How to choose a Caterham chassis | S3 or SV?

When we talk to prospective new #caterham owners, the first topic of conversation is "which chassis?". Although the small, "S3", chassis has limits to the size of person it will accommodate, you might be surprised to learn how tall a person will fit. The question of chassis size then, can often come down to your intended use. In this short video we cover the two chassis sizes, and the important addition of standard versus lowered floors.
00:00 Introduction
00:58 S3, standard floors
01:58 How to see what type of floor is fitted
02:33 S3, lowered floors
03:02 SV chassis
04:02 Wrap up

[@marcusgrant9743]

Nice videos 👍 If anyone is curious I’m 6’6” and about 17.5st - I’m pretty comfy in a SV with lowered door, tillet seat, peddles in their furthest setting and a small D steering wheel!

[@Lot_2023]

THANK YOU!!!

[@ianscott3180]

I have an ageing 1700 crossflow with a bench seat absolutely no adjustment in seating position. My wife takes the passenger seat bottom and puts it behind her and tightens up the harness when she drives it. High tech indeed, but still fabulous fun. 😑

[@hansrasmussen5239]

Could you do a discussion on ground clearance? Especially dealing with speed humps and back roads with pot holes. Thank you for these informative videos.

[@turn7caterham]

It’s going to depend on suspension setup, carrying weights, etc Hans. It’s a bit more context sensitive versus a “one case suits all”. We can do a post on generic clearances though. Thanks for the input! Idea noted 👌

[@ColinMill1]

All I can add to this is that I have a bog-standard S3 with the flat floor and have no issue with the speed humps I have encountered around here. There is a series of them on Market Street/Mottram Road through the village of Broadbottom and more on Long Lane the other side of the Etherow. They are pretty serious (they actually had to reduce them as they exceeded the permitted dimensions when first put down).

[@hirsutebodkin6888]

The only problem I've had with speed humps is the really short ones if you go over them at anything more than an absolute crawl it is really easy for the front wheels to drop too quickly off the front of the humps, the suspension then shortens quickly and the sump gets a nasty thump. I have a 270s which has softer suspension than an r which might be making things worse

[@peterdeivel6322]

I have a 2021 SV with lowered floors. I am 182cm (6ft) at a weight of 85kg.There is ample room, I can drive with any kind of shoes and I can easily get in and out even with the roof on. The driver seat is not even in the rearmost position...

[@UglyFast]

6’ 4’, 200 pounds very happy in my CSRs (SV sized chassis). Heated carbon tillets, no doors, full FIA race cages. S3 cars are kinda tight for me and also contribute to the continual elbow fights over the tunnel. LOL

[@turn7caterham]

Ha ha! “Elbow fights” We getcha 😀

[@Ian-ic9lv]

Nice video. I think this will end up being your most viewed video. I've been looking for an explanation of the S3 v SV on KZbin without success. Most of the Caterham reviewers don't seem to know which version they are driving!

[@stephenforster1960]

I know we’re all different, but just in case anyone’s looking for the limits of an S3, I’m 6’2” with a 32” inside leg, 36” waist and size 10 feet. I fit comfortably in an S3 with solidly mounted Tilletts (about another 1” rearward space still available if I wanted to move back) and lowered floors. The top of my head is around 4” lower than my track day roll bar and about 1” lower than the top of the screen. The rear view mirror does obscure my view forward, however if I fitted to the top of the dash (which I’ve seen some folk do), I wouldn’t see behind me as the cross bars of the roll bar would sit right in my rear view. Passengers have to sit with their right arm tucked right in otherwise my ability to change gear and steer are greatly reduced. I do need to wear racing boots otherwise I can almost operate all three pedals at once when braking. Loving the videos thanks

[@antlet]

I'm only 6ft at 77kgs but I have size 11 feet. I found it very difficult to operate the pedals on the standard chassis. I decided on the SV just because the pedal box was that much bigger and I wasn't clashing feet or having issues with hitting both pedals

[@old_toucs6283]

Lowered floor. I'm 5'11" and this is essential. By the way I fit perfectly into an S3 with a lowered floor.

[@robinb1900]

I‘m 6‘5 and driving my S3 with Carbon Seats and standard floor. I’am comfortable but I want to install the lowered floor.

[@davidhammond2546]

Thanks for a great and informative set of videos. I’ve not got a Caterham yet, but will have, and you will certainly be my number one call when the time comes. Plus I’m very lucky to be local to you 😊. Cheers.

[@turn7caterham]

The kettle is always on David! You're welcome to pop in and see us any time for a chat about which Caterham captures your heart 😍

[@phb7]

Interesting video

[@WFO.]

Nice video. Thank you

[@chrisharris4223]

Really useful video thanks 🙏

[@tonygee3284]

Great video

[@ColinMill1]

I'm only about 5ft 11 and fit just fine in the standard chassis. However, I still found that the interior mirror obscured my view in too many situations (in the Peak District there are lots of tricky little bends at the bottom of dips where it got in the way). For top-off motoring simply inverting the mirror (and/or it's mounting bracket) lifts it out of the way. But in the end I use a vac on one set mid screen where the only thing it obscures is the nearside front wheel. Good with or without the lid.

