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mnrvortxf20c
Original Poster
187 posts
17 months
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am getting my 1st caterham on wednesday and am wondering if there are any essential mods to make or any ideas on potential pitfalls?
the car is;
minister 1.4 k series supersport 135 BHP
stack dash,
full cage,
screen + weather gear,
bilstein shocks,
the only things i was unsure of the importance are;
it has normal track front end,
standard braking system,
would a wide track kit and upgraded brakes be essential or is it not of huge importance? the car is very light. cheers.
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VHPD
295 posts
17 months
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mnrvortxf20c said: would a wide track kit and upgraded brakes be essential? NOEnjoy it for the great car that it is for the rest of the summer then have a think about any changes. IMO
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mnrvortxf20c
Original Poster
187 posts
17 months
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thanks, ive not even got the car yet and am already thinking about changes. may make some slight cosmetic changes.
is there anywhere to purchase some kind of lightweight tunnel top to cover the bare alloy?
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VHPD
295 posts
17 months
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I recommend that your first upgrade should be to join the Lotus 7 Club.
£45 well spent. It will save you money in the long run.
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BertBert
7,059 posts
80 months
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Just enjoy! I doubt that the 1.4 SS is 135bhp though. Not that it matters very much 
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mnrvortxf20c
Original Poster
187 posts
17 months
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both the 1.4 ss i looked at were minister tuned and vot said 135bhp, not that it matters much! 
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Tango7
575 posts
95 months
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I'd get it set up for your weight if you are a lot different to the previous owner, check your tyres and overall condition of the car and then get out and do some miles in it through the summer possibly with the odd trackday thrown in - maybe sort out a spare set of track wheels and tyres to keep your roadset in decent order. If you haven't got a trailer or access to one, maybe consider getting hold or a wheel rack that fixes to the cage/roll bar and can carry 4 wheels on it.
Don't bother spending much money on the car at this stage until you know where best to spend it and really you will only find this out by using the car and finding out how it suits you plus taking advice from other owners. As mentioned above, join the club and you will get plenty of advice.
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mickrick
2,469 posts
42 months
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essential modifications! are there any I am likely to need?  It's called "Upgradeitis" !
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BertBert
7,059 posts
80 months
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mnrvortxf20c said: both the 1.4 ss i looked at were minister tuned and vot said 135bhp, not that it matters much! I'd be willing to bet beer on it
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VHPD
295 posts
17 months
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BertBert said: I'd be willing to bet beer on it I'll take that bet......... NOT
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NuisanceFactor
185 posts
53 months
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Don't know what your background is (other than a Vortex) but the upgrade which often the makes a car more enjoyable to drive is a driver upgrade. There are some very good advanced driving coaches out there, a day or two with them will improve any car you get into.
After that, miles, lots of miles.
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thinfourth2
23,577 posts
73 months
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The 6 speed gearbox is almost essential for that engine
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mnrvortxf20c
Original Poster
187 posts
17 months
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it only has a 5 speed unfortunately!
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thinfourth2
23,577 posts
73 months
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In which case i would put a 6speed near the top of the list as the 5 speed if it is standard is a bit pap.
I've driven 5spd caterhams and they are good and if you haven't had something 7 like it will stun you how good it is but the 6speed is a different league
A sadly departed friend who had loads of caterhams thought the 1.4K supersport with a 6speed box was his favourite.
Also it depends on what you want to do with it.
My best modification was a hydraulic handbrake which was cheap and a HUGE giggle as i took the car autotesting
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mnrvortxf20c
Original Poster
187 posts
17 months
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its going to be a road car mainly with the possibility of a few hill climbs in the north of england.
barbon is only 15 minutes from me and harewood only an hour.
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coppice
618 posts
13 months
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My first Seven was the same as yours and I loved it. Get used to the fact that whatever the alleged power it will not feel very quick- unless you keep the revs up. Nowt much below 4k , but above 5k they rev like crazy and make a lovely noise. 5th is for motorways (and you'll use 4th on long hills as the car is HUGELY overgeared). Fast road work means 2nd (which runs to nearly 70mph )3rd(90 ish ) and 4th. First gear was designed for pulling a caravan up a 1 in 3 hill so it's useless.Forget a brake upgrade- if you havent had a Seven before you will find that you hardly use them- really- the car sheds speed as soon as you get off the power . I now have a 6 speed box (in a more powerful Seven ) and it is great - perfect for your car- in fact it was designed for it. But not cheap- £2k ish new ? The upgrade I did to first car was to keep the gearbox but got a bigger K- 1.8 in my case. Became very driveable with 5 speed but the 1.4 is a much nicer engine and sounds like a racer !
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MoPho
66 posts
56 months
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Shaun_E
660 posts
129 months
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There will be plenty of Caterhams at Harewood this weekend. Sunday is a round of the L7Club championship but a fair few of us are competing on Saturday as well. That will give you an idea of what real upgraditus leads to 
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one eyed mick
570 posts
30 months
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If it is the first car of the genre you have had drive it for 12 months and learn it,s character and then think about mods ,unless you have bottomless pockets and don'tneed watch your finances upgradeitis can be worse than heroin !
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ghibbett
773 posts
54 months
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