New Caterham owner. Caterham Superlight Twenty
Discussion
I meant to buy an Elise but somehow ended up with a Superlight Twenty. I've always loved bare ali cars so when I saw this pop up with Callum at Turn 7 I couldn't get it out of my head. A few phone calls and the car was very easily sold site unseen.
My twenty has had the 310r upgrade plus I opted for a heater, doors, heated screen and half top (I know I'm soft!). The Twentys standard features are lots of carbon, bare ali tub, 6 speed box, carbon aero screen, LSD and lightweight flywheel. This spec with the 310r upgrade makes a very special car.
My first drive was when it was unloaded at my front door at 0100 on a Saturday morning with the air temperature hovering around zero. My sleepy, tired eyes and body could not respond quick enough to the tremendously overwhelming experience of a first drive in a Caterham, in the dark, on cold roads with cold tyres! I confirmed the car was insane and the heater worked very well. I almost felt a slight hint of fear that I may have purchased something far too extreme! I silenced this thought and put it to tiredness and went to bed.
The next day confirmed I had made a fantastically correct decision and a Caterham Superlight Twenty is something truly special. On a clear road the driving experience completely consumes you. The 6 speed box, the exhaust, the response and feedback you feel from the wheel, chassis and pedals is something else. I probably should not have driven it that first night but how could you not?!
Plans are to drive it plenty more. I hope/ need to get a track day and some tuition. Hopefully I can get this arranged at Knockhill some time soon.
Tickets for Le Mans Classic have been purchased! I am looking forward to my route from Scotland, down Ireland and into France with my 11 year old son to meet my dad, brother and some friends.
The bare ali does need some care to look its best! I have been doing a lot of cleaning and polishing. I am tempted to give it a brushed finish and just keep it clean. We will see...
The car really does not need a thing (just polishing). The spec and condition is exactly what I want. I was worried about the short gear ratios but they excel at propelling the car to 80mph and this is where the fun is at.
Beyond the sensational driving experience I have also fallen in love with the carbon seats. They look as if they have been taken from a GT3 car but are somehow really quite comfortable! We will see how I feel about them after Scotland to LE Mans...
Thanks for reading
My twenty has had the 310r upgrade plus I opted for a heater, doors, heated screen and half top (I know I'm soft!). The Twentys standard features are lots of carbon, bare ali tub, 6 speed box, carbon aero screen, LSD and lightweight flywheel. This spec with the 310r upgrade makes a very special car.
My first drive was when it was unloaded at my front door at 0100 on a Saturday morning with the air temperature hovering around zero. My sleepy, tired eyes and body could not respond quick enough to the tremendously overwhelming experience of a first drive in a Caterham, in the dark, on cold roads with cold tyres! I confirmed the car was insane and the heater worked very well. I almost felt a slight hint of fear that I may have purchased something far too extreme! I silenced this thought and put it to tiredness and went to bed.
The next day confirmed I had made a fantastically correct decision and a Caterham Superlight Twenty is something truly special. On a clear road the driving experience completely consumes you. The 6 speed box, the exhaust, the response and feedback you feel from the wheel, chassis and pedals is something else. I probably should not have driven it that first night but how could you not?!
Plans are to drive it plenty more. I hope/ need to get a track day and some tuition. Hopefully I can get this arranged at Knockhill some time soon.
Tickets for Le Mans Classic have been purchased! I am looking forward to my route from Scotland, down Ireland and into France with my 11 year old son to meet my dad, brother and some friends.
The bare ali does need some care to look its best! I have been doing a lot of cleaning and polishing. I am tempted to give it a brushed finish and just keep it clean. We will see...
The car really does not need a thing (just polishing). The spec and condition is exactly what I want. I was worried about the short gear ratios but they excel at propelling the car to 80mph and this is where the fun is at.
Beyond the sensational driving experience I have also fallen in love with the carbon seats. They look as if they have been taken from a GT3 car but are somehow really quite comfortable! We will see how I feel about them after Scotland to LE Mans...
Thanks for reading
Edited by Airush on Tuesday 25th March 21:38
Lovely, congrats! 
You live in the right place for one of those!
I don't understand how anyone doesn't have a heater in a convertible thing, it makes it so much more useable across a wider part of the year - roof off and snow coming down is excellent fun
Make sure you have earplugs or ear defenders (or well-sealed earbuds for music/phone purposes at the same time) as you will be stone deaf after driving to and from Le Mans without them. lol
You live in the right place for one of those!
I don't understand how anyone doesn't have a heater in a convertible thing, it makes it so much more useable across a wider part of the year - roof off and snow coming down is excellent fun
Make sure you have earplugs or ear defenders (or well-sealed earbuds for music/phone purposes at the same time) as you will be stone deaf after driving to and from Le Mans without them. lol
Great car – congratulations. I/m pretty sure the previous owner was local to me, although I never saw the car in the metal.
The Superlight Twenty is possibly the only modern Seven I would own (I like my 1.8K too much) but I would only run it as the base car with aeroscreen and an updated trackday roll-bar. Purity at its finest.
Enjoy…
The Superlight Twenty is possibly the only modern Seven I would own (I like my 1.8K too much) but I would only run it as the base car with aeroscreen and an updated trackday roll-bar. Purity at its finest.
Enjoy…
drgav2005 said:
Fantastic! Looks like a great car.
I’ve just finished a 420R build and I’m very (impatiently) waiting for the PBC and an IVA before I get my first taste of Caterham ownership. I’m based in South Lanarkshire so hopefully see you out and about on the roads and Knockhill sometime soon
I can not imagine the patience required to build one then wait for it to be certified! I am sure it will be worth it though. Yes, I hope to get brave enough to venture to Knockhill soon. Would be good to go with a few other Caterhams for some support and guidance!I’ve just finished a 420R build and I’m very (impatiently) waiting for the PBC and an IVA before I get my first taste of Caterham ownership. I’m based in South Lanarkshire so hopefully see you out and about on the roads and Knockhill sometime soon
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