Some type of Caterham as a daily driver?

[agatebox]

Whilst it obviously depends on your type of commute and volume of traffic encountered it’s like asking could I use a Ducati 916/ 998 as a daily.

Practically you could, but you’ll soon loose your enthusiasm.

[framerateuk]

BlackPrince said:

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)

I run to walk a few times a week regardless of the weather, I'd rather do that that drive the 7 too.

They're not good in stop start traffic, they get unpleasantly warm quickly in slow moving traffic due to the position of the exhaust and manifold being right by the driver's feet (in a Ford engined car).

Also, other drivers don't take that much notice on the morning commute, meaning a low slung Caterham is easily not seen when placed between two 4x4s.

Very cold in the winter! I drive mine all year round but the thought of taking it to work on a frosty morning isn't very appealing!

[Seven Smiles]

Depends a lot on where you're going to drive it. I commuted in my 7 for more than a dozen years (about 100,000 miles in total) but it was 20 minutes of clear, fast road and there was underground parking at the office. Even then I had a second car for when I wimped out - if it was raining when I looked out the window in the morning. I would do it again. Yes, there is some corrosion but I'm not sure it's much worse than any 15-year-old 7 and I offset that against the hours of pleasure - I was the only one who arrived at work with a smile on my face I only needed to fit the full hood maybe half a dozen times and later when I had a half hood I didn't need that very often even though it's easier to fit and a much more pleasant driving experience.

[BertBert]

Mine was in the open at home and in the open at work or at any customer I drove to, so having the roof on was important! If it was garaged at home and work, then I would have spent lots more time with the hood off. I did about 30k miles in 18 months, two winters. I believe the service schedule says for that kind of use that the chassis is a service item - replace every 2 years! Mind you it was a mid-90's caterham at the peak of the poor chassis painting period!

Bert

[HardtopManual]

BlackPrince said:

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)

Sure - your obvious answers are entirely correct.

Unrelated, but relevant - a Caterham with the roof on in a downpour is a very different place than one with the roof off in the sun. I genuinely hated the PH Caterham for the first hour after collecting it (the weather was miserable and I had to do half a lap of the A406 in rush hour). Luckily, the sun was out (ish) for the rest of my time with it and, as a plaything, it was brilliant.