Caterham hire - the right thing to do?
Discussion
Hi, bought and sold a fair few cars on this excellent site over the years, but this is my first ever posting.
I have some vague hope of being in a position to purchase a Caterham within the next year. Maybe. I'd love it to be a 'Superlight' version after all that I've read over the years. Perhaps the 150 or a used R300 even.
I'll have to admit that I've never seen one of these cars 'standing still' even. Let alone having sat in one. Let alone having driven one. I can only guess at the great experience...but it is still only a guess all the same.
I see Caterham themselves offer the opportunity to hire a car for a day or weekend etc. Would everybody agree that this is an excellent opportunity for me to gain the 'Caterham experience' and try before I buy as it were?
I understand it's the Roadsports that you can hire. Does anyone know if these would be the 125 bhp versions only?
Not an R300 or an R400 then...but still a Caterham right? Would still give a great time - for the very first time.
Mark.
I have some vague hope of being in a position to purchase a Caterham within the next year. Maybe. I'd love it to be a 'Superlight' version after all that I've read over the years. Perhaps the 150 or a used R300 even.
I'll have to admit that I've never seen one of these cars 'standing still' even. Let alone having sat in one. Let alone having driven one. I can only guess at the great experience...but it is still only a guess all the same.
I see Caterham themselves offer the opportunity to hire a car for a day or weekend etc. Would everybody agree that this is an excellent opportunity for me to gain the 'Caterham experience' and try before I buy as it were?
I understand it's the Roadsports that you can hire. Does anyone know if these would be the 125 bhp versions only?
Not an R300 or an R400 then...but still a Caterham right? Would still give a great time - for the very first time.
Mark.
If you are not sure, hiring is a way to find out if you get on with the car (you will!). Caterham also refund the hire fee if you go on to buy a car (not sure if this only applies to new ones). They will always take you out on a short test drive as well, but only once the weather is better.
Steve
Steve
Definitely a good idea - 125bhp might not sound like much, but in a Caterham it's still a very quick car and a good place to start your experience.
If you're feeling a bit more bullish, perhaps book one of Book-a-Track's Caterhams for one of their track days. More expensive but you can really push the cars...
If you're feeling a bit more bullish, perhaps book one of Book-a-Track's Caterhams for one of their track days. More expensive but you can really push the cars...
I hired a 125 Sigma Roadsport from CC Midlands in Sept 2008 ,felt quite quick at the time as I;d never driven one before! Six weeks later I bought a '98 1600k SuperSport ,6-speed etc, it is feels more manic than the Sigma car I hired..revs like mad!! but I would not have it any other way now!!!!
Be warned If You hire one, You will buy one!!!
Good Luck!
Al Evans...
Be warned If You hire one, You will buy one!!!
Good Luck!
Al Evans...
Thanks everyone for all your informed responses. I hear what people say about the Roadsport 'only' being 125 bhp. I have no doubt that this would feel fast and very entertaining for a first time experience.
I would definitely be worried about wanting to buy as soon as I tried though! Could be a very dangerous thing that...
I live in Basingstoke, Hampshire - which is also not far at all from the Surrey and Berkshire borders. I see there are meets in the London area also. Thanks for the calender link CanAm.
Mark.
I would definitely be worried about wanting to buy as soon as I tried though! Could be a very dangerous thing that...
I live in Basingstoke, Hampshire - which is also not far at all from the Surrey and Berkshire borders. I see there are meets in the London area also. Thanks for the calender link CanAm.
Mark.
My experience is that the Caterham is just such a different experience from any "normal" car that you will get virtually nothing from a standard dealer style test drive. I recently hired a car from Roadsport Hire on the N York moors and it took me half a day to get anything like a handle on it - the assault on your senses from wind noise in itself takes some adjusting to - I got to 70mph and thought I wouldn't want to go any faster initially.
150 quid for the day is a brilliant investment if you're thinking of buying - I also seem to recall that you get that refunded if you then buy, if you hire from Caterham.
Incidentally although Yorkshire might be a long way from home it's another big recommendation, I couldn't believe the roads - and that they were totally empty (this is a few weeks back) - get in touch with Scott and he will sort you out.
(My thousandth post - wayhay!!!)
150 quid for the day is a brilliant investment if you're thinking of buying - I also seem to recall that you get that refunded if you then buy, if you hire from Caterham.
Incidentally although Yorkshire might be a long way from home it's another big recommendation, I couldn't believe the roads - and that they were totally empty (this is a few weeks back) - get in touch with Scott and he will sort you out.
(My thousandth post - wayhay!!!)
Hi Mark,
We're up in Yorshire so not exactly local! We run a high spec Supersport and a 1.8SV. For the record, NOBODY has ever come back and said not fast enough. Mark on Europe is in Swindon I think and they run a 175bhp Roadsport if you fancied something that recent. You can reach us and Mark through the Caterham Website - Hire a Seven:
http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/hire.html
It's probably best to hire something as close as possible to what you'll buy as the cars are very different (all still great fun though). We had two Supersports that felt totally different due to different spec and upgrades.
best of luck. We five customers last season who went on to buy a car, two of which from Caterham Mids, so what the guys are saying is true - the bug does bite
Cheers
Scott.
We're up in Yorshire so not exactly local! We run a high spec Supersport and a 1.8SV. For the record, NOBODY has ever come back and said not fast enough. Mark on Europe is in Swindon I think and they run a 175bhp Roadsport if you fancied something that recent. You can reach us and Mark through the Caterham Website - Hire a Seven:
http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/hire.html
It's probably best to hire something as close as possible to what you'll buy as the cars are very different (all still great fun though). We had two Supersports that felt totally different due to different spec and upgrades.
best of luck. We five customers last season who went on to buy a car, two of which from Caterham Mids, so what the guys are saying is true - the bug does bite
Cheers
Scott.
Evo-Unknown said:
Thanks everyone for all your informed responses. I hear what people say about the Roadsport 'only' being 125 bhp. I have no doubt that this would feel fast and very entertaining for a first time experience.
I would definitely be worried about wanting to buy as soon as I tried though! Could be a very dangerous thing that...
I live in Basingstoke, Hampshire - which is also not far at all from the Surrey and Berkshire borders. I see there are meets in the London area also. Thanks for the calender link CanAm.
Mark.
Hire one from these guys: http://www.aclassluxury.co.uk/MARK+ON+EUROPE/Cater... It's a 175 2.0 Duratec SV. My wife hired it for me as a Birthday present last year and the guys were brilliant. Delivered it to our house (near Reading) and collected it the day after the hire ended. They are open to negotiation on mileage inclusions and were MUCH cheaper than anyone else we found.I would definitely be worried about wanting to buy as soon as I tried though! Could be a very dangerous thing that...
I live in Basingstoke, Hampshire - which is also not far at all from the Surrey and Berkshire borders. I see there are meets in the London area also. Thanks for the calender link CanAm.
Mark.
casbar said:
There is a trackday on Friday at Castle Combe, there will be a fair few Caterhams there, including my R300 engined K series. If you can make it, your welcome to have a ride in mine, and I'm sure others will give you a ride also, if you want to try others
I might pop along to that as I'm not working Friday and the 7 needs to stretch its legs...Thanks once again for all your excellent signposting and generosity. I have so many links to follow up now - I didn't know there were so many options out there in truth!!
Mike0996 - The experience you describe is exactly how i've envisaged it and why deep down I do feel there couldn't be an underpowered or underwhelming Caterham experience. I'm pleased this is the case. And I'm often in Yorkshire too (Harrogate)...
Scott - Thanks for giving me a heads-up on all the options and Caterham types open to me, likewise FiveSixSeven8 for the alternative option - sounds great that I could get a car delivered and negotiate on mileage etc.
Casbar - I can't make Castle C sadly, but thanks for your very generous offer. The R300 is in my mind more than any other model, so that would have been quite an experience I'm sure. I'll have to be a bit more patient.
I really can't wait to get started on all this and make a few decisions once May looms its head.
Mike0996 - The experience you describe is exactly how i've envisaged it and why deep down I do feel there couldn't be an underpowered or underwhelming Caterham experience. I'm pleased this is the case. And I'm often in Yorkshire too (Harrogate)...
Scott - Thanks for giving me a heads-up on all the options and Caterham types open to me, likewise FiveSixSeven8 for the alternative option - sounds great that I could get a car delivered and negotiate on mileage etc.
Casbar - I can't make Castle C sadly, but thanks for your very generous offer. The R300 is in my mind more than any other model, so that would have been quite an experience I'm sure. I'll have to be a bit more patient.
I really can't wait to get started on all this and make a few decisions once May looms its head.
You can hire a 1996 Caterham 7 with the Vauxhall 16V engine - developing about 180bhp - more than enough, from The Open Road just outside Warwick. Only 1 1/2 hour drive from Basingtsoke. See www.theopenroad.co.uk/static_104.htm - great fun on the road but don't take it on a track.
Would definitely recommend getting along to one of the club meets at the local pub before you hire...if you get there on a dry night (so a big turnout in the 7's !) you'll probably see 20 different options / ideas you hadn't thought about for the 'ideal' Caterham purchase (and 50 different perspectives as to whats best :-). At least it'll give you something to think about....what engine, what body style, what gearbox, what colour ;-) etc etc
I did this 10 years ago before I bought my 1st one and it was invaluable. Just sold that 1st car this year and am now learning to drive again in an R400 :-)
I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for a quick passenger ride also.
I did this 10 years ago before I bought my 1st one and it was invaluable. Just sold that 1st car this year and am now learning to drive again in an R400 :-)
I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for a quick passenger ride also.
Mark
Drop me an email from my profile with your contact details and the area of the country you live in.
I give you a call to work out where the local Lotus 7 Club meeting is to you. This way I can tie you up with a point of contact and you will be able to pop along and meet the area organiser. You will also get to have a look at a number of different Caterhams and get a wealth of info all in one go. I am sure that there will bound to be someone that will also take you out for a quick blast
Jamie
Drop me an email from my profile with your contact details and the area of the country you live in.
I give you a call to work out where the local Lotus 7 Club meeting is to you. This way I can tie you up with a point of contact and you will be able to pop along and meet the area organiser. You will also get to have a look at a number of different Caterhams and get a wealth of info all in one go. I am sure that there will bound to be someone that will also take you out for a quick blast
Jamie
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