Anyone got a caterham for an everyday car?!
Discussion
You are joking, mate? Surely....
Well some people have been known to use motorbikes for every day transport...so I guess its down to whether or not you're happy to wear full waterproofs wherever you go.....
Oh, I forgot, apparently some Caterhams have the innovation of a *roof*
(if it can be called that!) not sure how good one is.
P.S. I'd love a Caterham too - but as an everyday car? Surely not........
Well some people have been known to use motorbikes for every day transport...so I guess its down to whether or not you're happy to wear full waterproofs wherever you go.....
Oh, I forgot, apparently some Caterhams have the innovation of a *roof*
(if it can be called that!) not sure how good one is. P.S. I'd love a Caterham too - but as an everyday car? Surely not........
There are several people in the UK who use Caterhams as everyday cars. Go to www.blatchat.com, register and ask the same question of the Lotus 7 club members - a very nice bunch and they'll be happy to tell you about the pros and cons.
Having owned the equivalent (Pilgrim Mk1) No doors, velcro sides (which blew in if it was remotely draughty) and very leaky roof as only car for 7 years here is my advice:
You'll be pleased to know it can be done and the vast majority of time its pleasureable. There is nothing like driving roof down on a bright freezing cold morning.
To survive the winter you need the following:
Motorbike oversuit: Waterproof. Mine was a frank thomas excellent although you had to remember to take your keys out before zipping up.
Motorbike gloves: I found the summer ones were ideal as they are thin but waterproof and wind proof.
Hat: My favourite hat was a flying helmet bought by friends. It was fur lined covered the ears and was very warm. Hey you're going to look a pr@t driving that kind of car in the snow anyway so you may as well go the whole way.
Scarf: Not the white silky kind as they are just posing kind and the wind goes straight through. Better are a soft wool type or a bikers neck scarf (which is like a balaclarva for the neck)
Leather & Fleese. For when its not raining but cold. I've found nothing better although I'm sure some of the new motorbike jackets will be as good they tend to have kevlar making it harder to drive.
Towel: Keep it in a plastic bag in the car so that when you get horribly wet and cold you can dry yourself off.
Soup: For when you get in always have a stash of soup you can cook quickly (microwave or kettle). You'll be surprised how cold you can get and how warm you'll feel after a soup.
Finally the MOST important thing you need is a good sense of humour. When its P*ss*ng it down you're totally soaked to the skin, cold and miles from home... you have to laugh it off.
I thoroughly enjoyed my car. You have to be excentric to take the roof down in winter. You'll get odd looks from most, the ocasional thumbs up from the hardy bike rider and the biggest grin ever.
Hope my advice helps.
>> Edited by smeagol on Tuesday 18th March 00:03
You'll be pleased to know it can be done and the vast majority of time its pleasureable. There is nothing like driving roof down on a bright freezing cold morning.
To survive the winter you need the following:
Motorbike oversuit: Waterproof. Mine was a frank thomas excellent although you had to remember to take your keys out before zipping up.
Motorbike gloves: I found the summer ones were ideal as they are thin but waterproof and wind proof.
Hat: My favourite hat was a flying helmet bought by friends. It was fur lined covered the ears and was very warm. Hey you're going to look a pr@t driving that kind of car in the snow anyway so you may as well go the whole way.
Scarf: Not the white silky kind as they are just posing kind and the wind goes straight through. Better are a soft wool type or a bikers neck scarf (which is like a balaclarva for the neck)
Leather & Fleese. For when its not raining but cold. I've found nothing better although I'm sure some of the new motorbike jackets will be as good they tend to have kevlar making it harder to drive.
Towel: Keep it in a plastic bag in the car so that when you get horribly wet and cold you can dry yourself off.
Soup: For when you get in always have a stash of soup you can cook quickly (microwave or kettle). You'll be surprised how cold you can get and how warm you'll feel after a soup.
Finally the MOST important thing you need is a good sense of humour. When its P*ss*ng it down you're totally soaked to the skin, cold and miles from home... you have to laugh it off.
I thoroughly enjoyed my car. You have to be excentric to take the roof down in winter. You'll get odd looks from most, the ocasional thumbs up from the hardy bike rider and the biggest grin ever.
Hope my advice helps.
