Something went wrong, ordered a Mustang, yet ended up in a British hotrod, I blame OcUK!
Soldato
Not half! That’s the Lindsay Pelas of graphs, two big numbers and smooth curves everywhere else
Not half! That’s the Lindsay Pelas of graphs, two big numbers and smooth curves everywhere else
Yes really happy with the results, not sure on dyno accuracy or if the SVR ECU is just seeing Vpower and adding a bit more spark resulting in some extra power as the manual states 95 RON, which is quite rare for a powerful car and of course I've only put 99 in it since buying, so it might be helping or not, but the better fuel does guarantee against getting any knock and of course cleaning properties.
Yesterday was I think the first day this year temperatures have being over 10c, sunny and dry, so I did take the car for a blast, had it in dynamic mode and to put it simply, WOW what a car, the handling and grip levels are insane the speed you can take corners at is very impressive and ability to just get into full power so early out of a corner, really is a proper weapon. The speed it can carry is huge, but at the same time the chassis is so playful being quite a short wheelbase, its huge fun to drive.
Got some friendly modifications planned over coming weeks/months, namely weight reduction, looking to shift 50kg out the car and looking for ways to get some addition SC whine on the go as its very faint and only really audible when your properly revving the car out, want to try and make it a little louder got some ideas that are pretty much no money involved just need to do some more research first.
The weight is the one flaw I see with the car from what I remember of all the initial reviews. Gone are the days of light weight sports cars, people seem to want 4wd semi auto power house coupes.
Soldato
You got two batteries under the load floor?
Already checked that, just the one with it being an MY16 year.
Got a lithium ION battery coming for it and 2PC disc in production which should be equivalent or less in weight to the ceramics.
Hoping the two will shed me 50kg.
That is about it really as to save any more weight would spoil the car as suspect it would have to come from ditching the nice stuff like seats, stereo etc. which is not an option.
SC whine I am seeing if I can gut the stock intake muffler pipes so keeping it all stock but removing the muffler or whatever you want to call it within tube just doing some research on if its safe to do and checking on price of those plastic tubes as if cheap I shall buy a pair to gut.
Soldato
Ah ok, 16MY must have been when they put VQM instead of two batteries. Good to get more whine, there might be a broadband resonator. I’ll have a think and ask about it.
Caporegime
I wanna work with Jonny 
I wanna work with Jonny
Don't we all, I'd be like a small child in Santa's grotto.
Latest ring video from Dale:
He actually speaks of what I also wished I could do, a custom mode where you can control the differential, as like myself it would be nice to have wet/snow mode AWD mode but combined with normal throttle and dynamic steering. As in wet mode of course throttle pedal is longer and steering very light, not end of the world just nit picking.
Now warmer weather is here I have to say I am totally in love with this car and I really would have missed it if it was not for members here and on Mustang forums recommending the F-Type. I know some here who are die hard German metal fans or the interweb experts don't get it but it truly is the every day super car, is it a super car, well its got the ingredients to be one, 100k plus, 2 seats, 3s to 60, 600HP or pretty much there abouts but it works in all weathers and it works very well.
Interesting notes also to take from Dale's video is his car has now done 1000+ laps of the rings, and what has broken? A charge cooler and a couple of wheel bearings, engine, gearbox are still original and I feel that is a huge recommendation for the reliability. I love mine and I will admit I've had some cars where you feel that if you drive them too hard too often something will or might break, whereas in the SVR I get no such sensation the car feels well under what its true abilities could be and that Jaguar actually over-engineered the SVR to some degree with its over-sized wheel bearings, improved cooling for engine which is run quite a bit under its true ability.
I was talking to AWJ who are a Jaguar specialist and used to work at Jaguar and alongside some of the SVO guys and he told me that the F-Type V8 in testing on their own test circuit was actually tested with around 700HP in the testing for reliability and drive ability, to which it passed with flying colours, of course then the final cars were all 495PS and 550PS. With only Project 7 and SVR getting 575PS and now Project 8 with 600PS, all hardware across all the V8 models is identical though cooling can dither slightly between models due to bumper designs etc.
Of course this makes sense as there are quite a lot of tuned F-Type V6 and V8's on the roads with V6 running around 450HP and the V8's around 650HP with a few at 700, all with no issues and no engine work, just comes from pulleys and tunes mainly, though a free flowing catalyst also help with power, though the latter probably not an option for me as I imagine high flow cats on the SVR would make the exhaust totally insane and also raspy, as its titanium its already at the limit of rasp I would like.
