So, tell us a little about yourselves

[slngsht]

Ah, I remember... My 7 year old son voted for your car as best in show :thumbs:

[C_ME_SPEED]

yea its a good looking car it runs well to... but the goal is to get it to run like kevins....

 

just just a supercharger on there

[solder_guy]

Just finally signed up ..

 

Welcome Mike!

 

I was the driver without my car at 777. But my Rotus 7 is resting comfortably at home in my carport here in Atlanta. If you ever want to get together and drive .. PM me.

 

Rob in Atlanta near Emory Univ.

 

[Ned the Red]

Just registered so this is my first post.

 

My small car history: In high school (back in the late sixties) when everyone else was into the "big iron" from Detroit, I drove around in a 1960 Austin Healey Srpite. 948ccs of screaming horse power! Sold the car, grew up, and finally got back to sports cars by buying a Miata and getting back into autocrossing. I'd always known about sevens but really fell in love with them at the autoXs. I still don't have one but have been watching this list for a while and hope to have one in the not too distant future. My goal is to build my own Caterham, and try to make it a daily driver. That might not be the most practical thing in the heat of Dallas (has anyone ever seen one with air conditioning?) but, that's what I'd like to do.

 

So, in the middle of a job search and as soon as I'm working again I'll get started on the finances for a SEVEN!

[slngsht]

(has anyone ever seen one with air conditioning?)

 

Welcome aboard!

 

A/C in a seven may be a solution for solving global warming :jester: It certainly won't do much for the cabin.

 

Good luck with the hunt. Keep an eye on the for-sale section.

[Ned the Red]

Thanks. I wonder, though, if I trade in the Miata and build a Seven - am I moving UP or moving DOWN?

[slngsht]

Thanks. I wonder, though, if I trade in the Miata and build a Seven - am I moving UP or moving DOWN?

 

Well, you'll be sitting lower to the ground... we consider that moving up

 

Honestly there is no comparison. Most of us here have other sports cars. There are several Miata owners, several vette owners. We love our other cars, but none of them have the pure, raw feel of a Seven.

 

Before you buy, hitch a ride with someone or drive a car. I'm sure you will find a member here willing to help with that.

 

Worst thing is to decide you don't like it after you buy one.

[scannon]

Thanks. I wonder, though, if I trade in the Miata and build a Seven - am I moving UP or moving DOWN?

Keep the Miata and build the Caterham. That's what I did and I don't regret it at all.

 

Since I just got the Caterham road legal, I haven't been driving the Miata much but when I do, it seems like a different car than it was before the Caterham came along. Now the Miata feels large and luxurious and after owning it for about 8 years, it seems new and fresh again.

 

Another approach would be to buy a Westfield kit and use your Miata as a donor car: http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Skip

[slngsht]

 

Since I just got the Caterham road legal, I haven't been driving the Miata much but when I do, it seems like a different car than it was before the Caterham came along. Now the Miata feels large and luxurious and after owning it for about 8 years, it seems new and fresh again.

 

That is SO true... before getting my Seven, the vette had a rumble, and a bad azz feel to it. Now when I drive it, it feels so smoooooth - like a caddy, even though it still has a Z06 setup.

[Pat Kelly]

Brand new forum member. Have owned my SII Lotus 7A since 1965 competed in autocrosses (with a short time out to try racing). Still have the car, which has never been a road car, always raced. I'ts a 948cc twin SUs. Never changed into a Super 7.

The last time this car was driven on a road was in 1965...

I'm a retired school teacher, now share with my husband the duties f publishing two monthly newsprint paper, North American Pylon (about autocrossing nationally, and a West Coast racing paper, MotoRacing.

--Pat Kelly

[Ned the Red]

I've looked at the Flyin Miata site, and done a little research on Westfields. A couple of things bother me, though. First is that, although I like my Miata, I'd rather end up with something a little closer to the original Seven. That means no Miata dash, no Miata engine, etc. Also, I noticed that the Westfield distributor for the US is here in Dallas. At first I thought that would help. But, I'm not impressed at all by their website. I thought I'd actually get some information about Westfields, but all they have is a picture of the car. No pricing, no real info at all. What kind of build support can I get from a company that doesn't even bother to put pricing on their website? It doesn't look to me as though they're all that interested in selling the car.

 

Nope, the plan is to get a new job and get to work building a Caterham. I know they're more expensive but, at my age, I want what I want!

 

I have ridden in a couple of sevens but never driven one. I know I'll need to do that before taking the plunge.

[Kitcat]

As a former Miata owner (10 years) going from a Miata to a Seven is like going from a Cadillac to a Miata. The Seven is a wonderful toy and you will make new friends wherever you go. It certainly is more fun to drive and better at the track. Since I have several practical cars (Accord/Prius/T-Bird), the 7 is a wonderful luxury for occasional driving on nice days (like today).

 

But it is completely impractical-very small, hard to get in/out of, loud, invisible to other cars, little crash protection, little carrying space, and hot-hot-hot-like sitting right in the engine bay. Air conditioning? Won't you need a roof? Try getting in a 7 with the top on. If there are no 7's around , sit in a small folding chair and lift your left leg over your head to approximate the experience:).

 

For a daily driver, keep the Miata-put in stiffer springs & add a supercharger. That will bring you closer to the 7 experience but keep the practicality of a mass-produced car. IMHO

[Ned the Red]

Welllllll, Kitcat, maybe you've convinced me to hang on to the Miata. We'll just have to see how it goes after I've lived with a Caterham for a while! First things first - get the car. Oh, I guess that's the second thing. Get a job first. I'm outta here to hit the networking/job boards circuit for a while.

[Cherik]

Got my EE & ME degree in the Netherlands where Lia and I both grew up. My 7 intro was by means of the Prisoner series. I wanted one since I was 15. I used to build "experimental" motorcycles back then from scrap. One even had two engines (front and and rear) but was confiscated by the Dutch police and subsequently crushed. Rode a bicycle for the next two years. Got heavily into two stroke tuning. A major pass time in the Netherlands at that time. I got back into that in the late 80's. I keep a very good Suzuki T500 and a nice Yamaha RD250.

 

Came to the US in '80 and went to work as an Electrical development engineeer for a large engine control company (Cooper) - fuel / ignition control for the big 50,000hp machines. They were 300..600rpm hot-rods at the time, two stroke 8..16 cylinder, 20..30" diameter pistons :-)

 

We moved to Wisconsin to work for GE Medical. MRI was just starting. Spent 22 years there.

Left in '05 to with three others form a wireless bio-implant company.

 

Got the "7" finally in '99 - see my website. After 70k miles it's still as exciting to drive and work on as when I first got it. I also have come to appreciate the people associated with this hobby. A very special crowd, typically humble enthousiasts and with great energy.

 

Other interests: High end audio, RC helicopters (crashed many), hiking

 

Cherik

[slngsht]

now that I have regained access... (thanks Mazda)

 

I'm from 1955 and are married to Lia and have two kids 20 Nyssa and 22 Adric. Both now in college. Got my EE & ME degree in the Netherlands where Lia and I both grew up. My 7 intro was by means of the Prisoner series. I wanted one since I was 15. I used to build "experimental" motorcycles back then from scrap. One even had two engines (front and and rear) but was confiscated by the Dutch police and subsequently crushed. Rode a bicycle for the next two years. Got heavily into two stroke tuning. A major pass time in the Netherlands at that time. I got back into that in the late 80's. I keep a very good Suzuki T500 and a nice Yamaha RD250.

 

Early years (in the Netherlands) were with the Telephone lab on solar and wind power and then Sperry Marine systems working on Radar.

Came to the US in '80 and went to work as an Electricla development engineeer for a large engine control company (Cooper) - fuel / ignition control for the big 50,000hp machines. They were 300..600rpm hot-rods at the time, two stroke 8..16 cylinder, 20..30" diameter pistons :-)

 

We got bored with Ohio and we moved to Wisconsin to work for GE Medical. MRI was just starting. Spent 22 years there. Became chief eng. for MRI and the last 6 years as their science director for MRI, CT and Xray imaging development.

 

Left in '05 to with three others form a wireless bio-implant (cardiac & neuro) company. We have about 50 patents at this time.

 

Got the "7" finally in '99 - see my website. After 70k miles it's still as exciting to drive and work on as when I first got it. I also very have come to appreciate the people associated with this hobby. It's a very special crowd, typically humble enthousiasts and with great energy.

 

Other interests: High end audio, RC helicopters (crashed many), hiking

 

Cherik

 

sounds like you've been "around the block" a few times

[powderbrake]

I thought I'd actually get some information about Westfields, but all they have is a picture of the car. No pricing, no real info at all. Nope, the plan is to get a new job and get to work building a Caterham. I know they're more expensive but, at my age, I want what I want!

I have ridden in a couple of sevens but never driven one. I know I'll need to do that before taking the plunge.

 

Ned the Red;

If you click on the "Configurator" on the www.flyinmiata.com/westfield website. It gives pricing.

 

The Sevens community is a small one, and you may find that the USA7s members and other seven websites will give you more info than the manufacturers, no matter which brand that you choose. If you are already committed to a Caterham, that is certainly the marque with the provenance.

 

[Al N.]

Also, I noticed that the Westfield distributor for the US is here in Dallas. At first I thought that would help. But, I'm not impressed at all by their website. I thought I'd actually get some information about Westfields, but all they have is a picture of the car. No pricing, no real info at all. What kind of build support can I get from a company that doesn't even bother to put pricing on their website? It doesn't look to me as though they're all that interested in selling the car.

 

Ned, I'm in the advertising/marketing biz, and I actually think Manik's (and autopro's) IMAGE is a lot more robust than other manufacturers/distribs. It feels quality, upscale. I've already mentioned this to them (and the others)...they'll get a more functional site going soon. Keep in mind that none of the outfits are all that big, and perhaps they are focusing on building cars than building a website. I know a bunch of Caterham owners who wouldn't mind parking a Westfield XI next to their Se7en — INCLUDING ME!!!

[locostv8]

Just registered so this is my first post.

 

My small car history: In high school (back in the late sixties) when everyone else was into the "big iron" from Detroit, I drove around in a 1960 Austin Healey Srpite. 948ccs of screaming horse power! Sold the car, grew up, and finally got back to sports cars by buying a Miata and getting back into autocrossing. I'd always known about sevens but really fell in love with them at the autoXs. I still don't have one but have been watching this list for a while and hope to have one in the not too distant future. My goal is to build my own Caterham, and try to make it a daily driver. That might not be the most practical thing in the heat of Dallas (has anyone ever seen one with air conditioning?) but, that's what I'd like to do.

 

So, in the middle of a job search and as soon as I'm working again I'll get started on the finances for a SEVEN!

 

Ned

Welcome. There are many roads to a 7. I'm frugal/cheap and am building one from scratch, with caution this can be done for little $. I have a bad habit of breaking small engines so am using a V8. The first car is being built from pieces of a Mustang @ and Lincoln MK VII with a budget of about $500, it helps that I have most parts on the shelf.

 

Advertisement for the other US 7 forum. You might want to look over http://locostusa.com/forums/index.php

[Kitcat]

Ned: Type "Flyin Miata" into Google & go to their Westfield site-loads of info. They sell them as kits & as turnkeys cars w/Miata powertrain-v reliable.

 

Type "Autopro Motorsports Westfield" into Google for the Miata engine Westfield distributor in Raleigh, NC. He advertises a turnkey car for $28K.

[Ned the Red]

Ned: Type "Flyin Miata" into Google & go to their Westfield site-loads of info. They sell them as kits & as turnkeys cars w/Miata powertrain-v reliable.

 

Type "Autopro Motorsports Westfield" into Google for the Miata engine Westfield distributor in Raleigh, NC. He advertises a turnkey car for $28K.

 

I'll confess that I do like the look of the Westfields. I don't believe I've seen one "live" though so I'll have to do that before I take the leap. It will be a while before I get to that point, though. So, meanwhile, if there's anyone in the Dallas area building a car who needs some help - let me know. And, if you hear of any purchasing or contract management jobs around here, let me know that, too.

 

Thanks,

 

Ned