ukchris Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Welcome! I'm not as tall as you but have the same inseam, I've owned a regular Caterham and a Birkin and both were a tight fit, not only in terms of length/height but the pedal box is very tight width wise. I have just bought an SV and while I'd agree with your comments about the difference in appearance I am very excited to be able to fit comfortably and to be able to press one pedal at a time Not sure where your travels take you but if you map them out I'm sure you'll find someone nearby, I'm around the MA/NH line if you're ever up this way, my car should get here this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 I made an intro thread but it disappeared. I'm assuming it's pending approval? Here is mine http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14529&stc=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNcoupe Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Hi everyone Im Josh from Chattanooga, TN. Starting to look at Caterhams to purchase next year. Will be completely debt free at 38 years old so I told the wife to be prepared for another car purchase. Ive had multiple sports cars/ fun cars. Built a Factory Five Daytona Coupe 7 years ago and tracked it a few times and put about 7000 street miles on it. Got tired of burning up in it during the summer and folding up to get in the little door opening. Ordered a 2015 Mustang and fitted it with full Steeda suspension for track days and got bored with it cause its so heavy. Im ready to get back to the simplify and add lightness theory. Probably be in the market for a used R300, R400 or 360R next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoBoost Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) Good to see your here after your post on LotusTalk. There are many knowledgeable and helpful people here. Good luck finding the right car for you! Edited October 4, 2018 by MoBoost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNcoupe Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Yep, still kicking around Caterham or Evora 400. Came here to get info on the Caterhams. Really like a simple car with no driver aids. Traction control to me is knowing how much right pedal it needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Yep, still kicking around Caterham or Evora 400. Came here to get info on the Caterhams. Really like a simple car with no driver aids. Traction control to me is knowing how much right pedal it needs. After a decade + of riding bikes and just recently getting a car of my dreams (Cat) my advice for you decision is to decide whether you want a fun car or a 4 wheel motorcycle. And I mean that with the negatives as much as a positive. It sits next to my bikes (I have 7 total) and for the first time in my life I find myself asking when I'm going to find time to ride them as when the time and weather agree for the bikes they also agree for the 7 and I find myself for now to just be taking the Caterham. Until I get a roof I find myself being even more weather averse with the 7 as the bikes don't melt in the parking lot if I take it to work and it rains, but I really don't want to be drying carpets and have other issues with the car being soaked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNcoupe Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 After a decade + of riding bikes and just recently getting a car of my dreams (Cat) my advice for you decision is to decide whether you want a fun car or a 4 wheel motorcycle. And I mean that with the negatives as much as a positive. It sits next to my bikes (I have 7 total) and for the first time in my life I find myself asking when I'm going to find time to ride them as when the time and weather agree for the bikes they also agree for the 7 and I find myself for now to just be taking the Caterham. Until I get a roof I find myself being even more weather averse with the 7 as the bikes don't melt in the parking lot if I take it to work and it rains, but I really don't want to be drying carpets and have other issues with the car being soaked. I prefer to have an R model with no carpet. Ive never owned a car without a top so I dont know what its like. Bad thing here in TN is it rains almost everyday during the summer at 3pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 I prefer to have an R model with no carpet. Ive never owned a car without a top so I dont know what its like. Bad thing here in TN is it rains almost everyday during the summer at 3pm. My SLR not only came with carpet, but it even has floor mats :willy_nilly:. From what I hear full OEM top is bulky, heavy and a PITA, so my plan is to have a rain cover and a half hood from softbits to get me around with inclement weather. Should do the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Welcome TNcoupe! Vovchandr - If you go the half hood approach then you should also get a mesh screen that velcros over the roll cage and runs vertically down to where the belts mount onto the chassis rail. Why? Well as you drive along a wet road, a fine spray kicks up and gets sucked under the halfhood from the rear, ultimately landing on your neck and back of the head unless you have the mesh screen there. Its pretty simple to make or look on UK Ebay for ones that appear from time to time. The SBFS one is not really big enough to wrk effectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamericano Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Josh, good hunting for just the right car. About that 3:00 PM rain date. My first car was a 32-33 Ford street rod with no top, etc. Since I lived in Mexico City, I had a similar situation to yours. There, it rained all summer for 20 minutes at 4:00 PM. I carried a tarp in the truck to throw over the car and simply had a cafe to wait it out. If the weather is as reliable as that, you just plan ahead and work around it. With the driving joy of a Seven, we don't need no stinking top, windows, AC, radio, sat/nav, power steering, cruise control, ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 (edited) The top and side curtains on a Caterham fit into the boot, so neither is bulky or heavy, esp the top. The frame for the top folds down into the boot as well. And once you get the hang of installing them, its a 5-7' operation. Most Caterhams come with a very quickly installed tonneau cover that snaps in (1') and keeps the rain out when parked. The Caterham top has lots of window area so it easier to see out of, with the top up, than say a Miata. The large rear window zips out so it turns into a bikini type top, esp if you store the "doors" (side curtains) in the boot. But none of this answers the Lotus 400 vs. se7en question. I'd guess that the 400 is a much more civilized vehicle. The se7en is noisy and hot and has no lockable storage. I am sure it is a more visceral ride with the wind in your face, the muffler right by your left arm, the road 3" from your butt, etc. I have owned and ridden motorcycles and that experience more approximates a se7en drive than any car I have ever owned. At the track, who knows? Certainly up to 100 mph, the se7en will give a 400 a run for its $. Once aero comes into play, the seven will likely drop back. I am sure the se7en will respond to driver inputs more immediately than a 400. It weighs less than 1/2 and has a race car suspension, steering, brakes etc. The immediacy and unfiltered intensity of the se7en is what gets most of us hooked. So hooked that we overlook or disregard its many shortcomings as an every day driver. I'd love to drive/own a 400 tho. Maybe the best of both worlds? Edited October 6, 2018 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNcoupe Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Top speed isnt a big thing for me. How often do we explore the area of 150+mph? VIR on the front stretch and maybe Road ATL going down into 10a, never on the street in TN. Barely a road straight enough to see 150mph. The se7en is probably better suited for the roads around here. Plus if I find a used se7en it would be considerably cheaper than an Evora. More money for slicks and brake pads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achova Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Hello, I am Adam Chovanak from Seattle. I've had a cross section of unusual vehicles starting as a teen with an NSU Sport Prinz / Fiats / Mazda Rotary - but really wanted a Europa. Was able to buy a 1974 Elite at 19 and appreciated the Seven but the open-air itch was scratched with motorcycles. Over the past couple years I've been able to sell a couple Sevens at my shop http://SODO-Moto.com - Birkin (BDR & Kent) / Caterham / others - and really enjoying the Sevens. I had joined http://lotus7.club/ and enjoy their newsletter but heard about this forum on BaT. Look forward to learning more and will probably have a few Sevens posted for sale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Adam, Welocme aboard. Great group here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FE07 Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Nice looking Europa with some needs just showed up on BAT Jim A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jz2 Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Jim in Los Angeles here. New seven owner, although I fell in love with the car 40 years ago. The new-to-me seven is a clone/replica built on an age appropriate Arch Motors chassis. Had an MGB and an Alfa spider before, so not afraid to pick up a wrench (spanner?) Looking forward to an on-going addiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Jim in Los Angeles here. New seven owner, although I fell in love with the car 40 years ago. The new-to-me seven is a clone/replica built on an age appropriate Arch Motors chassis. Had an MGB and an Alfa spider before, so not afraid to pick up a wrench (spanner?) Looking forward to an on-going addiction. Welcome Jim. Don't be afraid to share some pics of your new car. I'm just recently back in the Seven game after being out of it for a few years. There really is nothing like a Seven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jz2 Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14882&stc=1http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14883&stc=1registered as a 1969. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Looks nice Jim! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamericano Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Now look what you started. Jim, you'll have to tell us a bit about the rest of your motor-pool. What is the hack attached to? Is the beige frame in back a very old BMW? What is under the cover? Pictures may tell be worth a thousand words, but they also have embedded questions. -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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