23 years of wanting

[taffyracer]

I've wanted a caterham since I was 15, i was a knats whisker away from having one when I was 17 but my mum stepped in and stopped me when she realised how fast it was! I've nearly bought on a few occasions, had 2 deposits down on kits in the last few years but with racing and other things i've had to cancel and wait a bit longer.

But, in 20mins time i'll be getting a lift off the wife to collect my 1st Caterham, just sooooooo excited, have a huge smile on my face, I can't ever remember any car ever making me this excited, i'm hooked already

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 31st January 09:40

[Noger]

Nice day for it

Just seen your pic. I do love grey and carbon, goes so well.

Edited by Noger on Saturday 31st January 11:37

[Murph7355]

Enjoy it

[rubystone]

You won't look back, and you'll find it very hard, if not impossible to be without one for very long, isn@t that right Murph?

[taffyracer]

Had a great day, picked it up from Millwood around 12ish, up to Gloucester and back over towards Monmouth, down the A49, got stuck in traffic and didn't mind, was just happy to finally be blatting, car was just superb

but when we got back I was clearing the garage and my son took the bonnet off to show our neighbours, he only went and put the bonnet down paint side up and wind came along and yep it's all scratched to buggery, i love my son but at that point he was nearly homeless!

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 31st January 19:12

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 31st January 19:12

[rubystone]

Inspired by you, I hauled mine out of the garage and gave it a run - couldn't get any heat in the tyres though and had it very sideways overtaking another car - not very clever at all and a reminder of why you have to respect these cars when the roads are greasy. Mind you, greasy carpark=donut fun

[Tango7]

Lovely day and out in the SLR this afternoon for a quick blat - blew the cobwebs out very nicely
Cold roads tonight though and nearly spun the people carrier into a roundabout on the way to get the takeaway, brrr!

Sorry Taffyracer - meant to say glad to see you have become an owner after so long. I bet it was worth the wait

Edited by Tango7 on Saturday 31st January 20:45

[taffyracer]

Oh yes, just love it

[fatvik]

enjoy it mate... every opportunity you get

and remember, when your son had kids *you* get to feed them crisps and spoil them rotten! That's why grandparents treat their grandchildren better (and with a lot more leniancy) than they do their children.... its just payback. Notch all his naughties up!

-FV

[Rokay]

Walk into Millwood and it's game over. Your hooked before you even press that start button. You enjoy your new car and everything that goes with owning one of these great little cars.

[taffyracer]

Yeah it was a bit like that, i knew when I saw it I was going to buy! Have to say though that Jon at Millwood has been incredibly decent to deal with, i wish all suppliers were like him, nothing was too much trouble and never once complained over the protracted nature of the deal, highly recommeded

[BertBert]

fortunately, regarding a bonnet, it's not that big a job for respraying to get rid of scratches. I find that one thing happens to each new car I get, once that's over it's all fine. Favourites are someone pressing th garage door opener so it opens onto the car or dinging a wheel!

Glad you are having fun, I really miss mine.

Bert

[taffyracer]

well, there are a few stone chips on the nose/wings so was planning on buying new CF ones, respraying them but leaving the front band/tips exposed anyway, so will just do it then

[Rokay]

taffyracer said:

Have to say though that Jon at Millwood has been incredibly decent to deal with, i wish all suppliers were like him, nothing was too much trouble

Couldn't agree more. He even sent on a battery charger / conditioner that was part of the sale. Wondered what on earth was laying just behind the cat flap when i got home late one evening. Totally unexpected supprise.

[EVS777]

Nice One Taffyracer!
I not regretted after 20yrs of wanting !! its just great fun, especially last Sunday Me and Mate Rob blasted through Brynglas Tunnels!!Me in 7 ,him in Elise !! Awesome!!, we were on Our way back from Pistonheads Breakfast Club Meet!! As Your local should try and make it? although it was freezing on Sunday!!
Anyway may see You at L7C meet on Thursday?

Enjoy Al..

[taffyracer]

Hi Al, yes i'm planning on being there thurs all being ok, I dropped into 2nd and blasted through the Brynglas tunnels on sat at full chat, was just glorious, my son and I were beaming, if you're going then drop me a line and i'll meet you at J33 and we can convoy!

Edited by taffyracer on Monday 2nd February 18:54

[EVS777]

Hi Dom,
I'm on-call with work this week, so if I go it'll be in My works truck!! so If You want to convoy with Mitsi L200 Your welcome!!
Hopefully see You Thursday!

Al..

[taffyracer]

no problem mate, give us a shout, L200 might be what we need given how white my garden is!

Edited by taffyracer on Monday 2nd February 20:45

[stowc]

I think I can just beat you on that wait.

I lived round the corner from James Whiting when I was young (although I didn't know it at the time) and saw his Martini coloured 7 on a trailer outside his house and fell in love with it. That would be just over 30 years ago.

I bought my first 7 (R300) last July just after my 45th birthday and it is fantastic. Hoping to get it 'flat floored' and mapped this year.

Oh and guess who services it? Yes I still only live 12 miles from James Whiting.

[kriss]

Hi Guys, what a fantastic read.

I have lived in Purley (Next door to Caterhams Cars) since I was 4. Always loved them and had a thing for them. I sold my Clio V6 just over a year ago in need of a more economical car rather than driving a "supercar" 300+ miles a week. Just wasnt fun come the weekend!

I visited caterham cars and test drove an SV 1600 last year. Fantastic fun, but just wasnt a savage enough car for me.

Sadly (for you purists) I went for a far more inferior model produced by MK. Badge was not a priority for me, I just wanted outrageous speed, 7 styling and handling to die for.

Ended up with a yamaha R1 engined car which I just love. Cost me far less than the V6 and I was still able to hunt down other kit cars on my first track out last year in october.

I felt like I could really relate to this thread, even though I have not bought a Caterham lol