Plans this week/next are:
2PC Wortec brake disc for stock braking system: Fronts are 15kg lighter for the pair. Rears close to 10kg lighter for the pair.
EBC Yellow pads, unfortunately the only performance pad available, which I was a little unhappy about as I regard EBC as cheap crap, but then I remembered an old 525i SE I had with 250,000 miles and when I tracked it at Donnington the only thing I did was put EBC yellows in, brake fluid and that car ran the whole day with zero brake issues and the dust was nothing to worry about and they were always quiet, so I need to stop being a snob and for my use the EBC will give me the extra initial bite and a little additional braking torque I am looking for fingers crossed.
Lithium ION Battery: Saves me 21kg
So near as dammit 50kg out of the car, 25kg of which is unsprung mass, the brakes are simply because I want more brake bite and of course I am miffed my car does not have the savings that ceramics would have given, well amazingly these 2PC disc due to less other hardware required are 2-3kg lighter overall than ceramic option and of course much cheaper to maintain, looking at £1500 all in for a new set of outers and pads.
Then there really is not much more I can do, yes I could rip the seats out, put in some lighter seats or even grab a set of the MY18 SVR bucket seats (14kg lighter) but I actually think the MY16-17 seats look nicer plus they are also more comfortable, the MY18 seem narrower and built for a smaller frame person when I sat in an SVR with them, plus they look less cool. Could even rip out the speakers from car. So could potentially pull another 25kg from the car but at the expense of comfort, infotainment and its simply not worth it plus it would spoil and de-value the car and every time a blue SVR coupe with carbon fixed spoiler appears for sale, they are sold within days/week at over 80k so the blue ones with fixed spoiler seem to be the favourite in used market. The other colours, or ones without fixed spoilers just seem to sit for sale for weeks, even months until they hit high seventies and then they sell.
Of course the obvious choice to go even quicker will be more power, this will happen but right now I drive this car and I absolutely love it, my only wish is if the car was lighter, I guess this comes from my other car being a 1300kg track prepared E46 M3, the problem is when I owned the Mustang I used to love getting in the M3, it felt as quick as the Mustang and handled much better. But now I don't want to drive the M3, I want to drive the SVR because the SVR really shows up the M3's front-end, the M3 though a beautiful balanced car has nowhere near the front-end the SVR has. The only time I now take the M3 out is if its raining, why, because the M3 can slide and drift so easily, so controllable and within small space and I am quite confident to do so. The SVR I am still learning, its not as delicate and when it slides, well it slides further because its got another 300-400kg of mass behind it.
Still the SVR has spoiled me so much that the next appointment for the M3 shall be at a true handling specialist like Spires or Centre Gravity to see if they can do anything with the front-end to improve its turn in ability, I am probably trying to achieve the impossible but as the M3 for now is a keeper why not keep trying to perfect it. Though I have been considering something truly special like a Caterham 420R or new shape Exige S to replace the M3 and have an all British driveway. Problem is I know if I sold the M3 it would be the biggest regret ever and I know I'd miss it like crazy and it also has quite a bit of sentimental value to me. My only option therefor is probably keep it sensible for now, go test drive some Caterhams and just buy a 3rd car and get a Caterham, but maybe not a 420R, something cheaper and older to learn with as the Caterham will also fit in the garage too so it can be kept out the way.
Caporegime
Best go on a diet too if youre excited about shedding 10kg here and there! 
Go bald, drive barefoot, ditch the jeans for leggings and leave the contents of your pockets at home.
Go bald, drive barefoot, ditch the jeans for leggings and leave the contents of your pockets at home.
Soldato
Yea, worth bearing in mind that even a 25kg drop (RE speakers/seats) makes – at a guess – just a couple of percent difference (if that) to the overall weight of the vehicle. Not going to notice it, not worth compromising comfort and enjoyment for.
Permabanned
You know I love my German things
Glad you're enjoying the SVR... it has tempted me recently. It's a fantastic V8.Still the SVR has spoiled me so much that the next appointment for the M3 shall be at a true handling specialist like Spires or Centre Gravity to see if they can do anything with the front-end to improve its turn in ability, I am probably trying to achieve the impossible but as the M3 for now is a keeper why not keep trying to perfect it. Though I have been considering something truly special like a Caterham 420R or new shape Exige S to replace the M3 and have an all British driveway. Problem is I know if I sold the M3 it would be the biggest regret ever and I know I'd miss it like crazy and it also has quite a bit of sentimental value to me. My only option therefor is probably keep it sensible for now, go test drive some Caterhams and just buy a 3rd car and get a Caterham, but maybe not a 420R, something cheaper and older to learn with as the Caterham will also fit in the garage too so it can be kept out the way.
