Hiring a Caterham tomorrow
Discussion
Just organised to pick up "my" Caterham for the day, tomorrow.
Very excited and a little nervous. Have had Porsches, hot hatches, MX5 etc but looking forward to trying out something completely different.
Will be going gently (and wearing lots of layers for the cold!!). Seems like a great idea to try before you buy.
Any advice out there?
Cheers
Stuart
Very excited and a little nervous. Have had Porsches, hot hatches, MX5 etc but looking forward to trying out something completely different.
Will be going gently (and wearing lots of layers for the cold!!). Seems like a great idea to try before you buy.
Any advice out there?
Cheers
Stuart
Not much help with the advice I'm afraid, Stuart but it's also my intention to hire one before buying. I was hoping for next week some time but so far sent 2 x e.mails to Skyblue Caterham hire in Lancs & had no reply. I'm guessing they may be on an extended Easter break.
Enjoy the day and let's know how you get on tomorrow
Dewi
Enjoy the day and let's know how you get on tomorrow
Dewi
'Benur' started a simular thread fairly recently... Lots of good stuff in it!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
ETA: And this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
ETA: And this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by HustleRussell on Wednesday 3rd April 18:04
As per the other posts, earplugs (motor-cycle from Halfords - dirt cheap), narrow trainers, glasses/goggles to keep the wind and little stones out of your eyes and gloves (your hands are in a strong draught). Pull out the heater knob under the dashboard on the right, just where you can't reach in when strapped in, switch on the fan (every little helps!).
Have a good day!
Have a good day!
Take narrow shoes/trainers the pedals are closer together than you cam imagine.. Take it easy at first ......picked my R300 up last November had a damp 120 mile drive home. Great fun mind ... Just take it easy the back end is lighter than you think with an over the top p to w ratio. Enjoy and welcome to the club.
Good luck - you'll love it!!
I hired one for a weekend about 18 months or so ago. I wrote the following...be interested to hear your thoughts in comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I hired one for a weekend about 18 months or so ago. I wrote the following...be interested to hear your thoughts in comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Well that has been a day. And what a day it was
Drove across to Crawley in my little weekend MX5 - a few tweaks to liven it up (exhaust, brakes, air filter). Nothing to change performance, just to make it sound and stop a little better.
Weather was s
tty, wet and cold - supposed to improve from 10am.
Met the team at Caterham who were an absolute delight - brilliant. Picked up my car for the day - SV Roadsport 140, six speed. The weather was bad enough that there was an offer to postpone the hire to another day. Problem is that I don't have another day as I am starting a new job shortly.
Did I want the roof on or off? Definitely off. Beanie on, layered up, neck warmer on. Roof off, heater on and off I go...
Flaming Betsy on a bicycle but this is quick, and darty and direct. Shuffled out of Crawley and got on to the back roads - the car smoothed out, I got the gears going and still it picks up instantly. The weather was shocking - flurries of snow - wheelspin and a sidestep when accelerating in 2nd gear in a straight line out of a roundabout made it clear how slippery the conditions were.
Got home and did the requisite laps with wife and kids (one at a time obviously!). Bit of dual carriageway acceleration to try it out. It does just launch itself - cue helpless giggling from the kids and a grinning acceptance from my better half. She could see the raid on the savings once again!
Back across slithering and sliding from West Malling to Crawley via Leigh, Edenbridge and Lingfield. There might have been a slight sliding dalliance in the racecourse car park, but that would have been childish and potentially risky so clearly only an idiot (or someone carried away with trying out a Caterham) would have done that!
Fill up with petrol, how did £15 buy that much fun? Back to Caterham to drop off the car. Filthly fun, I felt guilty about the state of it - but at least I had not remodelled it - which given the conditions (and the warnings of others' experience) was a right result.
Superb day, rubbish weather, great driving. Back home reflecting with a cup of tea, trying to work out what budget I need and how to justify a Caterham sized addition to my life. I thoroughly recommend trying one of these
Now where did I leave my piggy bank....
Drove across to Crawley in my little weekend MX5 - a few tweaks to liven it up (exhaust, brakes, air filter). Nothing to change performance, just to make it sound and stop a little better.
