Caterhams and roofs/tops
Discussion
I've been in Se7ens but never with a roof on. What options exist for a roof?
I presume there's a soft top roof, but does anyone also offer a clip on hard top roof? How weather proof (vs say an MX-5) is the soft top?
And lastly how easy/difficult is it to get in and out of a seven with the roof on?
Thanks.
I presume there's a soft top roof, but does anyone also offer a clip on hard top roof? How weather proof (vs say an MX-5) is the soft top?
And lastly how easy/difficult is it to get in and out of a seven with the roof on?
Thanks.
The half hood, as made by softbitsforsevens will keep rain from landing on you vertically, but lets a lot of spray in round the back. It also gets you very wet if you're stuck in traffic with driving rain from the rear.
The full hood is like driving around in a very noisy frame tent. It also makes the door openings much smaller. there are still many paths by which water will fill the car.
I don't find the half hood interferes with getting in, but my car has a rollcage, so there is something to swing under.
In general I think the best option is a halfhood and waterproof clothing. It will get wet in the cockpit irrespective.
The full hood is like driving around in a very noisy frame tent. It also makes the door openings much smaller. there are still many paths by which water will fill the car.
I don't find the half hood interferes with getting in, but my car has a rollcage, so there is something to swing under.
In general I think the best option is a halfhood and waterproof clothing. It will get wet in the cockpit irrespective.
I find the full hood is fine. It keeps most of the water out and if you unzip the rear window, ventilation isn't too bad (use elbow to crack the bottom of the side-screen too). Some people say it takes ages to put up, but I can do it in less than a minute. It is much noisier with the roof on and can be quite claustrophobic. Also the heated screen is vital to minimise steaming up problems.
Getting in and out with the roof on can be tricky if you're "powerfully built" but a removable steering wheel appears to help. I'm a skinny bugger so it's not a problem for me.
I don't see the advantage of a hard top over the standard roof and no-one has produced a decent one anyway.
Getting in and out with the roof on can be tricky if you're "powerfully built" but a removable steering wheel appears to help. I'm a skinny bugger so it's not a problem for me.
I don't see the advantage of a hard top over the standard roof and no-one has produced a decent one anyway.
I have not seen a hard top on the Caterham, abut i have a Roadsport and the Caterham weather gear which sits over a full roll cage.
Getting in and out of the car with a roof on is dependent on a couple of things...
1) how tall you are
2) how rotund you are
3) how many people are getting in the car
basically if you are short and skinny it is easier than being taller and/or larger, also if you have a passenger getting in the car it is tight squeeze but not impossible (having a removable steering wheel can help too)
If you have a car, then the best way to try would be to put something over the top of the car (screen to roll bar) and see if you can get in without issues (or borrow someone’s hood so you can test it.
I hope this helps !
Getting in and out of the car with a roof on is dependent on a couple of things...
1) how tall you are
2) how rotund you are
3) how many people are getting in the car
basically if you are short and skinny it is easier than being taller and/or larger, also if you have a passenger getting in the car it is tight squeeze but not impossible (having a removable steering wheel can help too)
If you have a car, then the best way to try would be to put something over the top of the car (screen to roll bar) and see if you can get in without issues (or borrow someone’s hood so you can test it.
I hope this helps !
Driven mine in monsoon conditions through the Alps last summer.
Overall, I found that if a hood is needed, it needs to be a full hood. Disregard the negative press about the full hood being difficult to put on. I can fit mine as quick as any half hood.
Half hoods just do not work beyond keeping light rain off, in which case you probably don't really need a roof at all. They just let spray get sucked in the back of the car and the rear quarters, and in my experience being finer than the actual rain it really soaks in to everything.
Overall, I found that if a hood is needed, it needs to be a full hood. Disregard the negative press about the full hood being difficult to put on. I can fit mine as quick as any half hood.
Half hoods just do not work beyond keeping light rain off, in which case you probably don't really need a roof at all. They just let spray get sucked in the back of the car and the rear quarters, and in my experience being finer than the actual rain it really soaks in to everything.
Eric Mc said:
Yeah, order now for Christmas........2013 
You've opened a can of worms here 
I'm in the no hood until it's a monsoon camp. One big advantage of the full hood is that it covers the boot which will get soaked using a half hood as the water just runs in around the roll bar supports.
Getting in and out is awkward, but quite possible. I can do it and I'm six foot and 14 stone in an S3, I just don't look very elegant
I'm in the no hood until it's a monsoon camp. One big advantage of the full hood is that it covers the boot which will get soaked using a half hood as the water just runs in around the roll bar supports.
Getting in and out is awkward, but quite possible. I can do it and I'm six foot and 14 stone in an S3, I just don't look very elegant
I have both a full and half hood. The full hood is about as waterproof as a Caterham is going to get, but with the noise and condensation caveats. The half hood is brilliant for chucking on if you're stuck in a sudden downpour, but nowhere near as watertight as the full hood.
Saying that, since fitting the Brooklands screens, I can't get either the full or half hood to fit properly.
Any advice?
Saying that, since fitting the Brooklands screens, I can't get either the full or half hood to fit properly.
Any advice?
Moving to CA does sound like the best and quite frankly a superb idea 
sadly not a viable or possible option however 
Thanks for all the replies though. It's sort of what I thought. Shame really, I'd simply love a car like this, but I have no garage and would want to use it daily, so a hood or lift off hard top would be essential. The car doesn't need to be plush or quiet, just practical and a sports car that's good on fuel.
sadly not a viable or possible option however Thanks for all the replies though. It's sort of what I thought. Shame really, I'd simply love a car like this, but I have no garage and would want to use it daily, so a hood or lift off hard top would be essential. The car doesn't need to be plush or quiet, just practical and a sports car that's good on fuel.
The full hood works just fine if fitted correctly.
I'm 6'4" and have been 18st+ in the past and could get in and out no problem (S3 chassis). Technique (and a removable steering wheel and bench seat) is everything.
The 7 was my only car for a number of years so was used hood up often (I even have track day pictures somewhere with it up).
It's now used much more sparingly, has no screen and a cage.
I'm 6'4" and have been 18st+ in the past and could get in and out no problem (S3 chassis). Technique (and a removable steering wheel and bench seat) is everything.
The 7 was my only car for a number of years so was used hood up often (I even have track day pictures somewhere with it up).
It's now used much more sparingly, has no screen and a cage.
300bhp/ton said:
Moving to CA does sound like the best and quite frankly a superb idea sadly not a viable or possible option however
Thanks for all the replies though. It's sort of what I thought. Shame really, I'd simply love a car like this, but I have no garage and would want to use it daily, so a hood or lift off hard top would be essential. The car doesn't need to be plush or quiet, just practical and a sports car that's good on fuel.
The normal roof is fine for that. I've had my Caterham for 12 years and it was my only car for the first 5 of those, living outside on the street in North London then outside in Bath. I never had any problems with the roof not doing its job. I've done over 80,000 miles in mine in all weathers. sadly not a viable or possible option however Thanks for all the replies though. It's sort of what I thought. Shame really, I'd simply love a car like this, but I have no garage and would want to use it daily, so a hood or lift off hard top would be essential. The car doesn't need to be plush or quiet, just practical and a sports car that's good on fuel.
If you want to do it, do it. The roof is no reason not to.
ewenm said:
The normal roof is fine for that. I've had my Caterham for 12 years and it was my only car for the first 5 of those, living outside on the street in North London then outside in Bath. I never had any problems with the roof not doing its job. I've done over 80,000 miles in mine in all weathers.
If you want to do it, do it. The roof is no reason not to.
Think I need to go see one with the roof on and see how easy I can get in/out of it. If you want to do it, do it. The roof is no reason not to.
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