My Seven daily driver

[Kitcat]

Since I am not driving my Seven due to the inclement weather, I thought I'd talk about it instead. And since a topic that is occasionally debated is the practicality of a Seven as a daily driver, I thought I'd add my experience.

 

I was sort of forced into this last Spring when two of my three adult sons were back from college and needed a car for summer jobs. So our Accord and Prius were sacrificed to the cause, my wife kept her car, an '03 T-bird, leaving me wirth the option of taking the bus or driving the Seven. A total no brainer, really.

 

My trip to work is only 5 miles each way and includes some parkway, and wiggly stuff, no Interstates.

 

First the good stuff: what a blast! If there is a better way to start and end a work day, I dont know what it is. The sounds, the smells, the intesity of the sensory exerience, combined with phenominal handling. Nirvana!

 

Everyone notices the car too, so there is lots of love, on top of a spectacular driving experience. I drove along the Ohio river part of the way which offers great views. I typically also drove across a suspension bridge, spanning the Ohio, just for the hell of it. It wasn't on the way but getting out over the water was way cool.

 

I parked in in a ground level lot right next to my office. I could look out and see everyone doing a double take, girls standing next to it so their boyfriends could take thier photos and little kids getting just glued to it in disbelief.

 

I took a number of interstate trips as well. For whatever reason, I find the standard Caterham cloth seats to be perfect (once a small lumbar pillow is added). It's like a lazy boy chair: feet extened, body slightly reclined ( and lots ot tiny finger vibrations to keep you stimulated).

 

On one interstate trip I passed an Ariel Atom going the other way. How many times did a Seven and an Atom pass on the open road last year? Probably not often. My longest roundtrip was about 800 miles. I also went for a 500 mile blat early in the driving season, to make up for the winter of deprivation.

 

So was it all fun and games? First, if there are unresolved electical issues, it's a downer. It took me half the driving season (frequently being stranded, or at least slowed up) to resolve those. But I won't count that as the car has run flawlessly since the issue was solved.

 

Other issues; There isnt much room. As in, I had to take out my wallet to fit comfortably. And God, don't let me forget to remove the keys in advance! Once seated, my hand doesn't fit into my pocket, it's that tight (I am 5'9" 160 lbs). Then I added the ear plugs and ear muffs to help moderate the noise, which is pretty deafening after about 5'. With ear protection tho, it's quite pleasant. One day I forgot my ear protection and was shocked at how much noise I made running thru the gears (So that's why everyone stares?).

 

It also gets a bit toasty, especially on long trips. Bring a change of clothing and lots of deoderant, on long trips you will be ripe. My thermometer on one trip showed cockpit temps around 115 (with the top off, on an 80 degree day).

 

Briefcase fits nicely in the passenger foot well. As does just about everything. But. If you want to stop along the way, to pick up bread, beer, etc., then you have to schelp it all with you into the store. Sort of a big pain.

 

It rains here too. That's not good news in a Seven. Sure, it has a top. It's not too bad either: I'd estimate it keeps out 99.8% of the water. So, I kept a towel in the car and would place it on my leg where the water driped. I also used it to defog the windows occasionally.

 

Speaking of water,I discovered that if you splash thu a large puddle and don't have the door bottom secured, a small tidal wave washes right in. Certainly more than a little towel can dry. Hey, its all part of the fun! I also showed up at work with a drenched pant leg after the windshield squirter hose came loose and emptied the bottle of fluid (helpfully refilled by my mechanic) all over my right pant leg.

 

Of course, if it rains, that means erecting the top. I got

[slngsht]

This is a great writeup for those interested in jumping into seven ownership.

[soareyes]

I pretty much agree with everything Mike said. Last summer my wife's minivan was hit and ended up spending two weeks in the body shop being repaired. So she drove my daily driver and I drove my Birkin to work. It was great in the morning, nice and cool and very little traffic at 6:30am. Going home in rush hour traffic was miserable, very hot and I felt very vulnerable around all the trucks and SUVs. Of course they all had their windows closed and AC on, so they weren't likely to hear me.

 

I have solved two of Mike's problems though - I got rid of the sealed beam headlights and installed the European style bulb and lens. Much better for night driving! I also got rid of the ignition key/switch and installed a push button start/on-off switch, no more key to forget or hit with my knee while driving and turning the car off accidentally.

 

 

 

 

[David C]

I have solved two of Mike's problems though - I got rid of the sealed beam headlights and installed the European style bulb and lens. Much better for night driving! I also got rid of the ignition key/switch and installed a push button start/on-off switch, no more key to forget or hit with my knee while driving and turning the car off accidentally.

 

If I understand it correctly and all you need to start the car is a pushbutton, how do you keep someone from driving off in your Birkin other than a "This car protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker?

[Hank]

If I understand it correctly and all you need to start the car is a pushbutton, how do you keep someone from driving off in your Birkin other than a "This car protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker?

 

I have a removable steering wheel. :jester:

 

Great story! Confused the hell out of me until I figured out 5' is 5 minutes. ahhahah

[soareyes]

 

If I understand it correctly and all you need to start the car is a pushbutton, how do you keep someone from driving off in your Birkin other than a "This car protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker?

 

As Hank mentioned, a removable steering wheel is a great anti-theft device! I always take it with me. And I generally trust people to leave the car alone. Famous last words?

 

 

 

[MHKflyer52]

 

If I understand it correctly and all you need to start the car is a pushbutton, how do you keep someone from driving off in your Birkin other than a "This car protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker?

 

I have also dumped the key for a push to start button along with some toggel switches that turn power on to the fuel pump and give power to the coil. It is actualy funny when I forget to turn on the fuel pump and start to drive away and only get about a block away when the car dies from lack of fuel and that is if I am keeping my foot out of it.

[TonyI]

 

If I understand it correctly and all you need to start the car is a pushbutton, how do you keep someone from driving off in your Birkin other than a "This car protected by Smith & Wesson" sticker?

 

Thinking about the removable wheel haven't had the real want yet, and always wanted a push button starter, somtime...this fall i'll have had it for 20yrs of fun.

Never really worried about it driving off. Its gone from one side of Detroit to the other and to work at Jeep engineering and Highland Park(not daily thats the Yukon) and so far never had a problem and never worried much either. But I also took a math class alonnngg time ago that had a problem that read 8+1=45 some guy named Sam was the prof.

 

Side note the engineer before me caught a bullet walking across the road the week before I started at Jeep...also the drunks, pimps, hookers and crack hoes thought the car was cute, just kinda makes your day when the car has that broad of appeal:lol:

 

Cheers

Tony