Cheeky plug... but my CSR260 (with SV widebody and wider pedal box) is about to be for sale.
More power than the 420R... was almost able to keep up with the 620R in a straight line (not quite) and was catching up in the corners.
Yea, worth bearing in mind that even a 25kg drop (RE speakers/seats) makes – at a guess – just a couple of percent difference (if that) to the overall weight of the vehicle. Not going to notice it, not worth compromising comfort and enjoyment for.
Exactly and very good point, with so much power and torque you won't notice it. The best gains are always unsprung mass as reductions as they are like 2-3x regular mass in a car plus you get such huge benefits in ride comfort and handling. Perfect example of this was my 911 which had ceramics, when I removed them and put 911 Turbo steel disc on which of course weighed a lot more, I could feel it immediately, most noticeable in ride comfort, particular over uneven and rough surfaces, the suspension was having to work harder. Then it was felt in handling, performance wise however was very hard to tell, the car felt a touch less responsive but minimal.
The SVR goes quick enough for me, hence why power upgrades are on hold, I just want more confidence under braking though since several attempts at 200mph I have to admit the stock brakes are now much better, they clearly just needed some proper abuse.
You know I love my German things
Cheeky plug... but my CSR260 (with SV widebody and wider pedal box) is about to be for sale.
More power than the 420R... was almost able to keep up with the 620R in a straight line (not quite) and was catching up in the corners.
Oh god I really have no understanding of Caterham specs at all. I know the number is power to weight ratio, but then the other numbers confuse me, I mean there are other models with the 210HP Duratec in as well but are called 400.
But how is your CSR260 more powerful? 420 is a bigger number!
All I know from driving 120HP Caterham with a manual it was great fun but way under powered.
Also do not shoot me down but I found the manuals in the Caterham I drove shockingly horrible, like stirring porridge and the clutch pedal gives my big size 10's no room down there, at times I was planting all three pedal quite interesting when your trying to stop for a corner as such I always found changing gear in a Caterham annoying and not pleasurable.
What are the paddle and sequential options, problem is is a sequential a total pain on the road and I know some of the sequential still have clutch pedals.
I am going Bookatrack this Friday for CDX drift day and to speak with Jonny to see what he recommends and what deals he has as they've always got plenty for sale and I've spent thousands on track days with his company so he best give me a discount.
Permabanned
Oh god I really have no understanding of Caterham specs at all. I know the number is power to weight ratio, but then the other numbers confuse me, I mean there are other models with the 210HP Duratec in as well but are called 400.
But how is your CSR260 more powerful? 420 is a bigger number!
All I know from driving 120HP Caterham with a manual it was great fun but way under powered.
Also do not shoot me down but I found the manuals in the Caterham I drove shockingly horrible, like stirring porridge and the clutch pedal gives my big size 10's no room down there, at times I was planting all three pedal quite interesting when your trying to stop for a corner as such I always found changing gear in a Caterham annoying and not pleasurable.
What are the paddle and sequential options, problem is is a sequential a total pain on the road and I know some of the sequential still have clutch pedals.
I am going Bookatrack this Friday for CDX drift day and to speak with Jonny to see what he recommends and what deals he has as they've always got plenty for sale and I've spent thousands on track days with his company so he best give me a discount.
The CSR260 is one of the models where the power is in the name instead of the bhp/tonne like the 420R and 620R.
The 420R is about 210bhp, the 620R is about 310bhp... my CSR260 is just over 260bhp, so in "R" terminology would be 520/530R. You wouldn't feel like it's underpowered... promise
0-60 time is around 3 seconds.The lower powered/spec caterhams have a worse box, this one is good... solid and one of the better manual boxes I've used.
I have size 12 feet and with my driving shoes (Puma trainers that are barely wider than my feet) I can just about manage the standard pedal box - but it's really tight. The SV chassis has about an extra 2 inches width (1 inch per side), giving you a little more room in the seat and it's also given a wider pedal box which makes things much easier. Still tight with some normal shoes, but with a pair of Puma Speedcats or similar... it's nice and easy.
A sequential box costs about £10k, then the paddle system is another £5k. The only stock car I know of that comes with a sequential as standard is the 620R. That's actually the main reason we're upgrading - we want to go sequential but doing it to our car and we will lose the investment, whereas the 620R will hold its value well. We're also planning to add the paddle system. Like you say though, it's not fun on the road - but comes into its own on track. Our car's now being transported and supported by a company for track-only use... so we're not even driving it on the road anymore. Although insurance including 3 track days a year was only around £330.
It's a bit of a trek, but come down and give it a go if you want... it's a great car and we've put quite a bit of work into it (to the point the guy who sold it to us who's going to be selling it for us says that even though we paid £27k for it, we should now get £30k).
The CSR260 is one of the models where the power is in the name instead of the bhp/tonne like the 420R and 620R.
The 420R is about 210bhp, the 620R is about 310bhp... my CSR260 is just over 260bhp, so in "R" terminology would be 520/530R. You wouldn't feel like it's underpowered... promise
The lower powered/spec caterhams have a worse box, this one is good... solid and one of the better manual boxes I've used.
I have size 12 feet and with my driving shoes (Puma trainers that are barely wider than my feet) I can just about manage the standard pedal box - but it's really tight. The SV chassis has about an extra 2 inches width (1 inch per side), giving you a little more room in the seat and it's also given a wider pedal box which makes things much easier. Still tight with some normal shoes, but with a pair of Puma Speedcats or similar... it's nice and easy.
A sequential box costs about £10k, then the paddle system is another £5k. The only stock car I know of that comes with a sequential as standard is the 620R. That's actually the main reason we're upgrading - we want to go sequential but doing it to our car and we will lose the investment, whereas the 620R will hold its value well. We're also planning to add the paddle system. Like you say though, it's not fun on the road - but comes into its own on track. Our car's now being transported and supported by a company for track-only use... so we're not even driving it on the road anymore. Although insurance including 3 track days a year was only around £330.
It's a bit of a trek, but come down and give it a go if you want... it's a great car and we've put quite a bit of work into it (to the point the guy who sold it to us who's going to be selling it for us says that even though we paid £27k for it, we should now get £30k).
Yes I can see they hold their value very well.
I've pretty much put my limit at 210HP, as I think in something so small there is no need for over 200HP, learning to drive properly will make a far bigger difference, I also want to enjoy it on the road and even use it on wet days. I've kind of set myself a sweet spot of 160-210HP, but I would need to drive a 260HP one to see how it was as I do want the ability to break traction for the fun sliding stuff, but at the same time I don't want it to just be a wheel smoking monster which I feel the 300+ horsepower ones are.
Is your 260HP NA, or has it got a blower on it? 2.0l Duratec?
If SV gives bigger pedal box then I think that is absolutely for me then, shall sit in both a regular and SV this Friday. Doing the drift day at Donnington in the Caterhams I shall ask if I can try both regular and SV see how I get on. Will take my slimmer trainers or ask them for footwear on the day.
I will be honest as its my first Caterham my plan is do the drift days, rent one for a few days and if the bug bites then look at buying one. I don't want to jump in right now with 20-30k with car I might hardly ever use or hate to use, of course the upside is as you've discovered they don't depreciate. I also suspect they cost peanuts to run where as my M3 never has a bill under £1000 in comparison for tyres, brakes or consumables. Few months ago M3 was 2k for front brake disc, pads and inspection 2 service. Last month £1300 for new half shafts. Now its due rear disc and pads, thats another 2k. Its cost 5k in six months just for maintenance, next it will want tyres and I want another set of wheels with sticky tyres, theres another 2k, its just a greedy and expensive car to run, but I do love it.
But in comparison and you will know I guess a Caterham cost peanuts to run as things probably last longer due to lightweight and the consumables probably cost far less?
Permabanned
Yes I can see they hold their value very well.
I've pretty much put my limit at 210HP, as I think in something so small there is no need for over 200HP, learning to drive properly will make a far bigger difference, I also want to enjoy it on the road and even use it on wet days. I've kind of set myself a sweet spot of 160-210HP, but I would need to drive a 260HP one to see how it was as I do want the ability to break traction for the fun sliding stuff, but at the same time I don't want it to just be a wheel smoking monster which I feel the 300+ horsepower ones are.
Is your 260HP NA, or has it got a blower on it? 2.0l Duratec?
If SV gives bigger pedal box then I think that is absolutely for me then, shall sit in both a regular and SV this Friday. Doing the drift day at Donnington in the Caterhams I shall ask if I can try both regular and SV see how I get on. Will take my slimmer trainers or ask them for footwear on the day.
