People's reaction to Sevens
Discussion
How do you think Seven-style cars are received by the general public?
I ask with two specific points in mind, both spurred by taking a bit of a road trip over the weekend.
The first was that I quite enjoyed touring in my most un-touring spec Caterham, which got me thinking the only real problem for regular use is security. A car that looks out of the ordinary and which obviously has a canvas roof held on by poppers is perhaps likely to attract the wrong sort of attention if left in the wrong places (such as the area I work in!) Has anybody had any experience of theft or vandalism?
The second, more positive observation was that people move out the way for you in a Caterham. To be fair, this may also have something to do with escaping London and driving round a civilised part of the country, but people seem to respond more positively to you zooming up behind them in a Seven than other cars. I wonder if it's perhaps that the car is obviously something quick and different, but not perceived as being 'flash'? I can't help wondering if the people who slowed down and waved me past would have still done so if I was driving the same way in an M3 or a 911?
I ask with two specific points in mind, both spurred by taking a bit of a road trip over the weekend.
The first was that I quite enjoyed touring in my most un-touring spec Caterham, which got me thinking the only real problem for regular use is security. A car that looks out of the ordinary and which obviously has a canvas roof held on by poppers is perhaps likely to attract the wrong sort of attention if left in the wrong places (such as the area I work in!) Has anybody had any experience of theft or vandalism?
The second, more positive observation was that people move out the way for you in a Caterham. To be fair, this may also have something to do with escaping London and driving round a civilised part of the country, but people seem to respond more positively to you zooming up behind them in a Seven than other cars. I wonder if it's perhaps that the car is obviously something quick and different, but not perceived as being 'flash'? I can't help wondering if the people who slowed down and waved me past would have still done so if I was driving the same way in an M3 or a 911?
I think a lot of people recognise them as being a proper sports car and so give them the respect they're due (like you would with a mean-looking Atom or something). Some people see them as being a classic car - like, say, an old Morgan. Either way, they seem to recognise that you're in the car to have fun - and part of that fun is zipping up behind them and the overtaking. You might be doing the same thing in an M3, but a lot of their experience of BMWs being driven quickly is going to be adverse, so they have no way of differentiating you, out for a proper drive in your M3, from the risk-taking frustrated businessman.
I've never had any problem with theft from the car or vandalism despite leaving it in some fairly dodgy places. Obviously the usual rules apply - don't leave anything on show, take basic precautions to prevent the car itself being taken (removable wheel and battery master switch are useful here).
As for reactions to the car - overwhelmingly positive. People love it. This appears to be true across France too as I discovered last week
As for reactions to the car - overwhelmingly positive. People love it. This appears to be true across France too as I discovered last week
GetCarter said:
I find people wave and smile like I'm in 'The Railway Children'.
Never had that in my 911 or M3.
Yep. I guess the most noticeable performance car I've had before this was the TVR - unmistakably British and classically styled - but even that didn't go down as well as the Caterham does.Never had that in my 911 or M3.
I am of course referring to the people who actually see you, not those who fail to register a Seven-sized silhouette in the mirrors and try to change lanes through you on the motorway! I tried to leave a gap wherever possible and blast past with a bit of induction noise to let them know I was there. It feels worse than being on my bike.
Glasgow2 said:
Would the caterham colour make any difference in people noticing us on the road? I am ording my 7 which i will be using mainly on motorways....Having difficulty choosing the colour... :-(
Some people in black 7s say they get noticed less. I always drive with the headlights on to give that extra bit of noticeability even though my 7 is yellow (and black).Glasgow2 said:
Would the caterham colour make any difference in people noticing us on the road? I am ording my 7 which i will be using mainly on motorways....Having difficulty choosing the colour... :-(
Possibly not enough to affect what colour you choose for your new P&J, but the brighter the better I guess. Isn't there a slightly offensive shade of lime green? That'd be great. I think in something compact and slightly extrovert like a Caterham you can get away with far more, er, adventurous choices than on a normal car. They do look good in yellow and with the possible exception of the S1 Elise I'm struggling to think of any other car that goes for.
kwit on the a64 who tried to be funny in front of his mrsI am a bit concerned with the position of the battery cutt off switch. Having terrible thoughts of comming to the car after a long day at work to find it removed by a kid or a daft. Any suggesions about having switch placed inside the car. Dominic at CC south said it is not a standard work that CC does.
Glasgow2 said:
I am a bit concerned with the position of the battery cutt off switch. Having terrible thoughts of comming to the car after a long day at work to find it removed by a kid or a daft. Any suggesions about having switch placed inside the car. Dominic at CC south said it is not a standard work that CC does.
So take it with you when you leave the car - car is more secure and no-one can nick the key.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff