Kitcat

Robert: My pet peeves w/"racing" compound brake pads include: extreme squealing (x 4 wheels), and brake dust that can scar and pit the wheel and also ruin the paint, especially if the dust gets wet and then dries in place. The Porterfields on my Miata were guilty of the above. So I will be interested in how your new ones do. Mike

I just replaced my stock Caterham brake pads after 24K miles w/maybe 15 track days on them. They had 20-30% life left. Light car + modest top speed + built in air brake = excellent longevity. I used to replace pads on my Brembo-shod Evo every 3 track days and front rotors every 7-10 track days. Wasn't cheap. My stock pads work great on the road-light pressure is fine, and I have never had a braking problem at the track.

Awww, who would want the "fastest Caterham in the country" anyhow? What is your lap time at N Ledges in this car Craig? I have been there in my Crossflow a few times and love the track. Mike

Can I apply, I have changed a ton of diapers in my time?

The 260 CSR at Sevens and Elans is now listed as "sold." Sigh. Another car fantasy bites the dust. I understand that Caterham USA is putting together a Roadsport 500 tho. As they say:when one car-fantasy door closes, another opens....

OK, shift and then get back to us, we can wait:)!

Try putting your left foot/leg in first, then sit on the side of the car, then duck your head and upper body in, then drag your right leg in after you. Sort of a human jackknife. Let's face it, tho, there is no graceful way in or out with the top up.

Classic looking Se7en, right down to the color scheme. It looks like an actual Lotus 7, or is it a clone?

Great first post escon!

I haven't had a problem, in spite of the dire predictions abt clam fendered Se7ens. I was able to drive mine at an indicated 118 mph (probably more like an actual 113 mph ) with no dartyness. Perhaps a function of alignment (lots of self-centering caster)? I was holding the driver's side Brooklands screen up w/ one hand and steering with the other so it was pretty stable. But extremely noisy/windy. etc. Mike

I remember when it came out also, not to date myself. It was a hit.

What is the fastest you have ever gone in your Se7en? I recently swapped out my stock Caterham windscreen (the barn door) for a Brooklands screen with the idea that it would improve high speed performance. It definitely makes the car livelier over 65 mph. Anyhow, while my former top speed was about 108, I hit 118 mph-with the help of the new screen (and a nice down hill slope). Wow! 118 mph in my car felt like 300 mph!!! When I finally pulled off the car was literally cross-eyed (the headlamps had twisted inward and were almost facing each other). My hat blew off around 85 mph, the driver's side tonneau blew off around 105 mph down into the passenger area, the driver's side areo-screen bent back around 112 mph (I then held it up with one hand). I know 118 mph is no record, tho no too shabby for a stock Crossflow. I know WestTexas has probably set the bar at its highest level (168 or so?). What was your best, and what was it like out there? Mike

"The front seat of the roller-coaster"

Finally: A Caterham kit that even I could build!

Good work! After my Se7en, my next favorite car was my Miata. An '94 R package that I bought new and drove for 10 years. As I recall, there are a lot of former/current Miata owners on this site.

BTW-Catracer is a Caterham dealer wh/I think gives his observation some additional credibilty.

The heat problem is something we all suffer from. It relates to a poorly sealed engine compartment and zero insulation. The driver sits right behind that engine bay/furnace and is sandwiched between the transmission on one side and the exhaust on the other. It does get toasty. I recently switched to a Brooklands screen set-up and it has been noticeably cooler in the driver's seat. It allows the heat to escape faster. The standard set up with a full windshield seems to create a vacuum that holds the heat in the car for a bit. Just don't get caught in the rain! Mike

Of all my many car fantasies, the Se7en is the only one that lived up to expectations. It is unlike any other car experience, altho a whole like the motorcycle experience (elbows in the wind, engine roaring, glued to the road, etc.). I drove mine into work today. I stayed mostly in 2nd the whole way, just to listen to the engine and to zoom up and down the RPM range. Fun, fun, fun.

I thot 210-220 was normal for most engines, no? People use synthetics because they can withstand even higher heat (240-280) with no ill effects. Your temps seem low.

I carry a spare tire at the back of my Se7en. Realized recently that I don't routinely carry a jack or a lug wrench. Hmmmm.

I like them more on the above car. Which is a what....., VW? Black wheels shd have red stripes, IMHO. I agree w/those who say the wheels are a bit too big for the Se7en, tho I think the Ultralite looks better with larger wheels than say, a Caterham or Birkin. And to each his own. I think your Se7en looks great, I am a big fan of all black. Mike

The $32K price for a "Plain Jane" '92 Caterham with stock everything and a 1700cc Crossflow engine seems a bit optimistic. This car is very nice but $22K seems more like it. If he can get $32K, great.

SSP: Pull the "hub caps" from the Prisoner wheels and see if that improves the cosmetics of the wheels. I took my "hub caps" off long ago so I could more easily check lugnut torque at the track and ended up preferring the look and never put them back on. A safety upgrade to consider wld be replacing the stock roll-over bar w/the FIA bar. When I asked Caterham USA abt the protection offered by the stock bar, they laughed. The FIA bar is much stouter, weighs abt 20 lbs more, as I recall (aprox 28 lbs vs 8 lbs). Bolts in to the same place as stock. I had no trouble getting the rear boot to fit around the thicker bar. Do a search for replacing clams. Among other things, when you replace them it leaves a series of empty rivet holes along the body where the clam attached. Mike

Leave it as it is, how often do get to say:"Matt black water blushing"????.

The problem w/our cars is the rear wheel arch sticks out 12" or more from the side of the car. And it's behind the driver and out of sight . So it's easy to misjudge and hit something with it (at least that's my story and I'm stickin to it). Mike