My Hardcore Daily: I Did Over 900 Miles in 5 Days In a Caterham 420R!
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Last year I borrowed a Caterham Seven 310S and loved it. Then I tried the 160S and didn't. Now I'm going back up the range and trying the 420R - will it be love or hate in this narrow bodied rocket?
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landing.mailer...
Not sure which is louder, the car or the shirt
At idle, shirt. In motion, car.
Realistically speaking.... that shirt would never idle properly, it's running way too rich.
The sunglasses match nicely though!
The end title music is the loudest. Nearly blew out my notebook's speakers! xP
Hey look it's Minecraft...in shirt form!
Nice shades. Nice car. And a very popular choice for car nuts here in Japan 🇯🇵 Snug size? Absolutely no problem JayEm San!
It boggles my mind why all press cars aren't SV's with standard 3-point seatbelts and doors and all the "luxuries". But apparently they're not. Review after review after review, some poor journo is stuck in a car that absolutely does not suit them, and (unlike yourself) they don't have the experience to know that more comfortable Caterhams do exist.
"Oh, but what if they want the extra performance?"
Look, I am lucky enough to own TWO Caterhams. One is a full-on race car - roll cage, harnesses, fire extinguishers, uprated everything, no windscreen or any of that crap. It's not even remotely road-legal and you literally cannot drive it without a full nomex suit - it's dangerous.
My other Caterham is the most comfortable you can make a Seven - heater, windscreen, doors, leather seats, normal 3-point belts, SV chassis, 5-speed, rear-exit exhaust with a decent muffler, etc. The two cars are otherwise nearly identical in terms of weight and power.
I took both to the track recently to see the difference in lap times. Same track, same driver, and honestly I wasn't pushing the road car too hard because I didn't want to ruin the tires and pads. The difference? 2 seconds (on a 2-minute lap track). That's it. That's all you get for throwing all the creature comforts out the window (and then throwing out the windows). Now of course 2 seconds totally matters if you're in a race. But if you're not - just get the comfy one. Trust me on this.
What version is your road version?
This is excellent to know. Thank you.
I totally agree. If I’m getting one. You bet I’m going for a comfortable one.
Look it from another perspective. If you only had boring cars, and you wanted just a bloody raw, hardcore, shit on you pants experience for a weekend drive, your race car would be the one to have, one would drive it an hour or two every other sunny weekend just for pure fear and joy. That's why the 620r exists, that's why people spec cars without windshield without any intention to track them. The narrow chassis is just another layer of 'specialness'
@@cutdepiefails6596 I fully understand why PEOPLE want to BUY an S3. What I don't understand is why you'd LEND a JOURNALIST one.
I’ve had a Caterham as my daily for nearly six years - even the drive to work is enjoyable!
My 1.4 K-series has been upgraded to 140bhp and still does 38 mpg. It’s also still worth the purchase price plus the upgrade cost. The five speed box is better for road use. As you can see, I’m hooked totally.
Enjoyed the review, keep up the good work. 👍🏻
Thanks Barry!
Mark B
The Caterham ticks all the boxes for me. I’m sure that you’ll eventually find the car that you’ll never want to get out of - keep searching, it’s fun ‼️👍🏻
Barry Catt Great stuff. I used mine several days a week for 4 years, come rain and snow. Drove it all around the Peak District on a regular basis and trips to Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Moors where the roads were amazing. Mine was the 1.6 K series, but I had the Supersport Cam and ECU upgrade fitted. Lovely engine. Only the alternator gave me any problems, and that was easily replaced. Hated driving it at night in the rain though... the glare of headlights on the wet windscreen and from the wet roads made it less than pleasurable, especially with the full roof fitted.
How'd you stay dry/store it? I've only got outside parking but this is the dream
A Nother
Hello. I have experienced a similar problem when driving in the rain. Rain-Ex makes the water roll off the screen alleviating much of the visibility issue.
First of all, that shirt. THAT SHIRT!!
Second, great explanation of how a portly man gets into a narrow bodied Caterham in a simple 20 step procedure. 🙄
As Laurie screws the camera back together, “We’re professionals”😂
“The crumple zone is my thighs!”😂😂😂
Keep em coming, Jay! 👍👍
Thankyou!
@@JayEmmOnCars It was the reflection of the windscreen at the beginning that was killing me....
They are bloody expensive. That's my main bug bear, thankfully the lack of depreciation softens the blow if you can buy one. For someone with a family though it's realistically a third car at best. And that is a lot of money for a third car, for most people.
Have a look at tge 270 it start from 27 000 ☺
You can buy a lower model and upgrade as you go .
I drove my Zetec engined Caterham from Bardi in Italy up through the MontBlanc tunnel and through France back to East Sussex, a distance of over 1000.00 miles in an 'easy' 2 days...that included a repair stop in Rheims to fit a new fuel pump.
I'm thinking of buying a caterham in the uk and take it to esp, would you recommend to do a long trip through italy or just buy the expensive ferry ticket which goes directly to spain
80,000 British pounds in Australia for a 485R (unpainted).. takes the joy out of it a little
I think your government took the fun out of buying nice cars
@@JayEmmOnCars that is the same with Denmark
I’m GoldCoast, would love one, looking at mx5 instead?
@@Very_Grumpy_CatI can confirm. It is truly absurd over here.
@@oscarschiff9180 yeah. I live in dk
19:00 you could fit some side impact bumpers similar to formula cars to increase safety.
In term of practicality, it's certainly more practical than any track car that you need to tow to the racetrack every time you want to drive it.
- Caterham did make the S4 model for about a year, but it proved very unpopular and they thankfully reverted to the now legendary S3 model.
- You don't need to stand on the beautiful yet expensive and scratch prone carbon seats to get in... that's why you should have taken the steering wheel off. Left foot in the footwell, left hand on the tunnel, right foot in the footwell, right hand on the edge where you commented on the scratches, stretch your legs out, then lower yourself in. Extraction is the direct reverse.
- I have hardly ever heard the Half Hood (made by two suppliers - Oxted/Thundersports (for Caterham) and Soft Bits for Sevens (the original) called a Bikini, certainly never heard Caterham say it.
There is no easy way for me to get out without standing on the seats, steering wheel or no. These seats had padded bottoms in them meaning you were not scratching the carbon.
As for the roof, it was my first Caterham press car where they described the smaller hood as the bikini top to me, and the name stuck.
I was taught how to get in a seven by someone on the caterham stand at the motor show.
That’s nit how you get in.
The 5 speed box is geared far better for the road and driving doors off above 50mph is horrible. Ear plugs are highly recommended for long runs. If the sun is shining there's no better entertainment. Enjoy!
"Now I'll reattach the driver's door! Oh, wait..."
yeah, i was wondering that at the start.. i guess you're good as long as you have a laurie to hand
Doors & roofs are for WIMPS!!
@@alanxgale Or for people with brains who don't want to be in pain the next day and deaf
Probably the best car and shirt combo I’ve ever seen!🤪🤟🏻
Hahaha
Anyone considering a Caterham - just do it! I got a 310S recently - hilarious fun! Also in bright (roulette) green.
Great video :)
The 310S is a brilliant car, I reviewed one last year
JayEmm on Cars your review partly led me to Caterham ownership, also having seen the price of Lotus’s getting v pricey for a ‘fun’ car. I’m close to B&C and considered an Elise, but due to cost and the fact I had an Elise 20 yrs ago, I went the Caterham route :)
Keep doing the vids - very enjoyable
Thanks Lee. If you speak to Caterham please let them know the review helped. When this info feeds back to dealers and manufacturers it really does help
about to plug the trigger on a 360 too.. can't wait
I remember when they had their original show room in Caterham, not too long ago. It featured briefly on TopGear once. They used to have a selection of Caterham's and a few vintage Lotus race cars that you could look around in the back garage there. I remembered the Caterham 21 as well. Loved the place. I remember, specifically in the 90's, they featured their yellow Lotus 102 F1 car in the show room. The early one with a V12 Lamborghini engine and Camel livery. Fantastic thing (although not very successful in racing)! On the way home from school I used to drive my mum mad always asking her to go home via the road the garage was on just so I could catch a glimpse of it as we drove past. I hand delivered CVs to the manager of that place many times practically offering to do anything for them including clean their cars and hoover the show room & garage for free at the weekends & evenings when I was younger. I even asked the manager for advice about getting into the industry too. They were pretty dismissive and I never heard a peep out of them each time. That show room has now been turned into housing. Shame. The huge Caterham F1 motorsport headquarters has also been abandoned and has been left vacant due to motorsport failings - maybe that place will have a similar housing fate too. I'm glad they are still going. I'll hopefully get to drive one one day. Great video Jay! Of course, loving the matching shirt and car colour combo (even if this is a v late comment).
