7 as an Everyday Car?
Discussion
I would appreciate some honest opinions. I have always hankered after a 7 and having recently fallen out of love with my current car, a VXR8, I tempted to take the plunge with a 7.
I need to drive something that heightens the senses but at the same time I need to be able to live with it every day, it’s this second point that concerns me. I drive about 750 miles a week which is essential four commute drives and a bit in-between. I have been looking about for a month or so and taken advice where I can, I want to go for an SV, to give me a tad more room, and most likely with a Ford 150 BHP, 6 speed & LSD.
My doubts really focus on the practicalities, sitting lower than truck wheels on the motorway, being able to hear music (via earpiece) without being drowned by exhaust note, driving in poor weather, being able to use the phone, getting 250+ miles from a tank and most importantly being able to step out of the car after a three hour drive without feeling more knackered than when I set out.
I really would appreciate views on living with a 7 as an everyday car.
I need to drive something that heightens the senses but at the same time I need to be able to live with it every day, it’s this second point that concerns me. I drive about 750 miles a week which is essential four commute drives and a bit in-between. I have been looking about for a month or so and taken advice where I can, I want to go for an SV, to give me a tad more room, and most likely with a Ford 150 BHP, 6 speed & LSD.
My doubts really focus on the practicalities, sitting lower than truck wheels on the motorway, being able to hear music (via earpiece) without being drowned by exhaust note, driving in poor weather, being able to use the phone, getting 250+ miles from a tank and most importantly being able to step out of the car after a three hour drive without feeling more knackered than when I set out.
I really would appreciate views on living with a 7 as an everyday car.
Keep it stiff said:
I would appreciate some honest opinions. I have always hankered after a 7 and having recently fallen out of love with my current car, a VXR8, I tempted to take the plunge with a 7.
I need to drive something that heightens the senses but at the same time I need to be able to live with it every day, it’s this second point that concerns me. I drive about 750 miles a week which is essential four commute drives and a bit in-between. I have been looking about for a month or so and taken advice where I can, I want to go for an SV, to give me a tad more room, and most likely with a Ford 150 BHP, 6 speed & LSD.
My doubts really focus on the practicalities, sitting lower than truck wheels on the motorway, being able to hear music (via earpiece) without being drowned by exhaust note, driving in poor weather, being able to use the phone, getting 250+ miles from a tank and most importantly being able to step out of the car after a three hour drive without feeling more knackered than when I set out.
I really would appreciate views on living with a 7 as an everyday car.
1)"sitting lower than truck wheels" - never really noticeI need to drive something that heightens the senses but at the same time I need to be able to live with it every day, it’s this second point that concerns me. I drive about 750 miles a week which is essential four commute drives and a bit in-between. I have been looking about for a month or so and taken advice where I can, I want to go for an SV, to give me a tad more room, and most likely with a Ford 150 BHP, 6 speed & LSD.
My doubts really focus on the practicalities, sitting lower than truck wheels on the motorway, being able to hear music (via earpiece) without being drowned by exhaust note, driving in poor weather, being able to use the phone, getting 250+ miles from a tank and most importantly being able to step out of the car after a three hour drive without feeling more knackered than when I set out.
I really would appreciate views on living with a 7 as an everyday car.
2)"hear music"Good earphones, no exhaust note and job done - love my Shure earphones.
3)"250+ miles" Hmm. Don't think so. I've got a 50 litre race tank, so I'm alright, but with a standard 30 litre? Unsure.
4) "Knackered" Potentially yes. It's a lot of concentration driving a car like a 7. It is a lot more comfortable than you think though, once you've got seating sorted. (I use a 2-part foam seat, I never ache)
5) (woops, gone out of sync) "phone" On the move - tough, it's very noisy. Doubtless some will say no problem with the right equipment, such as starcom or autocom, but not ideal.
6) "Weather" Lots of people bang on about half hoods. I'm a non-believer. If it's a biblical storm, you need the full hood, and very good it is too. I've got slightly wet once, when driving through a very large puddle, that forced its way in through the door.
Hope that helps, based on about 2 years use as an only car. The only thing that gives me doubts about using mine every day, is reliability. You may bypass that, with yours being newer than my 20 year old example.
One last thing though - I do 10k a year, not 36k. Well done for supporting OPEC doing that kind of mileage in your VXR8
Edited by chris_speed on Saturday 11th August 11:38
I know some people can and do live with the 7 as an every day car. But to be honest with the sort of use and mileage you a talking about here I would have to say that you would probably tire of it pretty quick.
If it was me , it would a definite no . But I am sure there will be tougher folk than me pop up to give you a balance of opinion.
If it was me , it would a definite no . But I am sure there will be tougher folk than me pop up to give you a balance of opinion.
Do a search for Cockwomble7's daily drive diary on here.
Also www.mycaterham.com lots on Angus's web site (Caterhamnut on here)
Also www.mycaterham.com lots on Angus's web site (Caterhamnut on here)
Some people do it- God knows why. Love mine to bits for what it's good at. But it is completely rubbish at everything else. Noisy, leaky. terrible in the wet , stupidly crap in snow. no room , steams up in wet, no radio, no ABS ; totally pointless unless you want to prove how eccentric you are...
As said before i wouldn't bother with a Caterham for that type of daily/weekly use. My first car was used for 10k miles in 6 months as my main driver through the summer months (this was the 80's....) and it was great. However, your commute is much higher than mine and I think you would quickly tire of the use day in/day out. I'd buy a cheap tin top and perhaps use that for 80% of the time and take the Caterham when it suits.
taffyracer said:
I think having one as a daily would spoil the sense of occasion and would tire really quickly
With all due respect, that's absolute b
ks.As far as the OP's question goes, I think chris speed has answered it perfectly. A decent pair of in-ear 'phones and you'll hear your iPod over the exhaust no problem. Using the phone might be more problematic, but I'm sure there are ways and means around it.
You will not get 250 miles from a tank. Sorry.
My mileage is considerably less than 750 miles a week - probably nearer 40 (if that). Consequently, the "downsides" and impracticalities of having a 7 as a daily have much less impact on me.
Having said that, I often do a 3 hour drive to my parents and get out the other end with no aches and pains (or at least none that can be attributed to the car - I am rather old).
My advice? Do it. Buy one and try it for a month. If it doesn't pan out as you would like, then sell it and you'll get your money back. Guaranteed.
taffyracer said:
I think having one as a daily would spoil the sense of occasion and would tire really quickly, they are amazing cars because of their inpracticality
I agree with this. When I use the car its only really at the weekend or to and from the track. However the times I have used it to get from A to B in traffic I do have issues with the fact you cant always see over the barriers at roundabouts, cars moving in to your lane as they didn't see you, rain leaking in, the windows misting up, lack of radio 4 (i cant do earphones i worry i'll miss issues going on around me), no power steering in slow traffic, the heater in winter and the heat round my legs in summer.That said none of that bothers me when I use it for pleasure, of which it gives loads. In fact I'm off for a drive in about 20 mins and it will be a great drive.
Cock Womble 7 said:
taffyracer said:
I think having one as a daily would spoil the sense of occasion and would tire really quickly
With all due respect, that's absolute bks.
it's not bks at all. It's exactly where I got to driving one as my every day car commuting and driving round the country to clients. I hated my 7 in the end. Took 1 year and 18k miles.The mileage the OP is talking about will leave him completely knackered.
Bert
Cock Womble 7 said:
taffyracer said:
I think having one as a daily would spoil the sense of occasion and would tire really quickly
With all due respect, that's absolute bks.Edited by taffyracer on Sunday 12th August 20:34
Sorry, but I think it's absolutely bonkers. So much so, and so obviously so that I have to believe this is a ruse.
750 miles/week is a high number for anyone, anywhere, regardless of the type of car they own.
Not only would it be utterly impractical, but as another post wisely cites, it would ruin a potential love affair with a fine sports car.
C7, Ultima's, GT40's are all car to be treasured when you have the time to devote to them. They are not the type to be a DUV (daily utility vehicle). Further, it's unlikely that it will be as reliable as you need, despite the fact that as a weekend/track car the C7 is quite dependable and modestly stressed.
But regardless of your choice, the best of luck.
V
750 miles/week is a high number for anyone, anywhere, regardless of the type of car they own.
Not only would it be utterly impractical, but as another post wisely cites, it would ruin a potential love affair with a fine sports car.
C7, Ultima's, GT40's are all car to be treasured when you have the time to devote to them. They are not the type to be a DUV (daily utility vehicle). Further, it's unlikely that it will be as reliable as you need, despite the fact that as a weekend/track car the C7 is quite dependable and modestly stressed.
But regardless of your choice, the best of luck.
V
taffyracer said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
taffyracer said:
I think having one as a daily would spoil the sense of occasion and would tire really quickly
With all due respect, that's absolute bks.taffyracer said:
...oh, and there was no respect there in your reply
You're new to the concept of irony, aren't you?taffyracer said:
your username certainly is very apt, FFS!
My username was "chosen" for me by PH, thanks.So it's just me then, is it? I've been using my Caterham as a daily driver for over two years now and have yet to tire of it or lose the "sense of occasion". I do think that the mileage the OP is looking at might be a trifle high for a 7, but as I said - go for it. It might turn out to be a right PITA, or he might absolutely love it.
Cock Womble 7 said:
With all due respect, that's absolute bks.
As far as the OP's question goes, I think chris speed has answered it perfectly. A decent pair of in-ear 'phones and you'll hear your iPod over the exhaust no problem. Using the phone might be more problematic, but I'm sure there are ways and means around it.
You will not get 250 miles from a tank. Sorry.
My mileage is considerably less than 750 miles a week - probably nearer 40 (if that). Consequently, the "downsides" and impracticalities of having a 7 as a daily have much less impact on me.
Having said that, I often do a 3 hour drive to my parents and get out the other end with no aches and pains (or at least none that can be attributed to the car - I am rather old).
My advice? Do it. Buy one and try it for a month. If it doesn't pan out as you would like, then sell it and you'll get your money back. Guaranteed.
The context of your reply is a bit harsh is it not ! ks.As far as the OP's question goes, I think chris speed has answered it perfectly. A decent pair of in-ear 'phones and you'll hear your iPod over the exhaust no problem. Using the phone might be more problematic, but I'm sure there are ways and means around it.
You will not get 250 miles from a tank. Sorry.
My mileage is considerably less than 750 miles a week - probably nearer 40 (if that). Consequently, the "downsides" and impracticalities of having a 7 as a daily have much less impact on me.
Having said that, I often do a 3 hour drive to my parents and get out the other end with no aches and pains (or at least none that can be attributed to the car - I am rather old).
My advice? Do it. Buy one and try it for a month. If it doesn't pan out as you would like, then sell it and you'll get your money back. Guaranteed.
And your mileage comes no where near close to the 750 the OP is talking about. So I reckon the similarities of your use compared to his is not even in the same ballpark.
Sitting on the motorway for hundreds of miles in a 7 won't be fun.
The 6sp box has a very tightly packed set of ratio's (6th is the same as fourth in the 5pd) and you'll probably burn through as much fuel as the VXR8 with the 7's aerodynamic properties.
Making/receiving phone calls will be nigh on impossible as well due to the noise. Not just from the exhaust, but the wind noise as well. You could of course put the hood up, but then whatever you decrease in wind noise, you amplify in exhaust.
I test drove a BMW 335d at the weekend and for the sort of mileage you're doing, I know which car I would pick of the two.
The 6sp box has a very tightly packed set of ratio's (6th is the same as fourth in the 5pd) and you'll probably burn through as much fuel as the VXR8 with the 7's aerodynamic properties.
Making/receiving phone calls will be nigh on impossible as well due to the noise. Not just from the exhaust, but the wind noise as well. You could of course put the hood up, but then whatever you decrease in wind noise, you amplify in exhaust.
I test drove a BMW 335d at the weekend and for the sort of mileage you're doing, I know which car I would pick of the two.
OP - ask yourself the same question but subsititute "motorbike" for "7". If you would conisder using a motorbike for your everyday driving, then from a practicality/safety/comfort point of view, a 7 should be fine.
I used mine as an only car for 5 years averaging 10,000 miles a year. I think the most I've ever got out of a tank was 250 miles of gentle motorway driving. I normally work to a 200 miles-per-tank range.
Personally, for the mileages you mention I think the novelty/fun of using a 7 would rapidly diminish. Sometimes you just want to jump into a car, relax into the seats, put the air-con on, put the radio on and waft home.
I used mine as an only car for 5 years averaging 10,000 miles a year. I think the most I've ever got out of a tank was 250 miles of gentle motorway driving. I normally work to a 200 miles-per-tank range.
Personally, for the mileages you mention I think the novelty/fun of using a 7 would rapidly diminish. Sometimes you just want to jump into a car, relax into the seats, put the air-con on, put the radio on and waft home.
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