Using a Caterham as a touring car
Discussion
Hi,
I wonder if you guys could help me? I'm interested in buying a Caterham to use as a summer time touring car; UK and Europe. Has anyone done this? I guess the issues for me are; bad weather protection, luggage, security, breakdown cover etc...
Typical trip might be 1-2K miles over 2 weeks with friend*. In fact my dream trip is Switzerland in May. Not too hot or crowded but warmer than UK. I did notice www.mycaterham.com/ which looks like it's possible and maybe not the marriage wrecker that you might think.
I'm looking at some kind of SV sized model, maybe even a CSR. My only experience of touring is in a boring CLK55.
Any comments would be much appricated.
* - i.e. Wife.
I wonder if you guys could help me? I'm interested in buying a Caterham to use as a summer time touring car; UK and Europe. Has anyone done this? I guess the issues for me are; bad weather protection, luggage, security, breakdown cover etc...
Typical trip might be 1-2K miles over 2 weeks with friend*. In fact my dream trip is Switzerland in May. Not too hot or crowded but warmer than UK. I did notice www.mycaterham.com/ which looks like it's possible and maybe not the marriage wrecker that you might think.
I'm looking at some kind of SV sized model, maybe even a CSR. My only experience of touring is in a boring CLK55.
Any comments would be much appricated.
* - i.e. Wife.
Plenty have done it, I know a chap who took his academy car (full cage, tillets, no roof, no doors, no toneau) and g/f for a 3000mile trip across Europe, they loved it (and they camped). They did a sprint at Lydenn on the way down, called in at LeMans then went to Italy through France.
Do it!
Do it!
I had my Caterham as my only car for 5 years including road trips. It's absolutely fine as long as you can pack light. I've never had anything stolen from the car and the weather protection isn't that bad.
Thinking of it as a very practical motorbike rather than an impractical car helps too
Thinking of it as a very practical motorbike rather than an impractical car helps too
jackal said:
ELISE
I love my Caterham to bits, however having owned both, as a touring car I have to agree, an Elise is a better car on the road.
But the Caterham is leagues more fun on the track, hence after having a Caterham, swapping to an Elise for 3 years I have returned to a Caterham.
Hi there,
I started this thread and blow me if I'm not going to finish it...
Well I had a go in one today, travelled down from the Crewe area to the midlands office. Picked up the day-hire SV sized model (for the fuller figure) and then 4 hours of total wonder. The noise is amazing. You don't need a stereo. In fact when I returned to the office I realised I couldn't hear anything. I was a naughty boy, but not a bad boy (in other words, I wasn't caught). Just incredible.
Although I could not spend all day in the car (had to pick up kids from school at 15:20), I did manage to wiz around lanes, roads and motorways of the midlands for a few hours. Why I even spent 45 minutes putting up the “weather gear” in the Bosworth battle centre car park.
School boys waved enthusiastically from the top of buses. Women swooned (no they didn't).
Deposit paid. Expectations high. My children were impressed that the Stig had driven the very same car a few days earlier. How's that for a bed time story?
Delivery Oct; Not so good but I guess there's pleasure in the pain of waiting.
All that I can tell you folks is that I'm very excited.
All joking aside, this is a mightily wonderful machine. It was fun getting from A to B or in my case, A to A.
I started this thread and blow me if I'm not going to finish it...
Well I had a go in one today, travelled down from the Crewe area to the midlands office. Picked up the day-hire SV sized model (for the fuller figure) and then 4 hours of total wonder. The noise is amazing. You don't need a stereo. In fact when I returned to the office I realised I couldn't hear anything. I was a naughty boy, but not a bad boy (in other words, I wasn't caught). Just incredible.
Although I could not spend all day in the car (had to pick up kids from school at 15:20), I did manage to wiz around lanes, roads and motorways of the midlands for a few hours. Why I even spent 45 minutes putting up the “weather gear” in the Bosworth battle centre car park.
School boys waved enthusiastically from the top of buses. Women swooned (no they didn't).
Deposit paid. Expectations high. My children were impressed that the Stig had driven the very same car a few days earlier. How's that for a bed time story?
Delivery Oct; Not so good but I guess there's pleasure in the pain of waiting.
All that I can tell you folks is that I'm very excited.
All joking aside, this is a mightily wonderful machine. It was fun getting from A to B or in my case, A to A.
I suggest that you add the Trackday rollbar to that - the standard one won't protect you much if the unthinkable happens - it is also mandatory for club trackdays. I also suggest joining the L7OC which will give you access to BlatChat.
You might also want to consider leather seats as they are less likley to soak up water if you get caught in a shower
Have fun
You might also want to consider leather seats as they are less likley to soak up water if you get caught in a shower
Have fun
Edited by Shaun_E on Friday 23 June 13:08
Seats: Interesting.
To be honest, I'm out of my depth with this whole issue. I didn't go for a Tillet seat simply on the basis that it looks too good to be true. I couldn't believe that a plastic bucket could be cosier for my sensitive and frankly rather middle aged bottom than something with a nice shape and PADDING. I mean surely they’re sweaty and uncomfortable after a few hours? I can see that they'd dry of better and quicker than a conventional seat.
Are we talking about this www.tillett.co.uk/index2.html or am I totally off the beam?
If I’ve got this totally wrong, please tell me. Not only am I prepared to stand corrected, but also I’m prepared to sit corrected too
.
Any comments really appreciated.
I know I'm drifting off topic with this thread but it's so exciting.
To be honest, I'm out of my depth with this whole issue. I didn't go for a Tillet seat simply on the basis that it looks too good to be true. I couldn't believe that a plastic bucket could be cosier for my sensitive and frankly rather middle aged bottom than something with a nice shape and PADDING. I mean surely they’re sweaty and uncomfortable after a few hours? I can see that they'd dry of better and quicker than a conventional seat.
Are we talking about this www.tillett.co.uk/index2.html or am I totally off the beam?
If I’ve got this totally wrong, please tell me. Not only am I prepared to stand corrected, but also I’m prepared to sit corrected too
. Any comments really appreciated.
I know I'm drifting off topic with this thread but it's so exciting.
Good move on getting the CSR and joining the L7C.
Leather seats would be the best option as you want to use the car for touring. I spec'd up mine for touring and that is what I have. Agreed with the point on not taking in water and much more comfy than tillets....still ok for track days too!
Having seen a guys elise at the weekend, I think I can get more stuff in a SV Caterham to be honest.
Leather seats would be the best option as you want to use the car for touring. I spec'd up mine for touring and that is what I have. Agreed with the point on not taking in water and much more comfy than tillets....still ok for track days too!
Having seen a guys elise at the weekend, I think I can get more stuff in a SV Caterham to be honest.
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