Caterham as a daily drive - first month's report
Discussion
Good write up of your time with it.
I've always wanted one.
Found a hardtop i think it looks good
http://www.eternalmachinery.com/seven/donkervoort_...
I've always wanted one.
Found a hardtop i think it looks good
http://www.eternalmachinery.com/seven/donkervoort_...
Edited by dazerc on Tuesday 11th May 21:26
Good stuff that man, a fine way to travel year round. For all those saying you'll be longing for a heater in winter, just remember, there's no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing 
You've got more protection in there than on two wheels, so a decent motorcycle textile jacket and gloves will see you through the winter while still being able to feel your extremities!
Cheers,
Tom
You've got more protection in there than on two wheels, so a decent motorcycle textile jacket and gloves will see you through the winter while still being able to feel your extremities!
Cheers,
Tom
I use my 6 spd 1600-K as a daily driver more often than not.
Autocom intercom, an Aldi MP3 player/radio, motorcyclists heated waistcoat under the fleece, heated seats (yes, really), a 10yr old Mintex woolly hat and it's rather good. Roof on on a morning as it's normally too stiff to take off and fold up (covered in ice this morning again). Take it off at lunchtime at work once the sun has been to work ready for a blast home. 15 mile commute - 20 min on a morning, 30min in the evening via the back roads, where the noise of the sheep do-do hitting the rear arches and roll bar sometimes overcomes the radio ;-).
It's sat outside all winter (scrape the snow off every so often to stop the roof stretching) - it's been more watertight than either of our tin-tops.
Had to take the roof off to get the lengths of guttering in, bought from local Wickes at lunchtime - for some reason that seemed to invoke a few comments at work . .
Bri
Autocom intercom, an Aldi MP3 player/radio, motorcyclists heated waistcoat under the fleece, heated seats (yes, really), a 10yr old Mintex woolly hat and it's rather good. Roof on on a morning as it's normally too stiff to take off and fold up (covered in ice this morning again). Take it off at lunchtime at work once the sun has been to work ready for a blast home. 15 mile commute - 20 min on a morning, 30min in the evening via the back roads, where the noise of the sheep do-do hitting the rear arches and roll bar sometimes overcomes the radio ;-).
It's sat outside all winter (scrape the snow off every so often to stop the roof stretching) - it's been more watertight than either of our tin-tops.
Had to take the roof off to get the lengths of guttering in, bought from local Wickes at lunchtime - for some reason that seemed to invoke a few comments at work . .
Bri
Nice write up.
A Caterham's my only car and as such, my daily drive. Like you, my drive to work doesn't take long, but I did over 11k miles last year through all weathers.
A few months back I brought a Softbitforsevens half hood. It's brilliant and I'd sell the original if they were worth any money. The original hoods not worth the hassle, the half hood is no hassle.
A Caterham's my only car and as such, my daily drive. Like you, my drive to work doesn't take long, but I did over 11k miles last year through all weathers.
A few months back I brought a Softbitforsevens half hood. It's brilliant and I'd sell the original if they were worth any money. The original hoods not worth the hassle, the half hood is no hassle.
As Gingerbread man says, get the half hood. but just wait until the crap weather arrives and you're driving it with the full hood on. You need to be a contortionist to get in and out of it, you'll get VERY friendly with your passenger in the bargain. Visibility is crapper than driving a van with blacked out side windows, it's like driving a tank looking through a letterbox.
Unless it has a good heater that'll demist the screen, you'll have problems with it misting up. Also carry an old towel to mop up the leaks that come in everywhere,
As for leaving it unattended with no roof on, check the seats when you get back to it for footprints, (& the silencer) as kids will use them for steps. Talking about the silencer, watch out for small children (not bothered about the older idiots) touching the hot pipe when you park up.
You'll also find that you p
s off the bikers that can't keep up with you round the bendy bits, other wise, when the sun shines, it's a big grin from ear'ole to ear'ole!
Unless it has a good heater that'll demist the screen, you'll have problems with it misting up. Also carry an old towel to mop up the leaks that come in everywhere,
As for leaving it unattended with no roof on, check the seats when you get back to it for footprints, (& the silencer) as kids will use them for steps. Talking about the silencer, watch out for small children (not bothered about the older idiots) touching the hot pipe when you park up.
You'll also find that you p
s off the bikers that can't keep up with you round the bendy bits, other wise, when the sun shines, it's a big grin from ear'ole to ear'ole!Edited by Gafferjim on Tuesday 11th May 23:00
Merry said:
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 
Heat-wise, the tunnel gets warm and the heater keeps all body-parts below the dash warm. Heated motorcycle clothing might be good if you always use an aeroscreen but I find mountaineering/hill-walking kit is perfectly good enough. I know others who use sailing clothes (not sou-westers!).
