New owner! Just bought 'Catey' yesterday.
Discussion
Hi All,
Just to say 'Hello'.
I've bought my first Caterham yesterday and managed a whole 4 miles in it today (work commitments)
I've popped her on the ramp tonight just to check over her and already I feel my wife seeing her as a mistress!
I had only driven one before at a Caterham drift day, so well done Caterham marketing team for supporting these events and encouraging people to try, before setting addicted!
Jason
Just to say 'Hello'.
I've bought my first Caterham yesterday and managed a whole 4 miles in it today (work commitments)
I've popped her on the ramp tonight just to check over her and already I feel my wife seeing her as a mistress!
I had only driven one before at a Caterham drift day, so well done Caterham marketing team for supporting these events and encouraging people to try, before setting addicted!
Jason
Hi Mach 7
The advice is very gratefully accepted, I have grown up with quick cars.
'Pops' likes Nobles at the moment and has two, a road one with ~500 horses and a track one he's building with ~650 and a sequential box etc. as a 17 year old I got to drive a customers 500 horse Aston Martin, plus i had a space framed race mini and then a modified TVR so speed isn't new, but I am conscious it's got the ability to bite like a 'biting thing'
Again, I will try to be sensible, so thanks again for the caveat.
The advice is very gratefully accepted, I have grown up with quick cars.
'Pops' likes Nobles at the moment and has two, a road one with ~500 horses and a track one he's building with ~650 and a sequential box etc. as a 17 year old I got to drive a customers 500 horse Aston Martin, plus i had a space framed race mini and then a modified TVR so speed isn't new, but I am conscious it's got the ability to bite like a 'biting thing'
Again, I will try to be sensible, so thanks again for the caveat.
Mach 7 said:
Catey.
Well done, first Caterham and an R500, no need for upgradeitus.
Have fun but treat it with respect.
I suppose there could be downgradeitis, where leather seats replace carbon Tillets and a Type 9 box replaces the sequential Well done, first Caterham and an R500, no need for upgradeitus.
Have fun but treat it with respect.
Have fun, I love my Seven and it only has 125bhp
His guys thanks again for the warm welcome.
I've had a good day in her and everything's been as expected, even my wife thought driving it was 'ok'!
But it's too noisey for her, so I guess she'll not be using it for the trip to Tescos!
Couple of questions:
I can't get the launch control to do anything (using the top left hand button closest to the stack)
Also the warning light just came on on the stack dash (light to the left of the rev counter) as I arrived home, I'm guessing its a low fuel warning? It's on 9l as I approached home? Oil pressure and water/oil temps were fine as I arrived back.
I've had a good day in her and everything's been as expected, even my wife thought driving it was 'ok'!
But it's too noisey for her, so I guess she'll not be using it for the trip to Tescos!
Couple of questions:
I can't get the launch control to do anything (using the top left hand button closest to the stack)
Also the warning light just came on on the stack dash (light to the left of the rev counter) as I arrived home, I'm guessing its a low fuel warning? It's on 9l as I approached home? Oil pressure and water/oil temps were fine as I arrived back.
Catey said:
His guys thanks again for the warm welcome.
I've had a good day in her and everything's been as expected, even my wife thought driving it was 'ok'!
But it's too noisey for her, so I guess she'll not be using it for the trip to Tescos!
Couple of questions:
I can't get the launch control to do anything (using the top left hand button closest to the stack)
Also the warning light just came on on the stack dash (light to the left of the rev counter) as I arrived home, I'm guessing its a low fuel warning? It's on 9l as I approached home? Oil pressure and water/oil temps were fine as I arrived back.
Yep,they are a bit noisy with the Sequntial box! That's why my current one is the six speed box!I've had a good day in her and everything's been as expected, even my wife thought driving it was 'ok'!
But it's too noisey for her, so I guess she'll not be using it for the trip to Tescos!
Couple of questions:
I can't get the launch control to do anything (using the top left hand button closest to the stack)
Also the warning light just came on on the stack dash (light to the left of the rev counter) as I arrived home, I'm guessing its a low fuel warning? It's on 9l as I approached home? Oil pressure and water/oil temps were fine as I arrived back.
As far as the launch control works, on mine it was operated by the rotary button on top of the gearbox, and not the black button next to the stack.
You rotate the button to select the rate you need, then hold it in until the digits start flashing, and then you drop the clutch at the end of the sequence.
I am sure you know it's more of an active rev lint control than it is proper launch control, because it relys in the driver to control the gear and clutch.
The fuel warning light is a pain and keeps coming on after less than 10'litres in the tank.
The fuel also goes down very quickly at that point as the litre reading is not very accurate.
Enjoy!
Hi Nigel,
Thanks for that, I've been out in it again for a run round, I'm feeling more confident in her, although not pushed hard as only on roads at the moment.
