RE: PH Carpool: Caterham Roadsport 150
Friday 21st October 2011
PHer Ivan Church (aka eccles52) first got into Lotus/Caterham 7s back in the late Eighties after a work friend took him out for a ride in his Lotus 7 S2. From then on he was hooked, and his first 7 arrived a few years later in 1992 with an adequate 1600 X-Flow motor, a long cockpit, and a live axle. It was fun, but in 2006 he decided to move up to this Caterham 7 Sigma Roadsport 150, which he chose to build himself.
PH Carpooler - Ivan Church'I had the odd difficult moment during the build with one or two bits not being that easy to fit. This was due to it being one of the early SteelFab chassis with the new Sigma engine so things were slightly different. The engine had to be re-mapped and set-up a couple of times by Caterham while it was being developed but now that has been sorted I'm really pleased with the result - plenty of power to be able to enjoy the roads with, although I don't know how long it will be before I start wanting more! It certainly feels a lot more eager and free revving than my old 7 and I recently had it on the rolling road for a power run and it produced 142BHP which I'm happy with - for now.'
One of the main reasons for the change from the old 7 was that he wanted to do a bit of touring, and in 2010 he took it over to France and down to the LeMans Classic. 'I had a great run down - making sure I found a few tunnels on the way of course - with so many other like-minded people. There were lots of other 7 owners and plenty of PHers there as well. It's certainly something I plan to do next year, hopefully with others from the Oxford area too. This year I did the Isle of Man trip that is run by a number of club members on the island just before the TT race fortnight. Again, another fantastic long weekend and despite the slightly stormy weather at times we found what is for me the best bit of tarmac I have ever driven on over the mountain section from Ramsey to Douglas. I think this might just become another annual event!'
PH Carpool: Caterham Roadsport 150
Fast... nimble... fantastic? The delights of a homebuilt lightweight
PH Carpooler - Ivan Church
Other than his previous 7, Ivan has owned only what he describes as 'bog standard tin-tops'. 'It's mad by comparison, but a very easy car to live with. It's been utterly reliable so far and any fettling has been done out of choice, not necessity. That it takes three times longer to get in and out of than most other cars is the only real drawback, but the driving experience more than makes up for that.'
Surely there must be the odd track day on the cards too? 'I haven't done any in this one yet but I did do Goodwood and Castle Combe in the old one. It's something that I want to do even if it's just to see how different it is to the old car.'
It's usual in Carpool to find out what other cars PHers aspire to, but Ivan's answer to this question was a bit different to the norm. 'Maybe this sounds boring or unimaginative but I can't think of any other cars I'd rather have. There are a lot of other really nice high performance cars around, just nothing I would swap this for at the moment - perhaps I need to find a house with a bigger garage or better still a large garage with a small house attached!
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Discussion
Very nice car and being used as it should be. 
If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
Steamer said:
Lovely!...
...Must be one of the slowest depreciating cars within an affordable investment bracket.
Yep! My first Seven was a Super Sprint, it appreciated over 2 years. My current Seven I bought very well and is certainly worth what I paid for it. The great thing is, they cost nought to run and my Sigma 125 frequently gets 40+mpg! Everyone should have a Seven at sometime in their lives, or at least drive one! They are fantastic!...Must be one of the slowest depreciating cars within an affordable investment bracket.
BuzzLightyear said:
Very nice car and being used as it should be.
If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
If you run with insufficient rear ride height you get a world of understeer. I'd rather it handled than worry about aesthetics.If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
Well done, a few years ago I was annoyed I always found an excuse why I did not buy a CAT, now I have, I just wished I had the time,talent, and space to build one.
They are just the most fun you can have with ya clothes on, One to suit every budget, rich or poor, can be used all year round (I did for 3 years)If you lubricate (steady on)can be stored outside (tarp. on ground suitable outdoor cover)I did. Yes they hold their value, so if on a budget a better investment than a domestic. No passenger for shopping gives ample space, I have also camped with a passenger able to carry tent, Bags etc. When driving people smile, when parked People smile and start a conversation.
Oh almost forgot to mention shift like billio, they really are smiles per gallon.
They are just the most fun you can have with ya clothes on, One to suit every budget, rich or poor, can be used all year round (I did for 3 years)If you lubricate (steady on)can be stored outside (tarp. on ground suitable outdoor cover)I did. Yes they hold their value, so if on a budget a better investment than a domestic. No passenger for shopping gives ample space, I have also camped with a passenger able to carry tent, Bags etc. When driving people smile, when parked People smile and start a conversation.
