Kitcat

Here's another idea: dry weather! Is it feasible to drive on an interstate in a 7 in rain? My Miata used to almost drown in truck & car spray it was so low and, it was an SUV compared to a 7. Also, assuming stock 5sp that comes with the Zetec, what are the RPM's at 70? Is there a cruising "sweet spot?"

Do the stock Caterham seats recline or is rake fixed?

Jeez, I don't know what's worse: 1000 miles on a Greyhound bus or in a Caterham:)? If (hypothetically) I was to drive home, what would you recommend that I take in my "survival kit"? Besides the cell phone & AAA card. I assume the usual hand tools- wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, duct tape, etc, flashlight, fix-a flat, sun screen, hat, ear plugs.

I did a search and could not find an answer to this: Can a 7 be towed on a car dolly (2 wheels on the dolly, 2 on the road), without disconnecting the drive shaft, by backing the car onto the dolly so the rear wheels are stationary? I have a friend who has towed his Miata all over the country that way with no ill-efect. I know conventional wisdom is cars should be towed with the front wheels up. I assume that is a weight distribution issue (nose heavy front engine car). But the Miata has a 50-50 weight distribution and I assume , tho don't know, that the typical Zetec Caterham is similar. I am on the verge of finally aquiring a 7 but it is 1000 miles from me. I need to get it home and driving a 7 that distance is not recomended. Renting a Uhaul w/2 wheel trailer is $1,250. I can borrow my friend's car dolly for free. Driving my car to get the 7 also saves the $350 airfare to fly from Cincinnati to Orlando, to get the 7. So I save $1,600 that could be spent on the 7 if I can do this. Thoughts?

Thanks Dave. Yes , the Dunnell powered Birkin is a dream and should be an auto-X terror! But $ is all too relevant. I am also discussing buying Keith Barretts's Caterham, listed under cars-for-sale at this Forum. It seems to be about equivalent to your Birkin but has the cachet of the Caterham name, which may make it a bit easier to sell if I ever need to. If it fals thru, I will probably go w/the $22K Birkin , tho the '97 Crossflow Caterham also listed on the for-sale section here is awfully pretty (tho some what slower). Hmmm: speed vs beauty? Close call. Mike

Dave: Texas Motor Works has a barely used Birken for sale that looks just like yours. It seems to be pretty basic, Zetec, no upgrades. At $22.5K its tempting to me as a prospective 7 owner. Have you had any issues with yours? What hp engine go you have? Is it adequate? What upgrades do you wish you had? They also have a 220 hp Dunell powered Birkin with many upgrades for sale at $32K. Also tempting but not sure its worth $10K more. Thots? Mike

Red: As a 60 year old, you give me hope! I still have 2 years to try to find funding, then many more years of continuing to not act my age (I sold my Evo in '05).

Do people buy and enjoy these charming little devices long term? Or are its great strengths eventually overwhelmed by its numerous impracticalities? In other words, do people usually have a 7 fling & then move on? How long have people owned their 7's? Is your continued ownership just inertia or are you still using and having fun with it, at least occasionally?

1 & 1/2 minute lap , 80% flat out in 3rd? Back east we call that a race track, not an auto-X:).

Perfect weather, great track, wonderful car, what more could you want?

How many, besides me, are toying with the idea of just showing up and enjoying the vibe of so many 7's in one spot? No plan to stay at the official lodge etc., but just be a tourist passing thru?

Misc: Ditto the comments about Pigeon Forge, Cherokee, Gatlinburg etc. Talk about America gone bad! Wax museums/Gondola rides/salt water taffy and every other possible way of commercializing the countryside. In spite of that, or because of it, it is a hugely popular tourist destination. Travel is like mid-Manhattan on Friday afternoon. When driving on the little jammed roads leading in an out, people will stop their vehicles in the middle of the road and photograph wildlife (deer/bears, etc.) So you get to stare at the back of an SUV whilst they commune w/nature. Then multiply that times the number of city folks who have never seen a live animal and your 30' trip becomes 2 hours. Cold Mountain-great novel, so-so movie.

Lovely. Altho I am a fan of all 7 clones, to my eye, the most graceful & delicate versions are those by Caterham and Birkin. I notice in the 2nd photo yours has what I call the "Birkin bend", a slight kink in the aluminum at the very bottom of the side panel, just below the passenger "door". In some Birkins, including those on their own website, its much more pronounced, but it almost always exists. Why?

Thanks! As we all know, lightness is a good thing. Relatively stock Caterham SVs weigh about 1450, quite a bump up from 900-1000 lbs. Of course Classics are a bit less & deleting all of that unnecessary luxury equipment helps too (heater, windscreen, spare tire, roof, etc.).

Is the big advantage of BEC's the reduction in engine & transmission weight? If so, what is the weight savings? Also, is the vehicle chain driven, like a motorcycle?

Speaking of retained value, an orange 2005 superlight w/under 1K miles, Zetec, 200 hp, 5sp, long 1st gear, full weather package, sold for $32K on the Lotus Elise talk forum a few weeks ago. What a deal! I get the shakes every time I think about it.

I took my portable blood pressure monitor to an Auto-X once and scared myself. About 5' after my "run" it was 240 over 180. It took forever to get a reading since I had never had to pump it up so high. I kept getting "error" readings. Normal for me is 135/70. Shows what a little adrenaline can do to rev up the old cardiovascular system.

Please share what you eventually decide and why. There are others on this forum, like me, also thinking about getting our toes wet. There are numerous 7 options both at Caterham (pronounced Kate-trum, I am advised), and with the various other 7-clones. Its all sort of overwhelming, in a wonderful way. This site used to have links to the other car vendors but I don't see it now. Perhaps it was blitzed in the switch last weekend when the forum switched software?

In!

Very lovely. I even like the "boxes it came in"! They are evocative, a bit like the orange Lionel train boxes.

And speaking of Keith, he did "write the book" on Lowcosts and now is becoming a Westy expert.

The Weather Channel says it will be sunny and in the low 70's at the track this Sunday. There are still many spots left. If interested, register now and bring the $300 entry fee in cash Sunday morning, along with your seven/clone. One Lowcost has signed up so far.

The race shop that aligns my cars has a special concrete section of its floor that was poured to exact specifications, just to be sure it was totally flat.

1315 lbs per their website, with a nearly full gas tank (70lbs?) minus a few bits still to be added.

Keith, it is lovely. How much does it weigh?