Given the number of lashing points, it's a surprisingly practical car. I carried bikes on mine often, for example.
silverMX said:
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!
Yeah, why not? As long as you lot don't mind me rambling on about my daily adventures.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!
tommobot said:
Surely the engine would sort of act as heater colder days?
It certainly does, but there is also an actual heater, with diddy little vents just above the gearknob. Once fully ensconsed, it does get quite toasty in there.Gafferjim said:
but just wait until the crap weather arrives and you're driving it with the full hood on. You need to be a contortionist to get in and out of it, you'll get VERY friendly with your passenger in the bargain.
I've already had the "pleasure" of getting in and out with the hood up. You wouldn't believe how flexible a 42 year-old fat bloke can actually get! Fortunately, I have several BAGA badges and was the Watford & District Freestyle Limbo Champion (1986-1987). 
Gafferjim said:
Visibility is crapper than driving a van with blacked out side windows, it's like driving a tank looking through a letterbox.
I drive lorries for a living, so I'm used to compromised visability. Still can't park the bloody thing, mind.Gafferjim said:
Unless it has a good heater that'll demist the screen, you'll have problems with it misting up.
<cough> Heated screen <cough> The Softbits half-hood is already on the inevitable "upgradeitis" shopping list.
A week or so ago, I was forced (by some idiot parking in front of the gates) to hop into the Rocco to go to work, although this did give me the opportunity to fit the new tax disc.
I've had the Rocco for over six years now and always thought it quite tight, stiff and sorted, what with the tweaks I'd done on the suspension and whatnot. But getting into it after two weeks in the Seven it felt like a bus. A big wobbly bus, with no brakes. The steering wheel felt mahoosive, compared to the Momo shirt-button in Katie and the acceleration felt like I had left the handbrake on. Still love it though.
Oh and you can read about me getting told off by the security chaps at work for driving under the barrier on a thread in The Lounge.
Thanks for the kind words chaps/esses.
Edited by Cock Womble 7 on Wednesday 12th May 04:48
thinfourth2 said:
Caterham heaters
From the waist up utterly useless
From the waist down there is 2 settings hot or melt bone.
Unless you have one with an exhaust on the same side as the driver as the exhaust primaries do their very best to set fire to your feet.
You know that there is a rod which adjusts the heat of it under the steering wheel right?From the waist up utterly useless
From the waist down there is 2 settings hot or melt bone.
Unless you have one with an exhaust on the same side as the driver as the exhaust primaries do their very best to set fire to your feet.
It's not too bad, although it the engine gets quite hot you will get hotter air going into the passenger compartment. This apparently is good for an engine if you have been giving it a hard time on track to aid cooling on your way in...
Marty Funkhouser said:
CW - whats the insurance like on a car like this?
I do like the colour too....
I got mine as the first car I owned, aged 23, single male, living in North London (Holloway) with the car parked on the street and my first year's insurance was about £1k, maybe slightly over. I thought that was pretty good given the performance and my lack of insurance history.I do like the colour too....
GFWilliams said:
thinfourth2 said:
Caterham heaters
From the waist up utterly useless
From the waist down there is 2 settings hot or melt bone.
Unless you have one with an exhaust on the same side as the driver as the exhaust primaries do their very best to set fire to your feet.
You know that there is a rod which adjusts the heat of it under the steering wheel right?From the waist up utterly useless
From the waist down there is 2 settings hot or melt bone.
Unless you have one with an exhaust on the same side as the driver as the exhaust primaries do their very best to set fire to your feet.
It's not too bad, although it the engine gets quite hot you will get hotter air going into the passenger compartment. This apparently is good for an engine if you have been giving it a hard time on track to aid cooling on your way in...
ewenm said:
I got mine as the first car I owned, aged 23, single male, living in North London (Holloway) with the car parked on the street and my first year's insurance was about £1k, maybe slightly over. I thought that was pretty good given the performance and my lack of insurance history.
Very good - was that recently? Edit - i see it's in your current fleet.Wouldn't mind one myself - only have half the funds saved up so far. Want to get a motorbike too...
Edited by soad on Wednesday 12th May 12:26
Cock Womble 7 said:
Marty Funkhouser said:
CW - whats the insurance like on a car like this?
42 years old, 9 plus years NCB, 6 points (2 x SP10), parked off-street in Northampton town centre (or as near as dammit) = about £300 fully comp from the very nice people at Adrian Flux.Message Board | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff