What you wish you knew before ordering your car?

[Exarkun1178]

I’ve been deliberating on my color choice for a few weeks now and still undecided, though I am leaning towards heritage sage. I still like that copper beige color I found online, but nobody can tell me the exact color of that car and somebody suggested it might be a Bentley rose gold, and I can’t be driving around in a pink car so my second choice was the heritage sage. ….. but I haven’t totally committed yet.
 

i’m sitting here watching my boys play basketball at the park on this beautiful day browsing the forum and I thought I’d ask you guys what you wish you knew before ordering your car  

 

any surprises during the ordering process, Customs, registration anything about the options package drivability transmission, suspension anything following the delivery that you look back and said boy I wish I knew about this before ordering?

 

when I ordered my Elise, I got a starlight black with the red interior and I got the touring package in hindsight I wish I would’ve gotten the Exige. While I did enjoy taking the roof off and that was the primary reason I got the Elise, looking back on it. I would’ve enjoyed an exile way more. 

[CBuff]

I went thru a million iterations on the website colors etc. the settled on my vintage green with double pin stripes.  Time machines was able to get pictures from uk with the paint, stripes and leather stitched all sitting next to each other.  Which made me tweak the colors vs the website.  But turned out great. 
 

I talked with a lot of owners and even went to the annual event in 2023 when my car was ordered but not yet built. The big change was track options. I had never tracked anything prior to this so I didn’t even think about it. Once I tried it my options all skewed to accommodate track driving. (13” wheels, track day bar, aero screen, dated 6pt belts). The dpr mirrors were a must either way. 
 

I was very worried about my shoulder strap angle being too downward with lowered floors so I didn’t do it. This turned out to be an issue no one really checks.  The broomstick is much more scrutinized. Which with non lowered floors I just make (5’10”).  I guess that is really the only thing (lowered vs non lowered) that I would maybe considered again but not worth retrofitting for sure.  And of course maybe a 620 vs 420. But that’s just the junkie brain doing its thing.  The 420 is plenty. 

[11Budlite]

I think the biggest decisions you have to make depend on the intended use of the car and how big you are. That will determine whether you get an S3 or SV, and if you get the S pack or R pack. I'm 5'9" and 160# and fit fine in an S3. If you get an S3 I would go ahead and get the lowered floors regardless, unless you're on the short side and really don't need them. Not sure how important lowered floors are in an SV. If you plan on doing track days I would get a 420R (or a 620R if you want crazy) and get the 13" wheel option and the track day rollbar as a minimum. Then you can check out upgraded brakes and suspension depending on your budget. If you plan on just driving it on the street an S pack car does just fine, and to me the stock seats are very comfortable and work well enough on track too.

 

When I ordered my 2019 310S I was looking for the best all around driver to use on the street with maybe an occasional track day. As it turns out, I did one track day in my son's TurboMiata before my Caterham was complete, and I was hooked. Over the last couple years I've progressively added mods to make it more track-focused. Track day rollbar, aeroscreen, 13" wheels/Toyo R888R's, side-impact bar, lightweight flywheel, wide track suspension, Tillet seat, and upgraded springs/dampers. If I had known how much I would enjoy track days, I would have ordered a 420R from the beginning with maybe a couple options and been done with it.

 

As far as Customs in 2019 I don't remember anything being a PITA. Josh at Rocky Mountain Caterham made the whole process pretty easy. Not sure if the process has changed in 2026. 

 

Registration will vary depending on the state. I previously registered my 2001 Birkin in CT and it was a bit of pain but doable. I haven't registered my Caterham yet but hope to in the future.  

Edited March 24 by 11Budlite

[Saudio]

On 3/22/2026 at 6:34 PM, Exarkun1178 said:

I’ve been deliberating on my color choice for a few weeks now and still undecided, though I am leaning towards heritage sage. I still like that copper beige color I found online, but nobody can tell me the exact color of that car and somebody suggested it might be a Bentley rose gold, and I can’t be driving around in a pink car so my second choice was the heritage sage. ….. but I haven’t totally committed yet.
 

i’m sitting here watching my boys play basketball at the park on this beautiful day browsing the forum and I thought I’d ask you guys what you wish you knew before ordering your car  

 

any surprises during the ordering process, Customs, registration anything about the options package drivability transmission, suspension anything following the delivery that you look back and said boy I wish I knew about this before ordering?