>> Edited by smeagol on Tuesday 18th March 00:03
I owned a Sylva Striker and used it every day for about 6 months. Great fun but really hard work. It was the wettest summer for about 30 years, pissed it down everyday for atleast 2 months. I got very used to dressing in water prrofs and bailing out water.
I can strongly recommend it but don't bank on doing it for too long!!
My car had no heater either, so I used to sit right behind lorries, let the air under the engine warm up and then overtake, only way to stay warm at 5 in the morning!!
Great fun though.....
I can strongly recommend it but don't bank on doing it for too long!!
My car had no heater either, so I used to sit right behind lorries, let the air under the engine warm up and then overtake, only way to stay warm at 5 in the morning!!
Great fun though.....
Thanks for your help guys, what i should have explained is that the caterham will be my 'only' car rather than my 'everyday' car, if you can see the difference!!? I live and work in London so getting to work consists of getting the tube but the car will be my only form of transport when i do need a car, including doing the shopping, going away for weekends etc. So, is this a more relistic use of a Catherham or am i still being mad !!?
Thanks.
Thanks.
No you're not being mad, esp.if you use public transport for work. Mine was only car and no public transport. The caterham has a pasenger seat which is enough for shopping (plus most supermarkets deliver now days). You learn how to pack light for holidays, for example a weekend away for me is 1 small rucksack a friend is three times as much 
A good example of how its easy to do was that my father and I went to the Isle of Mann for a week to watch the Manx GP we had one bike two paniers and a top box between us. Managed easily no washing of clothes required or anything like that. The caterham has bags of space compared to a bike.
I wouldn't hesitate in your situation at all go for it.
>> Edited by smeagol on Tuesday 18th March 10:49
A good example of how its easy to do was that my father and I went to the Isle of Mann for a week to watch the Manx GP we had one bike two paniers and a top box between us. Managed easily no washing of clothes required or anything like that. The caterham has bags of space compared to a bike. I wouldn't hesitate in your situation at all go for it.
>> Edited by smeagol on Tuesday 18th March 10:49
How about a Caterham 21?? A friend has one for sale on findit.co.uk...may be a slightly better option for you. Still huge fun, a little more room and a boot.
Like smeagol said, you do learn quickly how to pack light..credit card, can of deodarant.... scrap that all you need pack is a credit card.
Happy hunting.
Like smeagol said, you do learn quickly how to pack light..credit card, can of deodarant.... scrap that all you need pack is a credit card.
Happy hunting.
Mark B: Not a bad idea !! However, i don't know much about the caterham 21 and the Caterham website makes no mention of it......
Info please !!!
Otherwise, i'm really glad to hear it is possible to run a caterham 7 as an only car, excellent !!
Many Thanks.
>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 18th March 12:32
Info please !!!
Otherwise, i'm really glad to hear it is possible to run a caterham 7 as an only car, excellent !!
Many Thanks.
>> Edited by markez79 on Tuesday 18th March 12:32
A good friend of mine used one as his only car for about four years. Actually it was two - one after the other. He used to work about about two hundred miles from home and used to stay away during the week and commute at weekends - with all of his 'stuff' in the passenger seat. I don't think I ever saw either of the cars with a roof on! If he could do that I reckon you'd have no problems. Although thinking about it he must be a glutton for punishment - after he sold his 7 he had a 'sensible' car for a while then got fed up with it and bought an Elise to do the same journeys!
Markez: The Caterham 21 is basically a lightweight spaceframed car. The body styling is really nice in my opinion. They are a bit heavier than 7 but you have a boot larger enough for shopping, travel luggage and can even accomodate a golfbag! Caterham didn't sell many, in fact as little as 30. They are a great car though, as mentioned a friend is selling hers, have a look at findit.co.uk under caterhams. There is a great picture. It only has 140hp, but I can assure you it is quick. For an only car, it would make more sense. I think the car is slightly over priced, but thats my opinion. I think £12k would get a really nice car.
Yes, probably room for a couple of smallish, squishy bags (not yer full-on hold-the-whole-teams-kit type though
markez79 said: Surely there is enough room in the 'boot(!)' for a couple of soft bags, the sports bag type?? At least thats what i thought when i saw one?
). The Caterham roll bar also intrudes into this space so you may need to be a bit creative in packing.
Best thing is to go have a look at a couple and get an idea whether they'll suit you. Get yourself to a PH meet or a track day if you can - there are generally one or two around.
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