Some type of Caterham as a daily driver?
Discussion
Hello, I might be moving to the UK for a couple of years from Canada (Im a Mancunian originally) and was toying with the idea of using a Caterham as a DD. I lived in Ireland a decade ago for 3 yrs and ran a motorbike (Ducati Multistrada) as my only transport and it was wonderful, if a bit cold at times.
I'll never have this opportunity again I don't think, and was looking forward to feeling utterly engaged with every journey, even to the shops, and having the time of my life on British B-roads (nothing like that where I live!)
I know Henry Catchpole from Evo apparently ran one as his only car for a year and he said it was alright with proper apparel. I'd be looking at the fastest SV I could get for £30 000.
My other option would be to get an old Elise or Exige and a motorbike.
I'll never have this opportunity again I don't think, and was looking forward to feeling utterly engaged with every journey, even to the shops, and having the time of my life on British B-roads (nothing like that where I live!)
I know Henry Catchpole from Evo apparently ran one as his only car for a year and he said it was alright with proper apparel. I'd be looking at the fastest SV I could get for £30 000.
My other option would be to get an old Elise or Exige and a motorbike.
Having had both an elise S1 and a caterham (which is my personal choice) i would say if you live in the UK a want a DD it would be the elise winning hands down every time. Just use it without the roof at all times. Just get the right derivative for you which is a very personal choice which you need to test not read of hear of.
I used a 7 as my daily driver for a couple of years. I commuted to work and also drove around the country visiting customers. Mega miles.
I must have been mad. I really couldn't arrive to work or at a customer wet in my suit. So I generally had the top up for anything other than definitely dry driving. It was kind of fun, but after two years I abjectly hated it. I remember some dark torrential motorway journeys when I knew I would die. Fortunately I was wrong!
A side effect was that two salty winters completely did for my 7. Needed a new chassis/body after that!
Anyway, things have changed. There is now the half hood which might do the trick. Also your daily drive might be different! So doable? Yes. Advisable? up to you!
On the positive side, they can all do a daily drive. The question is can you?
HTH
Bert
I must have been mad. I really couldn't arrive to work or at a customer wet in my suit. So I generally had the top up for anything other than definitely dry driving. It was kind of fun, but after two years I abjectly hated it. I remember some dark torrential motorway journeys when I knew I would die. Fortunately I was wrong!
A side effect was that two salty winters completely did for my 7. Needed a new chassis/body after that!
Anyway, things have changed. There is now the half hood which might do the trick. Also your daily drive might be different! So doable? Yes. Advisable? up to you!
On the positive side, they can all do a daily drive. The question is can you?
HTH
Bert
I was thinking a similar thing. I'd like a Seven. Haven't done it yet. But when I do, I want to be able to enjoy it as much as possible, as much of the time as possible. Most of the complaints we hear about Seven being difficult or uncomfortable to live with, have to do with:
-Engine noise and axle noise (especially with the hood up)
-Insufficient warmth outside May to October
-Ride quality
-Getting in and out with the hood up
-Steamy windows with hood up
After mulling all this over for some time, I think it's probably possible to make your car relatively (for a Seven) compliant in the above areas, but hardly anyone, if anyone, ever does. Why? I suspect because some of the necessary modifications are a bit extreme for most tastes and expensive, and some even reduce resale value later, biting you financially at both ends.
I expect the following fixes would reduce all of the above complaints. BTW, I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually tried them all:
-Rear exiting exhaust with quiet silencer. A bit expensive and, due to reducing power by about 4%(?), can actually reduce resale value. Keep old exhaust and swap back over at resale. Will reduce noise
-Choose 5 speed box with overdrive 5th, not 6 speed or 4 speed with 1:1 top. Again, quieter, but the word on the street is, it doesn't suit the higher revving engines
-If you haven't already got one, get a quiet (for a Seven!) axle. I understand there have been complaints about certain types and years of diffs. Google it. Not necessarily cheap, but quieter
-Add some sound proofing of your own between rear bulkhead and seats to further reduce axle noise. Would likely reduce resale value, but you could always remove it
-Two birds with one stone - get a mini style kit car heater fitted. Am I right in thinking that the standard heater doesn't blow air on to the screen, but only in to the footwells? A heater that blows directly on to the screen, can reduce condensation and keep you warm in winter. May require other modifications under the bonnet to make room, and I imagine could invalidate warranty
-Get a car with standard Roadsport or Classic suspension, and 185/70 13 donut tyres, and you'll have the best ride that a Seven can offer. Not difficult, but it restricts your choice
-To make getting in and out easier, many people get a half hood, which is a good solution. But this doesn't make the car warm inside on really cold days. Instead, consider ordering a full hood from Soft Bits for Sevens with the "easy in option", and you'll be able to stay warm and get in and out. Removable steering wheel also makes getting in and out easier
As I say, you don't see a lot of cars with too many of these fixes, because they are a bit of hassle and expense. And, no doubt, someone will be along soon to say all this is not in keeping with the spirit of things. However, personally, I know I would rather not catch a cold in the winter or suffer earache.
