Are Caterhams Cool!

[Zagster]

To me they are desirable and respected but don't fit into a cool/un-cool category like a Porsche, Mini etc, they are kind of above all that. They are not pretentious, they don't have a ponsy image, they are simply a racing kart/car on the road, more about what it does than how it looks.

So Seven owners, do people let you out of junctions or not?

Edited by Zagster on Wednesday 8th May 14:12

Edited by Zagster on Wednesday 8th May 14:13

[rottie102]

Zagster said:

So Seven owners do people let you out of junctions or not?

They might do but driving one definitely isn't cool.

Most of the people I know of who drive/try to build/would love to own one are the nicest people and I really like them - but they are definitely not cool.
More like the beardy car club member/internet geek types.

[framerateuk]

Isn't cool? What is cool anyway?

I get more smiles from passers by and other motorists when I'm in my Caterham than any other car could.

When I was out on a blat on Sunday, I had at least 3 kids shout "wow" at the top of their voices as I passed by. You just can't get that sort of reaction for any other car!

I also get let out at junctions and waved out in queues. What more could you want?

Yes, some of my friends think I'm mad, but most think it's brilliant and are quite jealous!

Edited by framerateuk on Wednesday 8th May 15:28

[RobGT81]

I'm cool as fk homie, yo.

Its pretty much like this init.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

But then I can have days like this, so who cares??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dliX-mN5IS0

Edited by RobGT81 on Wednesday 8th May 15:08

[V7SLR]

When Top Gear tested the R500 Hammond put the Caterham off the scale of un-coolness, stating that they were only driven by "geeks and nerds". He was probably correct .... and they then made it their Top Gear car of the year!

[Tickle]

The car I aspire to own the most is a R500, so id have to say cool. Id imagine when your driving one anyway you are concentrating on driving rather than what you look like.

[mattmurdock]

Tickle said:

The car I aspire to own the most is a R500, so id have to say cool. Id imagine when your driving one anyway you are concentrating on driving rather than what you look like.

You would be right .

To be honest, given that everyone will be looking at you regardless, you rapidly develop a skill of studiously ignoring anything in the outside world that is not to do with actual driving. It is not a car for shrinking violets, especially if you have the aeroscreen on. I suspect there are an equal number thinking 'knob' as there are thinking 'wow', although the younger end of the audience almost always go 'wow'.

[_Neal_]

mattmurdock said:

To be honest, given that everyone will be looking at you regardless, you rapidly develop a skill of studiously ignoring anything in the outside world that is not to do with actual driving. It is not a car for shrinking violets ... I suspect there are an equal number thinking 'knob' as there are thinking 'wow', although the younger end of the audience almost always go 'wow'.

Definitely this. I'd go for the car itself being a very cool object - gets good reactions from teenagers etc - but the owners not being very cool at all. I'm certainly not.

I do get let out at junctions though.

[JeffC]

Zagster said:

To me they are desirable and respected but don't fit into a cool/un-cool category like a Porsche, Mini etc, they are kind of above all that. They are not pretentious,

Edited by Zagster on Wednesday 8th May 14:12

Edited by Zagster on Wednesday 8th May 14:13

Ive owned 7"s since 2002 and I always have it parked in my garage, I work from home selling cars so it is often the topic of conversation as quite a lot of my customers are petrol heads and all comments are good even if some have no idea what it is , about 3 years ago I decided to scratch an itch and bought a Porsche 911 997 cabriolet, In the time I owned that car I had more negative and snide comments from customers and people I know, mainly saying huh business must be good then, Has Cooper had his numbers up on the lottery , It did me no favours trying to sell cars with it parked there, Boiled my urine, I sold it and replaced it with my current Caterham and again back to normal no snidey remarks despite it being worth more than the 997 ! Its a car that goes under the radar and hopefully a good place to put your money so I think yes they are cool.

[anonymous-user]

It's not what you drive, it's how you drive it.

[one eyed mick]

Honestly who give a flying ---k any way if you want one buy one ,if you don't like go away

[Seven Smiles]

Courtesy of Angus.

[RDMcG]

I do not own one, but I think they are brilliantly cool. Great looking, great handling, no driver compromises.......

[HustleRussell]

People like them and you get some funny reactions but I don't think they're 'cool'. Unfortunately people of my generation think a mkV Golf GT TDI is about the coolest thing on the road which isn't an Audi

[timrw81]

What do you mean geeky blokes with beards?? That's just stereotyping!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqpdhSUcOdg

[BertBert]

timrw81 said:

What do you mean geeky blokes with beards?? That's just stereotyping!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqpdhSUcOdg

Words fail me

[ewenm]

If you care whether they are "cool" or not, then they aren't cool for you. If you don't care, then it doesn't matter anyway.

[Legacywr]

They are not cool, and, if you drive one on the road wearing a crash helmet.. you fall off the scale completely!

[Ult-Jim]

In the South France & in my experience half are oblivious to it and the other half go nuts with smiles, cheering, honking horns and a big thumbs up, male, female young and old. The matter of fact I have one neighbour who is an elderly lady who is so happy to see the car, when I have the garage door open she will call all her friends down as well and say hello. My French is awful but we still try to have a conversation, so it is cool enough to breach the language barrier!

[anonymous-user]

My daughter has raced her's since she was 15, and cool and awsume are the exact words her class mates use when they see it.