Ordering a Caterham...what should I get?

[Steve Stephens]

It's finally come to the point that I am close to ordering a new Caterham Superlight R. I have been thinking about it for about a half year and realized that, if I want to be on the road next year instead of in 2006 that I had better order now. But I need some help or advice on choosing some of the many options. Here is what I have decided on for almost certain;

Superlight R with SVT Zetec engine; painted body, battery master switch, red start button, standard fiberglass race seats, carbon fiber sill protector, 'silver pack' and not the black pack that is standard, side exhaust, alloy fuel filler door if I can get it. At this point I like the Caterham yellow with bare carbon wings and noseband. Another color is a possibility but should be a pretty visible color so I don't go unseen on the road.

There are many options or choices available and I don't want to make a mistake in buying something that I won't use or don't need or, maybe, I should consider another option somewhere. Any advice on...

FIA rollbar over the standard Superlight bar? I prefer the look of the smaller, more upright standard bar to the FIA which leans forward so it will fit inside the top. My use will be mostly street use with some track days.
Is the standard rollbar acceptable for any track days and NASA HPDE events for instance?

Standard windscreen and wipers. Superlights come with the short fiberglass wind deflector which I would like to try running with. But I can see the need for a windscreen and the best time to get one is when I order the car. Don't know if I will use the car in the rain but that's possible. I live just north of San Francisco and have other cars I can use when raining. How about for longer trips? I think the windshield would be nice to have.

Hood (top) and full sidescreens. These will make the car usable in rainly weather but I don't know if I will be driving it in the wet. The full side screens can be nice to cut wind buffeting and can be used without the top. Which, if either, should I get? With the full windshield I think that the side screens would be very nice to have. I'm not sure about the top. Sure don't want to have boxes full of stuff that I never end up using or installing on the car. I know that, ultimately, I have to make up my mind for how I will use the car, but many of you who have been driving Sevens for years have experience in the nice, but not necessary options vs. the 'really must get' options.

Heater? More cost, weight, etc. but nice if one wants to stay warm. I can see using the car in 30-40 degree weather. But can you get enough heat from the engine, either through the footwell walls or with some simple ducting installed to channel engine bay heat to the footwells? I WILL be ordering the footwell heat insulation kit.

Wheels. I am going with 13" wheels and really liked the Barnby magnesium wheels that have been used on the Superlight and R500 but they is no longer an option from Caterham. I have not seen the new 8-spoke aluminum wheels on a car other than in some not-too-good photos. They don't look as "classic" to me as I would like, and nothing special, but something you might see on a hot import sedan. The KN Minators are nice, classic Seven wheels but may be heavier than the new Superlight and Barnby wheels. What to do here? Get my car with the new wheels and then sell them if I can get a set of Barnby wheels from Mike Barnby? Get the Minators?

Steering wheel: Momo QR but is the 260 mm size better than the 280mm?

4 point vs 6 point harness. The 6 point is a lot more money than the 4 point and would be worth it if I was on the track a lot but I can see only several track days per year. Maybe a few more. I'm not trying to skimp but don't want to order lots of expensive options that I neither need nor will use. Yes, I know my neck is worth the price of good safety equipment but there can be some sort of limit. If some of these options are highly recommended by others I will probably get them. Please let me know WHY you do or don't recommend things and feel free to email me off the forum at mcstevestephens@yahoo.com

Spare wheel/tire. Can I get by pretty well on the street without one? A flat can often be temporarily fixed with Slime or other stuff you put in the tire. Car looks nice without the spare but, if I am going to want one, it will be much better to order it initially.

And this is the BIG dilemma; 5 or 6 speed transmission. The Caterham 6 speed is a fine box but expensive. It was designed to be used with the smaller and not-so-torquey 'K' engine. The Zetec, with its broad powerband might be better both on and off track with the close ration and/or heavy duty 5 speed. How do I choose between these two? The higher gear of the 5 speed will be nice for highway crusing. The 6 speed I think I might find that I am always needing to shift gears with on the track when the 5 speed might work better with the high torque Zetec. I've only driven the 6 speed and only several miles total. Certainly not good enough to form a good opinion.

Am I overlooking anything important? I'm going to get my car on order in the next week or so but many options can be added or changed down the road. This is going to be an exciting project with a lot of work ahead to get on the road in Jan. 2005.

Thank you for any help you can give me.
Steve
415-453-7790