I've also bought one!

I've also bought one!

Author
Discussion

barchetta_boy

Original Poster:

2,305 posts

239 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Hi all,

Just a quick post to say thanks for the advice on various Caterhams I was considering recently. Following the advice of this forum I went for the green/yellow 1997 Super Sport with Dave Andrews engine, forged pistons, cams, 150bhp, R500 clutch and flywheel, LSD, 6 speed box, Emerald ECU, Tillets, CR500s/R888s and many more bits including a 2 inch thick lever arch file of history.

The vendor took me for a drive that recalibrated my sense of speed round corners sufficiently, and a deal having been done I wedged myself into the seats and drive it home 90 odd miles from Ipswich all the way through central London.

As promised by someone on here, I found it quite intimidating to drive at first, but I just love the power and the delicacy of the controls. The modified K series just loves to rev.

Here's a pic:

Cheers,

Joel

mickrick

3,705 posts

180 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Very nice mate! beer
Just in time for the summer! How do you find the Tillets? I find them realy comfy.
Drove my car down to Mallorca with them, and never got a sore bum!

Enjoy!

downsman

1,099 posts

163 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Congratulations, looks really nice smile

barchetta_boy

Original Poster:

2,305 posts

239 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
They are great, but I had slightly sore hips after a couple of hours' driving. We'll see how I get on. I'm not *that* chunky (6' 1" and 13.5 stone) and there is an OMP cushion in there, I think I might need some more padding.

To be honest, the main problem I had with the car was getting my legs comfortable. The ignition key barrel is directly under the dash cowl (WHY? could there be a worse place for it?) so the immobiliser fob and fuel key are permanently wedged into my left thigh. I have hopefully solved this by adding a lanyard to the bunch so the rest of the bunch can sit in the central storage pouch helpfully added by the PO on the transmission tunnel.

I haven't quite figured out what to do with my left foot when not using the clutch. When cruising it can go under the clutch pedal, but when going up and down the gears there is no room to the left of the clutch pedal unlike my 928 and that will take some getting used to.

Obviously the drive overall is like nothing else I've ever experienced...

Joel

2slo

1,998 posts

174 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
[quote=barchetta_boy
To be honest, the main problem I had with the car was getting my legs comfortable. The ignition key barrel is directly under the dash cowl (WHY? could there be a worse place for it?) so the immobiliser fob and fuel key are permanently wedged into my left thigh. Joel
[/quote]

What about a lowered floor? You can get the drivers side from CC for £240 (plus fitting) I bet you'd be more comfortable.

Nice looking car! smile

fatvik

354 posts

190 months

Monday 9th May 2011
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Welcome to the fold BB beer

Lovely looking car

-FV

barchetta_boy

Original Poster:

2,305 posts

239 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
It already has a lowered floor tongue out

Aeroscreens

457 posts

233 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Welcome to the fold BB.

Ditch the ignition barrel and go for keyless ignition.

Ult-Jim

624 posts

197 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
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Congrats, enjoy, experienced the same and I have no lowered floor and I am 5'11'' and a bit. Travelled with tillets all through endless blast through the Alps - very comfy

twobone

123 posts

163 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
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Terrific colour combo and spec. How does she sound at full throttle?

barchetta_boy

Original Poster:

2,305 posts

239 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
quotequote all
The sound is amazing! I think definitely the best sound I've ever heard from a 4 cylinder. A real "buzzy" roar.

Joel

BertBert

19,681 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
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Well done, that's the one I would have gone for if I had been buying (on a bit of a car-buying-embargo at the moment)!
Bert

S47

1,325 posts

187 months

Wednesday 11th May 2011
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Try some Leather seats - you won't ever want Tillets againwavey

downsman

1,099 posts

163 months

Wednesday 11th May 2011
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The current leather seats don't suit everyone. I test drove a Seven with them and was in agony after only 15 minutes.
They gave me no back support at all, but I can drive for hours in the Tillet seats without problems.

Nicodema

259 posts

225 months

Wednesday 11th May 2011
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Yeah, it's all about fit. I wasn't comfortable in the leather seats but the Tillet B2 fits me like a glove. Alex, my girlfriend puts a "mesh pringle" back support into the B2 to give her more support, but wasn't overly comfy in the leather seats either. I certainly wouldn't make any sweeping generalisations about which is better, it depends what works for you.

S47

1,325 posts

187 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
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nicodema
I agree with you about how you fit, But everyone Raves about Tillets, But not me or the Wife, I'd certainly try B4 you buy.

Dave J

894 posts

273 months

Friday 13th May 2011
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check your pedals are in the furthest mounting position - you have a choice of 3 positions of pedal inside the pedal box


Irish

3,991 posts

246 months

Friday 13th May 2011
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Nice. Great to have another seven in London!

BBL-Sean

336 posts

183 months

Saturday 14th May 2011
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Great looking car, bb! I particularly like the matching stripe and roll-over bar on your car. thumbup

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 14th May 2011
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barchetta_boy said:
To be honest, the main problem I had with the car was getting my legs comfortable. The ignition key barrel is directly under the dash cowl (WHY? could there be a worse place for it?) so the immobiliser fob and fuel key are permanently wedged into my left thigh. I have hopefully solved this by adding a lanyard to the bunch so the rest of the bunch can sit in the central storage pouch helpfully added by the PO on the transmission tunnel.
Why not just remove the ign key from the fob altogether to use it? S'what I did.