RE: Driven: Caterham Supersport R

[ewenm]

F-Stop Junkie said:

Not this guff. Safety protection is not stopping you being in an accident. Driver skill is what stops you crashing or being crashed into. 'Active protection' is the excuse usually used by 17 year olds to say why an original Mini is actually really safe and somehow comparable to a 5 star EuroNCAP hatchback.

Steering, braking and acceleration will not help you when a 4x4 runs a red light and t-bones you. It will not help you if a wishbone snaps. This is where the safety features come in.

I never said it would help everywhere, only an idiot would infer that from what I wrote.

No-one is suggesting a Caterham is as safe as a EuroBox. For me, the marginal extra risk is far outweighed by the huge extra rewards. If that equation doesn't work for someone else, then they can buy something else.

Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 12th December 11:43

[james_gt3rs]

kambites said:

I'm not convinced that a Caterham is either though.

[Krikkit]

What does the chassis look like without the panels etc? Surely it's pretty safe in terms of outright strength? Not only that, but being ludicrously light you'd just bounce in a biggish accident, rather than having everything crumple up.

[grenpayne]

Chassis looks like this:



Well this incident at Shelsey Walsh earlier this year proved you can walk away unhurt from a big smash. Granted there were no other cars involved though (and the commentary leaves a little to be desired )

[ewenm]

Krikkit said:

What does the chassis look like without the panels etc? Surely it's pretty safe in terms of outright strength? Not only that, but being ludicrously light you'd just bounce in a biggish accident, rather than having everything crumple up.

As said above, search Youtube and you'll find videos of them cartwheeling into the landscape and the driver walking away (a recent one at a hillclimb event should be easy to find - is now linked above ). Obviously not all crashes have the same outcome but they are not deathtraps.

Anyway, the point in the article stands. If safety is someone's primary concern, then a Caterham probably isn't the best choice of car for them. Their perception of their (lack of) safety while in it will probably mean they wouldn't get as much enjoyment from driving it as they would from something less raw but with more safety features.

[wst]

It's a car that will burn your leg when you get out. I'm baffled by this talk of safety.

[FWDRacer]

993RSGT3 said:

Itsallicanafford said:

Thanks for the info. Yeah, i thought as much, just cannot risk it at my stage of life (2 kids under 2.5 years)...the thought of orphaning them because a yummy mummy in a Range rover sport wasn't looking where she was going (excuse the stereotype)is a bit too much to contemplate.

Isn't that what life insurance is for?

'cause a pocket full of cash really makes up for not having a parent. What a laughably stupid comment.

Lurid colour scheme and don't drive it like a bellend and Caterham ownership seems like fairly 'safe' option.

[dandarez]

MagicalTrevor said:

I realise what I'm about to say is missing the point but I was genuinely surprised that the 0-60 time wasn't lower.

Aerodynamics of a brick wall?

[dandarez]

kambites said:

Itsallicanafford said:

...i have always wanted a Caterham, but i just cannot get out of my mind what might happen to it, me and more importantly any passenger in a crash on the road with another normal car...maybe somebody can enlighten me, if somebody hit you side-on at moderate speed is it simply game over or is there some sort of nod to crash protection?

You can fit a full cage if you're really worried - the things get crashed pretty hard racing and seem to stand up to it OK. To be honest though, it's not really a car designed for people obsessed by crash safety. On the plus side, the visibility is a revelation compared to modern cars (as long as you don't have the roof and/or doors on), so it's much easier to avoid a potential crash in the first place.

I doubt you'll find one of these behind you when racing.

[Schnellmann]

[redacted]

[kambites]

dandarez said:

I doubt you'll find one of these behind you when racing.

If one of them sandwiches you into something in any car, you're dead.

[Mr MXT]

wst said:

It's a car that will burn your leg when you get out. I'm baffled by this talk of safety.

[Mr MXT]

Its got a windscreen, thats a bit jessie.

[cocopop]

wst said:

It's a car that will burn your leg when you get out. I'm baffled by this talk of safety.

This actually makes me want it more.

[otolith]

kambites said:

MagicalTrevor said:

I realise what I'm about to say is missing the point but I was genuinely surprised that the 0-60 time wasn't lower.

I'd guess it's traction limited for most of the run up to 60, even in the dry?

Sounds like it, otherwise that sort of power to weight ratio should be a fair chunk quicker.

[suffolk009]

Itsallicanafford said:

...i have always wanted a Caterham, but i just cannot get out of my mind what might happen to it, me and more importantly any passenger in a crash on the road with another normal car...maybe somebody can enlighten me, if somebody hit you side-on at moderate speed is it simply game over or is there some sort of nod to crash protection?

I had caterhams years ago. On the first track day I ever did, I saw a guy get nudged in a 7 going down Paddock Hill. He got out absolutely fine, but the rear drivers side wheel had been pushed forward. It had arc-ed round and forward crushing the drivers seat. The guy driving was fairly skinny - he got out fine. I was always a squeeze fit in them, and such an accident would have broken a hip - at the very least.

The guys who ran my car fitted a little diagonal side impact bar (all racing sevens seem to have them). There's a larger bar you can get that runs past your shoulders.

Still wouldn't fancy my chances against an SUV though.

[Pistonwot]

grenpayne said:

Chassis looks like this:

I wonder how much stronger that proper chassis is compared to a crafted from garbage Eurobox, Id bet a lot.

[Nerra]

Itsallicanafford said:

Thanks for the info. Yeah, i thought as much, just cannot risk it at my stage of life (2 kids under 2.5 years)...the thought of orphaning them because a yummy mummy in a Range rover sport wasn't looking where she was going (excuse the stereotype)is a bit too much to contemplate.

I'm surprised you're able to walk down the street without living in fear of someone losing control of their vehicle and mowing you down.

I'm guessing you've probably also missed out on the wonderful experience of cycling due to your fear of being hit by a stray vehicle.

[B@W]

I'm really suprised by all the talk of impact protection, blah, blah, blah with regard a Caterham.

If its important to you, buy something else.

I'm fully aware that mine wont stand up to being t-boned by an artic; did it stop me buying one? No, of course not.

Its not my daily drive, so I couldn't give a flying one.


The one concession I have made to safety is a full cage (plus impact bars) as my R500 is used on trackdays, but mainly as I don't want to scrape my face off it it turns turtle.

I've also got a Renault 4; if you want to see a car with absolutely no thought given to crash protection, have a look at one of those; makes a Seven feel like a 4x4!

MD

[Eugene7]

I have to say most of this thread 'on a petrol-heads' forum is bloody laughable

I was going to say that I have had my 7 for something like 25 to 30 years, and I'm now close to 50, and have had a few 'offs' at various times, etc, etc... but I don't think I'll bother.

I'll just carry on driving my 7 all year round, thoroughly enjoying a level of performance and entertainment that it sounds like most of you will never experience...