[@lexstockton3785]

Sadly I’ll probably never own a 7 (🥲) but I use the low mirror mount trick in my NA Miata, huge improvement in my vision. 192 CM/ 85 kg with a short inseam and long torso, if it matters.

[@ColinMill1]

@@lexstockton3785 The Miata (or MX5 as it is here in the UK) is a fun car. My younger daughter had one for years. She is only 160cm & 55kg so what she really needed was a periscope 🙂

[@lexstockton3785]

@@ColinMill1 😂, We all have challenges. My partner is quite tall but her torso is so short she and your daughter could probably swap tops. Seriously, I love my Miata, going to sneak out for a quick drive today, but a 7 would be the ultimate light, simple sports car. Maybe in my dreams…

[@turn7caterham]

@@lexstockton3785 😭 Saying that, you would fit in one - you're slimmer than Callum and about the same height. Guessing you're in the US? We know of a few owners, out west and east, so they are around 😊 The Miata [MX-5] are great little drivers cars too, yes! Maybe you'll have a Caterham some day though. If there's any way we can help you - contacts, etc, please just drop us an email (there's one in the About tab, here on KZbin) and we'll endeavour to assist.

[@lexstockton3785]

@@turn7caterham Thank you for a very nice post. Having been full ‘Murican sized (300 lb) about 20 years ago I’m very proud to be slimmer than Callum. 😉 I’ve had one ride in a 7 and it was mind blowing, largely because, unlike me, the guy at the wheel could really drive. I’ll keep your thoughts in mind but I’m in the process of making major home upgrades, the Miata is enough stress on my budget for the foreseeable future. Please keep making them so I can keep my dream going and others can have the satisfaction of building their own car and the fun of ownership.

[@neilramsey2033]

Hi, thanks for all your videos todate, I have a 620S (CAT1R) and would love to see a video on how to setup a pedal box as I've heard lots of people talking about it.

[@turn7caterham]

Make sure you’re subscribed Neil, and you’ll get a notification for when that one drops (it’s coming very soon!) 😃

[@RooRichy]

S3 please. But I'm 5.5 and 9ish stone

[@jmlupoludowicy1239]

Nice series of videos, subscribed! Question: is that floorpan one piece or is there a possibility to have different floorpans for the driver and passenger? My better half is only 4’9”.

[@turn7caterham]

Thank you, it’s great to hear you’re enjoying the videos 😊 The floorpans are separate pieces, so you could have different ones each side, yes 👍

[@kevinsargeant9171]

Fit a Roho cushion and aero screen and Chuck the side screens away - Lotus 7 series 2

[@adamkelsall3942]

Do the leather seats sit higher than the carbon seats?

[@turn7caterham]

Good question! They’re more or less the same. Tilletts (buckets) do have a marginally lower base than standard seats, but then you lose a little space off the sides, which could affect one’s overall sitting position. It’s not a stark difference though.

[@AnthonyFransella]

Is the pedal box the same on both chassis? Also, is there a different in the actual size of the pedal box for left and right hand drive models? Just curious on that one.

[@turn7caterham]

Hi @AnthonyFransella There are no differences in the size of pedal box between LHD and RHD models, at least in the current range. SV chassis pedal boxes are quite a bit larger. So if you've got big feet, you might prefer one of those 😉 Truth be told, anything upto around size 11 UK size is manageable in the smaller series 3 pedal box, maybe slightly bigger if your feet are narrow. Much above that it is probably worth considering an SV.

[@AnthonyFransella]

Thank you kindly@@turn7caterham ! I have rather hobbit-like feet so I'd probably have to sit in them and shift a few times to get a feel for it. :)

[@kloppsliverpudlians88]

I’m 5’9 and 75 kgs with a 33inch waist on jeans. I’m leaning towards ordering mine with S3 and lowered floors instead of an SV. Thoughts?

[@turn7caterham]

Worth sitting in a car to be 100% sure, but at those sizes you’d be fine in an S3, yes 👍 Don’t forget use case too - some folks prefer SV for the added space when touring etc.

[@19mati67]

How wide is the SV at the door opening/seating area?

[@turn7caterham]

Hello @19mati67 - SV is 50cm vs 43cm for S3. This is the 'straight bit' of the door opening at the base, in between where it curves up at the front and rear; if that makes sense 😊

[@19mati67]

@@turn7caterham Thanks for that, but I meant the whole chassis width at the seating area.

[@turn7caterham]

@@19mati67 A ha! Sorry about that 🤣 You're looking at 930mm vs 1110mm (S3/SV)

[@robertmorgan8581]

It has to be S3 unless you have no choice because the SV just looks so wrong IMHO

[@Lot_2023]

SV???? Dear God!