I've gone blind
How the hell do you put the door back then
Another great detailed review, loving the content, keep up the good work :)
Thanks!
With a shirt like that, I can quite understand why you need to wear shades, and the car/shirt/shades combo do colour co-ordinate perfect - which, admittedly, is vital now you're a major fashion house - but, I'm afraid, the wearing of sunglasses still remains detrimental to the overall effect of the video. Apart from this faux pas, the video is master class in how to it properly.
Also, a plug for your haute couture activities. I'm delighted to confirm the T-shirt, cap, stickers and assorted goodies have arrived, and they are nothing short of excellent. I strongly recommend everybody to buy your paraphernalia, they will definitely will not be disappointed. I modelled the apparel at Donington Park, and it met with universal approval.
Glad to know it all arrived safely!
Me and the wife did 2600 miles in my 1992 Westfield last August from North Devon to Monza then up to the Nurburgring and back in 12 days. Cramped, noisy but a lot of fun.
Jay keep the reviews coming ! Better than anyone on TV, a natural and a true petrol head. I'm waiting to order a new Caterham and you confirmed that it satisfies my requirements for a 'fun car'. :)
On the gearing - 6th gear on the 6-speed is the same as 4th gear on the 5-speed (no, I didn't make any typos there, I promise). So they're lovely and close ratio for the track, but it means the 6-speed makes an awful racket when driving on the motorway. The 5-speed is the right gearbox for daily use.
Yep you are correct!
I have driven a 620 R, The only thing I can say is terrifying!.
So whats the big deal?? 900 mls are 1440 km. I drove my new 620R from Caterham south in GB in one go to the most south west point in Portugal (Sagres) where I live.Only stopped once to eat and to gas up always. Made it in 11.5 hrs
I'm guessing that you are a relatively young man. That kind of adventure becomes less appealing as you get older. You can still do that sort of thing if you have to, but it comes with more aches and pains and recovery takes far longer.
@@Michael_Lorenson I just don't see why there is this assumption that the Caterham in uncomfortable. I have driven 350 miles at a stint in mine and felt no worse than when I did the same trip in a 5-Series BMW or a Subaru Outback. You can set the pedals on a Caterham to be exactly the way you want them rather than having to live with whatever the manufacturer want to give you and that helps especially if you like to heel & toe downshifts. Oh - and I'm in my late 60s
Nice choice, my all time fav, I’m thinking mx5 as an option because I’m quite old😂 a sane comparison of the two would be great! 🇦🇺🏳️🌈😃 hi from Queensland🤪
I'm not a fan of the Caterham brand. I like my big, silent, comfort and seriou power that I get from my Lexus GS300.
But: I also own my first ever car. It was a 17th birthday gift and I had to build it under the watchful eye of my Great Uncle. When it was finished, in its British Racing Green livery, with black mudguards; it could do a whisker over 95mph!
No seat-belts, no luxury; just an open top and 2 very comfortable lesther bucket seats. Now, 60 years later, she will still do that whisker over 95mph, and she's still as thrilling as the day I finished building her.
She's called "M'Lady" and she's a 1937 Singer Le Mans!
Congratulations! Your kiroprator is rich now 😂
The 160 isn’t available any longer, the 270 is the bottom of the range now @£25k on the road.
Gotta love that old B1066! Nice to see some of my local roads being used in a review!😄👍. I’ll keep an eye out for you 😉
Long Melford
Switches - believe caterham bought all the british leyland stock when it went bust in 1975 and still have boxes of it - joke but wouldnt surprise me - on the other hand 7s are little pocket rockets - believe a new more driver friendly one is out now -
Hi JayEmm! Thank you very much for responding to me! I retracted my comment after finding that you made an apology regarding your sunglasses near the end of the video. After deleting my comment I had only realised you responded to me and therefore the only remnants I have of your response is through my notification bar. From the remainder of your reply, when safety is a concern then please do what you may. Drive in good health sir! Kind Regards, Nathan
No problem Nathan
Caterhams are all about comprise. 6 speed is perfect for track but the significantly taller 5 speed makes more sence on road. I have a R400 SV 6speed superlight. Leather seats in an SV chassis is surprising spacious to the point I'd prefer a little more support when on track. Once you drive these type of cars it makes everything else feel numb.
Pro-tip - on the track, stuff a sweater down the side of your bum to stop you sliding about so much. Those SVs really are surprisingly wide, aren't they?
Tom Forsyth .Thanks I will give that a try, somewhat cheaper that the second set of seats to swap between road and track that Ive been considering.
There's no such thing as "too much power", but this might be getting close to it.
A replica with a turboed rotary would be savage.
All of your moaning about the tight fit is pointless without mentioning your size.
Height and weight. I have no idea how i would fit - you have given no reference point.
I drove a 77' Spitfire as a "daily" in the north coast of Ohio (U.S.), including winters, for 4 years. Now THAT'S hard core.
Yep, true! Horrible shirt! Why does he not look at the camera half the time?
You are the only one I trust to know how a car really is.
if u worry about mpg and comfort, buy something else. Treat it like a big bike and just have fun. Its a toy, not a practical mode of transport
Exactly, These cars are designed for track days and not motorway journeys. Nobody who buys a Caterham expects comfort.
I agree that they are expensive compared with motorbikes, which are mass produced but they are quite sophisticated mechanically. Getting that performance elsewhere, is likely to be hard to get at the price. Morgan’s, another genuinely retro car are also pretty expensive, as they should be.
It’s the R, it’s natural home is the track, Get it on the track and you won’t give much of a toss about the gearing being short.
Too much shirt and too much face time on a car review.
Driving it to and from the track I would mind, I am going to see if I can take the next one on a track day but not sure what they will say
@@JayEmmOnCars Earplugs and mtfu?
I did 900 miles in the 420R in a week with headphones on
@@JayEmmOnCars I recently bought one....hopefully my resolve is strong....so far the excitement is worth it for an occasional use car.
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi I drove four Caterhams in the end, had each one for a week. They make a great fourth car.
You are to soft for the Cat ;)
Thumbs up for the video!
Great channel, great reviews, you seem a really great and trustworthy journalist on a platform dominated by bollocks and cynicism. Keep up the great work jay, love your stuff and always wanna hear ur opinion
Thanks very much!
9:14 suddenly the door is back on. You should have shown us how to put it back on while you were sat inside.
It literally slots in, I think I did it in another video, or in a similar car
yes, also you can't breathe without the side screens. Take Towels. the most characterful are the crossflow ones on webbers
Damn these people in the comments are really pressed for some reason… trying to figure out what the man did ???
Instant thumbs up because you look like British Farva.
I think that an SV with three points would have made you much happier. I have had five, used in all weathers - true the one with aero screens and no hood was "interesting" on long drives in the cold and wet, but the one with a roof and heating was cosy. It is a purists car and you learn plenty about weight transfer and input management on low grip roads in the wet with minimal point pressure on the tyres....... probably more than you will on a track day in your S2k (lovely car). An additional 20 seconds to put harnesses on, remembering to do your reversing before you put them on, can easily be made up on any journey :-)
Too right about the wet roads and lack of contact pressure. I drove my Cat down the M67 when it was, as it far too often is, flooded. It took me rather longer than it should to realise that I was aquaplaning. Ended up down at about 50 with the heavies coming past no doubt wondering why what the hell was wrong with me.
I really can't understand why people can't hack a Caterham as a daily driver. Our forebears would have been totally OK with doing 1000 miles in, say, an MG TA.
I think the s3 chassis Caterham's are better looking.
A few of us have done 1,000 miles over two days, for 14 days…!
As for the gear ratios you would perhaps be happier with the 5-speed box. I knew I was going to use mine mainly as a road car and, at least at that time (2005), the top gear on the 5-speed was longer than top on the 6-speed.
The idea that 1000miles in a Caterham is in some way hard or heroic shows just how soft we have all become. Our grandparents would have considered an MG TA to be a totally acceptable vehicle to cover such distances and on roads that were far worse than we have now.
The thing is when our grandparents were doing their driving, everybody else was also driving an MG TA. Not a three tonne seven foot tall tank with autopilot. Changes the dynamic somewhat.
You're absolutely right about the gearbox - I had assumed the 6spd would be better on road.... it was much worse!
@@JayEmmOnCars Many thanks for the reply. The safety aspect is an interesting one. In the era of the TA we were killing over 8000 people a year on our roads compared to well under 2000/year in recent times so, even in a Caterham we are probably safer than they were. Deaths per passenger mile have fallen even more dramatically as you might expect. It's good that we have a greater awareness of the dangers but I feel we are in danger of never living because we are too afraid of dying.
@@ColinMill1 I'm pretty confident that these numbers are only lower because everyone ISNT daily driving a Caterham lol.
Frankly they should be lower but people expect cars to drive themselves and think that means they don't have to pay attention
@@JayEmmOnCars Perhaps, but google risk homeostasis - the contrary view derived from this is that we might all be safer if there was a 6 inch spike sticking out of the middle of the steering-wheel because everyone would be concentrating far harder on not hitting things (much as you are suggesting). Like most bikers, I drive on the basis that it is up to me to avoid accidents as the consequences can be massive. Being in a Range Rover or a Caterham is going to matter little if the accident you have involves two 42 tonners using you as a 3rd party crumple-zone. And I'm mindful of the old Frank Borman quote "the superior pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of his superior skill"
@@ColinMill1 Good quote. I'm a fellow biker too (though not active these days) and I always follow the mantra of it doesn't matter how right you are if you're getting into a fight you will definitely lose (your 42 tonne argument)
Good video and very informative, and I agree it is a lot of money to pay for something that`s not very practical. But they are just amazing on the track, cornering is phenomenal, and the 1.6 Sigma(in my car) is a tough little engine designed to hit the high revs. (sorry ,preaching to the converted here!) Love to see you do another vid of it on track, as I`m a relative novice trackie, and would be interested to hear your thoughts.
I run some track days Lydia, you should come on one!
Yes, are they on your website?
Www.magnitude-events.co.uk
This guy is like RUclipss top gear lol
I'll take that. Cheers!
Enjoyable review and so true. I have a 420R and 2 consecutive days driving at a time is enough for me. You don't mention the pedals, I have fairly wide feet so have to don a pair of driving shoes otherwise when braking I can press all three pedals at once. My Ferrari 488GTB (yeah I know) after the Caterham feels like a limousine with a huge steering wheel!
The pedals get a big mention in my 160 review
I have a Caterham SuperSport 140 and use it as you say - as a toy. I’m seriously considering upgrading my toy to an Evora 400. Having driven both how much of the Caterham’s connected, direct, seat of the pants driving feel do you think the Evora will give me? Really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
You'll think the Evora is terrible if you get in it from your Caterham. Give the Evora time and it will amaze you, but it is so refined it hides its ability well.
Even an Elise feels like a 7 series after a Caterham
Thanks. I feel an Evora test drive coming on!
I drove 508 miles in 2 days this weekend
They need to sort out the electrics it's the thing I have the most trouble with, need to put in better electrical components
U was good on 'Shooting Stars' but even better on 'Would I lye to u' 😮
This is a depressing review lol makes me not want to buy it.
Great Review and good timing. I was considering a Caterham (and this exact model) but you just about put me off 😊.
Weather like we are having today in the UK though, and it would be a great toy to own. £25k....no brainier. Perhaps £30k tops. £40k though is a bit steep for a fun toy. It’s all relative to what someone might have as disposable income for such a car. Fantastic track car though, no question about that !!.
An Elise is nearly as fun and considerably more usable
JayEmm on Cars I disagree with that comparison... the Elise feels positively pedestrian compared to the Seven. On track, at the limit, given the right Lotus, perhaps I'd agree. Even then, I'd wager the Seven is more thrilling, and I'm a lotus fan. You soft southerners just can't hack a bit of discomfort. 😉
I have the seatbelts on my 420R.....saves a lot of faff....
