Caterham Seven 360R
Discussion
Master Bean said:
The half hood stays clipped to the car and stows in the boot. I can put it up in less than one minute. My 1.6 sigma measured 93db at Castle Coombe so you should be fine with the 2 litre.
My car has a chopped down numberplate. Here's a pic for comparison.
Hmmm very tempting.My car has a chopped down numberplate. Here's a pic for comparison.
Your car looks well!
ECG1000 said:
As much as I'd love an aeroscreen, I don't want to be driving round wearing a full face helmet all the time.
Yeah, I need to do something about the front plate, or lack thereof. I just think a full size one spoils the front end a bit. I may look into a getting a shrunken one...
A chap I sprint with in the Javelin series has an R400. He drives it to and from all events with the screen, doors and roof on, then removes them all in favour of an aero screen on arrival. I'm not sure of the specifics but it doesn't look to be too much of a hassle...Yeah, I need to do something about the front plate, or lack thereof. I just think a full size one spoils the front end a bit. I may look into a getting a shrunken one...
seiben said:
A chap I sprint with in the Javelin series has an R400. He drives it to and from all events with the screen, doors and roof on, then removes them all in favour of an aero screen on arrival. I'm not sure of the specifics but it doesn't look to be too much of a hassle...
The screen unbolts and aeroscreen bolts in its place, assuming IIRC that you have the relevant captive nuts ([insert joke here]). Half hoods are great - really practical and fold down small.
A quick update.
Since I spent the weekend before last getting the 500 run in miles done, I changed the oil and oil filter as recommended by Caterham. I also checked the torque on all the suspension components.
Didn't get many pictures of this - you know the drill...
I bought an oil filter socket to make it easier getting the old filter off. However, I took the replacement filter to the auto parts shop to find a suitable socket. When I came to unscrew the old filter, it was clear the socket was the wrong shape
. Mole grips to the rescue!
I'll just have to make sure I buy the same filters from now on.... God I sound boring!
Another small point to make; Caterham say the engine should take around 6.5 litres of oil. When I first filled it up during the build, it took a good 7.5 litres before reaching the 'full' mark on the dip-stick. I put this down to the engine being bone dry.
After draining the old oil and refilling, it still took 7-ish litres. This seems loads for a 4 cylinder engine! Anyone know why?
Other than that, I've just been enjoying the car and learning how to drive it. I'm slowly getting the confidence to deploy full throttle coming out of corners. There's no denying it's a very fast car, but with it being so close to the ground and so exposed, it feels completely bonkers.
Going fast over bumpy roads can be a bit brown trouser-ish. You get the impression you're going to get spat off the road - but now I'm starting to relax and let the car move about a bit, I'm beginning to trust it more.
Time will tell!
I've barely taken any photos due to driving it all the time and being too lazy to unbuckle and buckle myself back in when a photo opportunity arises.
One my mate took the other day:
One I took after a quick wash:
Later this month I've got the 1000 mile service booked at Caterham followed by a flat floor setup at Gemzoe Motorsport, then a track day!
More next time...
Since I spent the weekend before last getting the 500 run in miles done, I changed the oil and oil filter as recommended by Caterham. I also checked the torque on all the suspension components.
Didn't get many pictures of this - you know the drill...
I bought an oil filter socket to make it easier getting the old filter off. However, I took the replacement filter to the auto parts shop to find a suitable socket. When I came to unscrew the old filter, it was clear the socket was the wrong shape
. Mole grips to the rescue!I'll just have to make sure I buy the same filters from now on.... God I sound boring!
Another small point to make; Caterham say the engine should take around 6.5 litres of oil. When I first filled it up during the build, it took a good 7.5 litres before reaching the 'full' mark on the dip-stick. I put this down to the engine being bone dry.
After draining the old oil and refilling, it still took 7-ish litres. This seems loads for a 4 cylinder engine! Anyone know why?
Other than that, I've just been enjoying the car and learning how to drive it. I'm slowly getting the confidence to deploy full throttle coming out of corners. There's no denying it's a very fast car, but with it being so close to the ground and so exposed, it feels completely bonkers.
Going fast over bumpy roads can be a bit brown trouser-ish. You get the impression you're going to get spat off the road - but now I'm starting to relax and let the car move about a bit, I'm beginning to trust it more.
Time will tell!
I've barely taken any photos due to driving it all the time and being too lazy to unbuckle and buckle myself back in when a photo opportunity arises.
One my mate took the other day:
One I took after a quick wash:
Later this month I've got the 1000 mile service booked at Caterham followed by a flat floor setup at Gemzoe Motorsport, then a track day!
More next time...
Took the Caterham down to Donington yesterday for it's 1000 mile official service and a proper flat floor setup.
I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't allowed to loiter round the workshop and watch the work get carried out - I might have learnt something. Completely understand why I wasn't though. Probably a good thing too, as I would have asked as many (irritating) questions as possible!
Finally found out why my car took so much oil - 7 litres as opposed to the standard 5ish. The dipstick tube was too long for some reason so the dipstick wouldn't actually register until there was too much oil in the engine. This would also explain why the car had been consuming oil at a fairly fast rate. After 500 "brisk" road miles, I calculated to have used about 1/2 a litre of oil, which was fairly alarming. Now I know it was simply burning off the excess that muggins here had put in! Anyway, Caterham sorted the dipstick tube out and now all is well!
I suppose I did learn something actually: There is a rubber O-ring on the dipstick. This causes a vacuum when inserting the dipstick back into the tube, which ends up giving you a false reading because it pushes oil back into the sump. Removal of said O-ring gives a consistent and true reading. Must remember to put it back once I've finished measuring the oil.
Apologies for the boring update. Hopefully there will be a more exciting one next time because I have a track day on Sunday!
And because no update is complete without a photo:
More next time...
I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't allowed to loiter round the workshop and watch the work get carried out - I might have learnt something. Completely understand why I wasn't though. Probably a good thing too, as I would have asked as many (irritating) questions as possible!
Finally found out why my car took so much oil - 7 litres as opposed to the standard 5ish. The dipstick tube was too long for some reason so the dipstick wouldn't actually register until there was too much oil in the engine. This would also explain why the car had been consuming oil at a fairly fast rate. After 500 "brisk" road miles, I calculated to have used about 1/2 a litre of oil, which was fairly alarming. Now I know it was simply burning off the excess that muggins here had put in! Anyway, Caterham sorted the dipstick tube out and now all is well!
I suppose I did learn something actually: There is a rubber O-ring on the dipstick. This causes a vacuum when inserting the dipstick back into the tube, which ends up giving you a false reading because it pushes oil back into the sump. Removal of said O-ring gives a consistent and true reading. Must remember to put it back once I've finished measuring the oil.
Apologies for the boring update. Hopefully there will be a more exciting one next time because I have a track day on Sunday!
And because no update is complete without a photo:
More next time...
Well, the track day was immense!
It was down at Blyton Park on the Eastern Circuit. It's a slightly tighter layout than the Outer with fewer straights and more corners.
I chose Blyton because I know if fairly well and there isn't too much to hit - a sensible choice for my first outing in the Caterham.
I used the first part of the morning getting familiar with the car and track, then spent rest of the day going sideways. Not the fastest way round but (because I'm a yob/child at heart) definitely the most fun.
I had a couple of spins in the process. Nothing too major - one where I was a bit too enthusiastic, and another where I tried to link two corners whilst still sliding. Got cocky here and didn't get enough opposite lock on in time for the 2nd corner.
I took a mate with me who weighs 15 stone. I was quite shocked at the difference it made to the car's behaviour with him sitting next to me. Safe to say, a Caterham handles better with one person in the cockpit!
Only downside to the day was driving home at what felt like 2mph. It really labours the point as to how far away from a car's limit you are on the road. Only one thing for it - more track days!
More next time...
It was down at Blyton Park on the Eastern Circuit. It's a slightly tighter layout than the Outer with fewer straights and more corners.
I chose Blyton because I know if fairly well and there isn't too much to hit - a sensible choice for my first outing in the Caterham.
I used the first part of the morning getting familiar with the car and track, then spent rest of the day going sideways. Not the fastest way round but (because I'm a yob/child at heart) definitely the most fun.
I had a couple of spins in the process. Nothing too major - one where I was a bit too enthusiastic, and another where I tried to link two corners whilst still sliding. Got cocky here and didn't get enough opposite lock on in time for the 2nd corner.
I took a mate with me who weighs 15 stone. I was quite shocked at the difference it made to the car's behaviour with him sitting next to me. Safe to say, a Caterham handles better with one person in the cockpit!
Only downside to the day was driving home at what felt like 2mph. It really labours the point as to how far away from a car's limit you are on the road. Only one thing for it - more track days!
More next time...
ECG1000 said:
I took a mate with me who weighs 15 stone. I was quite shocked at the difference it made to the car's behaviour with him sitting next to me. Safe to say, a Caterham handles better with one person in the cockpit!
Only downside to the day was driving home at what felt like 2mph. It really labours the point as to how far away from a car's limit you are on the road. Only one thing for it - more track days!
More next time...
Excellent stuff - couldn't agree more with the points above. Every Caterham owner should do at least one track day to hammer home how capable their cars are. Only downside to the day was driving home at what felt like 2mph. It really labours the point as to how far away from a car's limit you are on the road. Only one thing for it - more track days!
More next time...
And yes, you have to adjust your driving style on track with a passenger - there's not many cars around like that.
Been a while since I've updated this – in interests of keeping the thread alive, here’s a quick one:
I'm now a keen meteorologist, checking the weather everyday in hope of some sun. A sunny/dry weekday evening usually translates to Caterham time.
Not that I'm averse to driving in the rain, I'm just trying to keep the car dry until I cover it in ACF-50.
Luckily the Peak District is within a stone's throw from me so I have the pleasure of being able to tackle Snake Pass pretty frequently. It's a good 40 minute blast from my house to the end of the pass where it meets Manchester road. So I usually turn round and repeat in reverse order. I do on occasion link it up with the Strines which has recently been resurfaced for some push bike race thing... However, it’s not my favourite road with visibility and width lacking in most sections.
Having instant fire power under your right leg and a small footprint generally means that getting stuck behind a stream of traffic isn't really a problem!
Not far from Ladybower Reservoir (which Snake Pass hugs) is Winnats Pass. The road going through it isn't much of a driving road but the scenery is incredibly awe-inspiring - definitely worth a visit.
It’s a faff getting in and out of a Caterham so I never stop to take photos of it, but I really couldn't resist here:
Worst thing about owning a Caterham? Sooooo many dead flies. It gets to the point where it’s hard to see out:
It has made me think of going full aero but I'd end up consuming said flies instead of having to clean them off my windscreen every night. And having had conversations with bikers – getting hit in the throat by a bee at 80mph is “f**king painful”!
I recently attended an evening session at Donington which was OK-ish...
I didn't enjoy it as much as Blyton due to the openness of the circuit. Don't get me wrong, it's a massive rush dropping down into the Craner Curves but I reap more pleasure from something tight and twisty.
However the main problem was the dreaded understeer....yep, understeer in a Caterham. At Blyton it was oversteer on tap, at Donington it was understeer on tap. Even a lift, chuck and prod of the throttle wouldn't cure it. Trail braking helped but as soon as I got back on the power, the front would push wide.
All the corners at Byton are left-handers bar one right-hander where I did notice a bit of understeer but had it down to maybe a slightly different surface - I was having too much fun to care!
Every corner at Donnington is a right-hander.... Well I suppose the chicane leading onto the pit straight isn't but that's barely a corner.
The car was flat-floored back in May at Caterham so should be right, but having spoken to other fellow Seven beards, it seems this may not be the case.
The car is booked into Gemzoe Motorsport at the end of the month for a check over / proper set up. I'll then be paying Donington another visit - if it still understeers, I guess I need to learn how to turn right!
A quick snap I took outside the paddock:
Other than a quick oil change the other day, that's been it.
More next time...
I'm now a keen meteorologist, checking the weather everyday in hope of some sun. A sunny/dry weekday evening usually translates to Caterham time.
Not that I'm averse to driving in the rain, I'm just trying to keep the car dry until I cover it in ACF-50.
Luckily the Peak District is within a stone's throw from me so I have the pleasure of being able to tackle Snake Pass pretty frequently. It's a good 40 minute blast from my house to the end of the pass where it meets Manchester road. So I usually turn round and repeat in reverse order. I do on occasion link it up with the Strines which has recently been resurfaced for some push bike race thing... However, it’s not my favourite road with visibility and width lacking in most sections.
Having instant fire power under your right leg and a small footprint generally means that getting stuck behind a stream of traffic isn't really a problem!
Not far from Ladybower Reservoir (which Snake Pass hugs) is Winnats Pass. The road going through it isn't much of a driving road but the scenery is incredibly awe-inspiring - definitely worth a visit.
It’s a faff getting in and out of a Caterham so I never stop to take photos of it, but I really couldn't resist here:
Worst thing about owning a Caterham? Sooooo many dead flies. It gets to the point where it’s hard to see out:
It has made me think of going full aero but I'd end up consuming said flies instead of having to clean them off my windscreen every night. And having had conversations with bikers – getting hit in the throat by a bee at 80mph is “f**king painful”!
I recently attended an evening session at Donington which was OK-ish...
I didn't enjoy it as much as Blyton due to the openness of the circuit. Don't get me wrong, it's a massive rush dropping down into the Craner Curves but I reap more pleasure from something tight and twisty.
However the main problem was the dreaded understeer....yep, understeer in a Caterham. At Blyton it was oversteer on tap, at Donington it was understeer on tap. Even a lift, chuck and prod of the throttle wouldn't cure it. Trail braking helped but as soon as I got back on the power, the front would push wide.
All the corners at Byton are left-handers bar one right-hander where I did notice a bit of understeer but had it down to maybe a slightly different surface - I was having too much fun to care!
Every corner at Donnington is a right-hander.... Well I suppose the chicane leading onto the pit straight isn't but that's barely a corner.
The car was flat-floored back in May at Caterham so should be right, but having spoken to other fellow Seven beards, it seems this may not be the case.
The car is booked into Gemzoe Motorsport at the end of the month for a check over / proper set up. I'll then be paying Donington another visit - if it still understeers, I guess I need to learn how to turn right!
A quick snap I took outside the paddock:
Other than a quick oil change the other day, that's been it.
More next time...
For what it's worth, I had my car set up properly by PT Sports Cars and it introduced more understeer, or more accurately, dialled out the oversteer the previous owner liked. Now I'm getting to grips with trail braking I am cutting the understeer more and more and the car is faster than it was in my hands. Knowing you have a solid base set-up is really helpful so I'm sure you'll get that at Gemzoe. Then it's into tyre pressures and technique.
I found Redgate an absolute b*stard to get right, with squeal and a missed apex more common than not. I don't think it helps that the lines for a Seven at Donny don't go too close to curbs in some sections, so its easy to be going too fast or too slow as your reference points aren't that obvious.
I found Redgate an absolute b*stard to get right, with squeal and a missed apex more common than not. I don't think it helps that the lines for a Seven at Donny don't go too close to curbs in some sections, so its easy to be going too fast or too slow as your reference points aren't that obvious.
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