Oh almost forgot to mention shift like billio, they really are smiles per gallon.
A 2006 Sigma! A true pioneer.
I'm lucky enough to drive a wide range of Sevens every month, but the ones that give me the most smiles per gallon (thanks for phrase DE15 CAT - consider it stolen) on the road are always the Sigmas. I commute in a Roadsport 125.
On a track the extra oomph of the 2.0 Duratec is welcome of course, especially in Superlight form, but on the road that little 1600 is all I need. AFAIK it is the lightest non-bike engine ever fitted to a Caterham - even lighter than the old K-series. Beautiful car Mr. Church - and thanks for helping develop the 150 ;-)
I'm lucky enough to drive a wide range of Sevens every month, but the ones that give me the most smiles per gallon (thanks for phrase DE15 CAT - consider it stolen) on the road are always the Sigmas. I commute in a Roadsport 125.
On a track the extra oomph of the 2.0 Duratec is welcome of course, especially in Superlight form, but on the road that little 1600 is all I need. AFAIK it is the lightest non-bike engine ever fitted to a Caterham - even lighter than the old K-series. Beautiful car Mr. Church - and thanks for helping develop the 150 ;-)
Tom_C76 said:
BuzzLightyear said:
Very nice car and being used as it should be.
If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
If you run with insufficient rear ride height you get a world of understeer. I'd rather it handled than worry about aesthetics.If it were mine, I would adjust the ride height at the rear, downwards a bit - might not be so practical but better aesthetically?
Would like to do the self-build thing myself one day on one of these: All I need is the money, time and space.
TobesH said:
Yep! My first Seven was a Super Sprint, it appreciated over 2 years. My current Seven I bought very well and is certainly worth what I paid for it. The great thing is, they cost nought to run and my Sigma 125 frequently gets 40+mpg! Everyone should have a Seven at sometime in their lives, or at least drive one! They are fantastic!
Not all 7evens are created equal!!Most builds you will not get your money back on and my tuned 2.0 pinto struggled to get 20mpg if driven properly.
It took 4 years to build and cost around £5k and that's a pretty tight budget build. I sold it earlier this year after 4 years on the road for £2700. If you buy 2nd hand you will get most of your money back but not if your build it yourself. It's still well worth it though and I would do it again. The lows are real low especially if you are building from scratch, but £1 for £1 you will not have as much (fairly) safe fun on the roads or track.
The only problem I found is finding some decent roads that are not potholed and clogged up with Sunday drivers doing 35 mph. That's one of the reasons I sold it.
Edited by pajsh on Friday 21st October 15:21
pajsh said:
TobesH said:
Yep! My first Seven was a Super Sprint, it appreciated over 2 years. My current Seven I bought very well and is certainly worth what I paid for it. The great thing is, they cost nought to run and my Sigma 125 frequently gets 40+mpg! Everyone should have a Seven at sometime in their lives, or at least drive one! They are fantastic!
Not all 7evens are created equal!!Most builds you will not get your money back on and my tuned 2.0 pinto struggled to get 20mpg if driven properly.
It took 4 years to build and cost around £5k. I sold it earlier this year after 4 years on the road for £2700. If you buy 2nd hand you will get most of your money back but not if your build it yourself. It's still well worth it though and I would do it again. The lows are real low especially if you are building from scratch, but £1 for £1 you will not have as much (fairly) safe fun on the roads or track.
The only problem I found is finding some decent roads that are not potholed and clogged up with Sunday drivers doing 35 mph. That's one of the reasons I sold it.
Thanks all for the comments 
That's how I understood it Tom_C76 and the rule of thumb, I set up to, was front wishbones parallel to floor and set the rake of the car to 15mm up towards the rear, but I know what you mean Buzz - it does look a little high - perhaps a good reason to check it out again and drive in the sun tomorrow morning to test it!!
Ivan
That's how I understood it Tom_C76 and the rule of thumb, I set up to, was front wishbones parallel to floor and set the rake of the car to 15mm up towards the rear, but I know what you mean Buzz - it does look a little high - perhaps a good reason to check it out again and drive in the sun tomorrow morning to test it!!
Ivan
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