Scottish Elises

Has anyone had an old Caterham R500 (K series rather than the new Duratec)?

I've herd all the horror stories of it needing the refresh at every 3k miles but wanted to get info from people who actually owned them.

Now that my XTR2 is on sale, I have started my search to get a nice little Caterham as an alternative to the CR

Hey Mass, just got your PM

Dave Logan (dlogan) with the 340R knows more about the car you have asked me about, it's in Aberdeen(ish) AFAIK.

3k refreshes are only for tracked-only and raced engines.

Over 10k is quite common, and I know one guy who got 17k from his (and anyone here who knows Petrolhead the geordie will know he enjoyed "making progress" ) without any major issues.

The earliest ones had a 9200rpm rev limit which shortened the life expectancy, more recent (and recently refreshed by Minister) were pegged at 8600rpm IIRC which is obviously better and less manic

You could ask the above question (via me or any L7C member) on Blingchat http://www.blatchat.com but be prepared to be blinded by lots of willy-waving and bullsheet!

Och, done it for you anyways

http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=154991

Thanks Ross.

I have visited blatchat on many occasions. I have been a member of Scottish borders seven club run by Richard (Carbon bits) for over a year now as well! However, I've never met a R500 owner thus the posting.

No probs - I've just given Petrolhead a nudge to this thread so hopefully he can give advice

Did someone mention my name

I had an R500 for about 4 yours and managed 16,000 miles in it with no problems at all.

I nearly bought a R400 but after thinking about the spec of the R500 over the R400 and then hearing about the ex display meodel at caterham Midlands with only 1200 miles on it I decided to give it a punt. When I spoke to Nick Potter at CC midlands he suggeted that the rebuild issues were only based on tales that float around and the problems they had with the first few cars which had the wrong bearings in. The also, at that time decided to reduce the max revs as well. Nick also suggested that, so long as they are looked after/serviced they should be good for 20,000 miles

I say this with a tear in my eye as I still miss the car in some ways

For me the R500 was a no brainer. I have had various varieties and the R5 was bar far the best car I have ever had. It started everytime, I ALWAYS warmed it up until the oil temp was at 50. I thrashed the hell out of it and it never missed a beat. Apart from regular oil changes, about every year, I also advice regular cam belt changes. The started gave up which was replaces with the axial one.

My car was so well behaved. I could pootle arount town in 6th at 30mph and never showed any on the kangarooing that other talk about. Most of the time I blatted I rearly needed to cane it and it was very tracktable under 6K but when I did hit that magic 6K, oh boy, did it fly

My car was well used, ask anyone about my attitude towards it. I am not a polisher and the R5 looked tatty. In fact when I part exed it with the CSR200, Nick commented that it was the most used R500 he had ever seen .

So, summing up. Try to buy one that had been regular serviced. If its done over 5K ask if the cam belt has been changed. If I was buying one again and it had 12k I would be probably wanting it to have had a refresh (Even a basic top and tail).

One other thing, the R500 will keep its value better than any other model

Hope this helps

Modena Scotland wrote: Now that my XTR2 is on sale, I have started my search to get a nice little Caterham as an alternative to the CR

Mass,

You getting rid of the Club Racer? Would be a shame not to have one out on track being used as intended

Alternative to - to be used instead of, on occasion. Last time I spoke to Mass, the CR was staying for a long time...

Believe that is the plan - its track bitch number 2 that Mass is hunting for

A Caterham 500 would be entertaining Mass, although there are doubts about the K's ability to take sustained flogging when tuned to over 200bhp. Mr Iddon is probbaly a good person to ask about all things K

I had been asked to go to Caterham to try out the new model if you want me to pass on that contact ?

Andy

Mass
PM'd you back .

Dave

Thanks Petrolhead. Great insight! Exactly what I needed I may ask more questions about R500 if you don't mind.

Greg, as Shug correctly pointed out, I have no intension of selling the CR as its a cracking car! Plan to keep it for a foreseeable future (in the order of years ). It will be used as intended on the track, you can count on that. The R500 will be a good alternative as some of you know, I do a lot of TDs (the 360 is just too expensive to track in comparison ).

Andy, I am looking into the possibility of lowering the rev limit to somewhere between 8200 and 8600 (max bhp at 8600) to prolong the engine life. Majority of the owners seem to think the engine is very strong so long as its warmed up properly before thrashing it to death, which I intend to do .

the great thing about caterhams is that you dont need a huge amount of power to enjoy it. A 135bhp 1.6l K series will run rings round a supercharged exige and be a hell of a lot of fun on its 175 section tyres. Have you tried one??

mckeann wrote:the great thing about caterhams is that you dont need a huge amount of power to enjoy it. A 135bhp 1.6l K series will run rings round a supercharged exige and be a hell of a lot of fun on its 175 section tyres. Have you tried one??

Yeah but we're all power hungry at the end of the day.

Gareth wrote:

mckeann wrote:the great thing about caterhams is that you dont need a huge amount of power to enjoy it. A 135bhp 1.6l K series will run rings round a supercharged exige and be a hell of a lot of fun on its 175 section tyres. Have you tried one??

Yeah but we're all power hungry at the end of the day.

Of course, and i had a 223bhp honda so i am not innocent in that department. BUT. you will have alot more fun with a low powered caterham that works all the time, than a high powered one that breaks constantly. I probably wouldnt have went for the honda, if it hadnt been more reliable. The fact it was more powerful was an added bonus.

Gareth wrote:

mckeann wrote:the great thing about caterhams is that you dont need a huge amount of power to enjoy it. A 135bhp 1.6l K series will run rings round a supercharged exige and be a hell of a lot of fun on its 175 section tyres. Have you tried one??

Yeah but we're all power hungry at the end of the day.

Only the one's looking to mask a lack of talent