I got back to find the battery had discharched some acid onto the bulkhead through the breather pipe that had been disconnected. The previous owner had swapped the battery when I went to look at it as the one on the car was flat.
I suspect he's topped it up, charged it and whacked it back on. The chaging whilst driving may have displaced some of the extra electrolyte, which is now eating its way through the paint on the bulkhead.
Other than that, she's been great.
Again thanks for the support.
Thanks for that, I've been out in it again for a run round, I'm feeling more confident in her, although not pushed hard as only on roads at the moment.
I got back to find the battery had discharched some acid onto the bulkhead through the breather pipe that had been disconnected. The previous owner had swapped the battery when I went to look at it as the one on the car was flat.
I suspect he's topped it up, charged it and whacked it back on. The chaging whilst driving may have displaced some of the extra electrolyte, which is now eating its way through the paint on the bulkhead.
Other than that, she's been great.
Again thanks for the support.
Catey said:
Hi Nigel,
Thanks for that, I've been out in it again for a run round, I'm feeling more confident in her, although not pushed hard as only on roads at the moment.
I got back to find the battery had discharched some acid onto the bulkhead through the breather pipe that had been disconnected. The previous owner had swapped the battery when I went to look at it as the one on the car was flat.
I suspect he's topped it up, charged it and whacked it back on. The chaging whilst driving may have displaced some of the extra electrolyte, which is now eating its way through the paint on the bulkhead.
Other than that, she's been great.
Again thanks for the support.
No worries!Thanks for that, I've been out in it again for a run round, I'm feeling more confident in her, although not pushed hard as only on roads at the moment.
I got back to find the battery had discharched some acid onto the bulkhead through the breather pipe that had been disconnected. The previous owner had swapped the battery when I went to look at it as the one on the car was flat.
I suspect he's topped it up, charged it and whacked it back on. The chaging whilst driving may have displaced some of the extra electrolyte, which is now eating its way through the paint on the bulkhead.
Other than that, she's been great.
Again thanks for the support.
It's not uncommon to have a few leaks from the electrolyte on the banner battery, that's why the tube is in place!
It's all good though, just make sure you rinse down where it came out, and spray some wd40 or such like around the area.to save the powder coat under the bonnet area!
Glad you are having fun and bonding together too!
Hi Nigel,
It looks like a motorbike style of battery, not a Banner, quite like the old Varley red top size.
Catey has a habit of never starting on the first push of the button, leave her for a couple of seconds, try again and she will usually burst straight into life, twice though today, she had three attempts and I was convinced cranking was getting slower the third time, so for peace of mind I think I'll replace the battery this week.
I saw a couple of photos of your car in e forums today, VERY NICE!
It looks like a motorbike style of battery, not a Banner, quite like the old Varley red top size.
Catey has a habit of never starting on the first push of the button, leave her for a couple of seconds, try again and she will usually burst straight into life, twice though today, she had three attempts and I was convinced cranking was getting slower the third time, so for peace of mind I think I'll replace the battery this week.
I saw a couple of photos of your car in e forums today, VERY NICE!
Nice to see another person with an R500 as their first Caterham, guess I am not the only mad person out there .
Echoing Nigel, happy to answer any questions - my R500 has the sequential box, but no launch control, and I've done around 5000 miles it in so far on both road and track.
I'm sure you will have lots of fun with it.
.Echoing Nigel, happy to answer any questions - my R500 has the sequential box, but no launch control, and I've done around 5000 miles it in so far on both road and track.
I'm sure you will have lots of fun with it.
Catey said:
Hi Nigel,
It looks like a motorbike style of battery, not a Banner, quite like the old Varley red top size.
Catey has a habit of never starting on the first push of the button, leave her for a couple of seconds, try again and she will usually burst straight into life, twice though today, she had three attempts and I was convinced cranking was getting slower the third time, so for peace of mind I think I'll replace the battery this week.
I saw a couple of photos of your car in e forums today, VERY NICE!
No Worries Jason,It looks like a motorbike style of battery, not a Banner, quite like the old Varley red top size.
Catey has a habit of never starting on the first push of the button, leave her for a couple of seconds, try again and she will usually burst straight into life, twice though today, she had three attempts and I was convinced cranking was getting slower the third time, so for peace of mind I think I'll replace the battery this week.
I saw a couple of photos of your car in e forums today, VERY NICE!
A lot of people have looked at different solutions for batteries in all variants of 7's.
I even purchased a power-vamp gel battery for my own R500.
However I have never been happy with the mounting solution, so far I have just stuck with the Banner on none, the power-vamp is sat un used in the garage.
The best investment you can make is a cycle battery charger, I have an optimate 4 for mine, it really works well, and is on my car al the time it sits in the garage, which is a lot at the moment with all this rain!!
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff