RE: Chris Harris video: Morgan vs Caterham
Discussion
It's a 10/10 from me 
Just love this genre of car,had a few westfields over the years and the driving experience is something special. Oversteer on tap, induction noise to die for and the fact you feel like a driving god at 45 mph!
Inside my locker door at work is a photo of the morgan- better than a pin up from Nuts mag any day
Just love this genre of car,had a few westfields over the years and the driving experience is something special. Oversteer on tap, induction noise to die for and the fact you feel like a driving god at 45 mph!Inside my locker door at work is a photo of the morgan- better than a pin up from Nuts mag any day
The only 3 wheeler I've ever driven had a single driven wheel at the back and two at the front - scorcher - it was different and I liked it
I have a very fond memory of several passenger laps round the Hethel test track being terrified by PH'r JeremyC in his R?00 Caterham - was utterly blown away by how it embarrased everything as it flew round the track.....
I put it down to the driver
I've never owned a caterfield westerham or any 7 type vehicle but it's an itch I will have to scratch one day - just needs to have a engine I love in it to make a perfect (for me) car
I have a very fond memory of several passenger laps round the Hethel test track being terrified by PH'r JeremyC in his R?00 Caterham - was utterly blown away by how it embarrased everything as it flew round the track.....
I put it down to the driver
I've never owned a caterfield westerham or any 7 type vehicle but it's an itch I will have to scratch one day - just needs to have a engine I love in it to make a perfect (for me) car
For me real motoring has to be topless. Be it an open wheeler racing car, or a sports car, you only get the full experience without a roof in the way.
Tin tops can be many great things, but to me a sports car is open.
This was the first time I have realized that the new 3 wheeler has a fully independent front end, rather than the old sliding pillar unit. Having driven a tuned version of the post war V twin Matchless 3 wheeler years ago, I cam see what great fun this new one would be.
The most noticeable thing for me was how the Caterham is really so close to the open wheelers I raced back in the 60s. I can see they are close to the classic racing car of old in the way they drive.
I could not justify yet another soft top in my fleet, but it is great that such cars are available for those who want the full experience. Yes a really great video.
Tin tops can be many great things, but to me a sports car is open.
This was the first time I have realized that the new 3 wheeler has a fully independent front end, rather than the old sliding pillar unit. Having driven a tuned version of the post war V twin Matchless 3 wheeler years ago, I cam see what great fun this new one would be.
The most noticeable thing for me was how the Caterham is really so close to the open wheelers I raced back in the 60s. I can see they are close to the classic racing car of old in the way they drive.
I could not justify yet another soft top in my fleet, but it is great that such cars are available for those who want the full experience. Yes a really great video.
I combined these two cars at the weekend and went out in a mate's Morgan V6 Roadster. Great noise, lots of torque, no roof, enjoyable to drive at sensible speeds, sensible sized fuel tank etc.
We have a fast Caterham and they have an original 3 wheeler(amongst many toys)and both have their appropriate times, but the V6 is perfect for all the other times when you wouldn't take those out.
We have a fast Caterham and they have an original 3 wheeler(amongst many toys)and both have their appropriate times, but the V6 is perfect for all the other times when you wouldn't take those out.
Mr Tappets. when crossing America in a Caterham 7 we were acommpanied by American friends in their version of the 7 called Texans. One definately had the Honda 2000 motor in it, and it was staggeringly fast. We had several V8 powered Westies with us and the Texan just walked away from the Caterhams and V8 Westies like we were stood still. It also beat everything else on track, which included some pretty hefty Amercan machinery at the Infineon raceway. Even passed and left standing a bunch of superbikes we encountered in California. That engine would seem to be an interesting option for a 7.
I loved this video.
Particularly because of this. Last year, I took my Aero 8 to Brands Hatch Morgan for its annual service, and my friend and fellow PHer drove me down there to giveme a lft back. During a morning of customary chat with the technicians and staff over a cup of tea (owning a Morgan feels rather like belonging to a nice club where you get tea, talk machinery and racing with very nice people, and then get a huge bill because bits have self destructed/ fallen off your car), they said "Harry, how do you fancy taking the 3 Wheeler out for the morning?"
The answer was "You don't have to ask me twice". They just let me and my friend go and have a play with it in ths sunshine. Which we did.
