Daily Driving Caterham
Discussion
VictorS said:
You see you are not entierly correct because there is a driving licence b1 which was invented for atv but now a days there are cars which qualify the main requirement is that the vechicle must be under 550kg and it is and must be able to achive atleast 50kph the caterham is kinnda of a loop hole but completly legal
Ok i didn't know about that.But how will you be able to drive it at 16 as you can't take the actual test to get a licence until your 18?
nigelpugh7 said:
Ok i didn't know about that.
But how will you be able to drive it at 16 as you can't take the actual test to get a licence until your 18?
I still can't see that the B1 licence allows you to drive when you are 16, according to this it's 18 for all B categories.But how will you be able to drive it at 16 as you can't take the actual test to get a licence until your 18?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in...
Plus I still think it's unwise to use a Caterham as a daily driver, and not very sensible to drive any small sports car as a first time drivers car.
Not sure how the insurance companies see it in Romainia , but in the the UK, even if you could get insurance on a Caterham at 18, it would probably cost thousands of pounds to insure as you would not have any no claims, and would be considered a very poor risk to underwrite.
I would save some money, buy a cheap to run and insure boring family car, perhaps until the age of 25, then you will be in a better position in all aspects to be considering buying a Caterham!
The OP is right about the license age for B1 - see http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driv... Whether a Caterham is a sensible choice as a first car is another matter.
I purchased my 7 (Eugene) back when I was 19.
(Ok, not 16, but not that much different...)
I am now 53(ish) and still have the same 7 (all-be-it a bit of a 'Trigger's Broom..).
For the first 5 years or so it was my daily transport, and my only car.
It lived outside all the time.
And rarely had the roof fitted.
(Driving in a snow storm with no roof can be rather interesting...)
I also had a cassette/radio, with the speakers mounted up under the scuttle.
Worked very well
The 7 is still my main transport, although I do have access to other cars now.
(Love my Elise S1, but still prefer the 7!)
I have now done well over 300,000 miles in Eugene, and have loverd each and every one of them!
(Ok, not 16, but not that much different...)
I am now 53(ish) and still have the same 7 (all-be-it a bit of a 'Trigger's Broom..).
For the first 5 years or so it was my daily transport, and my only car.
It lived outside all the time.
And rarely had the roof fitted.
(Driving in a snow storm with no roof can be rather interesting...)
I also had a cassette/radio, with the speakers mounted up under the scuttle.
Worked very well
The 7 is still my main transport, although I do have access to other cars now.
(Love my Elise S1, but still prefer the 7!)
I have now done well over 300,000 miles in Eugene, and have loverd each and every one of them!
Edited by Eugene7 on Thursday 23 March 20:07
Eric Mc said:
Why did you start two threads on the same topic?
Because he got agro on the other thread?The OP MAY be getting ahead of himself - but if he is serious (and presumably his dad is supportive) then he should get himself out on a track with an instructor in a fast(ish) car (maybe even a Caterham) and take advice as to his level of skill. That said - a radio and a hardtop are non-starters on a Caterham.
Eugene7 said:
See my post above - I had a cassette/radio in Eugene for years... worked well!
And there have been a number of different hard-top designs for the 7 - but none I know of available now.
Each to his own. I can only see a radio being worth listening to when sitting in traffic - it's not much use in an Elise let alone a Caterham. Re hardtop. A Caterham with the hood up is a miserable place and a bit of a sod to get in and out of, so I certainly preferred to brave/risk the elements in this country in winter with the car open rather have a hood. I would expect a hardtop to be similar - probably why none are currently available.And there have been a number of different hard-top designs for the 7 - but none I know of available now.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 24th March 11:33
Eugene7 said:
If you have not actually tried a radio it's difficult to comment.
I had one, and it worked well at all but 'ball's out' speeds...
No I haven't and I suppose it depends on how loud your exhaust is and (especially) what side of the car it is. But, given that I rarely listen to the radio on my Cayman S for noise reasons (and its very much quieter than a Caterham or Elise) I suspect I'm less tolerant. I can't conceive I'd ever use a radio in Caterham except to check on the weather before setting off.I had one, and it worked well at all but 'ball's out' speeds...
If music is required in a 7 (beyond the sweet sounds of the engine :-)), an ipod would be a far better choice than a stereo, along with some good in-ear headsets. Stereo would be stolen in 5 mins anyway.
Still think buying a 7 as a 1st car daily driver is madness, but each to their own.
Spent 6 months commuting to Brasov from UK. Beautiful countryside, dodgy roads and driving standards !
Still think buying a 7 as a 1st car daily driver is madness, but each to their own.
Spent 6 months commuting to Brasov from UK. Beautiful countryside, dodgy roads and driving standards !
Steve Campbell said:
If music is required in a 7 (beyond the sweet sounds of the engine :-)), an ipod would be a far better choice than a stereo, along with some good in-ear headsets. Stereo would be stolen in 5 mins anyway.
I think you would be on thin ice with headsets legally. (Driving without due care and attention). I certainly wouldn't ride my pushbike with headphones on.Using a Seven daily is definitely possible and if entered into in the right frame of mind would be great fun.
However, I would give up on the idea of a hard top. Sevens are noisy with the hood up, it would be unbearable with a hard top. It is better to accept the inside won't stay completely dry. Don't fit carpets and drill a couple of 6mm holes in the floor to let the water out. A half hood will keep you pretty dry and warm with a heater, then fit a shower cap when parked. Check out the Softbits For Sevens website.
For music, I would suggest using an intercom like Starcom1 digital with headsets. It will let you chat with a passenger, listen to music and protect your hearing too.
I hope you get a Seven, and hope you'll post how you get on despite the negativity here
Duncan
However, I would give up on the idea of a hard top. Sevens are noisy with the hood up, it would be unbearable with a hard top. It is better to accept the inside won't stay completely dry. Don't fit carpets and drill a couple of 6mm holes in the floor to let the water out. A half hood will keep you pretty dry and warm with a heater, then fit a shower cap when parked. Check out the Softbits For Sevens website.
For music, I would suggest using an intercom like Starcom1 digital with headsets. It will let you chat with a passenger, listen to music and protect your hearing too.
I hope you get a Seven, and hope you'll post how you get on despite the negativity here
Duncan
I really can't see what the problem is to use a 7 for a daily drive, or to commute to work on a daily basis,
Surely a push bike, or a motor bike, is no better to commute with or use as a daily drive,
At least the 7 has a roof heater and windows.
The problem the op will have is the weight,
But if he removes the weather gear and passenger seat, windscreen and doors, before the weight in ,
Then he may get under the 550kg limit his allowed.
So all I can say is good luck to him, hope he achieves it,
And I'm sure he will love every moment in it,
Let us know how u got on and don't forget to post the pics
Surely a push bike, or a motor bike, is no better to commute with or use as a daily drive,
At least the 7 has a roof heater and windows.
The problem the op will have is the weight,
But if he removes the weather gear and passenger seat, windscreen and doors, before the weight in ,
Then he may get under the 550kg limit his allowed.
So all I can say is good luck to him, hope he achieves it,
And I'm sure he will love every moment in it,
Let us know how u got on and don't forget to post the pics
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff