Roadsport for a day. Any advice?
Discussion
My wife has very kindly hired me a Roadsport SV for the day next Saturday.(Depending on weather).
Having never driven a 7 before, I thought I would seek out any advice or tips to get the most out of the experience.
I have also bought a very cheap MD80 video camera from eBay as I have seen a few good reviews on here about them. Where would be the best place to fix a camera for picture and sound?
So, fire your d tips below... Thanks
Having never driven a 7 before, I thought I would seek out any advice or tips to get the most out of the experience.
I have also bought a very cheap MD80 video camera from eBay as I have seen a few good reviews on here about them. Where would be the best place to fix a camera for picture and sound?
So, fire your d tips below... Thanks
Nice treat! Is an SV (wider model) or S3 (slim boy model and much more fun); )
Ok, a few tips from me in no particular order.
Sort out a decent route beforehand so you know where you are going to get a good mix of different driving roads, obviously A's and B's are the best, and the quieter the better.
Choose your footwear carefully, the pedals are very close together in a 7 compared to normal cars.
Take a baseball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes, sunglasses, a fleece and a scarf and thin gloves, oh and your camera, ideally fix to rollbar behind you with best all round view.
Make sure you are comfortable and can reach all the pedals before you do the harnesses up, oh and make sure you loosen the harness straps before you get in, and position the lap straps across the transmission tunnel and the side of the 7 before you get in, so you don't end up sitting on them.
Familiarise yourself with all the switches etc.
If you have a removeable momo steering wheel, learn how to fix properly.
Hopefully the weather will be fine, if it isn't you may want to re-schedule, if you do go out in the wet or it's damp, be very careful when using the throttle particularly when pulling off, on bends, corners, roundabouts etc.
Make sure you know how to put the hood on, in case it rains.
Don't put the hood up unless it's pouring, you will stay relatively dry as long as you keep moving.
Keep an eye on the fuel gauge if its dry and you start to have a more spirited drive once you have got used to how it handles.
I always drive with dipped headlights on, even in daylight, to ensure people see me, and hopefully don't pull out on me.
Driving at night is a new experience as well, as you are so low down other cars lights really dazzle you.
Make sure you know how to get the fuel filler cap off.
just a few tips, the main one is don't try to run before you can walk, oh and enjoy yourself, oh and don't take your cheque book with you......
Enjoy.............. and let us know what model you eventually buy
Ok, a few tips from me in no particular order.
Sort out a decent route beforehand so you know where you are going to get a good mix of different driving roads, obviously A's and B's are the best, and the quieter the better.
Choose your footwear carefully, the pedals are very close together in a 7 compared to normal cars.
Take a baseball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes, sunglasses, a fleece and a scarf and thin gloves, oh and your camera, ideally fix to rollbar behind you with best all round view.
Make sure you are comfortable and can reach all the pedals before you do the harnesses up, oh and make sure you loosen the harness straps before you get in, and position the lap straps across the transmission tunnel and the side of the 7 before you get in, so you don't end up sitting on them.
Familiarise yourself with all the switches etc.
If you have a removeable momo steering wheel, learn how to fix properly.
Hopefully the weather will be fine, if it isn't you may want to re-schedule, if you do go out in the wet or it's damp, be very careful when using the throttle particularly when pulling off, on bends, corners, roundabouts etc.
Make sure you know how to put the hood on, in case it rains.
Don't put the hood up unless it's pouring, you will stay relatively dry as long as you keep moving.
Keep an eye on the fuel gauge if its dry and you start to have a more spirited drive once you have got used to how it handles.
I always drive with dipped headlights on, even in daylight, to ensure people see me, and hopefully don't pull out on me.
Driving at night is a new experience as well, as you are so low down other cars lights really dazzle you.
Make sure you know how to get the fuel filler cap off.
just a few tips, the main one is don't try to run before you can walk, oh and enjoy yourself, oh and don't take your cheque book with you......
Enjoy.............. and let us know what model you eventually buy
Just make sure you have fun, and take it easy at first, there is no driving experience that comes close.
Make sure you find a tunnel too, to do stuff like this here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCrtxJbR4o
Make sure you find a tunnel too, to do stuff like this here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCrtxJbR4o
Thanks so much for that comprehensive list SLR400 
It's an SV. Caterham recommended this to my wife due to my height and long legs! Hopefully it won't detract from the experience too much.
Some really handy tips there, especially about clothing etc. Had some Puma Speed Cat shoes for my birthday also, so they should help with the close pedals.
Am planning on going down to the south coast after picking car up from Caterham, just need to finalise it and book a table for a quick lunch!
It's an SV. Caterham recommended this to my wife due to my height and long legs! Hopefully it won't detract from the experience too much.
Some really handy tips there, especially about clothing etc. Had some Puma Speed Cat shoes for my birthday also, so they should help with the close pedals.
Am planning on going down to the south coast after picking car up from Caterham, just need to finalise it and book a table for a quick lunch!
Boolay you are very welcome, 7 owners are all very friendly and helpful, sounds like you've made a good start with the route and speedcats, I hope the weather stays good for you.
Re: the SV you will have just as much fun, there is always ribbing between S3 and SV owners, all in the best possible taste.
Make sure you update us after your drive and keep us posted on your eventual purchase......you are on a slippery slope, have a fantastic day.
Oh and one other thing, if you see another 7 you have to wave, it's the Law, as long as it's safe to do so of course!!
Re: the SV you will have just as much fun, there is always ribbing between S3 and SV owners, all in the best possible taste.
Make sure you update us after your drive and keep us posted on your eventual purchase......you are on a slippery slope, have a fantastic day.
Oh and one other thing, if you see another 7 you have to wave, it's the Law, as long as it's safe to do so of course!!
Edited by SLR400 on Sunday 18th September 10:19
boolay said:
Caterham recommended this to my wife due to my height and long legs! Hopefully it won't detract from the experience too much.
Well I'm, 6' 6" (35" inside leg) with Size 16's and pack (unfortunatly 
) 20 stone - I manage in my SV with lowered floors and removable wheel.Enjoy the day, you'll have a lot of fun.
Mike
boolay said:
SLR400 said:
Oh and one other thing, if you see another 7 you have to wave, it's the Law, as long as it's safe to do so of course!!
It's ok, I owned an Elise for a year and was well into the whole waving thing at the time!
boolay said:
My wife has very kindly hired me a Roadsport SV for the day next Saturday.(Depending on weather).
Having never driven a 7 before, I thought I would seek out any advice or tips to get the most out of the experience.
Hide your credit card for at least a month after you get back, and resist all temptation to visit the online showroom.Having never driven a 7 before, I thought I would seek out any advice or tips to get the most out of the experience.
A truely fantastic experience. I had only been passenger in a track 7 before sliding behind the wheel of one myself.
I had an idea of the assault that takes places on your senses, but to actually pilot one for the day was a true insight to what a Caterham is really about.
The car we had was a Black Roadsport CDX which I was told by the chap at Caterham had a 1.6 Sigma engine (125bhp)
The wife did a great job in following the directions I had prepared, which took us from Caterham diagnoally across to Dell Quay (just past Chichester) where we stopped at the Crown and Anchor for a quick lunch (Fantastic pub if you ever find yourself that way).
2 glasses of wine sunk, the wife then took hold of the video camera for the afternoon session! (There was a few minutes worth of sky to begin with!)
We then headed back towards Brighton and back up to Caterham, unfortuanately having to take on about 20-30 mins on motorway to get back in time.
Some of the highlights of the trip were consuming the roundabouts around Chichester in a fun and rapid manor! and whilst being chased across country by a Porsche (I could tell which exact derivative due to the wing mirrors shaking violently!!) I established that even though it was a light car, the single pot calipers, small discs and no ABS lead to a few trouser soiling moments into a few of the corners!
The only thing that didn't quite go to plan was the time at which we had to get the car back to Caterham. My confirmation letter from them said 4pm, so at 3:40pm I was refilling the car with petrol back in Caterham when I got a call from the showroom checking where we were because, according to them, it should have been back at 3pm.
When we arrived back, I showed them the letter expecting an appology, and "It was our mistake". Unfortunately, one of the guys there did very well at making us feel bad and completely ignored the fact that they sent me a letter with 4pm on it! Not happy!
Needless to say, when I do buy a Caterham (I'm hoping to save part of my annual company share dividend each year, so when my son is old enough we can build a kit together) Roadsport 150 I think, It will be from Caterham Midlands!
I had an idea of the assault that takes places on your senses, but to actually pilot one for the day was a true insight to what a Caterham is really about.
The car we had was a Black Roadsport CDX which I was told by the chap at Caterham had a 1.6 Sigma engine (125bhp)
The wife did a great job in following the directions I had prepared, which took us from Caterham diagnoally across to Dell Quay (just past Chichester) where we stopped at the Crown and Anchor for a quick lunch (Fantastic pub if you ever find yourself that way).
2 glasses of wine sunk, the wife then took hold of the video camera for the afternoon session! (There was a few minutes worth of sky to begin with!)
We then headed back towards Brighton and back up to Caterham, unfortuanately having to take on about 20-30 mins on motorway to get back in time.
Some of the highlights of the trip were consuming the roundabouts around Chichester in a fun and rapid manor! and whilst being chased across country by a Porsche (I could tell which exact derivative due to the wing mirrors shaking violently!!) I established that even though it was a light car, the single pot calipers, small discs and no ABS lead to a few trouser soiling moments into a few of the corners!
The only thing that didn't quite go to plan was the time at which we had to get the car back to Caterham. My confirmation letter from them said 4pm, so at 3:40pm I was refilling the car with petrol back in Caterham when I got a call from the showroom checking where we were because, according to them, it should have been back at 3pm.
When we arrived back, I showed them the letter expecting an appology, and "It was our mistake". Unfortunately, one of the guys there did very well at making us feel bad and completely ignored the fact that they sent me a letter with 4pm on it! Not happy!
Needless to say, when I do buy a Caterham (I'm hoping to save part of my annual company share dividend each year, so when my son is old enough we can build a kit together) Roadsport 150 I think, It will be from Caterham Midlands!
Edited by boolay on Wednesday 5th October 11:11
Interesting read, and echoes some of my finding from my first drive the same weekend as yours.
boolay said:
I established that even though it was a light car, the single pot calipers, small discs and no ABS lead to a few trouser soiling moments into a few of the corners!
I also found this. From my initial experience the brakes felt very wooden and were extremely easy to lock. However with heat in both the brakes and the tyres, combined with a decent road surface, the brakes really did 'come alive' and provide much more the power, feel and modulation I was hoping for.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff