TopBanana

I was all set to buy a fast bike this summer, but losing a mate earlier this year in a bike accident, and being first on scene at another accident last weekend, I'm going to give that a miss.

Wife is hugely relieved and I think I'd get away with buying a Caterham or similar if I strike while the iron's hot . Which is the one to go for? The R300 / 400?

Andy M3

I love caterhams - I went in one that would be the equivalent of a R300 around the ring, holy **** it was insane. Although thanks to the gearing and a lack of torque it didn't feel massively quick - it was the bends where it made it up.

With the correct suspension setup and on R rated tyres it could happily do top 7's around 't ring in the right hands.

The 400 has to be even better, but maybe less is more with these cars?

rb5_336

I've had 2 caterhams and if we had proper summers i'd proabbly still have one.

But they are a pain in the *** in the wet! (specifically anytime the roof needs to be up)

I'd get an elise/exige

TopBanana

Elise would be quite nice, but nowhere near as quick and I'm a bit too big to get in and out withuot looking like a prat

53

iTrader: (41)

Loving the emotional manipulation

Caterham Bikes are a pain in the wet too

Blueblaster

If you're too big for an Elise then getting into a Caterham is going to be very....envigorating.

subaruturbo_18

have a look on piston heads for bike powered cars or other 7 style kit cars. there are hundreds there to choose from

PetesDad

Don't snigger .... but .... for cheap summer fun get a MX5 - nothing comes close!!

Don't knock it till you try it .... a go kart with heater and radio

subaruturbo_18

yeah, you could drive it all the way to the hairdressers

Edcase

Hmmm is having an accident in a caterham going to hurt much less than on a bike? Sometimes it's better to be thrown clear! I'd drive a Caterham on track but I don't think I would on the road, I like to push my cars quite hard and I'd just be too afraid of hitting something.

simplesteve

Pretty sure from memory that in last months or possibly the month before that, Evo magazine had a Caterham buying guide in it.

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

there's a turbo charged mx5 for sale on here if you search. that looked pretty mental, an already great car with a bit of boost

billythekid

Mainly road use, R300.
Mainly track use with a bit of road, R400. (make sure its got a dry sump)

IME.

You missed my old R300 which came up for sale a few months ago - great spec and went for a great price as the then owner wanted out.

But... dont assume you are a lot safer in the Caterham, because although they are strong they can still get to the thick end of 100mph in sub 10 secs and there is very little protection from stuff like trees at this speed. A friend of mine was killed a few years ago.

Anywho, another idea is to get some wheel time with Hugh (edit) Noblett from Cadence Driver Development.

The Chief

bloody hell thats bad news

You'd think with a name like that he'd consider changing it

R300's ooh now were talking

billythekid

And he has.. LOL, his name is Hugh Noblett ( ok so thats not much better ) not Dent...