So how do you answer

[par]

As a new owner I am wrestling with how to answer the question I get every time I drive the car, namely what is it?

 

I have test driven two two standard responses but feel neither really works and usually prompt more questions - most commonly - how old is it?

 

Here they are - any improvements welcome

 

"Its a Caterham Seven" (factually correct but produces blank stares)

 

"Its a replica of a Lotus Seven"

 

 

 

 

 

[yellowss7]

I usually start with, "It's a Lotus 7" If they have a clue then I tell them it's a Caterham.

 

Curiously, last weekend at the autox, someone asked me,

"Is that a real Caterham?"

 

Other responses "Yeah it's a kit car", again to the clueless.

 

But then I'll spend forever talking to someone who understands what they are. Tom

[11Budlite]

I agree with Tom. Start with Lotus 7 and go from there. Pretty soon you'll be able to tell the people that are genuinely interested and the ones that are asking because they can't believe someone would actually drive that "thing" on the road.

 

Bruce :7drive:

[Kitcat]

Its a Lotus Super Seven. If they look interested, I explain how Caterham bought that part of Lotus 36 years ago etc.

 

It is NOT a kit car. It comes fully assembled in England. To get it into this country it has to come in pieces which are then assembled.

 

 

and,

 

It gets 25 mpg, goes 110 mph and costs abt $45K new.

[RGTorque]

i generally reply:

 

Its a Super 7 - if i get strange looks i bring up "the prisoner" and usually get an O YEA!.

Its a lotus 7 replica - this is generally for the younger peoples.

[MoPho]

I told someone at a light the other day that it goes 300mph

 

 

I was stopped at one of the mountain top lookout points here when some kids in a modified Audi rolled up and started asking questions about the car, then one says, "that's sort of like one of those Caterham things I've seen on Top Gear" and when I told him it was a Caterham he yelled "Oh Shit!" jumped out of the car and ran over to look at it LOL

[Sean]

Spoke with a guy, mid-40-ish, as I was leaving work today who had parked his Cobra replica next to my daily driver. As I approached, the first thing he said was, "It's my Mom's car!"

 

[pi7ot]

From a guy in his 50's "Is that a Prowler?".....[Nossir]

 

From a Couple in their 30's "Is that a Rolls Royce?" .....[uh...]

 

From a Kid at an Auto parts store "Is it front wheel drive?"....[No , it's a real car]

 

From another Kid " Is it , Like , Uh, street legal and everything?....We're looking at the rump of the car with a license plate...[Lol!]

 

From a 4-5 yr old girl, (the brightest of the lot I think.) "Why is your car so small?" ....[Well Missy, I think it's because Big Bird likes mall cars] was my response but I was thinking about how to explain C Chapman's * Add lightness* philosophy to a tyke.

 

 

 

 

m

[slngsht]

The BEST response I have had so far...

 

Went to an Interstate Battery store looking for Odyssey batteries... did not have the car with me. The fellow that was there did not seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer. Naturally he asked for make and model of my car. Not wanting to go through the whole Lotus 7 -> replica -> custom job thing, I simply replied it's a kit car - just show me the smallest batteries you have. So he yells out loud - and I'm not kidding - "Hey Mike, got a guy here with a "Kit" car. what kind of battery do those take? I've never heard of a "Kit" car..." :banghead:

 

Best response I've heard so far from a person actually looking at the car is "can it go 55? can you take it on the highway?" :lol:

[bsimon]

I say "Lotus Caterham Seven". Usually most don't ask the kit car question as they are baffled by the steering wheel on the shoulder side.

 

"Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?"

 

"I deliver mail to pay for the petrol."

-or-

"It puts the driver on the inside of the race track." (This one gets the NASCAR fans scratch'n)