Yoram

Thanks for the tip re half hood! Being in SC we were not even thinking of using a top except against for some shade on hot summer days. Will look closer into it once there is a Seven... Re Volvo, ours is a 2005 (P2 platform). I believe yours is P3. Anyhow, no, our headlights were plain halogen, replaced with same. The AM replacements came with all bulbs installed! It's weird how Volvo combines control modules for unrelated things (e.g., sunroof and alarm system in ours...).

Thanks! Yes, as Mark IV pointed out, it does come with removable soft top and doors (and heater). So what about yours??

Lotusfan, thank you and indeed... Not to derail the thread too deep with Volvo wagons, but indeed there is nothing like them - even more so if you want a manual (ours is, and it's not an R). Just bought and installed a replacement pair of non-xenon headlights for $360 (Taiwan made) that fit and work great (original lenses were pitted and opaque). We are at 195K miles, coming up on timing belt (incl. accessory belt and maybe water pump), but these and tires are standard costs of mileage. We are "commuting" in the Volvo 4-5 times a year between SC and western MI, fully loaded, almost always with a Yakima roof "rocket box", sometimes with trailer, >820 miles each way, and are impressed every time by the stability, smoothness and quiet. The car tracks so precisely and effortlessly and the ride and the seats are so good that it makes these trips easy.

P.S., many thanks to all of you with the encouraging notes! We are excited!!! My wife is actually (just about) as excited as I am. We actually climbed out via the Immelmann maneuver (I had to due to injured elbow) -- rotate onto side and kneel on the seat facing backwards, then pull up by the roll bar... Was not beautiful but I'm sure we can improve with practice and after elbow surgery... Enclosed is evidence thanks to coffee break (we are smiling behind the masks!)

Hello All, Enclosed is where I currently sit with the spec, with great inputs here and from Rocky Mountain Caterham (Josh and Ross). I will be placing the order with RMC. Waiting for the current batch to fill up a bit (anyone else ready?). Lead time is a big issue - RMC predicts about a year. Anyone with a current order contemplating cancelling?... Cheers!

Warm thanks to BlueMax and coffee break for letting my wife and me try their cars for size. Last Sunday we tried BlueMax's SV and determined that we have a bit of room to spare. Today we confirmed that we are able to get into, sit in side-by-side without fighting and (not pretty but doable) climb out of coffee break's S3. So the two top decisions are done thanks to the excellent help from this forum: It will be a 310S S3. I intend to place an order this week. Will post the specs. Cheers!

Good to know! This will be earmarked as a potential line item for the Phase II budget...(Phase I is to get the dang car). For now I'm cool with the base 14" ones, and pretty much committed to the 310S thanks to the great feedback from this group (and Josh Robbins). Lightweight flywheel may make it into Phase I. The biggest remaining decision is SV or S3 which will sort itself out based on fit trials tomorrow and hopefully next weekend, again thanks to great folks on this forum. Kudos, guys!

P.S., Awesome video!! Makes my mouth water...

@Croc and @11Budite, thanks a bunch for the additional insight. @Croc, I am well familiar with driving low torque high revving cars and with trail throttle/braking to help turn-in (I have a street '87 911 which you cannot get to turn-in otherwise). The car before my Holden VFII with its 6.2L V8 was an E46 M3, as high revving/low torque as they come (but it had a 6 speed). Actually most of my cars over nearly 5 decades have been high revving low torque. The reason I brought up the torque, or rather torque band question is that with low torque and relatively wide ratio transmissions you end up "hunting" between gears in the mountains (which can be fun too with a good gearbox). @11Budite, thank you too for the comments re 310 and lightweight flywheel. And thank you both for the tip on 13" wheels. Duly noted. At this point I am speccing the base 14" "Minilite replica" wheels because I simply love how they look and fit the historic character of the car. Thanks again!

@Vovchandr and @jimmylukeli, thanks a lot for the quick and great replies and the very helpful links. To your questions, @Vovchandr, I do not initially plan to do engine tweaking in search of more power. I look forward to enjoying primarily the handling and the connected driving experience and believe there should be sufficient power even with the base engine to enjoy and maybe even scare myself a bit here and there. Also, both the 270 and 310 are Sigma engines with different cams and tune and both are part of the current US specs for these models, and come only with 5 speeds. My primary concern other than cost is/was whether the 310 is less flexible than the 270 and less ready to rotate if you fall between the gears carving up the mountain. All the feedback in the links indicates otherwise (in favor of the 310) and so is the expert opinion of Josh Robbins from Rocky Mountain Caterham, who BTW has been great help already. Another dilemma is having to miss out on the lightweight flywheel with the S-Pack (for which Josh pointed out $$ solutions)... I am still inviting additional opinions and experiences from members to learn of any other angles to this topic. Thanks again, guys!

Hi All, as some of you know from another thread, I am going through the spiritual transformation towards ordering my Seven. I don't expect to do a lot of track events (although I have a lot of experience on the track), but rather spend more of the time in the car up and down the many fun mountain roads close by. Therefore I intend to order an S-Pack car with some performance options (e.g., rear sway var, sport suspension, LSD). I want to stick with the smaller engine but having a tough time deciding between the 270S and the 310S. From the specs it looks like the max torque is virtually the same but in the 270 it comes 1500 RPM lower. That and the lack of a 6 speed make me wonder whether the the 270 does not have better drivability other than flat out near the redline. I may be wrong, so the question is whether the 310 is worth the extra $2000 in driving joy. I would appreciate all views from first hand experience. Thanks!

Sure!! https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/men-s-t-shirt-solid-colored-print-brown-xl_p7259517.html?prm=1.3.0.6 How many and what sizes we need?...

Hi BlueMax, my turn to apologize for the delayed response; we spent all yesterday driving back from Western Michigan and today getting caught up and settled back into daily routine. I would love to take you up on your offer. Will send a PM with the hope to set something up soon. Thanks again! -Yoram

Vovchandr, thanks for the great insights. I'm looking forward to revisiting the towing topic once I have the something to tow. In the meantime will hang tight to see if can do the physical "fitting".

sorry for the detour...

Kudos to your project! You're diving quite deep. How difficult is the conversion to manual trans? I picked the base V70 (albeit 5spd) to minimize hassles and expenses as it is the "schlepping" car. Approaching 200K mi and the level of refinement and durability is still astonishing. I too am planning to use it to tow the Caterham with a lightweight trailer. But first need to get the car... Speaking of, thanks for the offer to help with dimensions. Hoping still to be able to conduct a physical fitting, and from what you say sounds like we may need the large one... Cheers.

Thanks!! Great to encounter Volvo heads even here. So you are essentially creating an R with a bit more ground clearance and a few more N-m?... The V70 is our (and our dogs') serene and beloved "roadmaster". Unfortunately sounds like you are really really not local, eh?... also prepared to drive to lower MI (have a place to stay) if that helps our cause...? :drool:

Is there anyone with a standard size Se7en within ~250 mile radius from Greenville SC who is willing to allow my wife and me to just try it for size (sitting still) in order to help us decide whether to order the standard size (my preference) or the large size chassis? We will wear masks and gloves.... Offering to compensate you for your trouble with a six pack of your choice and/or a spin (so long as not literally) in one of the following (you pick): Holden SSV Redline (Chevy SS) 6spd, 2010 Boxster 6spd, '87 911 coupe, 2005 Volvo V70 5spd (not R; see if we get any comments to this one...) Ok, will increase the radius and/or beer count if needed. Thanks and cheers! :conehead:

Neglected to applaud the great piece about buying and driving "cold turkey" the V8 Miata from FL to PA... great read!!

Jim, warm thanks to you as well. This also makes for two recommendations for Rocky Mountain Caterham. Will call them yet today or Monday. Happy New Yearl! -Yoram

No, wasn't me. I have not had the Holden out at C&C. Last "public" outing was a weekend at the Tail of the Dragon October a year ago with several of the SS Forum folks. Had i been there I sure would have remembered the orange GT500 fastback... not so sure about the gentleman...

Jimmy, thanks! this is incredible; all the info, leads and friendly responses in one day! So glad to hear of your good experience with Rocky Mountain dealership. I will sure follow up with them. My preliminary thinking is a 270S or 310S with sport suspension and some R package options (brakes, limited slip diff, rear sway bar) and "track day" roll bar. Not sure I see the net gain in the 310 over the 270 (comparing the performance figures), so open to feedback... However, my biggest dilemma is whether to choose the standard or large chassis. I'd prefer the standard one but not sure my wife and I will be comfortable enough in it. Need to find a standard size car within driving distance to just try it for size... The Daytona Beach dealer has none. Since you are in the midst of the process, is the delivery direct from the UK to the destination of your choice and the dealer does all the customs release work? Good luck in your process!

No words... I'm in project sports car Mecca! I must not lose your number... When the time comes we will discuss LS3 instead of the 5.0L Ford... I'm partial since owning the Holden...

I am looking forward to the entire process -- learning about the car, speccing it, choosing the dealer, placing the order, preparing the space for the build, receiving the kit, building it, registering it and of course driving it, chasing down everything that's wrong, tweaking... I see this more of a year long project with quite some highs and lows along the way rather than a one-time big bang. One of two builds I am contemplating. The second one would be a Monster Miata. It would come after this one, in case I'm getting too old and stiff to climb into the 7 but still can get into an NA Miata... Cheers!

Mike, thanks a lot. This is great help! And love the Aussie connection.