Saving for a Seven Type Car
Discussion
Sorry for the thread ressurection....
To the original question, I bought and built a Westfield, one of the first SEis when I was 19 with a crossflow in, it was fantastic fun and I owned it for 9 years.
I sold it and bought a Caterham 1.6 K series Supersport 6 speed, it was awesome, Absolutely fabulous car, stunning on track.
I sold that and got a Caterham R400, totaly different car to drive, mental really, too fast for the road.
Are the Caterhams worth the price difference.. oh god yes!!
Where the Westfield never felt quite right and was slightly unpredictable at the limit, the Caterhams depth of development shone, it was superb.
If at all possible get the 6 speed box, it make sooo much difference, more than the supersport kit in fact.
IMHO my 1.6k was absolutely spot on, I got power crazed and got the R400, but in reality I reckon the 1.6k SS was the better car. Certainly on the road it was more drivable, the roller barrel throttles on the R series are.....tetchy and the rear suspension is much less compliant. The 1.6k is a much sweeter engine than the 1.8 too, revs much nicer.
The absolutely ideal car is a 1.6 K Supersport 6 speed Roadsport in my opinion.
To the original question, I bought and built a Westfield, one of the first SEis when I was 19 with a crossflow in, it was fantastic fun and I owned it for 9 years.
I sold it and bought a Caterham 1.6 K series Supersport 6 speed, it was awesome, Absolutely fabulous car, stunning on track.
I sold that and got a Caterham R400, totaly different car to drive, mental really, too fast for the road.
Are the Caterhams worth the price difference.. oh god yes!!
Where the Westfield never felt quite right and was slightly unpredictable at the limit, the Caterhams depth of development shone, it was superb.
If at all possible get the 6 speed box, it make sooo much difference, more than the supersport kit in fact.
IMHO my 1.6k was absolutely spot on, I got power crazed and got the R400, but in reality I reckon the 1.6k SS was the better car. Certainly on the road it was more drivable, the roller barrel throttles on the R series are.....tetchy and the rear suspension is much less compliant. The 1.6k is a much sweeter engine than the 1.8 too, revs much nicer.
The absolutely ideal car is a 1.6 K Supersport 6 speed Roadsport in my opinion.
Just read the latest posts 
Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me!
No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl
so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me... 
Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me! No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl
so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me... Hi
Am in a very similar situation to car chic as i am a student saving for a 7 style car and after considering all the options including locosts and westfields it only took 10 minutes on track in a Caterham 7 at Bedford for my mind to be made up, they are definitely worth the premium! Simply the best car i have ever driven!
Am in a very similar situation to car chic as i am a student saving for a 7 style car and after considering all the options including locosts and westfields it only took 10 minutes on track in a Caterham 7 at Bedford for my mind to be made up, they are definitely worth the premium! Simply the best car i have ever driven!
car.chic said:
Just read the latest posts Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me!
No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me...
Make sure you get a car with sliding seats otherwise you won't be able to reach the pedals. My first seven was a live axle with bench seats (long cockpit) and I struggled to reach the pedals and I'm 5'9" Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me! No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl
so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me... All the best.
car.chic said:
Just read the latest posts Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me!
No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me...
Whilst it's true that the hood, once fitted which requires about 10 minutes, triple jointed arms, and fingers with the grip of Charles Atlas, doesn't leak, getting in and out is ludicrous, incredibly fiddly, impossible to access the boot, and once in there is is absolutely horrible, like driving in a motorized coffin! Must say I am very impressed to find that the Caterham hood doesn't leak and that they can (as proved by someone) be used everyday! To be honest thats put a while new light on it for me! No way would I find a Caterham cramped as I'm only a 5'2" girl
so no doubt it would be plenty big enough, for little me... So yes you can and peopl do, but you would have to be certifiable or related to a rubber plant to want to drive any 7 esque car in all weathers all year round, in the wet they are very skittish indeed.
And don't even think of wearing a skirt! Or if you do can I...anyway, lets just say it would be tricky.
Edited by bertie on Thursday 7th May 10:30
Bertie; I beg to differ.
I find getting in and out with the hood up no problem at all. I'm no gymnast, but I find it perfectly easy. Left leg in, then body, lean over to passenger's side, right leg in, close door. The trick is not to be both getting in at the same time, as you do need to lean across.
I enjoy driving the 7 with the roof up. Its like a really fast tent. I am extremely claustrophobic (Won't get in lifts etc - blame the brother that locked me in a freezer box when I was wee) but find the Caterham not even the slightest bit claustrophobic. You do need to keep the rear window unzipped to keep it clear though.
I wouldn't say its cramped either. If you turn the right way, there is piles of room. I've even got changed in mine with the roof up. The heater's in Caterhams are absolutely fantastic, so take coats off before you get in and you'll not be cramped. I usually run in just my shirt/tshirt when I have the hood up.
The only one "fault" I would mention, is if you lean on the doors, you'll hold them open and water hitting the rear wing will splash up in. It doesn't pour in, but after 20mins of very wet weather driving, you'll wonder why your elbow is wet.
They are skittish in the wet, but so is a Metro if you drive it like a plank. Be aware or your tyres, be aware of the conditions, and just drive accordingly.
As far as girl's modesty is concerned, my fiancee has never been in the Caterham in anything but a skirt, and has never once flashed.
Its not about flexibility...its all about technique.
Willie
p.s. SoftBitsForSevens do a half hood which is meant to be great for rain, but not ideal for deluges or leaving the car outside.
p.p.s. Its fantastic that a girl is thinking of buying a se7en. I'd give you all the encouragement I can to go for it. I have loved every single second of owning mine.
I find getting in and out with the hood up no problem at all. I'm no gymnast, but I find it perfectly easy. Left leg in, then body, lean over to passenger's side, right leg in, close door. The trick is not to be both getting in at the same time, as you do need to lean across.
I enjoy driving the 7 with the roof up. Its like a really fast tent. I am extremely claustrophobic (Won't get in lifts etc - blame the brother that locked me in a freezer box when I was wee) but find the Caterham not even the slightest bit claustrophobic. You do need to keep the rear window unzipped to keep it clear though.
I wouldn't say its cramped either. If you turn the right way, there is piles of room. I've even got changed in mine with the roof up. The heater's in Caterhams are absolutely fantastic, so take coats off before you get in and you'll not be cramped. I usually run in just my shirt/tshirt when I have the hood up.
The only one "fault" I would mention, is if you lean on the doors, you'll hold them open and water hitting the rear wing will splash up in. It doesn't pour in, but after 20mins of very wet weather driving, you'll wonder why your elbow is wet.
They are skittish in the wet, but so is a Metro if you drive it like a plank. Be aware or your tyres, be aware of the conditions, and just drive accordingly.
As far as girl's modesty is concerned, my fiancee has never been in the Caterham in anything but a skirt, and has never once flashed.
Its not about flexibility...its all about technique.
Willie
p.s. SoftBitsForSevens do a half hood which is meant to be great for rain, but not ideal for deluges or leaving the car outside.
p.p.s. Its fantastic that a girl is thinking of buying a se7en. I'd give you all the encouragement I can to go for it. I have loved every single second of owning mine.
OK, maybe it's easier with inertie belts, but in my car, with Tilett seats and 6 point harness, with the roof on it's a pain. With the roof off they are a pain, impossible to adjust without getting out and you often sit on them and elbow your passenger in the ribs.
I'd still never sell my 7, that's why I have had 3 of them, but personaly I wouldn't seriously reccomend one as an only car all year round.
But do get one, just keep a runaround too.
I'd still never sell my 7, that's why I have had 3 of them, but personaly I wouldn't seriously reccomend one as an only car all year round.
But do get one, just keep a runaround too.
Just to put my comments into perspective, I ran a fireblade engined Striker for 2 years as my only car ~20k miles, and now run a 1.4SS Caterham as my daily car averaging about 12k miles per year. Apart from serious standing water and sometimes a steamy cabin for the first 20 minutes on a clod wet day (like today), they are easily to live with on a daily basis. I have the roof on mine when it is wet, wear a suit to work, and manage to look respectable when I emerge. Also, at 6' tall and 13st, it's not tricky to get into at all. Just takes practice.
Buy ear plugs, it is like driving inside a drum.
BB
Buy ear plugs, it is like driving inside a drum.
BB
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