Caterham kept outside on driveway - terrible idea?

[cerb4.5lee]

AinsleyB said:

Be aware, after a few windy days you may find it rubs the paint off !

I had a while with the Cerbera without a garage, and a car cover didn't work all that well for me in that regard either. Plenty do seem to get on alright with car covers outside from what I read though.

I ended up scrapping the car cover idea with the Cerbera in the end, although my mates did laugh at me at car shows though, because the bottom of my jeans would be wet through...because it always held water in the drivers footwell after it had been raining!

I was far happier once I got a house with a garage for it for sure.

[Anthony Micallef]

Interesting topic as I'd like to get another 7 but have a driveway with no garage. I was thinking about getting something built but also want to consider what good car covers are out there. Showed my wife a picture of the Carcoon and that was a hard no!

[mcg_]

mine lives outside. cover from about March to now, then in a carcoon. I'd suggest the carcoon is better than some garages

[RSTurboPaul]

mcg_ said:

mine lives outside. cover from about March to now, then in a carcoon. I'd suggest the carcoon is better than some garages

I am guessing it is not parked on the road in a terraced street!

[kitcat7]

So, does the OP have an answer?

Keeping a Seven on the street can be done, but is more work and the car will undoubtedly deteriorate, and thus lose value, quicker. It then depends if the car is a keeper or not as to whether it is disposed of after one winter, or garaged or sold.

What is it to be?

[996Type]

Can you build a carport that can then be curtain sided?

Or possible a temporary wooden packing case type structure that you can roll the car in / out of at the top of the drive?

Or buy a cheap covered race trailer and keep it on that when not in use (seen this done a few times).

[kitcat7]

A bit like - 'Can I run a Seven through the winter?' question. You can do anything, keep it on the street, use it as a daily through the winter etc, however its' condition will go downhill fast and it will require huge amounts of TLC to keep it running. Bear in mind that it is effectively a racing car, no underseal, no wing liners, no waterproofing, no engine cover, no nothing. The salt and corrosion will get everywhere, it'll strip the powder coating, seize up your suspension bolts, wreck the ali. parts and even if painted, will get behind the skin and start from the inside.

Having used a Seven sparingly throughout just one winter, with copious wash downs after every trip, I would never do it again. Ever.