100% yay! I sold a 911 991.2 generation and bought an R400 for all the reasons you mention here. The 911 was a beautiful car, but it was too big and heavy for most of my driving - B roads and track days. A Caterham feels alive to drive, they’re amazing little things.
12 months now since I took delivery of a 420R with the large (SV) chassis. Easily the best sports car I've driven and definitely a keeper. The thing with extreme cars is; know your limitations. You live longer that way. I could have the roller barrel option added ( more torque, a little more power, better soundtrack) but this thing pulls like a train with the standard butterfly valve intake.Starts first time, every time and runs beautifully. Yes they're an expensive little car but you get a very well engineered machine. Steering and balance incredible but agreed you have to wait for those tyres to warm, and in a featherweight car that takes a while in Winter! An automotive inspiration in an age of anonymous boxes.
Ah the 7 mantra, cold tyres, cold tyres repeating until they warm up so as not to end up in a ditch, but once they’re warm, oh boy. Nothing better in my opinion. I’m never selling mine.
James's packed lunches were a thing of legend in the office and I can't explain how elated I am that they're finally getting the screen time they deserve.
I had a 7 for many years as my sunny Sunday toy. You don't have to spend a fortune, look through the specialist listings and you can find an older one for a snip. There is little to go wrong with them and they hold their value. My last one a Cosworth BDR 185 bhp dropped £1500 in seven years. Everyone should have one at least once, they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Sadly, at seventy, getting in and out of one would be a pain so get one now before you are saddled with a Hyundai i10 like I am now.
It could never be my only car, but if I was lucky enough to be able to afford at least a 3 car garage, something like this for B road blasts and track days would absolutely be in the mix.
There is NOTHING like the visceral feeling you get from a quick 7. It is THE benchmark for any sports cars, bar none. Put a screen, side screens & tonneau on it & you’ll never to use the hood even in extreme downpours, snow or hail. Biggest buzz ever.
I agree it has to be the best drivers car out there but the Caterham have steep prices and there are manufacturers out there that produce a better car for half the money 😁, I am receiving mine next week and it's 480kg with 200hp roughly... See you out on the roads. Fantastic review and great video editing 😬👍🏼
I just got a Westfield SE 1.8 last month with full race spec and is pretty much the same as this one on the video, apart from my gearbox being a 5 speed one. Anyway, if you’re a car fanatic and real driver person, you need to experience at least once in your life a 7 style car. There are loads of compromises, but the driving experience is not one! I’m glad I got mine, swapped it from a 2007 Boxster S. The Boxster was a complete sports car, but these ones are the ultimate sports cars!✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼
A late Danish Editor named the Lotus 7/Caterham a "Motorbike on 4 wheels"! And don't care to take off the raincoat, even with the top up! Sadly, I never managed to drive in one.
Excellent. I would have one of these tomorrow or maybe a Radical...as a 6th car (Estate, Sports, Soft Top, Truck, Panel Van…and only then a flying machine, right Muttley? Muttley would never say no to Dastardly would he?) But what I find always lacking in all reviews of cars like this is the safety: I would not worry about track days but regular road use? Nope. Same for the Morgan Three Wheeler that I find great. Imagine being hit in a T shunt whilst driving one these incredible machines…or would you rather prefer to being rear ended by an HGV…if unsure Muttley will tell you 🐶
Yes, please! This would be amazing on the Highland roads where i live and ,would compliment my Evo’s nicely. I might even get one or two dry days to enjoy it🤣
At £55K Vs £75K for the mentioned GT4 it's extremely expensive for the amount of car you're getting compared to the Porsche. If it was half the price it would be more impressive to say it could equal a GT4 on a small circuit.
I drove a street legal race car just yesterday, and let me tell you; you can take your cup holders and air conditioning and passenger seats and ABS....and stick 'em, nothing can ever replace the joy of driving a car that can get up to 8000rpm and stay there all day, when you're driving slowly it's too loud, too jerky, too harsh, too hot inside that it feels completely wrong to drive it that way, it's like the car is telling you "What are you doing you moron? Put your foot down and go!" And this guy is complaining about cup holders. If I'm putting my drivers license on the line I want the experience to be worth it, and you can't get that from a comprmised sports car.
