Using a Caterham 7 daily?
Discussion
cerb4.5lee said:
We said exactly the same when we were out in the Caterham last Sunday as well, and we definitely wouldn't fancy someone crashing into you/us. Now I'm 50 my fear factor is far higher than it was when I was 20 for example too.
Back when I was 20 I genuinely didn't care if I lived or died, whereas now I see life as being far more precious in comparison to back then for sure.
I definitely relate a bit to this. When my first Porsche got written off, I was quite lucky that the object didn't come through the windscreen.Back when I was 20 I genuinely didn't care if I lived or died, whereas now I see life as being far more precious in comparison to back then for sure.
When I got the mini the other day, I actually did think that at least it would stand up better than my mx5 to any accident and I know the Mrs feels safer in it.
Like you when I was in my 20s I literally couldn't care less about safety. I didn't expect to live long anyway but here I am
So yeah I reckon I have gone soft as well
I still wouldn't mind a blast in a caterham though! But no way would I want it as my daily.Hope you're enjoying yours!
addz86 said:
Exactly that, I had a 7 as my toy and my 182 Trophy for daily duties and all was well. Flat battery on the Caterham meant my Trophy had to come out for a thrash around snakes pass, the Caterham was swiftly advertised the next day.
I doubt if there's an easier car to push start - only 1 weedy person needed. Second choice would have been a jump start
Third choice - another car
TameRacingDriver said:
Hope you're enjoying yours!
Thanks TRD! 
Yes and we both love it cheers. The weather is a little bit against us at the minute, but when the opportunity comes along we will definitely use it though.
I will put the 370Z on a SORN at the end of the month for 6 months, but I'm keeping the Caterham on the road over the winter though, so I will use it when the weather is decent for sure.
My first Caterham was, for a while my only car although I didn't use it daily.
It was before the half hood was a thing. Driving in warm weather, when it was raining was properly horrible. Like driving in a sauna.
18k per year, daily commuting on a motorbike was better.
It was before the half hood was a thing. Driving in warm weather, when it was raining was properly horrible. Like driving in a sauna.
18k per year, daily commuting on a motorbike was better.
Edited by andy tims on Friday 27th October 12:37
cerb4.5lee said:
framerateuk said:
mickrick said:
I think people have gotten a bit soft.
To a degree yes, cars are much larger and more comfortable now, so we have higher expectations.The affect that has on a 7 is that all the cars around you are now so much bigger than they used to be. I wouldn't like the odds of using a 7 everyday in traffic for a commute.
Back when I was 20 I genuinely didn't care if I lived or died, whereas now I see life as being far more precious in comparison to back then for sure.
Chubbyross said:
cerb4.5lee said:
framerateuk said:
mickrick said:
I think people have gotten a bit soft.
To a degree yes, cars are much larger and more comfortable now, so we have higher expectations.The affect that has on a 7 is that all the cars around you are now so much bigger than they used to be. I wouldn't like the odds of using a 7 everyday in traffic for a commute.
Back when I was 20 I genuinely didn't care if I lived or died, whereas now I see life as being far more precious in comparison to back then for sure.
t boxes flying by, thinking "Christ these things are tiny!" 
TameRacingDriver said:
I definitely relate a bit to this. When my first Porsche got written off, I was quite lucky that the object didn't come through the windscreen.
When I got the mini the other day, I actually did think that at least it would stand up better than my mx5 to any accident and I know the Mrs feels safer in it.
Like you when I was in my 20s I literally couldn't care less about safety. I didn't expect to live long anyway but here I am
So yeah I reckon I have gone soft as well I still wouldn't mind a blast in a caterham though! But no way would I want it as my daily.
Hope you're enjoying yours!
I hope my comment wasn't taken personally by anyone - we all do as we feel comfortable with and I'd hate to feel I've insulted anyone.When I got the mini the other day, I actually did think that at least it would stand up better than my mx5 to any accident and I know the Mrs feels safer in it.
Like you when I was in my 20s I literally couldn't care less about safety. I didn't expect to live long anyway but here I am
So yeah I reckon I have gone soft as well
I still wouldn't mind a blast in a caterham though! But no way would I want it as my daily.Hope you're enjoying yours!
Myself - if I really thought about the safety aspect too much, I'd not do lots of things I get enjoyment from.
The bigger issue here though is I suspect a thousand miles a week in a 7 might not be so enjoyable.
Having used my Westfield SE 1600 as my only car for a year back in the nineties (I was 24 and a bit daft/skint) I will mention the following observations on using a similar vehicle for the commute.
After a while it loses it's specialness. You still enjoy driving it but it's not quite as special getting in it after driving your "normal" daily.
You do get to know the car very well.
You wear out a nice car doing mundane miles.
Your status as a true petrolhead goes up amongst fellow petrolheads.
You will give lots of rides to colleagues in the summer months.
If using the car a lot with the roof down wear ear plugs. It's more protection against wind and general crap going in your ears than noise protection. I didn't and got an ear infection. I still seem suceptible to them too this day.
