Brief 420R test drive impressions
Discussion
REALIST123 said:
But I don’t find mine unbearably hot in the summer, nor does it have searing tunnel heat (R400D/6sp/220bhp). It does have full insulation inside the tunnel and engine compartment, as they all have done for some years now.
Mine (Sigma) was much better after I blocked off the heater flutes facing over my legs.framerateuk said:
REALIST123 said:
But I don’t find mine unbearably hot in the summer, nor does it have searing tunnel heat (R400D/6sp/220bhp). It does have full insulation inside the tunnel and engine compartment, as they all have done for some years now.
Mine (Sigma) was much better after I blocked off the heater flutes facing over my legs.framerateuk said:
I guess it's possible my heater is stuck on! I think I'll need to check the valve, I keep meaning to do it, but I always forget once the car is hot.
If it is like my car, the heater inlet didn't seal properly on the bonnet and it would suck warm air from around the engine, I stuck some soft foam under the bonnet around the louvres, this stops any warm air coming in, If it's a warm day you can put the blower on and get fresh air down by your feet. Glug69 said:
If it is like my car, the heater inlet didn't seal properly on the bonnet and it would suck warm air from around the engine, I stuck some soft foam under the bonnet around the louvres, this stops any warm air coming in, If it's a warm day you can put the blower on and get fresh air down by your feet.
Ah, that's almost definitely it, in fact, the plastic around the heater has cracked, so that probably needs a bit of a repair to get working properly again!I have both an Elise S1 with plenty of modifications and a Caterham Superlight. Both are very different but if I had to keep one, it would be the Lotus.
The Caterham is better than the Lotus is some areas of dynamics, whilst the Elise kills the Caterham in others.
My Elise us just as raw and exciting as the Caterham and a whole lot more usable so ultimately you get to use it more and hence gain more pleasure from it.
Granted a standard Elise won't give the same buzz as a standard Caterham. Elise 260 Cup /Exige S2 etc included.
The Caterham is better than the Lotus is some areas of dynamics, whilst the Elise kills the Caterham in others.
My Elise us just as raw and exciting as the Caterham and a whole lot more usable so ultimately you get to use it more and hence gain more pleasure from it.
Granted a standard Elise won't give the same buzz as a standard Caterham. Elise 260 Cup /Exige S2 etc included.
Hi Black Prince, thanks for posting your first impressions, in a well written post. Hope you will appreciate some feedback from a long time owner. (21 years)
Firstly I'm happy that you understand a Caterham can actually be comfortable, the obvious visual impression is that is most definitely is not, but i have taken mine on plenty of long tours including Houston to San Francisco, Norway, Italy, Scotland, France, and several others, and can advise that it is very comfortable even over long distances.
the secret is to treat it just like a motorcycle, I don't have screen or hood so use motorcycle clothing, helmet, communication system, satnav, and waterproof bags strapped to the roll bar for luggage. As you point out, once you are in it it is surprisingly comfortable and I have driven up to 12 hours per day in it no problem.
Treating it like a motorcycle leads me into my next point, you compare it to a motorcycle in a straight line but advise that your drive was not very "spirited", which is a shame, you should have gassed it big time on some twisty country roads, then you would have seen its true potential. You would appreciate that a motorcycle on a twisty road is an very slow machine, i used to drive my car along a particular route that was also heavily used by bikers and was always disapointed if I got struck behind them, they are soooooo slow in corners! Boring!
Hope you get one soon, but don't buy a new one, buy a used one that someone else has already spent a lot of money on to make it go, handle, stop, better than a new one.
Firstly I'm happy that you understand a Caterham can actually be comfortable, the obvious visual impression is that is most definitely is not, but i have taken mine on plenty of long tours including Houston to San Francisco, Norway, Italy, Scotland, France, and several others, and can advise that it is very comfortable even over long distances.
the secret is to treat it just like a motorcycle, I don't have screen or hood so use motorcycle clothing, helmet, communication system, satnav, and waterproof bags strapped to the roll bar for luggage. As you point out, once you are in it it is surprisingly comfortable and I have driven up to 12 hours per day in it no problem.
Treating it like a motorcycle leads me into my next point, you compare it to a motorcycle in a straight line but advise that your drive was not very "spirited", which is a shame, you should have gassed it big time on some twisty country roads, then you would have seen its true potential. You would appreciate that a motorcycle on a twisty road is an very slow machine, i used to drive my car along a particular route that was also heavily used by bikers and was always disapointed if I got struck behind them, they are soooooo slow in corners! Boring!
Hope you get one soon, but don't buy a new one, buy a used one that someone else has already spent a lot of money on to make it go, handle, stop, better than a new one.
Mike Biddle said:
Hi Black Prince, thanks for posting your first impressions, in a well written post. Hope you will appreciate some feedback from a long time owner. (21 years)
Firstly I'm happy that you understand a Caterham can actually be comfortable, the obvious visual impression is that is most definitely is not, but i have taken mine on plenty of long tours including Houston to San Francisco, Norway, Italy, Scotland, France, and several others, and can advise that it is very comfortable even over long distances.
the secret is to treat it just like a motorcycle, I don't have screen or hood so use motorcycle clothing, helmet, communication system, satnav, and waterproof bags strapped to the roll bar for luggage. As you point out, once you are in it it is surprisingly comfortable and I have driven up to 12 hours per day in it no problem.
Treating it like a motorcycle leads me into my next point, you compare it to a motorcycle in a straight line but advise that your drive was not very "spirited", which is a shame, you should have gassed it big time on some twisty country roads, then you would have seen its true potential. You would appreciate that a motorcycle on a twisty road is an very slow machine, i used to drive my car along a particular route that was also heavily used by bikers and was always disapointed if I got struck behind them, they are soooooo slow in corners! Boring!
Hope you get one soon, but don't buy a new one, buy a used one that someone else has already spent a lot of money on to make it go, handle, stop, better than a new one.
Thanks Mike! I certainly got to gas it full throttle, but backed off when it got to about 80 mph! Also, there was some traffic occasionally on the road so wasn't the greatest environment. The purpose of my drive was to know how well it did the mundane stuff - I knew they were thrilling when on the boil even before I drove one. Firstly I'm happy that you understand a Caterham can actually be comfortable, the obvious visual impression is that is most definitely is not, but i have taken mine on plenty of long tours including Houston to San Francisco, Norway, Italy, Scotland, France, and several others, and can advise that it is very comfortable even over long distances.
the secret is to treat it just like a motorcycle, I don't have screen or hood so use motorcycle clothing, helmet, communication system, satnav, and waterproof bags strapped to the roll bar for luggage. As you point out, once you are in it it is surprisingly comfortable and I have driven up to 12 hours per day in it no problem.
Treating it like a motorcycle leads me into my next point, you compare it to a motorcycle in a straight line but advise that your drive was not very "spirited", which is a shame, you should have gassed it big time on some twisty country roads, then you would have seen its true potential. You would appreciate that a motorcycle on a twisty road is an very slow machine, i used to drive my car along a particular route that was also heavily used by bikers and was always disapointed if I got struck behind them, they are soooooo slow in corners! Boring!
Hope you get one soon, but don't buy a new one, buy a used one that someone else has already spent a lot of money on to make it go, handle, stop, better than a new one.
And if you find yourself getting stuck behind bikers, perhaps you should try following me when i'm on a bike :P
In all seriousness, if/when I make it to the UK, there's no doubt in my mind I'll get a Caterham of some sort (though the recent thread on the new Atom has be intrigued...)
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