Caterham Roadsport SV ????

[Chaz]

I've been tossing around the idea of building a Roadsport SV. I'm leaning towards the Caterham in part because I live a couple miles from the US distributor and RMSCI. Due to the present economy that project is a couple years off yet, but I can can use that time to get some more info about what it will take. Part of that includes getting some nagging questions answered. I could go over to RMSCI's shop and ask the following questions, but I don't want to hang out there with a bunch of questions and hogging up their time while I'm still in the planning/dreaming stage. So, if noone minds, I'll pester you guys for while.

 

Engine:

Would a box-stock Duratek 2L from my friendly neighborhood Ford dealer be ok or should I get the engine through my Cat dealer? I suppose I can do either, but are there reasons to choose one option over the other?

 

Transmission:

I've noticed that you can get a Sierra/T9 5-sp tranny with a tall 1st gear. Would that be the way to go? I drove a Mazadaspeed MX-5 once where 1st gear was way too low and utterly hated it.

 

Wheels/Tires:

Does the Roadsport come with a spare, or is that an option?

I've wondered about the tire size. The specs say the kit ships with 195 45r 15's. I looked at Tire Rack and they only list one tire in that size. Are appropriate tires going to be an issue?

 

Paint:

This isn't a big deal, but I'm partial to bare aluminum. I've noticed that Caterham only lists or shows fully painted cars. Is bare aluminum still available?

 

I'll have other questions, to be sure, but that's enough for now.

TIA..

[jlumba81]

The engine comes w/ ancillaries that you bolt on to a bare block. What it includes depends on which spec Roadsport you want to get, ie the 170hp or 210hp.

 

Seems like most owners w/ the duratec think that the 1st gear is too short, but Caterham sells a T9 w/ a taller 1st gear or you can opt for the 6spd. There are various other aftermarket gearsets too.

 

The spare is an option thats comes w/ the carrier, it costs $586. Not sure about the tire sizing. I also looked into the tire sizes and 195/50 is much more common. Hopefully someone w/ a 7 can add some input whether there is enough fender clearance for the slightly taller tire.

 

The paint is optional. The car comes in bare aluminum w/ the choice of black, red, green or yellow colored fiberglass pieces.

 

Hopefully that helps you out. I believe there's a few guys in your area w/ 7 that you can talk to in person. Scannon is in that area he has a Caterham SV w/ a turboed miata drivetrain.

[Chaz]

jlumba:

 

Thanx, that does help.

 

The engine comes w/ ancillaries that you bolt on to a bare block. What it includes depends on which spec Roadsport you want to get, ie the 170hp or 210hp.

 

OK. I guess that prompts another question. While I'm a fair mechanic, I'd like an engine that's pretty much ready to drop in after bolting up the tranny. Is this a viable option?

 

The spare is an option thats comes w/ the carrier, it costs $586. Not sure about the tire sizing. I also looked into the tire sizes and 195/50 is much more common. Hopefully someone w/ a 7 can add some input whether there is enough fender clearance for the slightly taller tire.

 

From the pix I've seen the 50 would probably work, but I wonder how much cleance with the fender would be left? Colorado uses some pretty course sand (gravel?) on their highways and getting a piece caught between the tire and fender would be.....errr....unpleasant.

 

You definitely get more tire options with the 50's though.

 

The paint is optional. The car comes in bare aluminum w/ the choice of black, red, green or yellow colored fiberglass pieces.

 

Cool! I suppose polishing the aluminum can be a pain, but I do love the look.

 

Hopefully that helps you out. I believe there's a few guys in your area w/ 7 that you can talk to in person. Scannon is in that area he has a Caterham SV w/ a turboed miata drivetrain.

 

Maybe I can hook with them sometime!

 

Oh and as an afterthought, are there fuel tank options and what kind of range could someone expect out of the car with a 170hp duratec?

[scannon]

Chaz,

 

I live in Erie, about 20 minutes from downtown Denver and you are welcome to come up and have a look at my SV most any time.

 

I can't offer you a ride until my shoulder heals which may be 6 months or more. It's killing me to have the good weather coming on and not be able to drive it.

 

My SV came with the optional 205/45-16 tires on wagon wheels. It also has the spare which is a full size wheel & tire, the same as is on the car. Plenty of room under the front fenders. I also run 205/50-15 R888s on 7 x 15 Kosai wheels for track events. The 205 R888s are a bit wider than the 205 Avons but still clear the fenders.

 

I think it is still possible to order bare ali but I don't think it will come polished from the factory. Caterham USA can tell you for sure. BTW, RMSC no longer exists, it has been combined with Caterham USA.