The experience is exactly how Chris describes it - objectively flawed, subjectively it redefines how you have fun in a car. It makes you think about driving, or rather motoring, in a way you have not done since you were learning, wide eyed with excitement, al those years ago. It makes 40mph feel like a safe, exhilarating 80. 80mph is best not attempted. On the sun strewn backroads of Kent, I genuinely could not have thought of anything else I would rather be in - and that included my own fire-breathing, tweaked and lovely Aero 8.
I nearly bought one on the spot. Sanity prevailed though, and £35k is a loty of money for a car that is going to get used so little, and cannot go to the trackday with me. Over a pint that evening, my friend and I enthused about what the Morgan meant, and what it did. Chris says it best in this video - it deconstructed driving, and offered a completely different set of solutions. We were addicted, we wanted one, but our rational brains could not justify it...
...so a month later we went halves on a Caterham 7 Supersport. A car that frankly is more fun than anything else I own, and unlike anything else I have driven. Less fun at a gentle potter than the 3-Wheeler - but at speed, and on track, this car is the purest shot of driving pleasure you can own for less than £20k.
I can't believe it took me until 35 to own one. If I have a son, and he proves competent in his first couple of years of driving, I'm getting him one.
Morgan - transcendental driving experience. Caterham - transformative.
Particularly because of this. Last year, I took my Aero 8 to Brands Hatch Morgan for its annual service, and my friend and fellow PHer drove me down there to giveme a lft back. During a morning of customary chat with the technicians and staff over a cup of tea (owning a Morgan feels rather like belonging to a nice club where you get tea, talk machinery and racing with very nice people, and then get a huge bill because bits have self destructed/ fallen off your car), they said "Harry, how do you fancy taking the 3 Wheeler out for the morning?"
The answer was "You don't have to ask me twice". They just let me and my friend go and have a play with it in ths sunshine. Which we did.
The experience is exactly how Chris describes it - objectively flawed, subjectively it redefines how you have fun in a car. It makes you think about driving, or rather motoring, in a way you have not done since you were learning, wide eyed with excitement, al those years ago. It makes 40mph feel like a safe, exhilarating 80. 80mph is best not attempted. On the sun strewn backroads of Kent, I genuinely could not have thought of anything else I would rather be in - and that included my own fire-breathing, tweaked and lovely Aero 8.
I nearly bought one on the spot. Sanity prevailed though, and £35k is a loty of money for a car that is going to get used so little, and cannot go to the trackday with me. Over a pint that evening, my friend and I enthused about what the Morgan meant, and what it did. Chris says it best in this video - it deconstructed driving, and offered a completely different set of solutions. We were addicted, we wanted one, but our rational brains could not justify it...
...so a month later we went halves on a Caterham 7 Supersport. A car that frankly is more fun than anything else I own, and unlike anything else I have driven. Less fun at a gentle potter than the 3-Wheeler - but at speed, and on track, this car is the purest shot of driving pleasure you can own for less than £20k.
I can't believe it took me until 35 to own one. If I have a son, and he proves competent in his first couple of years of driving, I'm getting him one.
Morgan - transcendental driving experience. Caterham - transformative.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 30th May 14:21
tadaah said:
Love Caterhams....
Does anyone on here have one that is kept outside (i.e not in a garage) and can recommend a cover that would work?
If so, i might just scratch that itch
I use a SevenSpeed Monsoon Cover having sacrificed the garage last year.Does anyone on here have one that is kept outside (i.e not in a garage) and can recommend a cover that would work?
If so, i might just scratch that itch
MrTappets said:
Has anyone tried putting a Honda S2000 engine/gearbox in a Caterham? That would certainly take care of any "doesn't rev like a K-Series" doubts.
I've seen them fitted to other seven kits, but don't know if anyone has tried putting one in a caterham. There a bit on the heavy side unfortunately - K series is about 100kgs with ancillaries, f20c is a good 50kgs heavier.harryowl said:
MrTappets said:
Has anyone tried putting a Honda S2000 engine/gearbox in a Caterham? That would certainly take care of any "doesn't rev like a K-Series" doubts.
I've seen them fitted to other seven kits, but don't know if anyone has tried putting one in a caterham. There a bit on the heavy side unfortunately - K series is about 100kgs with ancillaries, f20c is a good 50kgs heavier.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff