Almost decided
Discussion
Phillip-8c43x said:
There must be another mad person like me that is only seeing the romance of buying a car and modifying it to make it capes or of this type of driving.
Or am I completely mad.
I spoke with Robert from Caterham Silverstein and he thinks with a little love and attention I can make the car in the image I need
Firstly, Robert clearly wants to sell you a car - can't blame him - you sound like you have more money than sense. Or am I completely mad.
I spoke with Robert from Caterham Silverstein and he thinks with a little love and attention I can make the car in the image I need
Secondly, Caterham Silverstone know the square route of F-all about Caterhams.
I have to agree with the majority opinion. Don’t do it.
And even more don’t do it with a 620.
I can’t think of a single positive to doing a dark, wet long 8 hr commute on motorways in a 7, unless it was linked to a track day at the end of it. Doing it from A to B...no thanks. I think it will be much worse than the commute on the bike. Buy a 2nd hand R400 / R420 and a commuter car.
It would be a shame to spoil the joy of a 7 by hating it due to main use on the motorway in the dark and wet on a regular basis.
And even more don’t do it with a 620.
I can’t think of a single positive to doing a dark, wet long 8 hr commute on motorways in a 7, unless it was linked to a track day at the end of it. Doing it from A to B...no thanks. I think it will be much worse than the commute on the bike. Buy a 2nd hand R400 / R420 and a commuter car.
It would be a shame to spoil the joy of a 7 by hating it due to main use on the motorway in the dark and wet on a regular basis.
Not sure if you realised when you had one for a weekend, but for context (particularly if you have a lowered floor) you head is lower than the door handles of most cars and certainly lower than the tops of the tyres on wagons.
I love Caterhams and had several over 15 years. An 8 hour commute once a week? Yes, you are completely mad
I love Caterhams and had several over 15 years. An 8 hour commute once a week? Yes, you are completely mad
I’m still trying convince myself :-)
I would use my bike some weeks but if it was looking rainy I would choose the Caterham.
I will make it a labour of love.
Like the idea of staying off motorways so could plan a different journey. And know the journey so well
I can take all day to make the journey. So can go which ever route
Once passed Lancaster the motorway is always clear.
I’ve always wanted one of these cars. And I know it is mad but I believe I could make it work.
Will have loads of questions. First must decide between the 420r and 620s.
I would use my bike some weeks but if it was looking rainy I would choose the Caterham.
I will make it a labour of love.
Like the idea of staying off motorways so could plan a different journey. And know the journey so well
I can take all day to make the journey. So can go which ever route
Once passed Lancaster the motorway is always clear.
I’ve always wanted one of these cars. And I know it is mad but I believe I could make it work.
Will have loads of questions. First must decide between the 420r and 620s.
Definitely buy a Caterham. They are incredible. Just buy a shed to commute in. Even if it breaks down and leaves you stranded by the side of the road in the sleet and snow, it'll still be more pleasant than doing it in a Caterham 
At 175bhp, the 420 is the sweet spot, you really don't need more. I had 140, 180 then 220bhp and it was mental. The 620 at 310bhp is insane.
I'd deffo buy the 620 if I were you
At 175bhp, the 420 is the sweet spot, you really don't need more. I had 140, 180 then 220bhp and it was mental. The 620 at 310bhp is insane.
I'd deffo buy the 620 if I were you
4 years, with an 8hr drive twice a week? yep, that qualifies as mad.
That is a mammoth commute, and as you have probably experienced even with the bike it would get tedious pretty quickly.
I have a bike, and a Caterham (270R) and while I love both, for that sort of journey, I would get something old, cheap and with cruise control. Something that will just let me plough through the miles in the warm and dry - which neither the bike or Caterham will do.
The 620 is a serious piece of kit and would need a lot of respect and attention, even on the motorway. In bad weather, that would be terrifying. I have raced mine in some very wet races (Spa), and even with less power and on a smooth track, the aquaplaning was scary. I dread to think what it would be like with more than twice the power on a rutted motorway with trucks.
Honestly, if it was me a 420R would be more than quick enough for the roads, and when driven well on track quicker than almost everything you would see on a trackday (on Slicks they can run at nearly GT car pace). Use the money saved to get something practical and save the Caterham for when you can really enjoy it!
That is a mammoth commute, and as you have probably experienced even with the bike it would get tedious pretty quickly.
I have a bike, and a Caterham (270R) and while I love both, for that sort of journey, I would get something old, cheap and with cruise control. Something that will just let me plough through the miles in the warm and dry - which neither the bike or Caterham will do.
The 620 is a serious piece of kit and would need a lot of respect and attention, even on the motorway. In bad weather, that would be terrifying. I have raced mine in some very wet races (Spa), and even with less power and on a smooth track, the aquaplaning was scary. I dread to think what it would be like with more than twice the power on a rutted motorway with trucks.
Honestly, if it was me a 420R would be more than quick enough for the roads, and when driven well on track quicker than almost everything you would see on a trackday (on Slicks they can run at nearly GT car pace). Use the money saved to get something practical and save the Caterham for when you can really enjoy it!
Entertaining thread and I salute the OP for even contemplating a 620 for that sort of use!
I actually rather enjoy long journeys in a Caterham. There’s a real sense of occasion to driving a distance in a Caterham & I enjoy driving them, even on motorways. For a while I lived just north of Birmingham & my girlfriend lived in Edinburgh. For several years I made regular trips in the Caterham, mainly using the obvious M6/M74 route.
However, the Caterham was never my only car, so I wasn’t forced to take the Caterham & I think that makes all the difference. If you were forced to make the trip by Caterham, even if you weren’t really in the mood for it, or it was pi**ing down/snowing/freezing cold, I think you would very quickly come to resent the car. I’ve known several people who have used Caterhams as their only car, but they both realised it was a bad idea pretty quickly.
I have a 420R these days & I absolutely love it, I can’t imagine I’ll ever sell it. For road use it feels plenty fast enough to me, the savage way in which it rips through the gears feels properly bonkers!
Anyway, I wish you well, whatever decision you reach. Keep posting, it will be interesting to hear how you get on!
I actually rather enjoy long journeys in a Caterham. There’s a real sense of occasion to driving a distance in a Caterham & I enjoy driving them, even on motorways. For a while I lived just north of Birmingham & my girlfriend lived in Edinburgh. For several years I made regular trips in the Caterham, mainly using the obvious M6/M74 route.
However, the Caterham was never my only car, so I wasn’t forced to take the Caterham & I think that makes all the difference. If you were forced to make the trip by Caterham, even if you weren’t really in the mood for it, or it was pi**ing down/snowing/freezing cold, I think you would very quickly come to resent the car. I’ve known several people who have used Caterhams as their only car, but they both realised it was a bad idea pretty quickly.
I have a 420R these days & I absolutely love it, I can’t imagine I’ll ever sell it. For road use it feels plenty fast enough to me, the savage way in which it rips through the gears feels properly bonkers!
Anyway, I wish you well, whatever decision you reach. Keep posting, it will be interesting to hear how you get on!
I will.
Planning on making deposit on 1st April.
Don’t know whether to go for 620s or 420r. For now will book the build slot and then I can think on this a bit more. If I have an alternative to do the big miles this becomes my fun vehicle and Scottish roads are so good.
Planning on making deposit on 1st April.
Don’t know whether to go for 620s or 420r. For now will book the build slot and then I can think on this a bit more. If I have an alternative to do the big miles this becomes my fun vehicle and Scottish roads are so good.
Edited by Phillip-8c43x on Friday 12th March 14:17
OP - hire a Caterham for a week. Do that journey, or something similar, and let us know how you get on and whether you still want a Caterham to do that trip in weekly.
You may think that you are mad, in an endearing way, but it will be fun, I think that virtually every other contributor to this thread thinks that you are beyond mad.
One more thing, someone mentioned driving on the motorway and getting soaked by HGVs; I will go further and suggest that there is a fair chance of you being wiped out by a HGV or a coach changing lanes as they won’t see you. You are probably easier to see on your motorbike, and it is easier to see others from the higher seating position of a bike as they start to move.
You may think that you are mad, in an endearing way, but it will be fun, I think that virtually every other contributor to this thread thinks that you are beyond mad.
One more thing, someone mentioned driving on the motorway and getting soaked by HGVs; I will go further and suggest that there is a fair chance of you being wiped out by a HGV or a coach changing lanes as they won’t see you. You are probably easier to see on your motorbike, and it is easier to see others from the higher seating position of a bike as they start to move.
Edited by andy97 on Friday 12th March 16:54
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