 

There is no engine that will drop in without some modifications. The current "bare block" the Caterham is designed for is far more than an empty block, it is the complete engine minus the oil pan and other items you would have had to remove and replace with Caterham parts. These Caterham specific parts now come as part of the chassis kit so you pay less for the engine and don't have parts left over to sell or dispose of. It is a relatively easy bit of work to do this.

 

There are other engine options such as my Miata powered SV and on up through V8s like slngsht's and even into the custom V8s with motorcycle heads.

 

Send me a PM or EM and we can arrange a visit.

 

Skip

[Taber10]

Chaz,

 

Just want to comment on your questions: You MUST buy your Duratec from your Ford Deader. This is one way of establishing your vehicle as a "specially constructed vehicle" and NOT a "new automobile" manufactured by Caterham USA. Previously, the same situation existed between RMSCI and Caterham USA.

 

I doubt seriously that Ben Wofford of Caterham USA would mind your questions. First, he is a great guy with a great personality and lots of patience. Second, he is in the business of selling the Caterham, and no one is going to put down that kind of money until all of the questions are answered.

 

Personally, I probably pushed the envelope on questions--except for looking at a few eBay listings, I hadn't shopped for a Caterham since the late 1970s--when I asked Ben how hard it was going to be to adjust the Weber Carbs from Denver's altitude to my sealevel home in Florida!

 

Good luck with your quest.

[scannon]

Chaz,

 

Just want to comment on your questions: You MUST buy your Duratec from your Ford Deader. This is one way of establishing your vehicle as a "specially constructed vehicle" and NOT a "new automobile" manufactured by Caterham USA. Previously, the same situation existed between RMSCI and Caterham USA.

 

Not quite true here in Colorado at least. You only have to prove you didn't buy the motor, trans and chassis from the same company. You can buy a junkyard motor, a complete salvage vehicle or a private sale motor. You just need bills of sale from two different companies.

 

I bought my chassis from a dealer in Arizona and bought a salvage auction Miata to get the motor and transmission. A benefit of that is you can strip out the other parts and sell them to recoup some or all of the cost of the wrecked car. That worked so well for me I bought a second salvage Miata to have a spare engine and transmission and made enough on the parts sales to recoup all my costs, have two free engines/transmissions and cash to put into the build budget.

 

Ben at Caterham USA will be happy to answer your questions.

[Taber10]

Scannon,

Of course, you are right--any separately sourced motor would work.

 

BUT, as stated, I was commenting on Chaz' question, which was "ford dealer or Caterham USA" in his original post.

 

Sorry if my answer was confusing.

 

Taber

[Chaz]

 

Ben at Caterham USA will be happy to answer your questions.

 

I called Ben @ CUSA yesterday.

 

What a collosal waste to time ;-).

 

Not really. I'm joking. Really.

 

Seriously though, he was very helpful, friendly, and generous with his time. Seems to be VERY knowledgable.

 

I'd like to go over there end of next week for my Annual Birthday Drool On And Hopefully Drive A Car I Can't Afford Right Now (Last year's was 2008 Z4 3.0 si). Once a year, on my Birthday I indulge myself and arrange for a test drive of a sportscar, which is just about anything save for a '92 Miatta (this economy REALLY sucks). No I haven't summoned up the courage to try to get in a Ferrari yet. Maybe when I turn 60.

 

He still has the Roadsport demo and is working on an R500. Should be an interesting visit.

 

I need some serious writing practice, would anyone be interested in a report w/ pix, if the visit happens?

[scannon]

 

Seriously though, he was very helpful, friendly, and generous with his time. Seems to be VERY knowledgable

 

Ben did an internship at Caterham a few years ago and he worked with Nathan Down at RMSC. Nathan worked for Caterham and was the designer of the SV. Between them they have a lot of Caterham knowledge.

 

test drive of a sportscar, which is just about anything save for a '92 Miatta

Them's fighting words.

 

I own a '92 Miata and it is very much a sports car. It has left many an Elise, Porsche, Vette, etc in the dust on the track.

[Croc]

 

I own a '92 Miata and it is very much a sports car. It has left many an Elise, Porsche, Vette, etc in the dust on the track.

 

 

 

Is now the time to point out that my girlfriend's hairdresser has a miata?

[DB6]

Is now the time to point out that my girlfriend's hairdresser has a miata?

 

I know the image is what you say, but there is nothing wrong with the car at all.

[scannon]

I find that taking some macho/redneck/drunk/a$$hole, who is giving me crap about my Miata being a chick/gay car, for a quick ride through some curves makes a Miata believer out of him. I think a few of them had to clean out their shorts. One even asked me to stop the car and walked back.

 

It bothers me not what others think of my Miata or Miatas in general, it's my car, built the way I want it and driven the way I like to drive. It is fun to hear grown men scream the first time I late brake into a corner with them in the passenger seat. I have had the passenger grab handle pulled out of the door frame 4 times now by non-believers.

[DB6]

I find that taking some macho/redneck/drunk/a$$hole, who is giving me crap about my Miata being a chick/gay car, for a quick ride through some curves makes a Miata believer out of him. I think a few of them had to clean out their shorts. One even asked me to stop the car and walked back.

 

It bothers me not what others think of my Miata or Miatas in general, it's my car, built the way I want it and driven the way I like to drive. It is fun to hear grown men scream the first time I late brake into a corner with them in the passenger seat. I have had the passenger grab handle pulled out of the door frame 4 times now by non-believers.

 

A very under rated car is the Miata.

[Chaz]

Them's fighting words.

 

What, that the most I could afford right now is a '92 Miata?

 

Nothing wrong with a Miata and except for a Mazdaspeed turbo MX5 with a 6sp, I've never driven a Miata I didn't like. I'd own one right now, but I'd prefer a later model (>= '99).

 

A 92 Miata doesn't fit the stringent requirements of my Annual Drool On And Hopefully Drive A Car I Can't Afford Right Now day.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Chaz
changed a misspelling that made my post read like I own a Miatta ... which I don't.

[scannon]

Chaz,

 

You said "I indulge myself and arrange for a test drive of a sportscar, which is just about anything save for a '92 Miatta".

 

That says to me you don't consider the Miata a sports car.

 

I currently have three Miatas. If you want an NB model, I have for sale a low mileage 2002 in the very rare Vivid Yellow color, same as the '92 Sunburst.

[Jeff7]

chaz,

 

you said "i indulge myself and arrange for a test drive of a sportscar, which is just about anything save for a '92 miatta".

 

That says to me you don't consider the miata a sports car.

 

I currently have three miatas. If you want an nb model, i have for sale a low mileage 2002 in the very rare vivid yellow color, same as the '92 sunburst.

 

lol

[Croc]

Skip

Sorry for me ruffling the tail feathers - I could not resist .

 

In all seriousness I agree with you and I will admit I used to own a Miata (1990) and enjoyed it immensely. The only disappointment I had with it was that Mazda did not give it more power as the chassis/brakes could have handled it. Then again you did fix that problem from what I hear....

 

mike

[Kitcat]

Chaz:

 

Your birthday tradition is a great one.

 

I guess we all owned Miatas at some point (I have had 2 and extensively auto-X'd one in SCCA's CSP class).

 

I write to note that I bought my used '97 Caterham 2 years ago w/13K miles on it for just a little more than I paid for my last Miata. So maybe your birthday dream car isn't as unobtainable as it might seem?

[Al N.]

Chaz-

 

I think a write up would be good, especially for other folks considering the hobby/obsession. Perhaps we could finally get around to doing that "FAQ" section with write ups on various marques (by their various owners).

 

Here's my POV on timing of buying:

I used to be like you, with a different fantasy car every few years. But then I had a ride in a Se7en, and things changed. As for timing, three years after my first ride/drive, I was an owner — of the car that Mopho currently helms. And now, Se7en-less, I know that any other type of car would merely be a placeholder.

 

My advice: The dealers know that the jump from tire-kicker to owner is generally a pretty large one. But try to be as respectful of their time as possible. I think you'll find that by and large, the dealers/mfg./importers are pretty cool and very consultative. Even though I didn't buy a car through him back in 2004, Dick Brink was a great counsel in helping me determine what it was that I wanted in a Se7en. At the time, I wanted the lightest, fastest thing I could (almost!) afford. Having done that and enjoyed it for years, I will probably take a different direction the next time around...even with Sevens, there's always a faster one out there somewhere (I'm looking at you, Mazda!)

 

I will add that the group here and the many I've met in person, are really great people.

[KStier]

I agree with Al. The guys on this board have been great to me through a search for a car. Questions answered and concerns addressed. I took a lot less time than Al in making the jump from looker to buyer but to be fair I have been working my way through the looking phase on a couple other genres of sports car for a couple of years. Dick was great if you can get yourself to Texas. There are definitely a bunch of cars out there and a few posts on this site and the yahoo birkin owners group found me three so far that I have not seen listed anywhere else. I can provide numbers and some details if interested... Good luck. The anticipation will keep building and now that I pulled the trigger, the idea that it won't get here for a few more weeks is killing me!!

 

Kyle