I only lived a few miles from work but on a nice evening it would take me 50+ miles to get home.
If you can see the car in the car park from your workplace it can be a distraction, especially when it gets near going home time on the aforementioned nice evening.
The winter months will be damp even with a good roof. Sliding in across the damp wheel arch with a damp coat on a dark wet windy winters night can test your dedication.
You have to drive it whatever the weather. Doing the M25 in torrential rain surrounded by trucks isn't that much fun. Though that was only a 2 week secondment to head office. I did think about fitting a periscope to see above the spray.
Security. How well lit/big is the work car park?
If the car park is big you have to remember where you left it as it will disappear amongst larger stuff. Even more true today with SUVs everywhere.
Glad I did it. Would I do it again? NO. The main reason being the car I had spent many hours building did suffer.
Do use the Caterham for the commute BUT pick the nice days I would say.
After a while it loses it's specialness. You still enjoy driving it but it's not quite as special getting in it after driving your "normal" daily.
You do get to know the car very well.
You wear out a nice car doing mundane miles.
Your status as a true petrolhead goes up amongst fellow petrolheads.
You will give lots of rides to colleagues in the summer months.
If using the car a lot with the roof down wear ear plugs. It's more protection against wind and general crap going in your ears than noise protection. I didn't and got an ear infection. I still seem suceptible to them too this day.
I only lived a few miles from work but on a nice evening it would take me 50+ miles to get home.
If you can see the car in the car park from your workplace it can be a distraction, especially when it gets near going home time on the aforementioned nice evening.
The winter months will be damp even with a good roof. Sliding in across the damp wheel arch with a damp coat on a dark wet windy winters night can test your dedication.
You have to drive it whatever the weather. Doing the M25 in torrential rain surrounded by trucks isn't that much fun. Though that was only a 2 week secondment to head office. I did think about fitting a periscope to see above the spray.
Security. How well lit/big is the work car park?
If the car park is big you have to remember where you left it as it will disappear amongst larger stuff. Even more true today with SUVs everywhere.
Glad I did it. Would I do it again? NO. The main reason being the car I had spent many hours building did suffer.
Do use the Caterham for the commute BUT pick the nice days I would say.
Tempest_5 said:
Having used my Westfield SE 1600 as my only car for a year back in the nineties (I was 24 and a bit daft/skint) I will mention the following observations on using a similar vehicle for the commute.
After a while it loses it's specialness. You still enjoy driving it but it's not quite as special getting in it after driving your "normal" daily.
You do get to know the car very well.
You wear out a nice car doing mundane miles.
Your status as a true petrolhead goes up amongst fellow petrolheads.
You will give lots of rides to colleagues in the summer months.
If using the car a lot with the roof down wear ear plugs. It's more protection against wind and general crap going in your ears than noise protection. I didn't and got an ear infection. I still seem suceptible to them too this day.
I only lived a few miles from work but on a nice evening it would take me 50+ miles to get home.
If you can see the car in the car park from your workplace it can be a distraction, especially when it gets near going home time on the aforementioned nice evening.
The winter months will be damp even with a good roof. Sliding in across the damp wheel arch with a damp coat on a dark wet windy winters night can test your dedication.
You have to drive it whatever the weather. Doing the M25 in torrential rain surrounded by trucks isn't that much fun. Though that was only a 2 week secondment to head office. I did think about fitting a periscope to see above the spray.
Security. How well lit/big is the work car park?
If the car park is big you have to remember where you left it as it will disappear amongst larger stuff. Even more true today with SUVs everywhere.
Glad I did it. Would I do it again? NO. The main reason being the car I had spent many hours building did suffer.
Do use the Caterham for the commute BUT pick the nice days I would say.
I only used mine on dry Dress Down Fridays. As you say, you risk losing the specialness.After a while it loses it's specialness. You still enjoy driving it but it's not quite as special getting in it after driving your "normal" daily.
You do get to know the car very well.
You wear out a nice car doing mundane miles.
Your status as a true petrolhead goes up amongst fellow petrolheads.
You will give lots of rides to colleagues in the summer months.
If using the car a lot with the roof down wear ear plugs. It's more protection against wind and general crap going in your ears than noise protection. I didn't and got an ear infection. I still seem suceptible to them too this day.
I only lived a few miles from work but on a nice evening it would take me 50+ miles to get home.
If you can see the car in the car park from your workplace it can be a distraction, especially when it gets near going home time on the aforementioned nice evening.
The winter months will be damp even with a good roof. Sliding in across the damp wheel arch with a damp coat on a dark wet windy winters night can test your dedication.
You have to drive it whatever the weather. Doing the M25 in torrential rain surrounded by trucks isn't that much fun. Though that was only a 2 week secondment to head office. I did think about fitting a periscope to see above the spray.
Security. How well lit/big is the work car park?
If the car park is big you have to remember where you left it as it will disappear amongst larger stuff. Even more true today with SUVs everywhere.
Glad I did it. Would I do it again? NO. The main reason being the car I had spent many hours building did suffer.
Do use the Caterham for the commute BUT pick the nice days I would say.
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