Caterham as a daily drive - first month's report

[al1991]

Nice car. Thanks for the report, very interesting.

[Mazda Baiter]

Good stuff CW. I think I saw you in it the other day, mid afternoon on the brackmills roundabout. A good choice on the 'box, if a little close on the gate. Make sure you get 4th on the down change and not second, it does tend to lunch the engines...so I am told.

[Jasandjules]

I always wanted one - until the day I nearly rolled straight into one as it was so low that I only just saw it in time to not drive into it.....

But as a track day toy, I think there isn't much to beat it in terms of bangs for bucks.

Glad you are using it daily though - that is nice to see.

[soad]

al1991 said:

Nice car. Thanks for the report, very interesting.

Seconded - big thumbs up

[Mr2Mike]

Cock Womble 7 said:

And it's got a removable steering wheel.

There is nothing cooler than that.

Not so cool when you don't fasten it on correctly and you write your car off when the wheel comes off in your hands at high speed

[wmg100]

Gaz. said:

Sounds great although I'm not sure I'd want to do it myself. I absolutely love the colour.

An Elise s2 is about as hardcore as I'd go for a daily driver.

I thought that initially, but then my VX220 leaked, had no meaningful heater and I assume would be more of a handful in bad weather than a front engined rear driver.

This has certainly got me thinking...

[Killer2005]

I'm paying lots of attention to this as I'm planning on doing similar asap

[whitechief]

Marty Funkhouser said:

Cock Womble 7 said:

Marty Funkhouser said:

Whats the solution to the potentially catastrophic 'small pebble' problem? I assume that its extremely rare to get caught by one unless you're very tall and your bonce is above the top of the windscreen?

I'm a mere 5' 11" and have learned to scooch down in the seat to avoid any pebble-based interactions.

But I've recently found out how to adjust the seat, which gives me a whole 5mm more legroom.

Is a helmet not in order?

Nice car CW, I had mine many years ago now and still miss it.

Regarding protecting yourself, when I sold mine the chap turned up with a pair of ski goggles and I thought he was a bit odd. It turned out he was an eye Surgeon for the American military and after he explained the damage that can be done to yours eyes very easily in cars like this, he suddenly didn't seem odd at all.

Oh and watch out for birds(Aves) I got dive bombed twice in mine at high speed and it scared the crap out of me.

[wackojacko]

Well errm fairplay to you

[wmg100]

Gaz. said:

wmg100 said:

Gaz. said:

Sounds great although I'm not sure I'd want to do it myself. I absolutely love the colour.

An Elise s2 is about as hardcore as I'd go for a daily driver.

I thought that initially, but then my VX220 leaked, had no meaningful heater and I assume would be more of a handful in bad weather than a front engined rear driver.

This has certainly got me thinking...

I didn't think the S2/VX cars leaked? I've driven a 270bhp MR2 in snow so I fancy my chances in the Lotus in bad weather tbh.

Most of the 2.2 VXs leaked, the turbo was a bit better but you need to fit the latest Lotus seals to fix it properly I think.

[ewenm]

Well done CW, nice write-up. I used mine as a daily driver for 5 years - it just requires the right attitude.

[henrycrun]

Brilliant! BTW has anyone tried a heated m/cycle vest for going topless on colder days ?

[Merry]

I wonder if its possible to make a hard top for a Caterham.

Gull Wing Doors, I suspect would be necessary

[5pen]

I think a hardtop has been tried, but it was very ugly and a bit pointless.

I rarely used the hood when I had one, but when I did it never leaked. I rarely bothered to put it on when parking - never had any problems.

[Merry]

5pen said:

I think a hardtop has been tried, but it was very ugly and a bit pointless.

I can picture it being ugly, although it takes a true Caterham driver to call a roof pointless

[RobM77]

braddo said:

Tangent Police said:

Nice.

Hats off to you for being a proper petrolhead.

Yep

[snuffle]

Great looking car CW7, nice to see interesting stuff being used daily.

[loose cannon]

a proper ph short story

[tommobot]

Surely the engine would sort of act as heater colder days? Or does the windscreen block the heat somewhat?

[silverMX]

CW,

Will you be keeping this thread updated as a sort of Blog so we can all see how Caterham daily driving pans out..? I'd be interested in seeing how it goes when both when the weather is fine and when it turns less friendly. I'm sure others will be too!