James2 Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Hi all.I have a couple of days left to finalise the spec for my new 310R CKD order, and having seen from this wonderful forum that there are some very good sources of Caterham bits aside from CC themselves, I’m wondering which options I was planning on selecting which I could actually omit and get equivalent (or better!) elsewhere?Of course some of these are prices to upgrade from the standard item to the upgraded version rather than buy the upgraded item outright, so I’m guessing it would be more expensive for most things to buy them elsewhere because I’ll still be effectively paying for the standard item which will still come with the kit, but worth asking...I’m wondering about the following items, with the standard inc VAT Caterham prices shown:Clear lens pack £125 inc VATFront cycle wings - Carbon £355Full decal pack £395Half hood £195Hood bag £80Carbon indicator pods £125Sequential shift lights £300Carbon vinyl tonneau cover £250Quality is important to me though, so I wouldn’t want to go for a cheaper option unless it’s at least as good quality.Thanks all!James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Only thing I’d omit are the shift lights - DRE make a fantastic unit which is programmable and about £80. Just 3 connections onto back of the rev counter.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Don't know if the reflectors and bulbs have changed over the years .... but the performance of rear lights with clear lenses was always awful in daylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 23, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted January 23, 2019 Just my two-penneth as to what my personal choice would be ... Clear lens pack £125 inc VAT - Buy the Just Add Lightness LED versions and fit later, they're the only worthwhile lighting upgrade.Front cycle wings - Carbon £355 - it's a good price as an upgrade and if you don't do it you'll kick yourself later. There are alternatives available, before committing I'd like to be sure the latest Caterham version is a better quality than they've historically been and are no longer prone to becoming "milky" in appearance.Full decal pack £395 - down to personal choice. Half hood £195 - a must-have and this is the same price as buying directly from ThundersportsHood bag £80 - don't bother, if you're getting the full weather gear the full hood can be bagged up and stored in your loft, you'll not use it if you have the half hood. Having hood sticks on the boot adds a little extra depth to the boot for touring.Carbon indicator pods £125 - £47 each from Caterham parts. Buy them as extras and give the originals away.Sequential shift lights £300 - Yes. the Caterham/ACES package is brilliant and of course it's o/e which is preferable if you're doing a high quality build. Make sure it's the user-programmable version (which is available from Caterham Parts for £284).Carbon vinyl tonneau cover £250 - get a shower cap from Thundersports instead, you'll never use the tonneau. Other people may have different views though!Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 The front clear indicator lenses are Land Rover Defender and can be bought for a few quid on eBay. AS Stu suggests, buy the JAL rears, and the clear from indicators from eBay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-90-110-Series-2a-3-Front-Side-Clear-light-lenses-GLR4011/171130849666?epid=1123859783&hash=item27d8318982:g:pd0AAOxyTP1SO1dS:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 23, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted January 23, 2019 Or buy the LED versions which are much brighter than using LED bulbs in the standard lenses:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LR047798LEDCL-FRONT-CLEAR-LED-INDICATOR-FITS-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-2007-ONWARDS/173556874358?epid=1990676335&hash=item2868cbbc76:g:ra4AAOSwQt9bqzynThere might be a need for a couple of diodes on the dash indicator warning light, I'm not sure about the latest wiring.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_w Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 long nose shower cap from softbits instead of tonneau, ditch the clear lenses and with the money saved all round upgrade to the JAL lights and wont cost you a penny, both companies sell top quality products Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 ... you'll never use the tonneau.Hmmm...The SBFS long-nose shower cap is all you need for weather protection when parked up, but the passenger half of the tonneau is very handy when blatting in cold weather. Keeps things really snug in the cockpit as it cuts down the draughts.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A7 OOH Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 If you run with Aero Screen the SBFS long nose shower cap will not fit, unless you have a roll cage - as an aside does anyone make a long nose shower cap for cars with Std Roll Bar running on Aero Screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Decals, why?, we all know its a Caterham, why sully the sides with chavtastic stuff?, and if you insist, theres a guy on the FB group who does them for less than half the price CC want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 ...chavtastic...JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Those JAL lights look nice.Are the rears that bad it's worth spending the money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 The consensus is 'yes'. Standard lights are poor, and safety compromised if you don't have a high level LED brake light. Light technology has moved on massively in recent years, and Caterham hasn't caught up. They are expensive though, and lower cost option is to fit Spiyda LED panel to your existing lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Geoff Brown Posted January 23, 2019 Area Representative Share Posted January 23, 2019 Tonneau, half hood + storage roll & shower cap all avilable from Thundersport with 10% off:https://www.lotus7.club/membership/special-offers-members/thundersport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 23, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted January 23, 2019 "The SBFS long-nose shower cap is all you need for weather protection when parked up, but the passenger half of the tonneau is very handy when blatting in cold weather. Keeps things really snug in the cockpit as it cuts down the draughts."Just my opinion, but unless running an aeroscreen and therefore no doors, any combination of half or full tonneau is in my opinion a complete waste of time. I tried for years and eventually gave up. It's impossible to come up with a satisfactory arrangement for the passenger door and passenger side tonneau that when moving either doesn't leak or flaps around. They should be confined to either using with Brooklands screens, or simply the history book. Now I use a combination of half hood / shower cap / umbrella poppered to the screen, whichever is appropriate at the time.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Did you cut a slot in the side of the passenger tonneau for the lower door strap? I did that some time ago, and find that it keeps everything held down well.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 23, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted January 23, 2019 Yes. But in reality tonneau covers are intended for use with no doors fitted, using one with doors is a bodge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivaan Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I assume it's coming with a track day FIA rob? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 ...using one with doors is a bodge.Yes, I suppose it is, but what am I to do if I want a passenger door and a cosy cockpit?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I have full hood, hood bag, tonneau, full doors, half doors (all CC), half hood, normal shower cap (SBFS), aeroscreen, full windscreen and lightweight full car cover. Some might say I am indecisive but I can run in all sorts of configurations depending on the weather. The tonneau does get used, especially with aero and one half door fitted. Half hood is useful but I find that you do get wet as the rain gets sucked in from behind through the gap. I have an SV so maybe different for the tiddlers! Also depends if you plan to carry SWMBO where I find the tolerances require the full hood and doors to be fitted!Agree that the DRE shift lights will save you some cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 23, 2019 Leadership Team Share Posted January 23, 2019 ".... what am I to do if I want a passenger door and a cosy cockpit?"And that's exactly what makes our cars so individual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 My friend with an R500K has half doors with a narrow tonneau that overlaps slightly and clips onto the half doors also with a zip down the middle.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabea23 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Ditch the decals, I agree with Tazio. Sevens don’t need chavtastic go faster stripes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James2 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 Yes, I'm getting the track day roll bar. I only listed the options I was unsure about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I know this is unusual, but I live in a cold winter climate, so I use the full hood and doors for the 5-6 month winter. I have an SV and I am 5'11'' 190 lbs. --no problems getting in or out. It stays nice and warm all winter . In the summer months I just have the top down and use wind wings. Well, this is a big club so there are bound to be a few of us who are a bit unusual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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