Chaz

Lowball usually refer's to the lowest price offered you'd expect or want a seller accept. Gnerally, lowballs aren't accepted, but that's not the point. A lowball offer is intended to try and start the negotiation well below the expected settling price.

To be truthful, no. I'd say it would be worse that trying to look through a full windshield with no wipers. One other thing.... you're in Louisiana, right. Although I've never spend time there myself, my understanding is that it is both hot and humid. In a rainstorm where it is both hot and humid, the inside of a visor on a helmet (full-face) would fog up badly. You can get anti-fog treatments, but I question their effectiveness. If it fails, you're in a lot of trouble. Goggles would probably be a better choice. Aero screens are way cool, but I'll wager that you'll end up getting a full shield with wipers before long.

The standard Cat RS wheels are 15 x 6.5. Can anyone tell me what the offset is?

Well, come on out then! Be warned: if you like roads with breathtaking scenery that are actually FUN to drive, you'll never want to leave. The Rocky Mtn. West is FULL of roads like that. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico................. if you like roads that were meant to be driven, it is heaven.

Yeah. I had the fortune, or misfortune, a few years back to be employed by a fellow who was, at the time, president of the NA Ferrari Club. Lots of people with VERY nice cars coming and going. It was like falling in love all over again, once or twice a week. The local Ferrai dealer was used to be closer to my house that CUSA is now. Every time I see a Ferrari, or Prsche, a Lambo, even a vette, I think, 'yeah, I'd like having that car in the garage'. Oh, and Skip, if you wanna talk about sportscars that I hold in low esteme, let's talk about 'Vettes. Just the same, I've a chubbie for 7's since I was 14, when (and I almost hate to say it) I first saw The Prisoner. I thought "Holy @#!%, that's the coolest car in the world!" That hasn't changed. There may be fancier, faster, more exotic, better handling, and even better made cars, but the 7? THAT is my kind of car!

Dude, you're right - I did say that, but it was not my intention to put down Miattas and I hope that clears things up. In fact, the current plan is to finish paying off the Xterra (January) and then start shopping for a used Miatta to fill the void until arrangements can be made for a 7 (which might take another year or two). If that yellow car of your's is the color I think it is, it's the coolest color I've ever seen on a Miatta. Sorry to say, but She Who Must Be Obeyed, would not permit buying it. Sorry.

What, that the most I could afford right now is a '92 Miata? Nothing wrong with a Miata and except for a Mazdaspeed turbo MX5 with a 6sp, I've never driven a Miata I didn't like. I'd own one right now, but I'd prefer a later model (>= '99). A 92 Miata doesn't fit the stringent requirements of my Annual Drool On And Hopefully Drive A Car I Can't Afford Right Now day.

I called Ben @ CUSA yesterday. What a collosal waste to time ;-). Not really. I'm joking. Really. Seriously though, he was very helpful, friendly, and generous with his time. Seems to be VERY knowledgable. I'd like to go over there end of next week for my Annual Birthday Drool On And Hopefully Drive A Car I Can't Afford Right Now (Last year's was 2008 Z4 3.0 si). Once a year, on my Birthday I indulge myself and arrange for a test drive of a sportscar, which is just about anything save for a '92 Miatta (this economy REALLY sucks). No I haven't summoned up the courage to try to get in a Ferrari yet. Maybe when I turn 60. He still has the Roadsport demo and is working on an R500. Should be an interesting visit. I need some serious writing practice, would anyone be interested in a report w/ pix, if the visit happens?

jlumba: Thanx, that does help. OK. I guess that prompts another question. While I'm a fair mechanic, I'd like an engine that's pretty much ready to drop in after bolting up the tranny. Is this a viable option? From the pix I've seen the 50 would probably work, but I wonder how much cleance with the fender would be left? Colorado uses some pretty course sand (gravel?) on their highways and getting a piece caught between the tire and fender would be.....errr....unpleasant. You definitely get more tire options with the 50's though. Cool! I suppose polishing the aluminum can be a pain, but I do love the look. Maybe I can hook with them sometime! Oh and as an afterthought, are there fuel tank options and what kind of range could someone expect out of the car with a 170hp duratec?

I've been tossing around the idea of building a Roadsport SV. I'm leaning towards the Caterham in part because I live a couple miles from the US distributor and RMSCI. Due to the present economy that project is a couple years off yet, but I can can use that time to get some more info about what it will take. Part of that includes getting some nagging questions answered. I could go over to RMSCI's shop and ask the following questions, but I don't want to hang out there with a bunch of questions and hogging up their time while I'm still in the planning/dreaming stage. So, if noone minds, I'll pester you guys for while. Engine: Would a box-stock Duratek 2L from my friendly neighborhood Ford dealer be ok or should I get the engine through my Cat dealer? I suppose I can do either, but are there reasons to choose one option over the other? Transmission: I've noticed that you can get a Sierra/T9 5-sp tranny with a tall 1st gear. Would that be the way to go? I drove a Mazadaspeed MX-5 once where 1st gear was way too low and utterly hated it. Wheels/Tires: Does the Roadsport come with a spare, or is that an option? I've wondered about the tire size. The specs say the kit ships with 195 45r 15's. I looked at Tire Rack and they only list one tire in that size. Are appropriate tires going to be an issue? Paint: This isn't a big deal, but I'm partial to bare aluminum. I've noticed that Caterham only lists or shows fully painted cars. Is bare aluminum still available? I'll have other questions, to be sure, but that's enough for now. TIA..

Gert, Sounds like a great run from Cody to Chico to Jackson Hole. If you've never been to YNP: Entering the Park through Garndier, you'll pass Mammoth Hot Springs. It's worth a stop. If you've never been to the Park, you have to visit Old Faithful. To pass on this national landmark would be downright unAmerican. That area is also home to the largest free-standing log structure in the world - right across the parking lot from OF. There are also several other geyser basins on the road you'd take to OF. All worth a stop There is a downside to the Park and that's traffic. Lot's of people in cars and even worse are the tour buses. Passing can be tricky if not impossible. The speed limit in the park is 45 mph and the park cops are pretty serious about it. That's not so bad, but there will be places where traffic jams up because some goofball decides so stop to take a picture of a frikken woodchuck and then everyone stops thinking its a grizzly. So you'll be stuck in those jams, maybe several times before you get out of the park. It will slow your passage through the park considerably. The Buffalo can be a problem, to. Beware of the coyotes and whatever you do don't feed them! As you head south from Grant Village you'll pass through the Lewis River country. Keep in mind that this area was heavily burned during the '88 fires. I was there the weekend the park reopened in 10/88 and it looked like a warzone then. I suspect that 20 years later, things have changed some. As you leave YNP you'll follow the Snake River along Jackson Lake and this may be one of the most beautiful parts of your trip. Ansel Adams kind of scenery. I lived in a Park Service dorm near Leek's Marina on Jackson Lake in '88 and drove that highway a lot. I still love it. One of my favorite highways on earth. There's plenty in Jackson Hole, but I recommend the Cowboy Bar. Enjoy the ride!

Gert, My first post, but forgive me for skipping a self-intro. I'd like to chime in with some recommendations. If your itinerary of 2/2 still holds, I'd like to recommend that while you're in Steamboat, you visit Strawberry Park Hot Springs. It just outside of town (about 7 miles). I think it's the best hot springs in the state. Excellent setting, excellent facility, great water. The downside is that about 1/2 the trip from town is on a dirt road. Some of the curves get a little washboardy. If you take it slow you'll be fine. It's well worth the trouble. The city runs a shuttle up to the spings in ski season and may offer it during the summer months, so you may consider that. I also highly recommend The Shack for breakfast. The locals eat there and it's great. Right on the main drag. You look like you'll be staying in Hot Sulphur Springs. There a spa there too as you may know. Very nice, but not as cool as Strawberry Park. The last few miles into HSS is spectacular. The highway takes you through Byers Canyon and HSS is right on the east side of that. Have a great trip. It looks like a great route.