Caterham CSR260 vs Lotus 211

[mopho]

Will need our favorite German translators again

Good stuff




Couldn't decide whether to put it in the 211 section or the DNA section, but since I am currently on a Seven drool fest....

[Vorpal]

Well, the first sentence started off with something to the effect of "England: the place with the worst food and ****tiest weather..."

My German is quite rusty, though, and I only caught snippets of most of what they said throughout the video.

[cstetter]

He didn't pick a winner - liked them both.

[Icedog_16]

Mopho, thanks for sharing the automotive porn! I'll have one of each please!

BTW, I get a kick outta every time I see that Subaru commercial where you show off your 4.3 speed, camera in hand.

[thegit]

Don't really need a translation

Which car had him yelling?
Which car had his visor fogged up?
Which car had him panting after the drive?

The Cat

The verbalizations were edited for TV.

m

[Bavarian Motorist]

I like the Lotus for its mid-engine design, but over-all, the Caterham would be my choice. Hey, I already have a 2-11 in its heavier form

[mopho]

Originally Posted by thegit

Don't really need a translation

Which car had him yelling?
Which car had his visor fogged up?
Which car had him panting after the drive?

The Cat

The verbalizations were edited for TV.

m

True that.

It looks like the 211 was a bit more buttoned down if you are after lap times, but the Cat looked more fun to drive (well at least he made it look more fun to drive)

[cstetter]

Basically, he liked the old-school feel of sitting above the rear axle in the CSR260 and he liked the low polar inertia of the 211.

[James A]

Having owned my Elise and Caterham 7 at the same time, well I sold the Elise. Now, I haven't driven a 211, but I suspect I would make the same decision between the CSR and 211. I love the feel and dynamics of the Caterham, and as to balance I prefer the Caterham over my Elise and the Caterham was 600 pounds lighter. Oh, I have cornered weighted the Caterham, with my weight in the car it comes our 46% on the front wheels, and 54% on the rears.
Having said all of this, man oh man that 211 looks nice and who could fault the handling!?

[thegit]

In this pair , I would love to own either.
Having a 7 already, I would prefer the Cat. It would be more useable.

m

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by James A

Having owned my Elise and Caterham 7 at the same time, well I sold the Elise. Now, I haven't driven a 211, but I suspect I would make the same decision between the CSR and 211. I love the feel and dynamics of the Caterham, and as to balance I prefer the Caterham over my Elise and the Caterham was 600 pounds lighter. Oh, I have cornered weighted the Caterham, with my weight in the car it comes our 46% on the front wheels, and 54% on the rears.
Having said all of this, man oh man that 211 looks nice and who could fault the handling!?

And who could argue with that classic appearance? Ugly by today's standards, but precisely what makes it so appealing.

[Buz]

I will bet that the 211 has faster lap times and the Seven feels faster. Sideways is the fun but not the fast way around a corner.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Buz

I will bet that the 211 has faster lap times and the Seven feels faster. Sideways is the fun but not the fast way around a corner.

Since I am not racing, I'll take fun over lap times any day.

[Darth G-F]

I would bet the CSR260 to be faster than the 2-11.

[Rich H]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

I would bet the CSR260 to be faster than the 2-11.

Probably true, but the proper matchup is the R500 vs. the 211, as Caterham considers the CSR260 to be more of a touring car.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Rich H

Probably true, but the proper matchup is the R500 vs. the 211, as Caterham considers the CSR260 to be more of a touring car.

That CSR was in Superlight R configuration, it's fairly track specific

[Darth G-F]

Originally Posted by Rich H

Probably true, but the proper matchup is the R500 vs. the 211, as Caterham considers the CSR260 to be more of a touring car.

An even better match up would be the R500Evo. I think it is even faster than the CSR260 superlight. I will have to check my old EVO magazines.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

An even better match up would be the R500Evo. I think it is even faster than the CSR260 superlight. I will have to check my old EVO magazines.

They just came out with a new R500 that is the latest and greatest

[Rich H]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

An even better match up would be the R500Evo. I think it is even faster than the CSR260 superlight. I will have to check my old EVO magazines.

In magazine tests (see also Autocar) I think you'll find that no CSR260 has equalled the performance of any past version of the R500 (there have been three bhp levels, 230, 240, and 250 (EVO)).

The new R500 has an advertised 263 bhp, but it is also around 100 lbs heavier than the old R500s. Still, all R500s are faster than any CSR260, and way faster than any version of the Elise.

[Darth G-F]

Originally Posted by Rich H

In magazine tests (see also Autocar) I think you'll find that no CSR260 has equalled the performance of any past version of the R500 (there have been three bhp levels, 230, 240, and 250 (EVO)).

The new R500 has an advertised 263 bhp, but it is also around 100 lbs heavier than the old R500s. Still, all R500s are faster than any CSR260, and way faster than any version of the Elise.

I know my Caterbusa, 185hp 1070lbs was much faster then my elise up to about 90mph. I feel that my Katana Elise is faster than my R400 from 90+mph. Those Caterhams are bricks over 100mph. However the new CSR aero bits should greatly help at those speed.