I will be honest as its my first Caterham my plan is do the drift days, rent one for a few days and if the bug bites then look at buying one. I don't want to jump in right now with 20-30k with car I might hardly ever use or hate to use, of course the upside is as you've discovered they don't depreciate. I also suspect they cost peanuts to run where as my M3 never has a bill under £1000 in comparison for tyres, brakes or consumables. Few months ago M3 was 2k for front brake disc, pads and inspection 2 service. Last month £1300 for new half shafts. Now its due rear disc and pads, thats another 2k. Its cost 5k in six months just for maintenance, next it will want tyres and I want another set of wheels with sticky tyres, theres another 2k, its just a greedy and expensive car to run, but I do love it.
But in comparison and you will know I guess a Caterham cost peanuts to run as things probably last longer due to lightweight and the consumables probably cost far less?
It depends what tyres you have and the setup of the car... with the Avon ZZRs, even this 260bhp car had to be really forced to break traction, even with cold tyres - let alone when they're warm. When they're warm you break traction through weight shift.
The 620R is a bit of a torque monster thanks to the charger - so that's easier to break grip in... but they've been built to go fast and can put their power down really well... again, especially with warm tyres.
If you stuck normal road tyres on it, then it would be much easier to slide around on the throttle.
It's a 2.3l Duratec, NA. Racelogic engine. It's the most powerful NA option... the one with more is charged.
I've emailed you a link for some good footwear that won't break the bank.
Tyres, for sticky track focused Avon ZZRs are £100 per corner... they weren't new when we got the car, we've done 4 or 5 track days in it... including a charity day at Dunsfold where I did quite a few burnouts off the line and they still have 1 more trackday in them before they need to be replaced.
Brake pads last a good 5-6 track days at least. Disks hardly ever need to be replaced, since the car was built in 2009, with 8500 ish miles and various track days - the front disks have just been replaced at a cost of £150/corner. Pads were £45/corner for front and £25 rear..
Racing oil was £70... recommended to change it every 3 track days.
Even gets nearly 20mpg on track when driven hard.
So yes... cheap on consumables.
Yep peanuts to run then in comparison, as I say set of rears disc on the M3, £1500, they will last a long time, but still its big money, but Alcon stuff is never cheap.
Gonna drive a few Caterhams, explore the different power levels and then decide what I want if I still want one, if I do get one it won't be until next year anyway, want to get a few trackdays in the M3 done this year and enjoy the hard work I've put into it.
P.S. Ordered the driving shoes!
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Oh and today the car had its first consumable, 1/2 litre of oil, I check it every couple of weeks and was surprised it seemed to be using none, but after 10-12 attempts at 200mph it obviously used some up, 1/2 litre later all good, £20 from Jaguar for a litre though, as can't buy it anywhere else that I can find as its some water thin Castrol Edge 0W-20 Jaguar approved stuff, but the lads in the garage pulled the car into the garage to ensure it was flat ground and did it for me, they even showed me how to skip the ten minute wait cycle and see the dip stick in realtime going back upto maximum on the dash.
should have just asked the tech guys begin with, they'd have probably just filled it from a drum for free then.
But 3000 miles, few attempts at 200mph half a litre oil consumption seems pretty good to me, especially as its such thin oil to begin with.
P.S. Ordered a muffler intake tube to see if I can gut it, the tech and parts guy were very helpful and also confirmed as the maf sensor and tube itself is un-altered there should be no ill running effect but could not confirm if I will get more SC whine. They showed me the symposer system too and said if I wanted to remove that they would block it off for me but said if anything that would result in less intake noise in the cabin and that it ports true engine/SC noise not fake noise and as I want more best to keep it for now.
should have just asked the tech guys begin with, they'd have probably just filled it from a drum for free then.
But 3000 miles, few attempts at 200mph half a litre oil consumption seems pretty good to me, especially as its such thin oil to begin with.
P.S. Ordered a muffler intake tube to see if I can gut it, the tech and parts guy were very helpful and also confirmed as the maf sensor and tube itself is un-altered there should be no ill running effect but could not confirm if I will get more SC whine. They showed me the symposer system too and said if I wanted to remove that they would block it off for me but said if anything that would result in less intake noise in the cabin and that it ports true engine/SC noise not fake noise and as I want more best to keep it for now.
Soldato
Great to see someone experimenting with and modifying new cars. Always enjoy these updates!
Always enjoy these updates!