Daily use realsitic
Discussion
I am currently running a Tuscan. Had it for 5 months and I have just had enough with the continuous engine problems. I am looking for a replacement. I have always wanted a Caterham, but have thought that they are too impractical. I am sure its a question raised before, but is it realistic to run one on a day to day basis. I travel 10-15 miles daily to the office and evening and weekend hoons. Does the weather protection really work?
Yes is the short answer to your question, several people do just that and there are those for whom the Caterham is their only car. The weather protection on a Caterham isn't quite hermetic, and takes a while to put on but it's pretty damn effective once erected.
If you're commuting, be sensible with the spec (don't go for a monster tuned engine, or a close ratio gearbox). It will help if you don't have to wear a suit for work, and if your commute isn't solely nose to tail traffic grind
If you're commuting, be sensible with the spec (don't go for a monster tuned engine, or a close ratio gearbox). It will help if you don't have to wear a suit for work, and if your commute isn't solely nose to tail traffic grind
But it is only fair to point out that the two things that mitigate against a Caterham come resale time are mileage and condition. High mileage and scabby suspension, corrosion on panel edges and stone chipping will drastically reduce your chacnes of selling the car. Even with a good body, high mileage Caterhams can take an age to sell.
Finally, I believe that runnnig any charismatic car on a daily basis eventually destroys one's enthusiasm for the car and those inevitable faults that such a car always comes with are magnified beyond all reason to such an extent that they cannot be ignored.
Finally, I believe that runnnig any charismatic car on a daily basis eventually destroys one's enthusiasm for the car and those inevitable faults that such a car always comes with are magnified beyond all reason to such an extent that they cannot be ignored.
You'll get a decent Caterham for way less than the value of a Tuscan. Surely for all the reasons already mentioned against you would be better buying a cat and throwing a couple of grand into something for winter/wet/dressed up/servicing days etc?
You would make your money back when you came to sell being a neater lower mileage car.
With the best will in the world (I love my car to bits) I do think the passion would slip driving it everyday.
You would make your money back when you came to sell being a neater lower mileage car.
With the best will in the world (I love my car to bits) I do think the passion would slip driving it everyday.
I drive mine most days. Dry, wet, snow... A lot of London nose-to-tail traffic. I have no other car.
It's pretty reliable, and any skittishness should be attributed to poor driving rather than a car that faithfully follows the drivers inputs. The trouble is, whilst a 4x4 would be much more comfortable and spacious, it wouldn't feel like driving, would it?
Downsides?
The visibility is a bit of a pain in the dark and rain with the hood up.
Getting in and out with hood up is definitely a wheel-off manoeuvre.
Expect some water to creep in (but not as bad as the Elise!)
I'm sure there are others.
It's pretty reliable, and any skittishness should be attributed to poor driving rather than a car that faithfully follows the drivers inputs. The trouble is, whilst a 4x4 would be much more comfortable and spacious, it wouldn't feel like driving, would it?
Downsides?
The visibility is a bit of a pain in the dark and rain with the hood up.
Getting in and out with hood up is definitely a wheel-off manoeuvre.
Expect some water to creep in (but not as bad as the Elise!)
I'm sure there are others.
we dumped our Cerbera SpeedSix as in the 13 months we owned it, it spent 8(!!) months at Blackpool with blown engines, etc and in the end sought advise, bought a 6-mo old M5 and a Caterham SV. the SV is the better commuting car as it is Slightly Vider and has more room in the boot. having put about 24K miles on the car in 3.5 years, i'd order a.n.other one in a heartbeat -- we've been all over Europe, and just finished the USA2005 event in it.
i would recommend you get better tyres than what the factory puts on, like Yoko AO21r's for daily use, they're stickier and far better for road travel than the ***** that is provided. a LSD is essential, depending on your engine choice, a 6-spd box is handy for long trips (coupled with a 3.92 LSD is best) and you'll not look back.
if time is not on your side, a factory built car can be worth the £ 1.2K premium as it will be completely delivered to your spec, and have a better warranty than a self-built. however that being said, a self-built will have greater satisfaction for you.
and look at www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk, which is Jill Judd. she has recently made about 4 dozen 1/2 hoods, which are not the "normal" full CC hood, but one that covers the windscreen <-> FIA bar(and make SURE and get an FIA bar!) and are far more "roomy feeling" than a traditional CC hood.
at the end of the day, you will NOT miss all the @£$% with the SpeedSix engine -- been there, had all the problems, recently found all the invoices and letters!
i would recommend you get better tyres than what the factory puts on, like Yoko AO21r's for daily use, they're stickier and far better for road travel than the ***** that is provided. a LSD is essential, depending on your engine choice, a 6-spd box is handy for long trips (coupled with a 3.92 LSD is best) and you'll not look back.
if time is not on your side, a factory built car can be worth the £ 1.2K premium as it will be completely delivered to your spec, and have a better warranty than a self-built. however that being said, a self-built will have greater satisfaction for you.
and look at www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk, which is Jill Judd. she has recently made about 4 dozen 1/2 hoods, which are not the "normal" full CC hood, but one that covers the windscreen <-> FIA bar(and make SURE and get an FIA bar!) and are far more "roomy feeling" than a traditional CC hood.
at the end of the day, you will NOT miss all the @£$% with the SpeedSix engine -- been there, had all the problems, recently found all the invoices and letters!
7db said:
Morning, Steve.
I'm not sure I'd put the LSD and 21s down as essential, but with your mammoth monster, they might be!
Happy with no LSD running on 539s
Hoep to see you soon!
LSD isn't essential, but I would strongly advocate following the advice on tyres.
21Rs, IMO, are the best compromise tyre available. Great in the wet, very very good in the dry. Cheap. Decent enough wear rate etc. Don't look very sexy, but so what.
My 7 was my only car for 6yrs or so (owned it 8.5yrs-ish) and I think I've done about 50k miles in it (ownership includes a few years where the car has been stored as I've been away, so was doing a fair few miles a year).
You can use it every day, but as ruby said the car will take some punishment doing it. As will the driver! But if you have a long term view on the car, so what.
Mine's very waterproof, but you do get the odd bit in here and there. Easy enough to find the leaks though.
Driving in the dark, in winter, with rain beating down and the hood up isn't really what you'd call fun. But it's bearable if you want the car enough!
Would I do it now? Nah. Lucky enough to have been able to buy a comfy "daily driver" to augment the 7. The 7 will now morph more into a track biased car (with road ability).
But there is still no experience like a 7 on a good road. And during winter the light and air are sooooo much nicer than in summer that when you get back in after a good blat, the feeling you have is unbelievable. Exhilarating.
Murph7355 said:
And during winter the light and air are sooooo much nicer than in summer that when you get back in after a good blat, the feeling you have is unbelievable.
one of my favourite days of driving to work in winter is when it is -0- outside, you bundle up in fleece, wooly cap, etc and drive into work with steam coming out of your goggles, breath, etc.
it drives the company car reps MAD with envy, and the density of cold air makes the car an amazing run to // from work...
BTW, go to www.powerbulbs.com and get some of the Phillips Blue Vision or White Vision bulbs and sidelights, about £ 22 a set. Doubles your lighting in the dark for very little money!
You've all missed one tiny point for using a Caterham. Its called a Caterham 21. Only 49 made (if you don't count the one in Jez Coates's garage). Basically a wide track 7 with a proper body and roof. I've used mine for the last 4 years all year round and as long as you check the chassis for rust, as the powder coating is useless, then it's great. You can get engines from basic 1.6 115 bhp to 1.8 vhpd at 200bhp (only 3 of these mind) plus one with a 250bhp duratec and one with a 240bhp vauxhall lump. Go to www.caterham21.com for a better look but seriously if you want to use it properly in all weathers you could do a lot worse. There are usually one or two for sale.
David L
David L
DKL said:
You've all missed one tiny point ..... a wide track 7 with a proper body and roof.
Now come on, proper is a relative term in your eyes I guess.
Bolt on side screens held on by thumb screws?? No winding windows?? Huge sills a foot wide??
Not properly usable is it really.
Sadly the Elise spanks it as a usable sports car and that's what sunk it, and I speak as a fanatical 7 owner!
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