Weather was s
tty, wet and cold - supposed to improve from 10am.Met the team at Caterham who were an absolute delight - brilliant. Picked up my car for the day - SV Roadsport 140, six speed. The weather was bad enough that there was an offer to postpone the hire to another day. Problem is that I don't have another day as I am starting a new job shortly.
Did I want the roof on or off? Definitely off. Beanie on, layered up, neck warmer on. Roof off, heater on and off I go...
Flaming Betsy on a bicycle but this is quick, and darty and direct. Shuffled out of Crawley and got on to the back roads - the car smoothed out, I got the gears going and still it picks up instantly. The weather was shocking - flurries of snow - wheelspin and a sidestep when accelerating in 2nd gear in a straight line out of a roundabout made it clear how slippery the conditions were.
Got home and did the requisite laps with wife and kids (one at a time obviously!). Bit of dual carriageway acceleration to try it out. It does just launch itself - cue helpless giggling from the kids and a grinning acceptance from my better half. She could see the raid on the savings once again!
Back across slithering and sliding from West Malling to Crawley via Leigh, Edenbridge and Lingfield. There might have been a slight sliding dalliance in the racecourse car park, but that would have been childish and potentially risky so clearly only an idiot (or someone carried away with trying out a Caterham) would have done that!
Fill up with petrol, how did £15 buy that much fun? Back to Caterham to drop off the car. Filthly fun, I felt guilty about the state of it - but at least I had not remodelled it - which given the conditions (and the warnings of others' experience) was a right result.
Superb day, rubbish weather, great driving. Back home reflecting with a cup of tea, trying to work out what budget I need and how to justify a Caterham sized addition to my life. I thoroughly recommend trying one of these
Now where did I leave my piggy bank....
ghibbett said:
Good luck - you'll love it!!
I hired one for a weekend about 18 months or so ago. I wrote the following...be interested to hear your thoughts in comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Brilliant write up, great description and completely agree with your summary. I hired one for a weekend about 18 months or so ago. I wrote the following...be interested to hear your thoughts in comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Gearbox in particular was a joy. Wipers not so much and lots of snow on the inside of the windscreen!
Completely agree, in great weather threading the bends together would have been amazing, today was very much a 3 tenths to 4 tenths "point and squirt"; it was too slippery to do anything more, but still the noise, the speed, the acceleration - just excellent.
I can see how they can bite, very light and sharp handling, but on the other hand, treated with care, it was a raucous delight.
Question is to rent again in summer - or jump in and spend the money and buy... great problem to have!
I can see how they can bite, very light and sharp handling, but on the other hand, treated with care, it was a raucous delight.
Question is to rent again in summer - or jump in and spend the money and buy... great problem to have!
Life is too short...raid the piggy bank and buy !!
You know that's where you will end up now you've tried it !
Get your finances organised, decide your spec and you will be sorted for a summer of fun and laughs (assuming last summer's weather does not descend again) .. mind you, with a snowy day for 1st drive, a bit of rain isn't going to stop you now !
You know that's where you will end up now you've tried it !
Get your finances organised, decide your spec and you will be sorted for a summer of fun and laughs (assuming last summer's weather does not descend again) .. mind you, with a snowy day for 1st drive, a bit of rain isn't going to stop you now !
Edited by Steve Campbell on Friday 5th April 10:49
Steve Campbell said:
Life is too short...raid the piggy bank and buy !!
Couldn't agree more.For the last few years I'd been thinking I might get myself a Caterham or maybe a TVR in the near future. A very long story short but a month after a spell in hospital last year I went and bought the first Caterham I saw.
With the exception of an affair I'd say if you want to do something and you have the ability to do so do it today.
Agent Orange said:
Couldn't agree more.
For the last few years I'd been thinking I might get myself a Caterham or maybe a TVR in the near future. A very long story short but a month after a spell in hospital last year I went and bought the first Caterham I saw.
With the exception of an affair I'd say if you want to do something and you have the ability to do so do it today.
Couldn't agree more. Bought mine after a heart scare at the age of 36. No pockets in shrouds...For the last few years I'd been thinking I might get myself a Caterham or maybe a TVR in the near future. A very long story short but a month after a spell in hospital last year I went and bought the first Caterham I saw.
With the exception of an affair I'd say if you want to do something and you have the ability to do so do it today.
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