It appears James @ Throttle House ended up buying a 7

[Vovchandr]

 

 

[Vovchandr]

"

• If the car world was a bar, then this is the drink you order by saying “f**k me up, guvna.” It’s the equivalent of punching through a glass window to quell your aggression. It’s death by snoo snoo. It’s…you get my point.
  
  Distill all the best parts of driving to its very essence, remove all the quality of life upgrades, and you’re left with a Caterham.
  
  The nutjob 620S popped my @caterhamcarsltd cherry. And that car was certifiably insane. It left me wanting less, which was…novel.
  
  And so when the offer to test the non-supercharged one came my way, I grabbed at it. The 360S.
  
  180bhp, 2.0l Ford engine, a 5-speed manual, and Goldmember-approved paint.
  
  Same power and price as a fully spec’d MX-5, but half the weight, no steering assist and a seat that feels like your bum is about to get road rash it’s so wonderfully low.
  
  If you can forgive the rattles, the buzzes and the vibrations (of which there are many, CONSTANTLY), then driving doesn’t really get more engaging, no matter the price. Never has a car heightened the feeling of acceleration and lessened the feeling of deceleration so much. And in that ratio, lies joy.
  
  This setup is more manageable at low speeds than the 620 and still plenty of power. Doesn’t sound as good though. Couple that with so much torque down low, and the desire to rev it out isn’t as high either. Maybe the 420 fixes that character a bit?
  
  Also, as wonderful as it is, it took living with it to miss one of the things I love most about driving: pairing it with music. Turns out, giving up speakers for a Caterham is something I’d struggle with (and no, airpods are not a fix I accept).
  
  Seats were comfortable enough, the ride…fine (It’s based on a 50s race car, what do you want) and the shifting experience a delight. And I didn’t even get an opp’ to go sideways this time
  
  These are priced more fairly in the UK. Before my loan I asked some peers why more UK car Journos don’t own them as a palette cleanser, and I was told “because you never end up driving them as much as you’d like.”
  
  Having now spent time with one, I get it. An MX-5 is better for 95% of use cases, but for that last 5%, the Caterham is king.
  
  @jamesengelsman

  Edited · 3d

• "

[mrmustang]

Slightly off topic:

So what would make my 202hp-210hp (remains to be seen) 03 SV? 

Asking for a friend 

[Kitcat]

As a member who transitioned from 15 years of 7 ownership to a Miata, I have to say:

 

I agree with James and could not have said it better (tho I could have said it worse, and probably would have…),

My ‘19 Miata(MX-5) is infinitely easier on my 78 year old body, especially at the track (where it is 5” a lap slower than my Caterham). And that’s after upgrading its brakes, suspension and adding super wide track tires. 
 

And Mr M, that’s a great topic, but it needs its own thread, it’s going to get lost here(IMHO).

[mrmustang]

3 hours ago, Kitcat said:

 

And Mr M, that’s a great topic, but it needs its own thread, it’s going to get lost here(IMHO).

I know :D 

[3Ducs]

On 8/18/2025 at 6:39 PM, Kitcat said:

As a member who transitioned from 15 years of 7 ownership to a Miata, I have to say:

 

I agree with James and could not have said it better (tho I could have said it worse, and probably would have…),

My ‘19 Miata(MX-5) is infinitely easier on my 78 year old body, especially at the track (where it is 5” a lap slower than my Caterham). And that’s after upgrading its brakes, suspension and adding super wide track tires. 
 

And Mr M, that’s a great topic, but it needs its own thread, it’s going to get lost here(IMHO).

My 79 year old body will have to find a way to deal with a Birkin S3 next spring. It will have a Kent engine, which is being built now. I have 113,000 miles on my '16 MX-5 Sport, which will seem like a barge next to the 7. Spectators will get a laugh watching me attempt to get out of the 7, good thing it has the roll bar to help me out. The Miata is a great car for the New Hampshire backroads where I live, I expect the 7 will be even better. But I think I'll be keeping the MX-5, it's got snow tires. 

 

I checked through Throttlehouse vids, didn't find the Caterham video. 

[Outbound]

On 8/20/2025 at 8:42 PM, 3Ducs said:

 

I checked through Throttlehouse vids, didn't find the Caterham video. 

Its hidden inside this Ariel Atom review: 

Starting about halfway through.

 

 

[3Ducs]

I had forgotten this episode, thanks Outbound! So with the 1700 Kent engine my Birkin will be the easier to drive Caterham 620 R. Unfortunately I won't be driving it until next spring.