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Grizz
Grizz HalfDork
1/3/12 1:30 p.m.

In reply to scardeal:

Why do you need a warranty? You can come on here with a problem and five minutes later know exactly what's wrong, how to fix it, and where to get the parts for cheap.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 1:37 p.m.
scardeal wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: 1. And where can I find a Caterham? They seem to be unicorns in the US as far as I can tell. 2. When the Caterham breaks, who can fix it if I can't? I'm not the "I can build a Lamborghini in my basement" type. I'm more of the "I can fix some stuff, but for complicated stuff, I need to send it to the aforementioned Lambo builder." 3. Does the Caterham come with a warranty?

1) Google is your friend http://www.uscaterham.com/ So... not really Unicorn-hard to find. In fact, I've seen one on the road not far from here in lovely Pocono Mountain, PA.

2 & 3) I don't know but it is half the price of a Vette and faster so by the logic of this thread so far it is better in all regards than things costing more regardless of any shortcomings it might have.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic SuperDork
1/3/12 1:38 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In reply to 93EXCivic: It does have a nicer seat and no cheap buttons on the radio. Perhaps a comparison with the unassailable bargain Z-06 is in order. I wonder - is the Z-06 still a bargain when the Caterham is half the price and crushes it handily? No, of course not because the Vette has a !DOH!... crappy interior Where do you go - roof?

To be honest, the Caterham 7 R500 starts at $61,000 but it can do 0-60 in 2.88 secs.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 1:42 p.m.
93EXCivic wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In reply to 93EXCivic: It does have a nicer seat and no cheap buttons on the radio. Perhaps a comparison with the unassailable bargain Z-06 is in order. I wonder - is the Z-06 still a bargain when the Caterham is half the price and crushes it handily? No, of course not because the Vette has a !DOH!... crappy interior Where do you go - roof?
To be honest, the Caterham 7 R500 starts at $61,000 but it can do 0-60 in 2.88 secs.

Please - don't screw up my pointing out a certain irony with facts even if they are true and almost unbelievable. If this thread were using logic and facts to obtain some result it would have been over long ago.

Now, back to how a car half as costly, twice as fast as the unassailable bargain Corvette can still have better interior without having any inside parts at all and why it is still better anyway....

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 1:43 p.m.
mtn wrote:
Javelin wrote: Also, I find it *hilarious* that people were comparing the $136,000 GT3 RS 911 to the $56,000 Corvette Grand Sport. You could buy the GS and still have enough cash leftover to buy the Z06 at $75,000.
I bet that you could send the Corvette with $10,000 to a custom upholstery shop and they would put leather/alacantra/whatever over every plasticky surface and fix the lousy interior problems. Add in some nice aftermarket seats, voila. Problems solved.

GM does that with the Commemorative Package GRM just tested or the optional "full leather interior". Both are total crap. If the bones of the interior are "sub-par", then no amount of glued-on leather will help it.

(My opinion is not that the Vette interior is sub-par, other than the seats. Every E46 I've evr been in has been a barrage of busted plastic so I take most interior plastic quality comments as total bullE36M3)

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
1/3/12 1:44 p.m.

I believe this thread proves that a certain supercharged 1uzfe powered Miata is the best car in the world.

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 1:48 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
scardeal wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: 1. And where can I find a Caterham? They seem to be unicorns in the US as far as I can tell. 2. When the Caterham breaks, who can fix it if I can't? I'm not the "I can build a Lamborghini in my basement" type. I'm more of the "I can fix some stuff, but for complicated stuff, I need to send it to the aforementioned Lambo builder." 3. Does the Caterham come with a warranty?
1) Google is your friend http://www.uscaterham.com/ So... not really Unicorn-hard to find. In fact, I've seen one on the road not far from here in lovely Pocono Mountain, PA. 2 & 3) I don't know but it is half the price of a Vette and faster so by the logic of this thread so far it is better in all regards than things costing more regardless of any shortcomings it might have.

I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
1/3/12 1:48 p.m.
Javelin wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
scardeal wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: 1. And where can I find a Caterham? They seem to be unicorns in the US as far as I can tell. 2. When the Caterham breaks, who can fix it if I can't? I'm not the "I can build a Lamborghini in my basement" type. I'm more of the "I can fix some stuff, but for complicated stuff, I need to send it to the aforementioned Lambo builder." 3. Does the Caterham come with a warranty?
1) Google is your friend http://www.uscaterham.com/ So... not really Unicorn-hard to find. In fact, I've seen one on the road not far from here in lovely Pocono Mountain, PA. 2 & 3) I don't know but it is half the price of a Vette and faster so by the logic of this thread so far it is better in all regards than things costing more regardless of any shortcomings it might have.
I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...

Joking, yes?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 1:51 p.m.
Javelin wrote: I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...

You need the sarcasm flags around that for readers in the western states to keep up

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 1:57 p.m.

Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times

Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc...

The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 2:03 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...
You need the sarcasm flags around that for readers in the western states to keep up

No sarcasm in that comment at all. A glorified 1950's open-cockpit car will and has been stomped by the latest in chassis engineering and engine development (see above). The fastest Caterham ever built can barely hang with a previous-gen C5 Z06. It can't corner as hard and has zip for aero making the top speed a joke.

I think y'all are forgetting just how bad-ass the 3,199Lb Z06 is. Dry-sumped all-aluminum 427ci engine with titanium valves and rods, CF fenders and floor, magnesium roof and cradle, and an aluminum frame. The Z07 optional carbon brakes use an Enzo's front rotor for the Z06's rear brakes. 275/325 tires stock...

I mean, really. You really think some scaffolding with a Miata or a bike drivetrain will stand a chance?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 2:04 p.m.
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.

I remember that - because the Vette ran on super-slicks and a bunch of other manufacturers were crying foul as they used the tires the cars are sold with.

Oh, and the GT2 RS did a 7:18 on Pilot Sport Cups.

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 2:07 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.
I remember that - because the Vette ran on super-slicks and a bunch of other manufacturers were crying foul as they used the tires the cars are sold with.

They aren't super slicks, and you can get them as the factory tires on the Z06. Soooooo....

93EXCivic
93EXCivic SuperDork
1/3/12 2:08 p.m.
Javelin wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...
You need the sarcasm flags around that for readers in the western states to keep up
No sarcasm in that comment at all. A glorified 1950's open-cockpit car will and has been stomped by the latest in chassis engineering and engine development (see above). The fastest Caterham ever built can barely hang with a previous-gen C5 Z06. It can't corner as hard and has zip for aero making the top speed a joke. I think y'all are forgetting just how bad-ass the 3,199Lb Z06 is. Dry-sumped all-aluminum 427ci engine with titanium valves and rods, CF fenders and floor, magnesium roof and cradle, and an aluminum frame. The Z07 optional carbon brakes use an Enzo's *front* rotor for the Z06's *rear* brakes. 275/325 tires stock... I mean, really. You really think some scaffolding with a Miata or a bike drivetrain will stand a chance?

BullE36 M3 on the cornering. Having ridden in a Caterham 7 R500 (the old one) the Z06 isn't even in the same league as the Caterham. I like the 'vette but the 'vette only beats the Caterham because of top speed aero. Also the engine is a 263bhp four cylinder a long way from a Miata.

Basically the Caterham is what a sports car should be and the 'Vette is what a mass produced sports car is.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 2:10 p.m.
Javelin wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.
I remember that - because the Vette ran on super-slicks and a bunch of other manufacturers were crying foul as they used the tires the cars are sold with.
They aren't super slicks, and you can get them as the factory tires on the Z06. Soooooo....

In the chart you posted... in the column next to the time... can we please read from exhibit A: super-slicks

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 2:12 p.m.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Read it all bubba: "with optional super-slick track DOT competition tires (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure)". Buy it equipped like that at your local GM dealer today.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
1/3/12 2:12 p.m.
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.

You said ANY racetrack.

Let's look at times for a track that doesn't have an eleventy million mile long 200mph+ back straight.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 2:13 p.m.

