Discussion
Having slight masochistic tendencies I'm thinking of a late(ish post 2000) K engined (1.4 or 1.6 de-dion 5 or 6 speed will do) boggo el standardo 7 as a daily driver. A small cooking engine should give decent MPG. Insane acceleration is not my thing. I'm more into the sublime handling and classic KAR120C looks.
Any nutters on here use one day in day out?! The roof would generally be up with doors fitted. I assume they leak but how badly? Will I be greeted with a paddling pool after a spot of rain? A car with a heater is a must in winter. The heated screen will assist greatly on those damp days. I know the car will deteriorate but such is life and a by product of it being exposed to the elements. On that basis I won't need or have to pay for an ex garage queen minter. I fancy one with flowing front wings.
I thank you.
Any nutters on here use one day in day out?! The roof would generally be up with doors fitted. I assume they leak but how badly? Will I be greeted with a paddling pool after a spot of rain? A car with a heater is a must in winter. The heated screen will assist greatly on those damp days. I know the car will deteriorate but such is life and a by product of it being exposed to the elements. On that basis I won't need or have to pay for an ex garage queen minter. I fancy one with flowing front wings.
I thank you.
I don't own a 7 but we've rented. The side screens mostly keep the water out. In heavy rain my right arm got wet.
Avoid puddles if you want to stay dry. The only time we got a substantial amount of water in the car was when I drove through standing water.
The old Lotus style wings might help keep keep the interior dry. I think a fair amount of the water that got into the car was coming off the tires.
If I owned one as a daily driver, I'd want one of the half hoods from soft bits for sevens in addition to Caterham's full hood.
Other issues if you have one as daily driver.
There is no secure storage in a 7. Nothing locks or even really latches.
Ground clearance is about 3". There are some places you won't be able to go. Others you can manage with care. If you make an error you might damage the sump.
The 6-speed transmission is a track gearbox. Many road cars have it, it is a great transmission, and I'm sure people here will swear by it. But the close ratios are best for racing. It is noisy but more importantly 1st on the six speed is on the tall side for driving in traffic. The K-engines don't have much low end torque. Coupled to a tall 1st gear makes stop and go driving not much fun.
On the other hand the stock 1st on the 5-speed is too low. A 5-speed with a slightly taller 1st gear would be the ideal everyday road car gearbox.
Avoid puddles if you want to stay dry. The only time we got a substantial amount of water in the car was when I drove through standing water.
The old Lotus style wings might help keep keep the interior dry. I think a fair amount of the water that got into the car was coming off the tires.
If I owned one as a daily driver, I'd want one of the half hoods from soft bits for sevens in addition to Caterham's full hood.
Other issues if you have one as daily driver.
There is no secure storage in a 7. Nothing locks or even really latches.
Ground clearance is about 3". There are some places you won't be able to go. Others you can manage with care. If you make an error you might damage the sump.
The 6-speed transmission is a track gearbox. Many road cars have it, it is a great transmission, and I'm sure people here will swear by it. But the close ratios are best for racing. It is noisy but more importantly 1st on the six speed is on the tall side for driving in traffic. The K-engines don't have much low end torque. Coupled to a tall 1st gear makes stop and go driving not much fun.
On the other hand the stock 1st on the 5-speed is too low. A 5-speed with a slightly taller 1st gear would be the ideal everyday road car gearbox.
Edited by andrewdebbie on Thursday 18th August 14:46
And I don't have garage (only winter storage).Done the daily driver thing as have many others. It's kinda fun, but gets to you in the end. I had to drive round the country turning up at customers in my suit! So I used the roof a lot in the wet. If you are commuting and don't need to be suited and booted then you can use it more with the roof off.
I wouldn't get worried about tall 1sts and 5 speed touring. To enjoy the 7 best you need the 6 speed box. It might be noisy, but a 7 is anyway, so hearing protection is an absolute must. Then you are not bothered by higher revs!
I did about 18k miles in one year and that was enough for me. Fell out of love and lost my caterham-mojo a bit. Then got a tin top for everyday use and found it again!
Bert
I wouldn't get worried about tall 1sts and 5 speed touring. To enjoy the 7 best you need the 6 speed box. It might be noisy, but a 7 is anyway, so hearing protection is an absolute must. Then you are not bothered by higher revs!
I did about 18k miles in one year and that was enough for me. Fell out of love and lost my caterham-mojo a bit. Then got a tin top for everyday use and found it again!
Bert
Have a read of this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Evo's end-of-term report - earlier reports included in depth discussion of sailing waterproofs (!) Nice sunny day here now that the mist is burning off so my non-daily-driver will get out (at last).
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...
Did use my Caterham as a daily for about a year until the engine decided to go bust. Most of the time without hood and doors. Had short and long distances to attend trackdays in France. As I got married recently and with a little one on the way it won't be my daily drive when it's fixed again. But I can assure you, it was epic for the time! Would keep that car as a daily if I could. Well actually... Still keeping the car so I can use it when I leave house by myself and for the occasional road trips and trackdays. I just can't imagine my life without my Lewinsky! 
BTW, in the rain, my leg always got soaking wet. Probably because I have a heater.
BTW, in the rain, my leg always got soaking wet. Probably because I have a heater.
I love my seven but wouldn't want to use it as a daily. The ride on rough, broken roads is terrible, the roof is a faff to put up and down, and the noise can be tirinjg on a long run. Given that Caterhams depreciate very slowly and are generally cheap to insure, service and maintain I think they are the perfect second car. I have a 1400SS (around 115-120bhp) with flared wings and the 6 speed box.
Good luck.
Good luck.
I bought one on this basis, fell thoroughly in love with it and spent the next few months frantically saving for a winter shed.
You can do it. You might enjoy it. It is very possible. It will mean your car needs a complete rebuild far too soon after you need to treat all the rot and rust. Oh, and water comes in from the floor as well as the roof on mine...
However, I bought mine in April. Meant there was lots of time to save for the shed...
You can do it. You might enjoy it. It is very possible. It will mean your car needs a complete rebuild far too soon after you need to treat all the rot and rust. Oh, and water comes in from the floor as well as the roof on mine...
However, I bought mine in April. Meant there was lots of time to save for the shed...
Hi Swerni, your picture came as a shock and puzzled me for a few minutes. "That's my car, with someone else driving it on a track I've never been to. It has the mirrors I fitted but a chrome windscreen surround."
So you were the original owner. I bought it 8 years ago when it had done 29k and used it as my "most days driver", pushing the mileage up to 90k+ (actual figure unknown, I had a speedo problem along the way) before buying another one and retiring M17 to the back of the garage, where it's still waiting for an engine/box transplant (the last trip was home from the 'Ring with a knackered gearbox).
So you were the original owner. I bought it 8 years ago when it had done 29k and used it as my "most days driver", pushing the mileage up to 90k+ (actual figure unknown, I had a speedo problem along the way) before buying another one and retiring M17 to the back of the garage, where it's still waiting for an engine/box transplant (the last trip was home from the 'Ring with a knackered gearbox).
Edited by Seven Smiles on Wednesday 7th September 09:05
Edited by Seven Smiles on Wednesday 7th September 09:06
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