Underpowered. Beats me why Caterham haven’t brought out a remapped, resprung, rebraked, reshod, abs, atc 620r cup car with paddles etc. Now that would be a proper contender against a 911 on a short track. Certain buyers would come if this was done.
'Purists'? The only 'purists' that exist, are those nauseating cretins who give that title to themselves: they can't actually drive, but will slobber on that they prefer the 'engagement' and 'connection' of not being able to drive a sports car fast. The rest of us are enthusiasts, or as I prefer myself - simply a driver: give me this sequential any day, and I'll live out my racing fantasies there instead..... Ooooh, divine!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Let us know your thoughts below - Yay or nay?!
Beautifully shot, 4k is lovely, great informative review, if a little contrived in the scripting. A more natural presentation would be more welcome.
YAH if I can squeeze my feet into the footwell....
YAY OF COURSE
yay as S3, 585kg is too heavy :-)
100% yay! I sold a 911 991.2 generation and bought an R400 for all the reasons you mention here. The 911 was a beautiful car, but it was too big and heavy for most of my driving - B roads and track days. A Caterham feels alive to drive, they’re amazing little things.
I sold my aventador and bought a fiat
12 months now since I took delivery of a 420R with the large (SV) chassis. Easily the best sports car I've driven and definitely a keeper. The thing with extreme cars is; know your limitations. You live longer that way. I could have the roller barrel option added ( more torque, a little more power, better soundtrack) but this thing pulls like a train with the standard butterfly valve intake.Starts first time, every time and runs beautifully. Yes they're an expensive little car but you get a very well engineered machine. Steering and balance incredible but agreed you have to wait for those tyres to warm, and in a featherweight car that takes a while in Winter! An automotive inspiration in an age of anonymous boxes.
Ah the 7 mantra, cold tyres, cold tyres repeating until they warm up so as not to end up in a ditch, but once they’re warm, oh boy.
Nothing better in my opinion. I’m never selling mine.
Any Caterham on the public road or track is Exciting... full stop!!
We couldn't agree more!
James's packed lunches were a thing of legend in the office and I can't explain how elated I am that they're finally getting the screen time they deserve.
😂😂😂
I had a 7 for many years as my sunny Sunday toy. You don't have to spend a fortune, look through the specialist listings and you can find an older one for a snip. There is little to go wrong with them and they hold their value. My last one a Cosworth BDR 185 bhp dropped £1500 in seven years. Everyone should have one at least once, they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Sadly, at seventy, getting in and out of one would be a pain so get one now before you are saddled with a Hyundai i10 like I am now.
I'm 74 and have absolutely no problems getting in or out of mine
What's a great thought! Appreciate it! Thanks.
It could never be my only car, but if I was lucky enough to be able to afford at least a 3 car garage, something like this for B road blasts and track days would absolutely be in the mix.
As a motorbike rider...
...I approve!!!
I agree they are the nearest thing to a 4 wheel bike that you can get.
There is NOTHING like the visceral feeling you get from a quick 7. It is THE benchmark for any sports cars, bar none. Put a screen, side screens & tonneau on it & you’ll never to use the hood even in extreme downpours, snow or hail. Biggest buzz ever.
I agree it has to be the best drivers car out there but the Caterham have steep prices and there are manufacturers out there that produce a better car for half the money 😁, I am receiving mine next week and it's 480kg with 200hp roughly... See you out on the roads. Fantastic review and great video editing 😬👍🏼
I just got a Westfield SE 1.8 last month with full race spec and is pretty much the same as this one on the video, apart from my gearbox being a 5 speed one. Anyway, if you’re a car fanatic and real driver person, you need to experience at least once in your life a 7 style car. There are loads of compromises, but the driving experience is not one!
I’m glad I got mine, swapped it from a 2007 Boxster S.
