New owner...couple of Q's

[vpr]

Not sure how it happened but on Thursday I returned home in a 98 7.

1.6 Supersport with a very track like spec. 6Sp, LSD, Black Pack,etc

Couple of questions

Where can I get a hood and what's it likely to cost? This car has no heater or hood, hardcore

Second...It has the std leather seats but I get what feels like a ridge right in the bottom of my tail bone which is lterally a pain in the arse. Is this a worn seat< doesn't seem to be any obvious fault with it but not sure it's right

Many Thanks

[Helluvaname]

Hi, I wouldn't buy a "Full Hood" but go for a Half-hood.
They were designed by a small family business in Sussex called Soft Bits For Sevens www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk (others have copied the deign since but I like to support the original - a bit like the Seven really!).
It sounds as though the seat base may need repadding. I guess at that age it's not the type with the lift out base? Again SBFS could do it, or the people who make the seats for Caterham, Oxted Trimming would.

[Helluvaname]

And I just noticed you're in Kent!
If you pop along to one of the L7C meets (there's three in Kent and a couple just across the border in Sussex) you'll get a warm welcome and can ask other owners and check out things like the half-hood in person).
www.lotus7.club/area-meetings

[Stridey]

I'd suggest a visit to Oxted. Firstly they can measure you up for a half hood, also they make Caterham seats, so could advise. And fairly local. The full hood is ott these days, I find the half hood all I need, though I have a full in the garage.
Enjoy!

[vpr]

Thanks fellas

Yes I have a half hood but looks as though I might get wet in driving rain?

I need a shower cap I guess for when I park up, or even a fitted outdoor cover, Who's best for these?

Appreciate your help,

Where are my local meets?

[Master Bean]

I have the long shower cap from sbfs and I really like it. Haven't compared it with anything else but I used it over the weekend and no rain got in.

[Helluvaname]

Where in Kent are you?

[Smitters]

Cat and pigeons, but I preferred my full hood, albeit in a car with a much more touring spec than yours. Mine had a clear panel "sunroof" as well as a zipout rear window and I used the car every day for six months, rain or shine. Wouldn't have done that with a half hood.

[upsidedownmark]

FWIW A half hood (with full doors) worked really well in the rain for me on the one occasion so far that I've been caught out.. Never tried the full, but I could see it being a very dark and noisy hole!

[Stridey]

I used a half hood for a very wet return from Brussels, wind lashed on the motorway across the grey plains of Flanders...
Didn't get wet.
However, I've recently seen a few 'hood up' Sevens outside a dealers and didn't think they looked too bad.
I've used the full hood bag as extra storage capacity, putting the half hood in it and a few bits and bobs, though I do recommend the SBFS bag.

[framerateuk]

The full hood is useful if you want to be able to park the car up and leave it without worrying about the rain getting in.

I far prefer the combination of a half hood and the long nose shower cap though. The shower cap takes only a couple of seconds to put on the car.

When driving the half hood feels less claustrophobic. You'll get the odd drip of rain on you, but we did a 10 day trip around Scotland in ours and the half hood was great.

[Helluvaname]

To stop the spray coming in the back, and give a bit of added protection against heavy driving rain, I use one of these, slid between the roll bar rear bracing struts and the halfhood straps. Works really well but only use it in torrential conditions.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/XtremeAuto-FOLDABLE-Windo...

[mharris]

My car came with a full hood 3 years ago and I've never fitted it.

However I have used an oxted half hood when forced to make journeys in the rain.

Perhaps see how you get on for a while before spending any cash on a full hood.

[Instant Replay]

Used my fulll hood for the first time recently going to and from Caldwell Park recently, four hours there, three back. It felt cosy but nothing as bad as I'd heard. I use earplugs when driving so didn't seem much louder.

[caterham_lad]

Helluvaname said:

Hi, I wouldn't buy a "Full Hood" but go for a Half-hood.
They were designed by a small family business in Sussex called Soft Bits For Sevens www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk (others have copied the deign since but I like to support the original - a bit like the Seven really!).
It sounds as though the seat base may need repadding. I guess at that age it's not the type with the lift out base? Again SBFS could do it, or the people who make the seats for Caterham, Oxted Trimming would.

New site these days - http://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/