What's WRONG with your Caterham?

[S1X OK]

For a long time, since 2004 actually, I've been hankering after a Seven. A few weeks back I thought I'd got one but it turned out to be an Ebay scam - suffice to say, an expensive lesson learned. Anyway, the experience, painful though it was, actually moved me emotionally closer to Seven ownership. Therefore, I'm more keen to get now the funds together and get on with it. The thing is, and this is where it might sound odd, I'm actually drawn to the smaller engined cars, the 125/140bhp. I have more than enough horsepower in the 360 in my 4ltr Tuscan and want the Seven to be less of a broadsword, more a scalpel, if you get my meaning.
Though I'm yet to drive one, I'm thinking a 1.6 K series would suit me. In part, it's because I like the fact that the exhaust is on the passenger side. I've discussed my situation with Caterham Midland, they are a stone's throw from where I live and they are happy to let me taste a few cars. I called in a couple of days ago to compare the two floor positions and footwell space. I was happy to find I fit very nicely in a standard S3 (I was pleasantly surprised to feel how comfortable Tillet seats are, but then, the car wasn't moving). So, to go back to my question, and to give me some inkling on things to look for in drawing up my requirements - What's wrong with your Caterham?
This isn't intended to be a comparison - A is better than B, X is worse than Y etc. I think that has already been covered elsewhere. I'm genuinely interested to hear what niggles or problems other owners have experienced to I can look out for the same as I get closer to ownership.

Apologies for the lengthy preamble.
Cheers
Pete

[Toaster]

S1X OK said:

What's wrong with your Caterham?

Nothing

It gets Hot...............very hot in the summer but thats OK

if you hit standing water you will get very wet but thats OK just get a bucket and sponge to get the water out of the foot well

Its noisy..........so noisy you wear ear plugs but thats ok

If your driving and there is a sudden down poor of rain it takes so long to put the roof up but thats OK because by the time you have put the roof up the rain has passed.

Fit a half hood I hear some say that will keep you dry........except the vortex effect drags the rain in from behind but thats ok just slow down it lessens the effect.

Tillet seats are good probax (as in the lotus) are perfect


I am sure differnt people on here will have differant experiances but having had two 7's over the past 15 years no major issues I just get Caterham to service the cars every year.


The only Major issue I guess is that these little cars are addictive

Just make sure you buy a good example with a service history

[Eric Mc]

The main wrong thing about my Seven is that I don't drive it enough.

[ewenm]

Eric Mc said:

The main wrong thing about my Seven is that I don't drive it enough.

This.

They are such simple cars that if you buy sensibly from a reputable source (I'd avoid eBay personally) you shouldn't have any serious problems. Check for rusty chassis members and corrosion between the steel chassis and aluminium sideskins. On a K-series car check for mayo in the oil filler cap and check it starts OK when cold and hot.

I've found that the more you drive them the more reliable they are. I drove mine for ~10,000 miles a year for the first 8 years of ownership and it was generally reliable. I've hardly driven it for the last 5 years and something is always going wrong with it now

[coppice]

I have sledgehammer go in current Seven - 225bhp - and started off with a scalpel like 128bhp via 160bhp. More is ultimately better but not by a huge amount. And having recently driven a 125bhp Sigma I can confirm it is probably 90% or more of the fun of the R400. Thing is , all SEvens are so unlike conventional cars in nearly evry respect that subtle differences between them in spec are really just nuances on a theme- they ALL put a massive grin on your face.

[Roadru77er]

Eric Mc said:

The main wrong thing about my Seven is that I don't drive it enough.

Ultimate answer end thread!

[framerateuk]

Just came back from a 1500 mile tour of Scotland in my Seven.

Mixed weather, everything from glorious sunshine to pouring rain. We only took the half hood and we enjoyed every minute of it.

The only thing that went wrong on the entire trip was the cable for the radiator fan came loose. After I cleaned it and plugged it back in, everything was fine.

I've put as many miles on the Seven this year as I have in my normal car. These cars are there to be used as far as I'm concerned! Regardless of the weather!

[uremaw]

Adjusting the six-point harness is a bit of a faff. As is trying to stick to a 5,000rpm limit for the first 1,000 miles. Other than that, it's pretty much perfect.

[CanAm]

As Toaster said, plus:-

fiddly switchgear
poor instrument lighting (replace with LEDs)
lack of room in the footwell (just wear the right shoes - Hi-Tec Squash for £15 if you're a cheapskate otherwise Puma Speedcat)
nowhere to rest your left foot
difficult to adjust lapstrap in 4 point harness (replace "pull-up" adjustment with "pull-down" - for my seats anyway - not all will agree)

But no other car puts such a smile on your face!

[Andy Bell]

its not starting

[Gingerbread Man]

Fuel gauge is playing up. Fine, as I often go off the odometer when the tonneau cover hides the gauge.

If you have a heater and the car sits in the rain, the first corner means a wet leg.

An oil leak somewhere with noticeable surge in corners showing on the oil pressure gauge.

It's the last one that is bugging me most at the moment. Stops a good drive having to go slow in the corners, so it's not been used as much of late.

[trixical]

The previous owner didn't fix the odometer when it siezed which I would have done if it was mine at the time, & its not worth it now imo with the number of miles passed, he is/was religious with his servicing intervals though.

& that its going to have to go soon to make space for a new project

If there is anyone in the east anglian region I could do with some advice actually, re selling & tidy up works left to do on it.

[Keep it stiff]

The clunks from the LSD when you lift off and when you are at slow speed. Yes, yes, I know the answer is not to do those things!

[S1X OK]

This also sounds very positive.
Toaster - that's what I like to hear. Criticisms with a positive attitude.
Eric Mc - I'm hoping I don't get to say those words too.
Ewnem - Thanks. I'm intending going with reputable Caterham Mids. I just hope I can control my impatience as my fund grows.
Coppice - I may be proven wrong, but I want to play Goldilocks until one is 'Just right'.
Roadru77er - True
Framerateuk - I watched your video. Very good. Great to see you shared the driving. I'm hoping my wife will embrace the Seven.
Uremaw - I've only encountered inertia reel and 4-point so far and doubt I'll be running in a new one. I'll bear that in mind.
CanAm - I have dinky size eights, so no problem with foot space. Other points noted. Thanks.
Andy Bell - I'm following the saga. I hope you get it sorted.
Gingerbreadman - I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks.
Trixical - that too. Noted.
Keep it stiff - I'll try and keep it smooth.

Additionally, I've so far failed to get the wife to drive the TVR, even after ten years. It might be the big, snarliness of it that intimidates her, but I'd really like to get her involved in driving and appreciating the feel of a Caterham. I assume a comfy bum is one consideration, so Tillets may be out. Apart from a her wearing a good coat, hat and gloves, what other creature comforts might help?

[XGT]

In four years of ownership SWMBO hasn't been in it once.

Oh sorry, you were after niggles and problems


I would say being caught on the m25 in torrential rain driving back from brands hatch. That wasn't too good sitting in a puddle in the tillet seat with poor visibility. Bought a trailer very soon after that.
Mine has an aero and roll cage so no weather protection at all. If you are using mostly for road use I would consider some weather protection, and switch to aero for summer.

I can give you a long list of reasons to buy one if you like!

[Gingerbread Man]

My bird drives mine. Really loves it. Finds it a pig come the cold and rain, but give her a nice summers day, and she'll use it to commute in. It all depends how much of a petrol head the person is.

[coppice]

If you go aero you will at some point get wet but for many that is part of the fun. Not for me- have hit and been hit by too much stuff(birds, sticks. cans and general road debris ) to even consider aero without a helmet. And then I'd look a bit of a dipstick. I use mine for very long journeys- upo to 500mile days and with SBFS half hood and draught excluder have been more than snug and almost 100% dry even in HIghlands downpours. Standard leather sets comfy and 4 point harness a faff but feels so much more secure than normal belts.

[Andy Bell]

in saying all that about my car not starting - its fu***** awesome to drive!

[framerateuk]

S1X OK said:

Framerateuk - I watched your video. Very good. Great to see you shared the driving. I'm hoping my wife will embrace the Seven.

Additionally, I've so far failed to get the wife to drive the TVR, even after ten years. It might be the big, snarliness of it that intimidates her, but I'd really like to get her involved in driving and appreciating the feel of a Caterham. I assume a comfy bum is one consideration, so Tillets may be out. Apart from a her wearing a good coat, hat and gloves, what other creature comforts might help?

Depends on your missis really! Mine loves cars and is dying to do a trackday in it! I'm pretty sure if I had a TVR she would have been dying to get behind the wheel. She struggles to heel a toe though as she has small feet so she needs a little more practice on the road before jumping onto a track.

The standard leather seats are fine. We did from Cardiff to Carlisle in one day and there were no aches or pains at all. People say the tillets are more comfortable, but I like the leather seats and until they fall apart from overuse I have no intention of changing them! (I do like the look of the new GT seats though - but I worry that they'd be a little low). We spend hours in the car every day for a week on our Scotland tour and I was never uncomfortable. I would recommend a half hood and draft reducer though.

[S1X OK]

What's a draught reducer?