nearby. Also I need to ferry my vehicle 70ish miles north by sea to get to mainland. Juneau is pretty isolated, being surrounded by water and mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I think the standard Caterham 3 point harness is safer than the 4 point (with it, as your upper body shoves forward, it tightens the pressure of the belt across your lap-it's the opposite with a 4 point harness). Schroth has patented a technology called ASM which adds an additional level of safety to a 4-point set up. A fold is stitched into the inner shoulder harness that artificially shortens the belt. In a collision, the stitching breaks lengthening the harness and causing the body to twist as it is propelled forward. Schroth claims this twisting motion tightens the lap belt bellow the hip and prevents the torso from sliding beneath it. It has been blessed for road use by the German TUV and seems to get good feedback all around. The youtube video below shows it in action compared to a traditional 3-point. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 So which type is better for spirited driving the standard 3pt or the 4pt harness? After some spirited driving in my wrx I ended up w/ cramping abs, I need better seats. Its a section of road I like driving on that is pretty empty most of the time. Going 80-100 on corners posted at 40-50 gets some sideloads going. Also what the difference in the 4pt race harness compared to the road harness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 i think the 4-point racing and street harnesses for the Caterham are the same. You definitely want a 4-point harness in my opinion; 6-point is better. Too much freedom to be tossed about with a 3-point harness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 They price the street harness at $92 and the race at $400. Does anyone happen to know if there is a US model car that uses the Ford Sierra differential? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) You can buy other harnesses for a considerable amount less than from Caterham. If you do not do any competetive racing, an out of date set of belts may be an option for you. Just make sure the belts are in good condition without and tears or freys. Don't even bother though if you're not going to run it up throught he bottom of the seat. Otherwise it wont do any good at all. Also, if you're not as concerned about what defines you as a man, you can go with a 5 point. Edited March 11, 2009 by TheDingo8MyBaby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff7 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 So which type is better for spirited driving the standard 3pt or the 4pt harness? After some spirited driving in my wrx I ended up w/ cramping abs, I need better seats. Its a section of road I like driving on that is pretty empty most of the time. Going 80-100 on corners posted at 40-50 gets some sideloads going. Also what the difference in the 4pt race harness compared to the road harness? Love WRX,s . Do you have a pic. How is it to drive up there, studs in the tyres most the time I bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Don't have a pic at the moment. I got a 2004 java black pearl. It has a nice thick coating of dirt on it now. Driving isn't so bad, I just use winter studless tires. We just got another 3in or so of snow today. The past few weeks the roads were mostly clear. New tires might be in order for next winter the current ones are 3 seasons old and I think I've driven on them in the dry too much. I did a roadtrip on them already 1400miles roundtrip averaging 80mph. I misjudged how icy it was a few days ago and spun out going 60. Ended up going sideways for a while at 40ish before ending up in the highway median(or whatever that strip of dirt between the lanes is call). Could have gotten myself out if I had a shovel ended but up getting a lil pull from my uncle's toyota tundra. Oh, btw it has minor mods K&N filter, B&B turboback exhaust, upgraded top mount intercooler, ecu tune, springs, swaybars, various bushings, skidplate and driving lights. Basic stuff. Edited March 11, 2009 by jlumba81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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