Kitcat

Just finished the second leg. I have made a LOT of new friends. Talk about an ice breaker: people see the car and lose all inhibitions, they want to know all about the car. Rain-hey I discovered that's part of the fun: open your mouth wide, just like when you were a little kid and running around in the rain because you didn't have the sense to come in. I decided it needed windshield wipers on the inside of the windshield too:). I appreciate all the info I have gotten from all of you over the last 9 months. Your input and answers gave me the push I needed to take the plunge. Thanks to Al too for putting me in touch with the seller, who was a delightful person. Now, on to the oil issue. It is definitely more than a leak, it seems to shoot way out onto the passenger side clam shell, covering about 1/2 of it. I will start by exploring some of the theories mentioned above.

A mere 45 years after deciding I needed a 7, I have finally taken the plunge! Last night I bought the '97 Caterham listed in the for-sale section here and drove it 1/2 way home today (380 miles, 360 tomorrow). I finally realized that if I waited much longer, I would be too old to get in & out of it. Impressions: tho the pictures of the car make it look lovely, they don't do it justice. It has a purpled hued paint that is wonderfully set off by the red "lipstick" on the nose cone. Lots of shiny chrome too. Room-it's a bit tight, but no more so than the commercial airliner on which I flew to get the car. And, there was no fat guy in the 7, hogging what little extra space there was. I brought a lumbar cushion and it really made the stock Caterham seat (no rake) comfortable. Heat-jeez, that little sucker makes the heat. It was like I was sitting IN the engine bay, not next to it. I drove with the side curtains in place. The only way it was tolerable was to shove my elbow out the bottom 1/2 and bleed off heat & let in cool air. Wearing chinos (seller's suggestion) was very helpful-no leg burns and they seemed to shield me from some of the heat. Noise-jeez, that little sucker makes the noise too. I used ear plugs and they were very helpful. The engine & exhaust make wonderful music, and running it up though the gears to redline was very enjoyable. Speaking of which, anyone know what the redline is in a stock 1700 cc Kent Crossflow??? I used 5500 to be safe. Top speed?. about 105-110, slight downhill, in 5th. Maybe faster in 4th, but since I didnt know what redline was, I didnt want to push it. The hollywood factor: its hard to fade into the background in a 7. Tons of compliments, small crowds every stop, etc. Issues: one scary moment, soon after I hit the interstate (where I cruised all day at 70-75 and got 27 mpg). The engine died out: I slowed hit the flashers(Actually turned on the windshield wipers since I forgot what button did what) and then realized I had bumped the igntion off with my knee and turned it back on. How about that boulevard ride? The car is so bouncy it was hard to put the Coke bottle in my mouth. But in a 7, as you know: you are immersed in the driving experience: the sky, the green hills, the clouds, the smelly dead deer next to the road, the incredibly responsive steering, light short gear shift throws. And for those who said that driving it back was insanity, I have 1 word: wimps:). What's the point of having a 7 if you are just going to tow it around??? Roll bar question. Is the non-FIA roll-over bar purely cosmetic, or does it add a measure of safety? It seems to attach to the car with just a few bolts and the whole enterprise looks pretty fragile. Only serious issue. Lots of oil streaking out the side of the engine (apparently evacuating out of the carburator cut-out in the bonnet). The fender was doused as was the rear wheel arch. The car only has been driven 14,000 miles in 11 years, and most of that early on, so I assume some seals have dried out. Who knows? I didn't have time to troubleshoot. Lost maybe 1/3 of a cup of oil. Added some miricle gunk that is supposed to stop leaks, we'll see when I get home. Overall impression: what a blast, I should have done this 20 years ago!

Bought it:)! Drove 380 miles today, 1/2 way home. What a blast!

Seller advises me that this sold last weekend (for well above the asking price). As noted elsewhere on this forum, I made a serious effort to purchase it but could not close the deal. Things are looking up on another car tho. Stay tuned.

Is this year's lesson that reliability trumps power?

Thanks Al. I am actively looking for a 7 and this one is on my short list. Price seems a bit high for a crossflow car, but if price is negotiable....? I am checking out Birkins too which offer a bit more bang for the buck: nice Zetec cars are listed @ $22K, so we'll see. Mike

Is this car still for sale? The e-mail I sent yesterday has not been answered & my effort to PM Al has been unsuccessful. If it is still available, please PM me. Or, email me: mjmooney@fuse.net. Mike

Thanks for the feedback and PM's, very helpful. I have heard back from Hayes Harris at Wire Wheels abt the yellow car they have for sale for $22K , no word yet from Dick Brink. Soareyes has pointed out that the WW Birkin was just purchased by them from an e-bay ad for $12K. So I am going to start monitoring e-bay too.

My quest for a 7 has turned to Birkns. I noted in my "tow dolly" post that I thought I had a deal on a Caterham but learned today that I was outbid. Birkins appear to be significantly more affordable than Caterhams for what, on the surface, looks to be the same car (less cachet & resale value maybe). Wire Wheels has a lovely yellow Zetec engined '02 for $22K, Ditto Dick Brink at Texas Motor works with a aluminum '05 for $22.5. Is there a good/bad year, issues specific to Birkins, anything I should be concerned about. I have read nice words about Dick Brink, what does anyone know about Wire Wheels? Are there any other Birkin dealers on the web?

It has the full weather gear (It's advertised in the cars-for-sale section of this site -'99 Caterham).

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?