Ultimate Seven Product
Discussion
I think those switches would have to go after IVA test. Swap them for some chromed toggle switches and a little telltale light below each one, perhaps. They let the dash down a little in my opinion.
It is lovely, but you'd need to really want it to pay the premium.
reminds me of....
It is lovely, but you'd need to really want it to pay the premium.
reminds me of....
Edited by Camoradi on Friday 9th September 11:04
I personally think it's a nice addition to the range, better than the 160 in my opinion. I'm sure they'll sell 60 without any problems but agree the price is pushing their luck a little.
Caterham have pursued the 'ultimate performance car' theme pretty aggressively in the past. The limitations of the 7 make that goal pretty customer unfriendly in today's market, so they do need to produce models that play to the strengths of the 7.
Caterham have pursued the 'ultimate performance car' theme pretty aggressively in the past. The limitations of the 7 make that goal pretty customer unfriendly in today's market, so they do need to produce models that play to the strengths of the 7.
Edited by DCL on Saturday 10th September 14:01
BertBert said:
Err, are we being just a bit too literal about the whole thing?
No, I don't think so. I think it's a case of very poor marketing.hufggfg said:
"Ultimate Seven Product"? Seriously?
I'm sure it's a nice idea, and some people will want them, but ULTIMATE? Their engineers were moist with excitement over using clamshells and steel wheels were they?
I'm sure it's a nice idea, and some people will want them, but ULTIMATE? Their engineers were moist with excitement over using clamshells and steel wheels were they?
From a purely literal perspective, the "ultimate" would have to be either the final version, or the absolute most extreme, they could have delivered an interesting evolution without it being literally ultimate, and it would have fulfilled the marketing line of being the "Ultimate Seven Product" without being literal.
What they've done however is release something that lots of marketing terms would have described really well "most pure seven", "most distilled seven", "most true to the seven heritage" etc etc, and this product would have delivered on those lines very well.
What they've done is delivered a marketing line that has built expectation, and then very much disappointed that expectation.
Don't get me wrong, I don't really care, I don't sit awake at night angry about it, I still love the cars and will continue to love them. It's just a shame to see the job of marketing/selling/developing the things done poorly.
hufggfg said:
BertBert said:
Err, are we being just a bit too literal about the whole thing?
No, I don't think so. I think it's a case of very poor marketing.hufggfg said:
"Ultimate Seven Product"? Seriously?
I'm sure it's a nice idea, and some people will want them, but ULTIMATE? Their engineers were moist with excitement over using clamshells and steel wheels were they?
I'm sure it's a nice idea, and some people will want them, but ULTIMATE? Their engineers were moist with excitement over using clamshells and steel wheels were they?
From a purely literal perspective, the "ultimate" would have to be either the final version, or the absolute most extreme, they could have delivered an interesting evolution without it being literally ultimate, and it would have fulfilled the marketing line of being the "Ultimate Seven Product" without being literal.
What they've done however is release something that lots of marketing terms would have described really well "most pure seven", "most distilled seven", "most true to the seven heritage" etc etc, and this product would have delivered on those lines very well.
What they've done is delivered a marketing line that has built expectation, and then very much disappointed that expectation.
Don't get me wrong, I don't really care, I don't sit awake at night angry about it, I still love the cars and will continue to love them. It's just a shame to see the job of marketing/selling/developing the things done poorly.
Has the word 'ultimate' been used by Caterham in connection with this sprint model? As far as I am aware it hasn't, just in connection with the 310.
REALIST123 said:
Has the word 'ultimate' been used by Caterham in connection with this sprint model? As far as I am aware it hasn't, just in connection with the 310.
nigelpugh7 said:
Any way guys, you have to wait I until Friday for the official Annoucment of the ultimate seven, which will be announced on the first day of the Goodwood reveal.
And it's most definitely not the recently announced 310!
If this Annoucment is anything like the similar Annoucment for my Twenty this time last year, it as announced by the Goodwood team before CC themselves!
Maybe some wires getting crossed somewhere.And it's most definitely not the recently announced 310!
If this Annoucment is anything like the similar Annoucment for my Twenty this time last year, it as announced by the Goodwood team before CC themselves!
hufggfg said:
Maybe some wires getting crossed somewhere.
My point was merely to state that I knew that the official Annoucment at the Goodwood Revival was going to be this new Seven Sprint.I was lucky enough to have a special sneak preview of the new model which the Managment team at CC kindly share with me prior to the official launch on the understanding that I signed a NDA and not disclose before the official release.
Sadly as we now know it was leaked a day early by the Lotus Seven club France and Goodwood marketing a day early, but that has not had an Impact on sales of the Seven Sprint which is over 30 units already sold.
I think your point was that you wanted to know if CC meant that the Seven Sprint was indeed the model they were referring to in the quote for the headline of this OP, ie "Ultimate Seven Product".
Well no one has officially confirmed that from CC themselves, but my belief is yes indeed this model is exactly that.
As we know, both here and blatchat, and the Facebook pages have been alive with rumours and speculation as to what that ultimate product is going to be, which has led to some people feeling that if the,Seven Sprint is indeed the product, they'd feel disappointed.
So until we hear otherwise, we will have to be content with what we have now.
I for one love the Seven Sprint, and I wish CC all the success they deserve.
hufggfg said:
Yep, all makes sense Nigel. I have to say it seems like a lovely thing, not to my tastes, but very well done. I just think they've done a very poor job of marketing it IF this is what they've been referring to as "The Ultimate Seven".
But no one at Caterham has referred to this model as the ultimate 7, unlike the 310, reviewed as exactly that in last month's Club magazine.
Graham Macdonald referred to the 310 thus:
"A recent development.......has revealed something that we genuinely think could result in the ultimate seven product".
Simon Lambert said of his drive of the 310:
"That could just be the best 7 I have ever driven".
I just don't see how the Sprint is that special, it's just a retro look 160 for me. Having said that 'ultimate' is a bit over the top for the 310 too.
Camoradi said:
I think those switches would have to go after IVA test. Swap them for some chromed toggle switches and a little telltale light below each one, perhaps. They let the dash down a little in my opinion.
Indeed. Given the price they're charging, Caterham could have tried a little bit harder with the switches. Some cars, such as the Mini, use toggle switches with metal hoops on either side which makes them IVA compliant. Caterham could have done something similar.Edited by Camoradi on Friday 9th September 11:04
Anyway, at least they've provided a convenient removable panel, so buyers can swap out the rocker switches for toggles after they've purchased the car.....
Edited by Caterham84 on Sunday 11th September 16:21
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