R500

[Modena Scotland]

Thanks Mac for the info on your car.

A good friend of mine bought a Roadsport for tracking and after only two months or so bought an R400. He told me he got bored with the speed of Roadsport soon after he got it. He was recommended by some people, it would be better to get less BHP to start with as more would be a waste.....

I guess each to their own.

[mac]

I can see why though - if your into straight line speed then you do start running out of puff and you do need to work the gearbox to keep the car on song round Kh - perhaps on a different, more open track it wouldn't be quite so much fun.

I've seen my car being driven, fast, and until I can regularly match those kinds of speeds and laptimes then I've no need for extra power.

[alicrozier]

I've driven Macs (in the wet) and Thinfourths which is a similar spec. Maybe it's just me but I was looking for more power after a couple of laps...

Mas, have you considered a pre R400/500 Duratec Caterham? IMO they won't hold value like the 'official' cars but are hence cheaper to buy (closer to K series R500 money) and if you intend to keep for a while and use properly...

A couple in the classifieds:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/486431.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/547534.htm

[Gareth]

it's pretty quick with only the honda'ed elises getting past -

Mac

Are you having memory blanks Mac?

Mass, you should approach Phil who has my 7, he may sell.

[Andy G]

Mass has had the XRT2 also, so suspect he wants something that flies........and gives him a buzz.

It will have to shift some given the amount of times Mass has lapped KH, to keep him amused.

[Modena Scotland]

Yes I have been thinking about the Duratec cars as well. I am still in the research phase (has been for a year or so) so still undecided on the exact spec! Not too worried about holding the value as I intend to use it hard.

I know where Mac is coming from but like my friend, I have a feeling I would crave for more speed and punch out of the corners soon after tracking a Roadsport.

Gareth, why is he selling so quickly?

[mac]

it's pretty quick with only the honda'ed elises getting past -

Mac

Are you having memory blanks Mac?

Mass, you should approach Phil who has my 7, he may sell.

Nope, I quite vividly recall catching you and then you being a straight line hero for a few laps before allowing me to pass and disappear in my rear view mirror.

[Gareth]

Gareth, why is he selling so quickly?

He's not selling but he could be persuaded.
Awesome car and you wont find a faster more sorted car (excluding Radicals etc but they aint really road cars) for the money - bold statement but true!
Anyway, he's on hol but do you want me to PM you his num?

Mac, behave yourself

[Modena Scotland]

I was going to buy the new R400 from the factory before getting the CR but because their customer service was very poor, I decided not to buy from them.

I came across the CR at the time and bought it. A good choice then but I always knew I was going to be buying a fast Caterham soon or later.

As Andy pointed out, the XTR2 is a beast in itself with the power to weight of 400bhp/ton, so the thing flies when its working well (it beat the Zonda Top gear track time). The Caterham I buy has got to beat that!

[mckeann]

You could always try other circuits other than Knockhill Thats way you wont get bored so easily and crave more power.

[mac]

I really need to get my f-ass in gear and get down to Croft or Oulton.

After watching the BTCC I want to try Snetterton - the though of going off line into the corn field and coming back out with lunch cooking on the exhaust sounds like fun

[Modena Scotland]

I would like to get to other tacks as well.

The problems are :

1) Croft TDs tend to be sessioned
2) Further tracks require over night stay

[Shug]

You need to do Cadwell. Drive down the night before, stay in pub in Louth, drive all day for £170 open pit on a really challenging circuit, drive home.

Javelin TDs do them if you can't be arsed joining LOT for the sake of a single day.

[gdr]

Sure you could do Oulton in a (long) day trip from Borders, you're 1/2 way there already!
Cadwell also worth the effort if a bit further - was at both last year with MSV open track, excellent.

[jamie]

With Shug - LOVE Cadwell think the Exige day at Cadwell last year was one of my top days