Great day to pick up your first Seven ... not!

[guitarguy]

Could today of been any wetter?

Picked up my '05 120 Roadsport this morning from Millwoods. Ha ha... glad I opted for the full roof! Spent my first 10 miles of Caterham ownership daudling along the motorway at 5 mph sitting in that 'down to one lane' hold up on the M5 today (big mistake - was only gonna do a couple of junctions to settle in, and then drop onto the A38). Nothing like baptism by fire.... not the best place to be, to feel your way in to your new car if I'm honest.... especially if your busting for a pee! Mastered my clutch control (and how best to ventilate the cockpit with the full hood on), if nothing else! The A38 through Tewkesbury and Worcester more than made up for it though... a nice compromise between fast and boring motorway and a truly interesting road... especially when you haven't got a lot of time. Stress levels dropped rapidly, and by the time I was home felt like I'd been driving it for years....

Getting the car into it's temporary shelter was a relief.... the ongoing downpour by this point was well and truly torrential here in Birmingham. Sorted the 'hopping in and out with the hood on' routine pretty quick (even without a QR), and am even mastering that fiddly 'key in the ignition, immobiliser malarchy'.... be it somewhat more slowly!

What do I reckon so far...? Feeling a lot more comfortable now than I did 14 hours ago that's for sure. Loving it? - too right! Can't wait for the run out to the Cotswolds to meet up with family on Sunday.... (a truly sunny day if the forecast is to be trusted!) The kids can fight it out for first ride! Looking forward to getting the roof off and the shades on if I'm honest!

(Thanx Carl for the moral support, the taxi service, photography...! Cheers dude)

[nigelpugh7]

guitarguy said:

Could today of been any wetter?

Picked up my '05 120 Roadsport this morning from Millwoods. Ha ha... glad I opted for the full roof! Spent my first 10 miles of Caterham ownership daudling along the motorway at 5 mph sitting in that 'down to one lane' hold up on the M5 today (big mistake - was only gonna do a couple of junctions to settle in, and then drop onto the A38). Nothing like baptism by fire.... not the best place to be, to feel your way in to your new car if I'm honest.... especially if your busting for a pee! Mastered my clutch control (and how best to ventilate the cockpit with the full hood on), if nothing else! The A38 through Tewkesbury and Worcester more than made up for it though... a nice compromise between fast and boring motorway and a truly interesting road... especially when you haven't got a lot of time. Stress levels dropped rapidly, and by the time I was home felt like I'd been driving it for years....

Getting the car into it's temporary shelter was a relief.... the ongoing downpour by this point was well and truly torrential here in Birmingham. Sorted the 'hopping in and out with the hood on' routine pretty quick (even without a QR), and am even mastering that fiddly 'key in the ignition, immobiliser malarchy'.... be it somewhat more slowly!

What do I reckon so far...? Feeling a lot more comfortable now than I did 14 hours ago that's for sure. Loving it? - too right! Can't wait for the run out to the Cotswolds to meet up with family on Sunday.... (a truly sunny day if the forecast is to be trusted!) The kids can fight it out for first ride! Looking forward to getting the roof off and the shades on if I'm honest!

(Thanx Carl for the moral support, the taxi service, photography...! Cheers dude)

Congrats on your new toy, I hope the weather improves for you, although looking out of the window here in Solihull, not much chance today.

You must try and joining us on one of our runs out in our Caterham's, we are going to the PH SS this Sunday, but not sure if I am going in my R500 as its still back at CC having the fuel tank fixed(again!!!)

Hope to see you around the Birmingham area in your car soon too!!

Cheers Nige.

[Eric Mc]

You learn more about driving a Seven in the wet than you do in the dry.

Look on it as a positive.

[ewenm]

Reading that has made me think back to my first drive in my Caterham. It was from Surrey to Highbury (N5 London) at night in the rain Negotiating London traffic and navigation with rubbish headlights and poor visibility in the wet was a tricky start to 7ing

[Mach 7]

Still raining here too.

When the sun shines there is noting better, see Chris Harris vid.

Take care and have fun.

[downsman]

Once the hood is on and I'm in, I find it is quite comfortable if rather loud.
At least you won't worry about driving in the wet now

Hopefully, we still have most of the best weather to come this summer and you're ready to go

[130g]

My first time driving the seven was driving it on board the ferry to ship it home. I had it trailered to the ferry parking lot so it was literally only the last hundred meters...mighty interesting
The fact that I forgot to release the handbreak did NOT make the boarding any easier

[framerateuk]

The trick is to just take it easy in the wet. So long as you're on decent tyres for wet weather you should be fine so long as you don't do anything stupid

I'm on CR500's and driven in some horrendous weather and had no issues with traction. I tend to use the torque in the wet and not rev the engine too high. Standing water hasn't been a problem either, but then the CR500's are really good at displacing water.

Enjoy it Go and do a trackday to get an idea of the on-the-limit handling and you'll have a LOT more fun

[guitarguy]

Thanks Nigel, would love to at some point (can't make this Sunday unfortunately, but keep me informed) - oh and thanks, by the way, for the feeding back on my various requests for a 2nd opinion to get me this far - appreciate that! I'll look out for you out and about!

Yes, that was my perspective Eric - definitely! Learn to drive safely in the wet and everything else is a relative piece of cake...

I thought I was the only one person in the world who likes a Seven with a full hood Downsman! You're right, dead cosy in there.... (I used to drive a rag top Series IIa Landy for about 12 years years from the age of 17 - kind of reminds me of that, though obviously a hell of a lot faster and a lot more snug... Even the smell's similar!). I even like the look of a seven hooded up!

Thanks for the Chris Harris video suggestion Mach 7 - great!

Triggered a few interesting tales of first drives this too.... they sound great!

As for trackdays, FramerateUK, yeah that's been the plan all along. Went for the REIS insurance in the end primarily for the cover for 4 track day's included... (not that I'll be able to afford one for a while mind - stretched myself here a little!). If anyone can recommend any particular track days coming up I'd be very interested (especially 7 specific ones, or anything with any potential for a bit of driver coaching that ain't gonna cost the earth). Haven't had chance to check out Blatchat/Low Flying properly as yet.... (I have the REIS approved track day list but no chance to research anything yet.)

Looking forward to the weekend!

[Zagster]

Congrats and we NEED some pics

[nigelpugh7]

guitarguy said:

Thanks Nigel, would love to at some point (can't make this Sunday unfortunately, but keep me informed) - oh and thanks, by the way, for the feeding back on my various requests for a 2nd opinion to get me this far - appreciate that! I'll look out for you out and about!

Looking forward to the weekend!

No probs, glad we all helped you to make the right decision, I am sure you are happy with your choice by now too

Yep keep a look our for me in our R500, if I am out and about in the local area it's usually me and Tom out for a quick blast somewhere!

I know your car is yellow, but as someone else said we need pictures, so we can spot you easily and wave too!

I am sure you have seen pictures of my R500, but here she is again to make it easier to spot!

Cheers Nige.

[framerateuk]

guitarguy said:

I thought I was the only one person in the world who likes a Seven with a full hood Downsman! You're right, dead cosy in there.... (I used to drive a rag top Series IIa Landy for about 12 years years from the age of 17 - kind of reminds me of that, though obviously a hell of a lot faster and a lot more snug... Even the smell's similar!). I even like the look of a seven hooded up!

I quite like the full hood. We took the car back to Dartford to have a few things fixed last November and had the full hood up the whole way. We were kept nice and dry (and warm!). The only issue is how long it takes to put up! If you get caught out in the rain, you'll be soaked by the time it's attached.

I just replaced ours with a half hood, which takes all of 30 seconds to put up. While you won't stay as dry during an absolute downpour, it's still ok, and for most situations it's fine. I've just removed our hood sticks too since we don't plan on using it again. We're planning to tour Scotland in the summer with just the half hood

[guitarguy]

Here's a pic of my new toy as requested - out on a little blat down to Bourton-on-the-Water on Sunday.... (wow....amazing weather! Makes up for the 'cats and dogs' a few days earlier!)

Loving the options, full hood, half hood, doors on, doors off..... each one makes it a different car! Done just over two hundred miles in a week - feel like I've had it for years...! Lovin' every second...

Not seen another Caterham yet on my travels surprisingly, but have seen plenty of Morgans - including three(!) 3 wheelers (if you include the one in the BOTW motor museum that is!!). Common as muck obviously!! (ha ha - only joking!)

Can't get enough.....

[nigelpugh7]

guitarguy said:

Here's a pic of my new toy as requested - out on a little blat down to Bourton-on-the-Water on Sunday.... (wow....amazing weather! Makes up for the 'cats and dogs' a few days earlier!)

Loving the options, full hood, half hood, doors on, doors off..... each one makes it a different car! Done just over two hundred miles in a week - feel like I've had it for years...! Lovin' every second...

Not seen another Caterham yet on my travels surprisingly, but have seen plenty of Morgans - including three(!) 3 wheelers (if you include the one in the BOTW motor museum that is!!). Common as muck obviously!! (ha ha - only joking!)

Can't get enough.....

Looks great!!

We came through Bourton on the Water on Sunday on or way back from Prescott Hill Climb too!!

Shame we missed each other.

Looks like this week will be good weather, so keep enjoying it!!