Car security as a daily driver?

[jakeoh]

Hi Everyone,

I was considering getting a caterham, or any similar looking brand kit car (Obviously Caterhams are very expensive ) as a daily driver.

I've been trying to research this for the last couple of days but there doesn't seem to be an answer anywhere.

My biggest concern of owning one as a daily is security. To me, it looks as though the doors are only used as weather protection and don't actually secure down with a lock/key? I can't see it being very good at stopping someone from getting inside the car, if say, you parked it up in a town centre for the night or left it outside a friends house/roadside?

Has anyone ever tried to make doors for them that can actually lock down? Whether that's part of a hardtop system or to be used with the cloth top? I like the idea of having a hardtop with locks as it can be removed when summer time comes around or for a good weekend blast where you could leave the top at home. But on the flipside, having say, a half roof with lockable metal doors that tuck under the cloth top. It would be a nice as most of the hardtops look horrible

Here's an example of a hard top which could somehow be lockable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb20xvBDkf0

I think all the Donkervoort's have seal able doors also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRCgW141Jn0

Just wondering what everyones take on this is? I'd love a 7 or something similar but parking it up anywhere is my big worry.


Thanks in advance for any responses

[g7jhp]

Battery cut out key and removable steering wheel.

[bcr5784]

A seven with the hood up and sidescreens on is a pretty miserable place to be, so I think anything that provided real security would be claustrophobic - and very hot in summer.

[downsman]

Don't leave anything valuable inside!
If you owned one and it lived outside, you'd be more worried about all the water getting in than thieves

[Dave J]

view it like a motorcycle - nothing in there to pinch.
take your stuff in a backpack and carry it with you .

[framerateuk]

Lotus Elise?

As has been said, a Caterham with the hood up is a pretty miserable place to be. The only time I use the hood is when I'm caught out in the rain or when touring and there's no other choice. It's fine if you need to get somewhere, but it really does take away some enjoyment from the car.

[andy1912]

I have had mine about a year and a half, and use it everyday regardless of the weather. As others have said, I simply don't leave anything of value in the car. It has an immobiliser, not sure how secure that makes it but I've had no problems so far.

[battered]

As others say, the hood is only for emergency use when it's actually raining. A hard top would be really, really miserable as the thing is just too tight. If you have a passenger and the hood is up you have to let them get in first and then climb in and put your head in their lap while you get your legs in.

If leaving it outside is a problem in the areas you visit then I'd review your choice of car. Or the areas you visit.

You may know that in most 7-alikes there is no secure boot storage. The original has none, some owners have solved this by making a folding metal lid for the "boot" or fitting motorcycle type panniers to the roll bar. One friend of mine fitted a mini-safe to the passenger floor so that he could leave passports, tickets and documents in the car in safety while touring. Mine had no heater so that leaves a toolbox space under the bonnet, you can lock this if you feel the need. All this said, these are not very good city cars.

[Toaster]

For me id buy a Exige or Elise with a hard top, these cars are not as bonkers as a 7 but are close, and they have the security you are seeking and whilst may not be everyones choice for an every day car I had a Europa S and use that every day.

[one eyed mick]

No soft top car is really secure be it a Locost or a Ferrari, take every thing moveable out remove steering wheel, fit wheel clamp ,fit tracker etc will all help but if they really want it they will lift it with a Hiab and be away in under a minute !!

[bcr5784]

Toaster said:

For me id buy a Exige or Elise with a hard top, these cars are not as bonkers as a 7 but are close, and they have the security you are seeking and whilst may not be everyones choice for an every day car I had a Europa S and use that every day.

Agree, nothing with a soft top is really secure - had my Elise (soft top) cut with a Stanley knife and radio pinched and lost 2 tax discs from my 7.

[ND395]

Get a good quality chain and tie it to a lamp post.

[k20erham]

NOTHING will stop it going if they want it, everything you do just slows them down, a decent tracker may get it back but also fit a dummy box too as they nick it rip it apart looking for the tracker then off it goes never to be seen again. I have tracker and a pager etc etc, few years ago mine went (pushed) 4 streets away behind a row of shops vice grips on the column splines left until 3.30am it went at 12.30 they came back with a dolly behind a transit (orange) and took it off to Dagenham, tracked and found by the plod and the tracker network resulting in my motor coming back and other property recovered

[Gregs79]

Possibly look at a motorcycle style ground anchor for home location if you can, but remember locking wheel nuts. More to slow them down than stopping them.