The Boxster was a complete sports car, but these ones are the ultimate sports cars!✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼
Big yay! Maybe just for the four days of the year when the weather is dry and the roads warm enough for the tyres to work.
A late Danish Editor named the Lotus 7/Caterham a "Motorbike on 4 wheels"! And don't care to take off the raincoat, even with the top up! Sadly, I never managed to drive in one.
Excellent. I would have one of these tomorrow or maybe a Radical...as a 6th car (Estate, Sports, Soft Top, Truck, Panel Van…and only then a flying machine, right Muttley? Muttley would never say no to Dastardly would he?) But what I find always lacking in all reviews of cars like this is the safety: I would not worry about track days but regular road use? Nope. Same for the Morgan Three Wheeler that I find great. Imagine being hit in a T shunt whilst driving one these incredible machines…or would you rather prefer to being rear ended by an HGV…if unsure Muttley will tell you 🐶
Yes, please!
This would be amazing on the Highland roads where i live and ,would compliment my Evo’s nicely.
I might even get one or two dry days to enjoy it🤣
At £55K Vs £75K for the mentioned GT4 it's extremely expensive for the amount of car you're getting compared to the Porsche. If it was half the price it would be more impressive to say it could equal a GT4 on a small circuit.
£50k will get you a nice used Exige or Evora.
It's well past time to twice bend the deDion tube and fit inboard rear discs...AND make this mod retrofitable!!
Only in SV version?
How tall are you? How tall do you have to be to fit in?
5ft 10
@@CARmagazineTV Hopeless, I am 6'4". Great one though.
I’m 6ft 5, and I’ve owned 2 Caterham 7s so far, the last one sold was a Duratec 420R SV. Lowered floors (an option) and it’s easy.
I drove a street legal race car just yesterday, and let me tell you; you can take your cup holders and air conditioning and passenger seats and ABS....and stick 'em, nothing can ever replace the joy of driving a car that can get up to 8000rpm and stay there all day, when you're driving slowly it's too loud, too jerky, too harsh, too hot inside that it feels completely wrong to drive it that way, it's like the car is telling you "What are you doing you moron? Put your foot down and go!" And this guy is complaining about cup holders. If I'm putting my drivers license on the line I want the experience to be worth it, and you can't get that from a comprmised sports car.
Yep 👍
😎👍🏎💥
08:21 😂😂😂😂 gloves 😀
Good thing I don't have an "other half". LOL
Who needs one when the 420CUP exists eh Stephen! ☺️
@@CARmagazineTV I'm not quite at that level yet. But I do at least have an ND2 Miata. 😁😁
Car lovers complain about modern cars but still buy them. This is a toy for weekends at Best
Cool car but needs a manual gearbox.
It is a manual gearbox? Or do you mean a conventional “H” pattern (non-sequential) manual gearbox?
@Roy Paz yes, it does have a clutch pedal 👍
the worse thing: NOT AVAILABLE IN EUROPE
caterhams are ridiculous amount of money..
Underpowered.
Beats me why Caterham haven’t brought out a remapped, resprung, rebraked, reshod, abs, atc 620r cup car with paddles etc.
Now that would be a proper contender against a 911 on a short track. Certain buyers would come if this was done.
I refuse to support a company that promotes driving while doing drugs,
420 is slang for geting high
Absolutely not, it's a daft amount of money for what you are getting. Caterham are stuck in the past. Try an R400K and you'll never want much more.
Helmet not helmut
'Purists'? The only 'purists' that exist, are those nauseating cretins who give that title to themselves: they can't actually drive, but will slobber on that they prefer the 'engagement' and 'connection' of not being able to drive a sports car fast. The rest of us are enthusiasts, or as I prefer myself - simply a driver: give me this sequential any day, and I'll live out my racing fantasies there instead..... Ooooh, divine!
クール🆒
LOL
"street legal" reality it's not. Street legal in few countries, but don't even have a COC certificate.
For that money I’d have an K20 Elise.