RE: Caterham Seven 160: Review
Discussion
Kambites. whilst the chassis on the seven have undergone quite a few variations to increase dynamic stiffness etc the only `size' change was when the SV wider body car was introduced to allow those with a fuller figure to enjoy the delights of driving a seven, so a wide variety of engines including several bike engines (and even a wankel engine ) cars have been used in the same size 7 chassis.
The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
Pan Pan said:
Kambites. whilst the chassis on the seven have undergone quite a few variations to increase dynamic stiffness etc the only `size' change was when the SV wider body car was introduced to allow those with a fuller figure to enjoy the delights of driving a seven, so a wide variety of engines including several bike engines (and even a wankel engine ) cars have been used in the same size 7 chassis.
The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
Well said that man........!The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
. I don't like it, it's diluting the aura of the Caterham brand in my opinion.
Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
RegMolehusband said:
I don't like it, it's diluting the aura of the Caterham brand in my opinion.
Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
No, they're not. Caterhams are supposed to be the ultimate 'tactile' sportscar. This is still the case.Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
If you want to go silly fast, you still can in the 620R.
TWPC said:
LimaDelta said:
I like this a lot. Does anybody know why there seems to be no mention of it on the CC website?
Lima, it's here: http://uk.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-160RegMolehusband said:
I don't like it, it's diluting the aura of the Caterham brand in my opinion.
Could be, but mostly this is a brand exercise for "snaring people in" into ownership. Maybe having them upgrade after if the realise how brilliant the entry level product is.Just like people who are happy with their CBR250, when they get their full license they might well move on to the 600/1000.
At the price of a very high end bike, this is actually quite reasonable. If I had a shed, a spare £15k and some basic mechanical knowledge, I'd be first on the list
. Unfortunately I have none of these so I'm a far way off.As for the performance, well, caterfields were always a mixed bag and I'd never seen them as "supercar beating...". How many of these can actually go over 120mph? In a straight line, most diesel hatchbacks will leave it behind after 100mph.
To me, they're about driving fun, and if they can make it more accessible by this lovely entry level model, I'm all for it. People who thinks it "diluting the brand" should go back to Ferrari or Porsche, but I'm suspecting that the California and Boxster offends them as well.
I like the concept. The description of the power delivery is a little worrying but hopefully that's a case of the engines needing a few more miles and the driver adapting to it.
Well done to Caterham for expanding the range at the top AND bottom of the pricing structure.
Hopefully this will be a good export success especially in Japan as a Kei car.
Well done to Caterham for expanding the range at the top AND bottom of the pricing structure.
Hopefully this will be a good export success especially in Japan as a Kei car.Pan Pan said:
Kambites. whilst the chassis on the seven have undergone quite a few variations to increase dynamic stiffness etc the only `size' change was when the SV wider body car was introduced to allow those with a fuller figure to enjoy the delights of driving a seven, so a wide variety of engines including several bike engines (and even a wankel engine ) cars have been used in the same size 7 chassis.
The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
So the narrower track on this car is purely the result of shorter wishbones and a shorter rear axle? Fair enough. The seven is still a remarkable vehicle though. in that it has been going in more or less the same form for much longer than Porsches 911. Was so fast it was banned from racing, unless other racing teams voted to allow it to race. It was the only sports car to enter a Grand Prix, and only has few supercars which cost thousands more on the TG powerlap board with 1.17.9 lap time. well over 50 years after it was introduced. How many other single car types, can lay claim to that level of performance over that many years? and still they come up with ways of making something a bit different out of it, a real triggers broom.
RegMolehusband said:
I don't like it, it's diluting the aura of the Caterham brand in my opinion.
Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
Absolutely not. Let us not forget that the original Lotus Seven had only 40bhp and could barely manage 90mph. I love the back-to-driving-enjoyment direction this takes Caterham. Let's face it, nobody will buy one for track use, and realistically this is adequate performance for the public road. I hope Lotus are watching...Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
The Morgan three wheeler almost tempted me back into 'sportscar' ownership. This may tip me over the edge.
kambites said:
So the narrower track on this car is purely the result of shorter wishbones and a shorter rear axle? Fair enough.
The chassis is the same (the normal car almost meets the Kei size regs anyway) just slightly narrower track in the Edit after Dan's clarification below.
Edited by ewenm on Tuesday 22 October 09:46
kambites said:
So the narrower track on this car is purely the result of shorter wishbones and a shorter rear axle? Fair enough.
It's a standard S3 chassis and front axle assembly but the live axle results in a narrower rear track. Am awaiting numbers from Caterham and this'll go up in a follow-up story but the wings are c. 28mm narrower at the back so expect it to be in that kind of range.Cheers,
Dan
RegMolehusband said:
I don't like it, it's diluting the aura of the Caterham brand in my opinion.
Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
This is simply a lack of historical perspective. Really you're ignoring the history of the Lotus 7 between 1957 and 1972, and the history of the Caterham 7 between 1973 and about 1990. Most of that time the standard engine was the 84 bhp Ford crossflow, or (earlier on) something smaller and lighter with less power.Caterhams are renowned for embarrassing "super cars" and fast bikes. This will be embarrassed by a wide range of tin-tops disappearing into the distance as it fails to turn in well on those skinny tyres and scrabbles for grip on the exit.
The era of the huge power-to-weight Caterham is really only the last 20 years, and even in that time most examples sold have always been at the lower end of the power range.
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