James Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I have always wanted a lotus 7 ?Caterham etc. Is it a good idea to own one as a daily driver in California? I would mainly drive it to work which is a 15 mile trip each way? Thanks James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 (edited) Sure you can do it. I knew a guy who commuted for several years with his Birkin from Altadena to Oxnard on the 101 (65 miles each way). However, I would not do it. Dense freeway traffic, stop and go is a pain in the arse in a Seven (even more than in a "normal" car). Hot summer temperatures or pouring rain won't help (no show stopper though). I take the Seven to work occasionally but I have only 6 miles one way on surface streets and do it usually because no other car is available or to try out something. However, if I would live out there in the sticks and had nice empty roads to commute, I would use the Seven every day. Edited September 30, 2015 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 I don't usually get stuck in too much traffic,so I guess it would not be too bad,we do have another car that the wife and I could trade off,so I guess its pretty possible. Is there any particular model/engine that is bettar as a daily? I am leaning towards a caterham with a duratec? is that a good choice? and what should I expect to pay for a one? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I think no matter what the brand, it depends on the build quality. But owning any Seven will require some occasional wrenching (or a skilled shop and some money). These cars are just not precision designed, mass produced and super reliable products. The price range is from - about $15k for some home built Sevens (there are nice ones) to - $20-30k for a good Seven of the less known brands or an older Caterham to -$30-50k for a newer Caterham to - over $100k for a brand new custom spec Caterham with all the bells and whistles. Pricing from general observation and what I remember. Some folks here have much more insight into the market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Great,thankyou for the info! I think I can talk the wife into letting me spend 30k,so hopefully I can find a nice caterham. Are they hard to drive? I hope to have the wife take to to work a couple of days a week, she can drive stickshift and would be game to drive it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Are they hard to drive? I hope to have the wife take to to work a couple of days a week, she can drive stickshift and would be game to drive it. Thats a great idea - let her drive the seven on rainy days! Actually....does it ever rain in CA? They are not hard to drive at all. All the inputs are light, nice soft suspension (at least my two Caterhams are), comfy seats, etc. Clearly they handle well and probably are easier to park than the family SUV - although I would tell her to modify the bump parking style. She will have bad hair moments though. This forum is mostly full of old ladies who drive them... :rofl::leaving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 It's possible....but sooner or later it will get to your nerves because of the traffic. Maybe buy Fiat 500 like the Pope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Look into insurance also. The specialty insurers have limits on use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 To make this work , you have to really (REALLY) want it. The car is magical, light, responsive, never boring-all the stuff you have read about. It is also very, very hot in the cockpit, it is unbelievably loud (compared to a normal car), lots of wind buffeting, there is no lockable storage, you will always be the center of attention. The X-flow engined cars get 14-18 mpg. I drove my original Cat as an adjunct daily driver to my regular car, a BMW M3 (sunny days, not too warm/cold, etc.). And it was great. Comfy seats, responsive, etc. But my commute was mostly on twisty back roads. And as others have mentioned, it is helpful to be handy with the tools as something is always falling off or threatening to. And the thing that really wore me out were the constant questions:What is, who makes it, how fast is it, etc,etc. I hated to get gas as I would always get cornered by admirers. Fun for a while, eventually a PITA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Have you spent much time in a Seven? I love mine and use it a lot but it does take some time to get used to how low and exposed you are. If you by chance haven't spend much time in one then I would catch a ride in one and do it in the type of traffic you might see on a commute and see how it feels. It's not for everyone. FWIW - my wife loves my car on a country road or the autocross course but will not get in it if we are headed into any traffic at all. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I used to drive my 7 to work as a "get more fun out of the day" alternative to my MINI. If your going to drive in any real traffic the cautions are correct about getting tired of commuting in the car pretty quickly. I got caught in a two hour traffic snarl (behind a major traffic accident with deaths) on a very hot sunny afternoon that had me rethink driving it. That said I did start using it again after the sunburn had faded and the short term memory of stopping and starting, crawling along in 1st gear with the clutch in and out constantly and sweating into the seat had faded. LOL. Of course the only difference if I had been in the MINI would have been AC and XM so purchase a big sun hat and an Ipod and go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Kitcat: Do you really get only 14-18 MPG, or is that mixed with track mileage? I read about 24 MPG when strictly on public roads. I mostly agree with the comments and will add that if you buy a kit built car to look very closely at build quality. As for insurance, I just added mine to my State Farm policy on my other car. It costs more for the Westfield, but most of the difference is in the added replacement coverage. My wife likes to ride in my 7, but the wind buffeting on a 75 MPH hiway is tiresome after only a few miles. You can price a new Westfield kit here: https://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/configurator.php but you have to build it As for difficulty of driving, my car has a Miata drivetrain and it drives just like a Miata except it's 1000 lbm lighter (you go through the gears faster). That means it's harder to abuse the clutch. As for driving in traffic, psychologically, it's about like riding a motorcycle. You're lower than on a bike, but have more 'stuff' around you. Try posting on the California Caterham Club site. It's likely someone there will welcome a visit from you. http://californiacaterhamclub.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 NVP: I dont think I ever got better than 18 mpg even cruising at 70 mph in 5th. My X-Flow was carburated and they dont remotely approach gas efficiency of FI cars. And who knows how out of tune it was? Also, the Se7en is a barn door so doesn't exactly slice thru the air, esp over 60 mph. And in reality, there was very little difference in my "street" driving and my track driving:). The best feature of the X-flow is its wonderful sound on hard acceleration/deceleration/downshifting-and I took full advantage of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Ok so it sounds like I should probably have it as a third car,although I would probably only drive it 3 times a week and would not really hit much traffic. I have not been in a lotus 7,or replica, so your right I should probably try being in one before I make the decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 ....I have not been in a lotus 7,or replica, so your right I should probably try being in one before I make the decision. Yes, absolutely. Most owners here love their cars and are enthusiastic about it. But many of the Sevens for sale over the years have been bought by people who liked the concept or the looks but found it scary or uncomfortable after short time. I would say post on the California forum as earlier suggested and ask for somebody in the neighborhood. Once a while we do a weekend drive, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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