Caterham 7, year round car?
Discussion
You could be a glutton for punishment and do it....
...but I don't find it fun. If it's damp, it has no traction anyway so you have to tiptoe about.
Certainly don't fancy getting salt up inside the chassis, under the bodywork and between panels.
I don't bother taxing my Westy through the winter months.
...but I don't find it fun. If it's damp, it has no traction anyway so you have to tiptoe about.
Certainly don't fancy getting salt up inside the chassis, under the bodywork and between panels.
I don't bother taxing my Westy through the winter months.
Caterham 7, year round car?
Well, it wouldn't be something I would do, but I'm sure it has been done. Just see it as a slightly more practicl motorbike as opposed to a car, and you won't be far off.
Personally, prefer to use mine for summer days. Had to drive it home in the wet after a wet track day - I can't really say it was much fun...
Well, it wouldn't be something I would do, but I'm sure it has been done. Just see it as a slightly more practicl motorbike as opposed to a car, and you won't be far off.
Personally, prefer to use mine for summer days. Had to drive it home in the wet after a wet track day - I can't really say it was much fun...
MC Bodge said:
Assuming it has a windscreen and the roof fits reasonably well, it'll be more comfortable than a motorbike in terrible weather. You'll still have to wrap up warm though.
Why not just do it and see what happens?
Not sure - I'd rather ride my bike than the car in crap weather.Why not just do it and see what happens?
Getting in & out with the roof on is a pain, and looking out through a letter box at the front. Having hardly any side or rear visibility is a right pain in the arse.
tbox for the winter months?I owned a 1700 Supersprint as an only car for 3 years and about 25k miles.
Mostly it was fine. Yes sometimes it was a PITA. The worst situation was trying to get in and get strapped in when it was hissing down with rain and I was bundled up. Racing harnesses and many layers of clothing don't mix too well.
Surprisingly with the roof on the biggest problem was getting too hot. Heat soak from the engine and transmission. Heated windscreen was a huge boon. I had a heater but rarely used it. Roof up it wasn't necessary, roof down it was barely noticeable.
Long motorway drives can be tedious and it would be worth investing in decent ear plug headphones.
It really depends on how much you value the rawness of a Caterham.
Mostly it was fine. Yes sometimes it was a PITA. The worst situation was trying to get in and get strapped in when it was hissing down with rain and I was bundled up. Racing harnesses and many layers of clothing don't mix too well.
Surprisingly with the roof on the biggest problem was getting too hot. Heat soak from the engine and transmission. Heated windscreen was a huge boon. I had a heater but rarely used it. Roof up it wasn't necessary, roof down it was barely noticeable.
Long motorway drives can be tedious and it would be worth investing in decent ear plug headphones.
It really depends on how much you value the rawness of a Caterham.
Round here I see quite a few Caterfields whizzing about the B roads. I must admit I am often tempted by the thought of getting a cheaper kit car just for pleasure purposes, and maybe trips to lunch on pleasant days.
I often see them scurrying home during showers though. I'm guessing they're okay at staying dry when they're moving (like my old MX5, you could stay dry in a downpour as long as you kept your speed up). Surely the interiors in this cars must get rained on sometimes though? I'm guessing they're fairy waterproof inside?
I often see them scurrying home during showers though. I'm guessing they're okay at staying dry when they're moving (like my old MX5, you could stay dry in a downpour as long as you kept your speed up). Surely the interiors in this cars must get rained on sometimes though? I'm guessing they're fairy waterproof inside?
I used to have a motorbike as my only transport and for young lads years ago that was not that odd....a 7 of any sort by comparison would be total luxury.
In all seriousness however I used to have a Westy SEiW but I had an old Primera snotter as backup, in reality the Primera got used a lot more use than the Westy for general duties. In the Westy you could not secure your belongings, long motorway journeys were painful, hood was a nightmare to put up and not very waterproof and the heater could not demist the car.
Yes you can run it as an only car....but you may start hating the experience rather than enjoying it for its true purpose.
In all seriousness however I used to have a Westy SEiW but I had an old Primera snotter as backup, in reality the Primera got used a lot more use than the Westy for general duties. In the Westy you could not secure your belongings, long motorway journeys were painful, hood was a nightmare to put up and not very waterproof and the heater could not demist the car.
Yes you can run it as an only car....but you may start hating the experience rather than enjoying it for its true purpose.
All depends on what sort of driving you do and on what sort of roads. I attempted it for about a week before realising I'd destroy the caterham or die. But that's mainly as I drive a great deal on rural B roads that are wet, muddy, narrow etc. The lights are rubbish, the crash protection zero, the chassis powder coating is rubbish, they're terrifying on flooded roads and they're not as reliable as most cars - none of this matters if you use it for what it was designed for - a weekend fair weather or track car. I felt it was unfair on the car and unfair on my family so used a German shed daily and adored using the Caterham for fun - even in middle of winter for long journeys when the weather conditions were good. It's also worth saying that I'm a pretty hardcore driver and not excited by creature comforts - so the rawness was great - just not the other stuff I've mentioned above...
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