Now that I'm looking at that chart from Javelin... I wonder how the interior quality is on the Viper ACR. It positively makes the Vette look like a nancy boy car on the Nordschliefe. On PS2s no less. Huh. Waaay cheaper than the Porsche, Ferrari and so on too.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
1/3/12 2:15 p.m.
Javelin wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...
You need the sarcasm flags around that for readers in the western states to keep up
No sarcasm in that comment at all. A glorified 1950's open-cockpit car will and has been stomped by the latest in chassis engineering and engine development (see above). The fastest Caterham ever built can barely hang with a previous-gen C5 Z06. It can't corner as hard and has zip for aero making the top speed a joke. I think y'all are forgetting just how bad-ass the 3,199Lb Z06 is. Dry-sumped all-aluminum 427ci engine with titanium valves and rods, CF fenders and floor, magnesium roof and cradle, and an aluminum frame. The Z07 optional carbon brakes use an Enzo's *front* rotor for the Z06's *rear* brakes. 275/325 tires stock... I mean, really. You really think some scaffolding with a Miata or a bike drivetrain will stand a chance?

I believe you're confusing a Caterham with a common LoCost.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 2:15 p.m.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.
You said ANY racetrack. Let's look at times for a track that doesn't have an eleventy million mile long 200mph+ back straight.

I vote for the Jefferson Circuit at Summit Point or Thunderbolt at NJMP. Those are nice fair places for two sports cars to go head to head.

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 2:15 p.m.
93EXCivic wrote:
Javelin wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Javelin wrote: I think you're smoking something, because there's no fing way a Caterham is faster around any racetrack not made of cones than a 505HP Z06 Corvette man...
You need the sarcasm flags around that for readers in the western states to keep up
No sarcasm in that comment at all. A glorified 1950's open-cockpit car will and has been stomped by the latest in chassis engineering and engine development (see above). The fastest Caterham ever built can barely hang with a previous-gen C5 Z06. It can't corner as hard and has zip for aero making the top speed a joke. I think y'all are forgetting just how bad-ass the 3,199Lb Z06 is. Dry-sumped all-aluminum 427ci engine with titanium valves and rods, CF fenders and floor, magnesium roof and cradle, and an aluminum frame. The Z07 optional carbon brakes use an Enzo's *front* rotor for the Z06's *rear* brakes. 275/325 tires stock... I mean, really. You really think some scaffolding with a Miata or a bike drivetrain will stand a chance?
BullE36 M3 on the cornering. Having ridden in a Caterham 7 R500 (the old one) the Z06 isn't even in the same league as the Caterham. I like the 'vette but the 'vette only beats the Caterham because of top speed aero. Also the engine is a 263bhp four cylinder a long way from a Miata. Basically the Caterham is what a sports car should be and the 'Vette is what a mass produced sports car is.

Numbers don't lie man, the Caterham (even the R500 Superlight, which ain't sold here) can't match the sustained G's of the Z06.

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
1/3/12 2:16 p.m.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:
Javelin wrote: Not that this is the greatest source nor purveyor of all that is awesome, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Lap_times Let's see, the C6 Z06 laid down a 7:22.68. That's faster than a GT2RS, GT-R, Enzo, Zonda F, Carrera GT, 458 Italia, Konessitig, GT3RS, LFA, etc, etc, etc... The highest Caterham is the same-price R500 Superlight at a 7:55, which is the same time as a C5 Z06.
You said ANY racetrack. Let's look at times for a track that doesn't have an eleventy million mile long 200mph+ back straight.

No flipping problem! Granted there's 0 R500SL's in the US, but any actual track with curbing that is actually for cars will have the Z06 on top.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
1/3/12 2:19 p.m.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

Caterham R500 1.17.9

Corvette ZR1 1.20.4

Corvette Z06 1.22.4

There's gotta be an explanation for that. While their track is no Nurburgring, it's not exactly a tight and technical autox, either.

I mean.... that's a HUGE gap for a track that short.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
1/3/12 2:19 p.m.
Javelin wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: Read it all bubba: "with optional super-slick track DOT competition tires (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure)". Buy it equipped like that at your local GM dealer today.

I'm not the one crying foul. I never go to the track without slicks. I'm just saying - the much faster times the GT2 RS set were on the stock tires. I think the Porsche guys were crying foul even though they were faster anyway because they are German and like to be the only ones cheating. I just remembered it because it hit the Bridge-To-Gantry blog and because it smacked of underhanded deceitfulness.

scardeal
scardeal HalfDork
1/3/12 2:21 p.m.

If you value your labor time, then methinks the Caterham no longer appears quite the bargain compared to the fully assembled Corvette. But that's just me. The website should say in big bold letters: "Some assembly required."

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