 

when I ordered my Elise, I got a starlight black with the red interior and I got the touring package in hindsight I wish I would’ve gotten the Exige. While I did enjoy taking the roof off and that was the primary reason I got the Elise, looking back on it. I would’ve enjoyed an exile way more. 

As a former Elise owner, I'm wondering why you think the Exige would have been that much more enjoyable?  I mean, unless you are talking about the later more powerful versions of the Exige, it's Boxter vs Cayman.  Same basic car, but with one you can take the roof off and enjoy the sky.  

[KnifeySpoony]

ya, besides roof comes off exige too...

Edited March 25 by KnifeySpoony

[theDreamer]

12 hours ago, Saudio said:

As a former Elise owner, I'm wondering why you think the Exige would have been that much more enjoyable?  I mean, unless you are talking about the later more powerful versions of the Exige, it's Boxter vs Cayman.  Same basic car, but with one you can take the roof off and enjoy the sky.  

The Exige hood (roof) is removable. It may effect the performance but then if you are wanting the fresh air experience you really aren't looking for the greatest perpormance are you.

[JohnCh]

Getting back on topic, I've been involved in se7ens for a very long time and was fortunate to know exactly what I wanted for my car, including the extensive modifications done during the build. The one exception was failing to order the optional carbon fiber indicator pods. Since I'm not a big fan of carbon fiber exterior bits, I ignored those; however, the standard pods are made from a really cheap looking, shiny plastic that looks out of place against the fancy looking pearl paint. It's not something I notice day-to-day -- and those same pods didn't bother me on the Westfield with its non-metallic/pearl exterior -- but it does irk me every time I'm up close to that area to remove the nosecone or clean the front. If it wasn't such a pain to deal with the wires that thread through pods, I'd switch them out. 

[Exarkun1178]

I did a lot of group rides,  we only had one Exige in the group, and it always drew attention.  I drove it a few times and drove better then my Elise.  We both had the BWR super charger and power was the same.

 

And yes the Exige roof came off, but never looks at clean with the air intake looking the way it did.

Maybe its just reflecting on it.....

[IamScotticus]

I believe the OP was asking about ordering a 7?

 

The things many new 7ers don't know clearly before they order are:

 

The effort to register in their jurisdiction.  The rules vary by state and county.  Know what you have to do.

 

Missing parts.  Your Caterham will not arrive with all the parts or will have incorrect parts.  Just expect it.

 

Fit in the car.  It's a very small car.  If you call it a car.  I know of one fellow who, no matter what he tried, lowered floors, different seats, etc, his knees hit the dash tube.  Fortunately for him, he didn't spend $65K to find out.

 

The attention you will get.  People will aporoach you to ask about the 7, everywhere you go.

 

[Exarkun1178]

The effort to register in their jurisdiction.

Thank you for bringing this up.  I have reached out to NJ MVC and have received the appropriate packet to do this.  20 pages of directions and requirements.....

This packet, plus knowing other recent example Caterham 's have been successful through this program gives me hope.  

 

At work, on occasion I need to deal with various state and local governments and its never goes as it is intended.  And a process as described in the packet offer plenty of pit falls that will be left to a state employees’ discretion and/or interpretation....  

 

 

NJ Reconstruct packet (R5-19) use this.pdf

[Exarkun1178]

Fit in the car.  It's a very small car.

Happily I rented an S3 with standard floor a few months ago and had a few days and ~ 500 miles in it.  Its a tight fit for sure, but acceptable.  I have considered the lowered floor option but did not select it when I submitted the order form.  I’m told however I can still change this if I wanted as we wait for the seats to be prepared.  I have been back and forth on this option a few times.

I’m 5’7” and a bit portly in the mid-section.  My legs managed well enough in the rental and as to shoulder room, I was in the S3 with a friend who weighs about the same, but is 6’1” and wasn’t terrible.  Note: he was unsuccessful in fitting in the drives seat as he was unable to fit the steering wheel one seated.  He’s have at least required the lowered floor, and more likely prefer the SV chassis.

[IamScotticus]

I would order the lowered floors to come as spares with the kit.   Reason is, again the aforementioned gentleman,  ordered a set but they did not fit the car.  

[Exarkun1178]

I think I was just convinced to add teh lowered floor.  I suppose its better have the extra depth then not too.

[empti]

I was very close to buying a 2007 Exige S before ordering my 420R. The Exige S was great but doesn't offer the same level of thrill (vs Rich's Superlight I test drove earlier). I end up keeping my Evora GT and just added the 420R. 

 

One thing I would add to my car was the 620R dash. 

[Croc]

13 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

I would order the lowered floors to come as spares with the kit.   Reason is, again the aforementioned gentleman,  ordered a set but they did not fit the car.  

 

 

Time out. 

 

That is an extremely expensive solution (call it $1K in parts, tariffs and shipping) compared to the more economical analogy of buying a tape measure and measuring twice before cutting.  Being an alpha male, I would much rather spend that cash on enhancing my diet of sticky tire rubber and high octane gasoline.

 

Lets go back to first principles on the point of a lowered floor.  It gets you lower in the car.  Why would you do that?  Because (a) you are a tall fucker that needs to get lower for buffeting or roll bar clearance, (b) you have a wife/girlfriend/significant fuck/etc. that has a hairstyle that needs to get out of the wind if you are to enjoy funfair privileges later that day, or (c) you have toupee and need to preserve it, and so on. 

 

Ignore (b) and (c) as they are not important to the purist vision of driving a seven.

 

Boil it down, you want your head to be below the level of the roll bar.  It is not for puny men or dwarves who are vertically challenged as they have roll bar clearance (cue the predictable angry short man post.......go and complain to the other admin here).

 

There is no hard and fast rule as to what height a gentleman might be to want lowered floors as our bodies are all proportionally different (e.g. long in torso vs short in leg and vice versa).  

 

But somewhere around the 5'9" mark it comes into play.  

 

This is why you want to sit in as many Caterhams as possible to find out roll bar/seat/steering wheel/floor configurations to make sure your head is BELOW the level of the roll bar.  A lowered floor will give you an extra 1.5"+ of vertical clearance.

 

[side note - trying on other cars for size is helpful to determine feet to pedal box size or whether you are so fat (or like long distance touring) that you need to go SV sizing.  Of course SV refers to SVelte - side note over]

 

If it is not then with the many options available (different seats, different roll bar, etc) you can adjust your order to guarantee you are below the roll bar.  Fixing your ordering mistake afterwards is a very expensive exercise.  

 

The other reason for a lowered floor is safety.  If you want to drive with an aeroscreen on, then getting lower in the car, more protected by the dash cowling, will protect you from the inevitable debris - rocks and stone - that come with using an aeroscreen on road or track.  

 

[Exarkun1178]

I did message my dealer yesterday about opting for the lowered floor.   I’m 5’7”  so I do fall below the 5’9” mentioned above 

 

the S3 I rented was the standard floor. and I managed fine. 
 

you make the argument well that in my case, maybe it’s not necessary.    If I were taller, for sure. 
 

the rental car, one of my distinct reflection included leg position. When in the hills and activity shifting. My left leg was kinked. My foot on the clutch ready to shift. - 

 

when on the motorway, I’d kick the clutch pedal up and slip my foot under it. That provided room to outstretch my left leg. Then when preparing for the exit. I’d pull it back out, kick the pedal down and continue on. 

 

I never really noticed my right leg - too busy doing stuff i with it I suppose. 
 

In your experience does the lowered floor create additional space to maneuver the left leg / find comfort when static?

 

or is it completely about the head room / slight lines? 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vovchandr]

Can't tell you about lowered floor advantages but as a 5ft7 man on a good day, In Tillet seats I feel I'm almost too low in standard s3 with aero screen. 

[JohnCh]

2 hours ago, Exarkun1178 said:

In your experience does the lowered floor create additional space to maneuver the left leg / find comfort when static?

 

or is it completely about the head room / slight lines? 

 

The lowered floor pan ends at the front of the pedals, so the space immediately below the pedals is unchanged. It also slopes upward from the seat area to the pedals -- the cross section is not rectangular -- so your heels only sit about 1/3"-1/2" lower than the standard floors. 

 

The other factor that comes into play for the lowered floors is preferred driving position. I like to sit low and ideally have my butt and heels on the same plane for back comfort. With the standard floors on an SV, I felt like I was sitting up too high compared to my Westfield and felt less a part of the car. It exacerbated that aspect of the SV I dislike compared to the more cosseting S3. This is purely down to personal preference and reinforces the importance of trying various cars to see what works best for you. 

[IamScotticus]

I suggest that the floors ship with the kit, saving in freight.

However, it looks like having the low floors in place solves potential future issues.  If you are too low, sitting on a folded towel may make it all acceptable.  Also, if for some reason you didn't care for the lower floor, you could fab flat floors yourself.  Flat sheet alm, not necessary to order it from Cat.

Edited March 29 by IamScotticus