I certainly wouldn't let you get into my car like that. Just hold the steering wheel, put your feet into the footwell and sit in. That way you don't scratch the seat. It's great that you use multiple angles to shoot your PTCs but you need to tighten the cuts between them to make the edit smoother. Nice reviews however...
A fourth car ??? Who the hell drives 4 cars ? At worst, this might be a 2d car . I'd definitely go with the Elise for a daily driver.
My only kid is a grown woman, I've no wife and I love these little raceable street cars. BTW, who needs more than 150 HP ? The Big Healey had 150 and it kicked ass . In a car this weight and size, 150 should feel super powerful . Love Lotus/Caterhams .
Excellent complimentary shirt choice
Where would you rank sports cars in terms of hardcore visceral excitement through to refined GT car - I guess at the most hardcore are the Ariel's and Caterham's, then maybe the Lotus Elise / Exige...then what? I didn't really feel anything much from the 981 Boxster unless I was on it. The MX-5 was pretty fun but is still underpowered, needs a new suspension, and stronger gearbox if you want to up the power etc. I have driven a 987 tiptronic at relatively slow speeds (boring test driver) and that did nothing for me either. Apart from the sound I feel that Porsche's are vastly over-rated and really quite boring cruisers at sensible road speeds. Maybe they're too serious, too numb, too refined. Having sat in a Caterham and a lotus just in the show room they really pretty uncomfortable and I'm sure I would quickly find them unliveable day to day. I like a car to be fun and playful with some skiddy action and convertible. A car that surprises you from time to time and has a bit of hooligan in it. I guess I'm looking for that sweet spot between hardcore track car and something more liveable.
It would probably be more vise to buy Viessman for this money....based on BMW and built in Germany is certainly a way more refined toy car.. BTW Donkenwort version is not so pricy unlike Caterham...though...
I had a 310r for two days and they were the best two driving days of my life. All that matters is the thrill of driving in these and it feels incredible! One day, when I win the euromillions, this will be my daily.
4:22 Huh? Why have you suddenly started to talk to someone else James? You were speaking to me a minute ago 😁.
He was fed up with looking at u 😮
@@Yumbutteredsausage Lol, yes that must have been it 🤭.
Ok it's a trial to get in, but left leg in, backside on the seat, right leg in, then slide down and GO !
I did about 50,000 miles in 1970/71 with a 7/4 as it was my company car. Marine radio/radar service all over the UK.
I was based in London and did runs to Glasgow, Milford Haven, Ipswitch, Portsmouth etc with spare parts.
Best job on the planet ! Picking up parts at the Euston station depot at midnight, then up, up and away !
Superman, No way ! I was king of the road with a Lotus 7.
Easy buld as the 7/4 was nearly ready to go. Put in the engine/gearbox/transmission. Add the front and rear and GO !
All the electrics/ hydraulics had been done. The tax disc etc came in the post. I could have built it with square wheel !
Sorry Sir but I can't feel sorry about you... 900 miles are not enough to enjoy this pure mechanic beauty. Even on a sports bike you can last much more.
By far the best Caterham review I've seen!
Thankyou
Why not, it’s a giggle rocket on 4 wheels... I’ve a 2 wheel giggle rocket and I will put up with all manner of faults as it makes me giggle.. 0-60 in sub 2.5 sec and a 1/4 mile in sub nine will do that for ya...
Enjoy and you can shove your traction control where the sun don’t shine and certainly doesn’t giggle...
"Hell no, its barley a car." Hahaha
Had a real chuckle at this one Jay - I’m similar sized to you and own a CSR 260 in the US. Mines really a “slippery as a shed” as I Also have a roll cage 🤣
I used to drive it 150 miles each way to Laguna Seca or Thunderhill often in temps above 35C- but that got old real quick with a close ratio 6speed
I’ve abandoned all pretense that it’s a road car - even as a third or fourth car - I ripped the windscreen off and run it on semi slicks at trackdsys! Doesn’t half go!