Anyway, in answer to your question, it can be done, but you've either got to be prepared to compromise or go to some trouble and expense.
-Engine noise and axle noise (especially with the hood up)
-Insufficient warmth outside May to October
-Ride quality
-Getting in and out with the hood up
-Steamy windows with hood up
After mulling all this over for some time, I think it's probably possible to make your car relatively (for a Seven) compliant in the above areas, but hardly anyone, if anyone, ever does. Why? I suspect because some of the necessary modifications are a bit extreme for most tastes and expensive, and some even reduce resale value later, biting you financially at both ends.
I expect the following fixes would reduce all of the above complaints. BTW, I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually tried them all:
-Rear exiting exhaust with quiet silencer. A bit expensive and, due to reducing power by about 4%(?), can actually reduce resale value. Keep old exhaust and swap back over at resale. Will reduce noise
-Choose 5 speed box with overdrive 5th, not 6 speed or 4 speed with 1:1 top. Again, quieter, but the word on the street is, it doesn't suit the higher revving engines
-If you haven't already got one, get a quiet (for a Seven!) axle. I understand there have been complaints about certain types and years of diffs. Google it. Not necessarily cheap, but quieter
-Add some sound proofing of your own between rear bulkhead and seats to further reduce axle noise. Would likely reduce resale value, but you could always remove it
-Two birds with one stone - get a mini style kit car heater fitted. Am I right in thinking that the standard heater doesn't blow air on to the screen, but only in to the footwells? A heater that blows directly on to the screen, can reduce condensation and keep you warm in winter. May require other modifications under the bonnet to make room, and I imagine could invalidate warranty
-Get a car with standard Roadsport or Classic suspension, and 185/70 13 donut tyres, and you'll have the best ride that a Seven can offer. Not difficult, but it restricts your choice
-To make getting in and out easier, many people get a half hood, which is a good solution. But this doesn't make the car warm inside on really cold days. Instead, consider ordering a full hood from Soft Bits for Sevens with the "easy in option", and you'll be able to stay warm and get in and out. Removable steering wheel also makes getting in and out easier
As I say, you don't see a lot of cars with too many of these fixes, because they are a bit of hassle and expense. And, no doubt, someone will be along soon to say all this is not in keeping with the spirit of things. However, personally, I know I would rather not catch a cold in the winter or suffer earache.
Anyway, in answer to your question, it can be done, but you've either got to be prepared to compromise or go to some trouble and expense.
Edited by Johnny5hoods on Wednesday 16th May 22:32
I've fully committed myself to doing this and my 160 kit with all the factory creature comforts is arriving later this year. Having spent years with a 1973 Triumph Spitfire as my DD, I'm expecting a similar if slightly more reliable and engaging experience! Thankfully I don't actually do that much long-distance driving for work (less than 5000 miles a year) otherwise I don't think I'd have realistically considered it.
The fact that the heater doesn't blow on to the windscreen shouldn't be an issue if the car is fitted with the heated windscreen supplied on current models.
The fact that the heater doesn't blow on to the windscreen shouldn't be an issue if the car is fitted with the heated windscreen supplied on current models.
Thanks for all the replies.
Any bikers here able to compare experiences?
Presumably a Caterham is (slightly) more comfortable than a bike but then at least on a bike navigating sleeping policeman/speed breakers or steep driveways isn't an issue really.
I'll definitely check out VX's.
Any bikers here able to compare experiences?
Presumably a Caterham is (slightly) more comfortable than a bike but then at least on a bike navigating sleeping policeman/speed breakers or steep driveways isn't an issue really.
I'll definitely check out VX's.
BertBert said:
A side effect was that two salty winters completely did for my 7. Needed a new chassis/body after that!
Bert
An important consideration if you're going to DD a Seven. I've heard quite a few stories about rusty chassis, even from people who don't daily drive them. Be prepared to get out the wire wool and POR15 and spend hours under the car every now and then.Bert
This is one area where the Elise definitely scores and, to me, probably the most off putting aspect of Seven ownership.
If you do a search, I'm sure you'll find that this topic has been raised many times before.
I've done it, when I was younger - circa 12K miles a year, including a commute into a major city centre - but you've got to have a masochistic streak.
In bad weather, the weather gear on a Caterham is terrible (it mists up - the heater just turns more water into steam - visibility through the side screens and rear screen is crap, it's incredibly noisy, and the wipers are half-arsed).
I rapidly came to the conclusion that you're better off running it open with aeroscreens (water just whips round onto the inside face of a full screen), a split tonneau, and wearing motorcycling gear.
I've done it, when I was younger - circa 12K miles a year, including a commute into a major city centre - but you've got to have a masochistic streak.
In bad weather, the weather gear on a Caterham is terrible (it mists up - the heater just turns more water into steam - visibility through the side screens and rear screen is crap, it's incredibly noisy, and the wipers are half-arsed).
I rapidly came to the conclusion that you're better off running it open with aeroscreens (water just whips round onto the inside face of a full screen), a split tonneau, and wearing motorcycling gear.
I've had an Elise S1 as a daily driver and a Caterham 7 HPC as a weekend toy.
Both are usable as a daily driver, the Caterham is quite quite extreme as a daily.
I'd suggest a half hood on a 7.
The main downsides on the 7 are
- Steaming up in poor (wet/cold) weather
- Being low to the ground and in headlight beams in dark months
- Getting in and out in bad weather
- Can't lock it or leave anything valuable in it
The upsides:
- Best driving car on the right road and right day
Personally I'd take a 987.2 Boxster S at £23k as it has the practicality and a nice engine noise
Both are usable as a daily driver, the Caterham is quite quite extreme as a daily.
I'd suggest a half hood on a 7.
The main downsides on the 7 are
- Steaming up in poor (wet/cold) weather
- Being low to the ground and in headlight beams in dark months
- Getting in and out in bad weather
- Can't lock it or leave anything valuable in it
The upsides:
- Best driving car on the right road and right day
Personally I'd take a 987.2 Boxster S at £23k as it has the practicality and a nice engine noise
I commute daily on a motorbike, had a vx220 for 4 years and race a Caterham.
In my opinion the Caterham is the least suitable for daily use. It just doesn’t deal with road salt well (just trailering mine to the track on a salty road has killed bits of it). The vx is better but it’s much more hardcore than a boxster/mx5/MR2.
In the south east there’s very few opportunities to actually enjoy driving so in a Caterham/vx you end up spending 95% if your time in discomfort whilst stuck in hot traffic or driving over speed bumps. The reward for all the effort just isn’t worth it. On the bike however you can get past and enjoy the ride a bit more. I definitely get more smiles per mile on the bike!
In my opinion the Caterham is the least suitable for daily use. It just doesn’t deal with road salt well (just trailering mine to the track on a salty road has killed bits of it). The vx is better but it’s much more hardcore than a boxster/mx5/MR2.
In the south east there’s very few opportunities to actually enjoy driving so in a Caterham/vx you end up spending 95% if your time in discomfort whilst stuck in hot traffic or driving over speed bumps. The reward for all the effort just isn’t worth it. On the bike however you can get past and enjoy the ride a bit more. I definitely get more smiles per mile on the bike!
Honestly, I can't imagine much worse.
I love the impracticality of my 7, but only because I can take it out when I want to, early on the weekends and avoid all the traffic.
Sitting in it in traffic, in the cold and wet on the way to work would get tedious quickly.
Never had a bike, so nothing to compare it against, but riding a bike in all weather wouldn't appeal to me either!
I love the impracticality of my 7, but only because I can take it out when I want to, early on the weekends and avoid all the traffic.
Sitting in it in traffic, in the cold and wet on the way to work would get tedious quickly.
Never had a bike, so nothing to compare it against, but riding a bike in all weather wouldn't appeal to me either!
soad said:
Don't rule out a VX220 either, turbo model can be upgraded for more bhp too.
The thing which really annoyed me with my VX220 was the windscreen steaming up and the heater was crap. Both solved in my Exige thanks to air conditioning and a better heater.My Caterham had a heated windscreen, so if it rained you could still clear the screen pretty quickly. I tried using my Caterham as a daily driver, and did 8000 miles in a year, but there were some days when you started to resent it as it was a pain to get in. Having it as a second car is much nicer really, even if you still use the Caterham more!
HardtopManual said:
I'm one of the PHers who helped to build a Caterham and had it for a weekend of mixed weather. There is no way on earth I'd daily one - and I ride a pushbike ten miles each way to work, whatever the weather, so I'm not afraid of the elements.
May I ask why you'd rather be on your bike than in the Caterham for your commute? (obvious answers of beating traffic, exercise etc aside)Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff