RE: Caterham Seven 620S: Review
Discussion
Much. Want.
I don't understand the "44K?! I could get a *fill in blank* " comments. If you're even considering a Caterham chances are it's a 2nd car, weekend toy, mid life crisis or something you've always wanted type car.
I'm guessing if you're in the showroom, doing the test drive you're going to be pretty adamant about the type of car you want. A SLK isn't going to sway you!
They know their market and I for one would love one. Heated seats just add to when you can use it.
Absolute winner!
I don't understand the "44K?! I could get a *fill in blank* " comments. If you're even considering a Caterham chances are it's a 2nd car, weekend toy, mid life crisis or something you've always wanted type car.
I'm guessing if you're in the showroom, doing the test drive you're going to be pretty adamant about the type of car you want. A SLK isn't going to sway you!
They know their market and I for one would love one. Heated seats just add to when you can use it.
Absolute winner!
T1berious said:
Much. Want.
I don't understand the "44K?! I could get a *fill in blank* " comments. If you're even considering a Caterham chances are it's a 2nd car, weekend toy, mid life crisis or something you've always wanted type car.
Unless of course you buy an older / lesser Caterham and upgrade it yourself for much less.I don't understand the "44K?! I could get a *fill in blank* " comments. If you're even considering a Caterham chances are it's a 2nd car, weekend toy, mid life crisis or something you've always wanted type car.
However having had plenty of Westfields, I thought 150bhp was the sweet spot for the road if you want any chance of retaining your license.
stewy49 said:
Caterhams are what I call 'Oliver Twist' cars - you always want more.I'm thinking of trading up from my Duratec R400 and the 620S seems the way to go as I will only be using it on the road. A big jump up in power (and price) from the old R500 though. But, as they say, you only live once. Disagree about the low powered car, I think that a lack of power would soon become a turn-off (at least for me).
For me they are more `Marmite' cars in that they tend to polarize opinion. I have had some people who have wanted to stop, and get out after the first burst of acceleration, saying I never want to get in that thing again! (to be fair it could just be my driving!) and others where despite going round for hours in some cases, wont get out of it, saying `please can I just have one more trip around the area' But I cannot remember anyone who did not have a ride, and then express no view at all on them.What made them a bit special was that I could return from a 500 - 600 mile round trip in the tin top, and ten minutes later I would be dragging the 7 out of the garage for an hours blast. I have been lucky enough to get drives in a number of high end sports cars, and after getting out of them, and into the Caterham still getting massive buzz out of driving it home. in terms of performance per pound sterling they are very good (even the lower power ones)
They are definitely NOT everyone's cup of tea from a motoring point of view, but for any true petrol head I would definitely recommend having a blast in one.
Well, I admit to never having driven a 620s or any other Caterham for that matter, but the 160 is fast enough for me, I think Caterham claim 0-60 in around 6.9 seconds, I'll be posting a review about the (my) car in stages very shortly.
Edited by Tonythesalesman on Friday 5th February 10:45
assadahmed said:
Great car! Having gone up the Caterham range in terms of power, I keep wanting more. A sensible driver would have no problem with something like the 620s.
Oh, and heres a pic of my current car. No reason apart from showing off!!
Lovely colour, really suits the car and makes a change from the usualOh, and heres a pic of my current car. No reason apart from showing off!!
Tonythesalesman said:
Well, I admit to never having driven a 620s or any other Caterham for that matter, but the 160 is fast enough for me, I think Caterham claim 0-60 in around 6.9 seconds, I'll be posting a review about the (my) car in stages very shortly.
I'd love to have a drive a 160, must be great fun being able to go balls out everywhere. My mate and I are toying with the idea of going halves and building one once I have some garage space....Edited by Tonythesalesman on Friday 5th February 10:45
Would be quite fun to book end the range with a 160 in the garage to join the 620R
On balance a good review of a really great car. Although, you don't own a Caterham if you are worried about the noise, which for most of us is part of the attraction! Sure for most people and for normal road driving a lesser powered model is more than adequate, but if you've got it flaunt it I say, albeit skillfully.
Why shell out for a 160 when you could have this beautiful, immaculate cross flow engined car for £14,000. It's nothing to do with me by the way!
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
crimbo said:
When there 45k surely you could build a 300bhp one for a lot lot cheaper.
Whilst that may be somewhat true, the market doesn't value non-official models nearly as highly, so you'll be likely to get most of the outlay back when you buy a 620s, R300, or whatever, rather than 'supercharged in the shed', or R300-'spec'. Upgrading is money down the drain in many cases.CABC said:
TG did a disservice for entertainment. There is no way you'd get up early on a Sunday morning and return from a 2 hour thrash in the 160 without being completely invigorated.
I have no qualms about safely exceeding speed limits to whatever degree the prevaling conditions allow, but sadly where I live a 2 hour Sunday morning thrash would likely leave me feeling completely banned, or at least with another 3 points.scubadude said:
Well in the UK you will wait 3-9months but Caterham (and many other companies) can still send you a van load of bits to assemble yourself right now.
Actually, it looks like the US entry level model is this- http://us.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-280 and you can build it yourself.
FWIW As long as it will pass the required testing when its finished you can hand craft something from scratch to drive, it doesn't even need to be a recognised kit!
The 620 (R or S) is bonkers, have been in R300 on track and 140 and 200bhp cars on the road- I can't imagine what 300+ is like- probably like piloting the Millennium Falcon going to light speed when you plant the throttle?
So I just checked out the link you posted bringing me to the Caterham website and all I can say is I WANT I WANT I WANT!! Actually, it looks like the US entry level model is this- http://us.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-280 and you can build it yourself.
FWIW As long as it will pass the required testing when its finished you can hand craft something from scratch to drive, it doesn't even need to be a recognised kit!
The 620 (R or S) is bonkers, have been in R300 on track and 140 and 200bhp cars on the road- I can't imagine what 300+ is like- probably like piloting the Millennium Falcon going to light speed when you plant the throttle?
DAMN DAMN DAMN!!!!!! SERIOUSLY, DAMN!!! I wish so bad I had the funds right now to buy one, get it sent to my home in the U.S. and spend every day and weekend building my own car!! God, that would be so friggen awesome!! I wish Lotus did this with the 340R/2-11/3-11.
So between the 280, 360, and 480, I would choose the 360. Not knowing the intricacies about either of them other than the quick performance read I looked over I would choose the 360. I think the 360 has the better looks of the 280 and 480, what do you guys think? (or do they all look the same and I just being deceived by the different angle of the photos of each model? LOl) The rear on all of them isnt the most pretty however are they?
The SP300.R is gorgeous and must go like lightning! The Aero 7, hmmmmm, I dont know what to think. No doubt it will/does embody the companies philosophy and innovation, but it is quite the funky looking vehicle isnt it!?! Also odd that is has the same HP and torque as the 480 yet substantially slower on the 0-60 time. And dare I say it, but it almost reminds me of some weird one-off never seen the light of day artists sketch of some hopeless futuristic concept of a TVR!
ESOG said:
scubadude said:
Well in the UK you will wait 3-9months but Caterham (and many other companies) can still send you a van load of bits to assemble yourself right now.
Actually, it looks like the US entry level model is this- http://us.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-280 and you can build it yourself.
FWIW As long as it will pass the required testing when its finished you can hand craft something from scratch to drive, it doesn't even need to be a recognised kit!
The 620 (R or S) is bonkers, have been in R300 on track and 140 and 200bhp cars on the road- I can't imagine what 300+ is like- probably like piloting the Millennium Falcon going to light speed when you plant the throttle?
So I just checked out the link you posted bringing me to the Caterham website and all I can say is I WANT I WANT I WANT!! Actually, it looks like the US entry level model is this- http://us.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-280 and you can build it yourself.
FWIW As long as it will pass the required testing when its finished you can hand craft something from scratch to drive, it doesn't even need to be a recognised kit!
The 620 (R or S) is bonkers, have been in R300 on track and 140 and 200bhp cars on the road- I can't imagine what 300+ is like- probably like piloting the Millennium Falcon going to light speed when you plant the throttle?
DAMN DAMN DAMN!!!!!! SERIOUSLY, DAMN!!! I wish so bad I had the funds right now to buy one, get it sent to my home in the U.S. and spend every day and weekend building my own car!! God, that would be so friggen awesome!! I wish Lotus did this with the 340R/2-11/3-11.
So between the 280, 360, and 480, I would choose the 360. Not knowing the intricacies about either of them other than the quick performance read I looked over I would choose the 360. I think the 360 has the better looks of the 280 and 480, what do you guys think? (or do they all look the same and I just being deceived by the different angle of the photos of each model? LOl) The rear on all of them isnt the most pretty however are they?
The SP300.R is gorgeous and must go like lightning! The Aero 7, hmmmmm, I dont know what to think. No doubt it will/does embody the companies philosophy and innovation, but it is quite the funky looking vehicle isnt it!?! Also odd that is has the same HP and torque as the 480 yet substantially slower on the 0-60 time. And dare I say it, but it almost reminds me of some weird one-off never seen the light of day artists sketch of some hopeless futuristic concept of a TVR!
In a way the fact that even the latest is immediately recognizable from the very first seven is part of the attraction of them.
Unlike many `styled' cars in which the shape is changed every few years. such cars may look great when first introduced, until that is the next one is introduced, and then they end up looking sad on a used car lot, like a 60 year old actress trying to pretend she is still 20
Porsche have done a similar `keep it looking largely like the original' thing with the 911, and it has not done them much harm either.
Buying a car which you Know is not going to be updated and outdated every few years is one of the big plus points for the Lotus / Caterham 7.
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