I find it funny when Journalists outside of North America talk about engine size. The "Bigger" 2 liter four cylinder. 3.5 Liter Turbo 6 cylinder is small in America. Great video.
nice video review, not sure if its possible to change the rear diff ratio so it will cruse at lower revs for motorway driving,
in the early to mid 2000's i build a Tiger kit car and used it for going to work in, supermarket run, daily drive etc. it makes you a better driver because no auto BS that is on most modern cars.
a kit car is more a secondary car. or like you said a 4 wheeled motorbike. i think with a full race roll cage and helmet is pretty safe.
only other car that i found gives me any kind of joy to drive is a Mini Cooper S (supercharged or Turbo)
right now i just have a VW Golf TDI, its an A to B car for sure. watching all these kit car videos wants me to build another kit car. just like everyone else i don't have a garage and the cost of building a custom kit car isn't cheap.
Great video. Let me know if you want to test drive my 620S SV
If Caterham are busy I will definitely take you up on it! Do you track it?
JayEmm on Cars only had it a couple weeks but will be doing this summer, yes. It is actually the ex-press grey car from all the adverts
Drop me a PM, join me on one of my track days if you like!
They (Lotus 7) are a "special taste" and there are other classic Lotus cars available at lower cost, appreciating and suit your comfort and performance requirements. You can get a pre-1980 Europa or Elan that are more comfortable and have the same performance. Also they have a small boot. Maybe these auto journalists should design the car they desire ?
The most useful review I’ve seen. Not simply a fanboy going ga-ga. Appreciation and well-explained critique.
9:20 Can I suggest that if you can't get your weekly shop into the boot of a Caterham you should perhaps consider a diet 8-)=
£42000 for one configured decently..... ouch
I almost would rather a Morgan 3 wheeler.
10:20 my 1.5L Scion is 4000 rpm @ 80mph for 200,000 miles now. It’s all relative to engine size. New motorcycle riders make a big deal of highway rpm and don’t realize 6-7-8000 rpm is not a problem for small displacement motorcycles.
No hardcore at all, maybe Munich, Milano, and back, across Stelvio and Maloija, in 16h an a motorcycle.
Meh..... My motorbike ... 800cc, 86hp... 180kg dry weight..... still does 60mpg with sensible use....
Never liked, wanted or understood the appeal of these.
Track days, yes. Anything else, no.
900 MILES WITH THAT CAR COLOUR ,YOUR SHIRT AND SUNGLASSES ? ....... NO! .......IT NEEDS TO BE QUICK !
Laurie's a bloke!
Narrow seats, eh? My somewhat curvy wife got "sucked" into one of those in a very famous french restaurant's parking lot a few years back. A few helpful clients and myself managed to "extract" her from the car after twenty minutes of hard work and hysterical laughing. Useless to say, the Caterham had to go...
I nearly had a relationship end prematurely on account of this car for the same reason
S1 lotus with sadev transmission k20 or 620r caterham ?
I cannot decide
Glasses and matching shirt, lovely. Great review too
Wimp ! Try 8600 miles (1500 on gravel) to Alaska and back, alone, on a motorcycle !984. In 21 days. Minus 3 days on the ferry going up. That's 477 miles a day!
Badass!!
a real wimp putts someone else down to make themselves seem better. which is what you just did wimp.
Good review. Just missing tutorial on getting in and out with a full hood. Why spend 30 or 40 grand when you can get 95% of the experience with other kit cars and pretty much no loss of value. Stoneleigh today - till Monday!
Sounds strangely similar to my lightly fettled MK6 Fiesta ST, but then again they do share an engine! An RX8 gearbox can be made to bolt up to a Duratec with relative ease, maybe that would solve the gearing?
That looked like a world of fun!!
There is a video somewhere on RUclips where a guy racing a Caterham launches off the back of another Caterham and becomes totally airborne and flies for quite some distance turning upside down whilst still in the air.
It doesn't look very nice.
Yeah that can happen with anything with exposed wheels
Highly impractical sure, but so fun and I haven’t even the opportunity to drive one yet! Lol
When you said "and you're now in"... I thought, are you? You don't look it. Great video matey. They look a right blast.
Thats as "in" as anyone ever gets with the sides off
Not sure if Caterham would lend you a 620R after this review but I must say I like your honest approach. Keep on going!
I did get a 620S out of them
No mirrors with doors removed?
Great review as always 👍
Since this car has no floor mat, does it comes as a bonus on the shirt?
Anyone that calls a Caterham a 'toy' shouldn't be test-driving them.
It is a term of affection, endearment and in quite a few cases - accurate.