TerryNJ Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Hi, all. I'm new here and don't own a Caterham or any other 7-inspired vehicle. But seriously love fun-to-drive cars, and I've always dreamed about owning a Caterham. Now I'm in a position to seriously consider it. But I'm not sure if it's right for me. So, I'd love some advice. I now own a 1960 Triumph TR3 and love it. But before sinking more money into it, I'm toying with replacing it with a used Caterham. This is strictly for road use, most often wandering around on my own for the day, but with my wife along sometimes, too. Maybe even use it for a few nights away. Am I crazy? Is it completely unsuitable for that? Keep in mind, I've been driving a TR3. While it can't compare performance-wise, it's just as primitive as far as noise, lack of weather protection (I never have the top on, even in December in NJ), etc. And an alternative to the Caterham I'd consider is the new Morgan three-wheeler (if I could get one). So you see, I'm not looking for creature comforts. In the little research I've done so far, it seems that most owners put in at least some track time with their cars. At least that the impression I have. That's not something I anticipate doing. Given that, am I nuts to consider buying one? Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Not nuts at all. You need to drive or ride in as many as possible to see what suits you best. I'm sure you will hear from some NJ owners with offers to check out their cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Maybe we're not nuts, just beating to a different drummer. If you enjoy bashing around in a TR3, you'll love a seven... I had a clapped out TR4 many years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 A relatively modern Caterham should be much more reliable than a typical TR3, and loads of fun too. There are some great roads in western NJ (Bergen County here). However you may want to keep your options open for an occasional track day too; we have a fun group that goes to NJ Motorsports Park from time to time. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryNJ Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Thanks, guys. Karl, the better reliability, combined with the hotter performance, is what's so attractive compared to the TR3 or some other classic. And, yes, I might be tempted to attend a track day from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Just keep in mind you will be looking up at the Mini Coopers on the GSP! We could use more Sevens at our June NJMP event... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryNJ Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Ha! Just yesterday I was explaining to my wife just how low these cars are. And she drives a Mini Cooper S (manual, with summer high performance tires, I'm proud to say). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Not nuts at all. It will fit the bill. If you think the TR3 is fun you are going to be in for a treat. Sounds like there are a few in your area go see and ride in as many as you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Stig Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I assume you are in NJ and happy to show you around a 7. Send me a PM and we can see if we can arrange something. Another 7 in NJ is never a bad thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I hope its a good tourer. Thats my plan for the CSR I have on order. By all accounts, you'll love it, even without the TR3 comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 My favorite vacations have all been spent touring in the Westfield. Se7ens simply excel in this area. Sure, you need to be a little creative with packing and plan your fuel stops when traveling in the middle of nowhere (the best place to tour BTW), but it's well worth the effort. Coincidentally I've just finished making hotel reservations for a tour I'm taking this August, and couldnt' get anything done at work because I was so busy grinning in anticipation -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I think 7 day dreaming has more impact on work productivity than Facebook and eBay combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 We have planned Se7en drive in early June. Please check the NE subforum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzempel Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 As a fellow TR3 owner, and Birkin S3 owner, I believe I can help with insight. The TR3 is a massive, lumbering TRactor compared to a Se7en. While the TR3's quirkiness makes it a fun and leisurely car to drive that can put a smile on your face on a perfect spring day...theSe7en is a half-million volt, blazing-white blast of pure, undiluted driving pleasure. Your face will cramp from grinning when you drive the Se7en. Yes, a Se7en makes a perfect touring car. Poke around the site, in "National Events" I think, and you can find several accounts of long distance touring. Read some of those; I think you'll be completely convinced that we're both totally lunatic and completely right about touring in these cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobone Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just to provide a slight offset. I've never driven a TR3 so I'm not able to do a direct compare. However, a seven particularly a crossflow live axle 4 speed caterham is more suited to the occasional blat. I suspect the higher HP with a Dedion axle and longer gearing would make a big difference With the short gearing for highway use, the vibration, noise and wind buffeting, I find I am pretty mentally and physically fried after 3 hours in the car. In many ways that is a good thing as I wanted a visceral and pure experience, but it does dissuade me from going on a 4-6 hour tour and I think my lovely wife would not put up with it. I know many others have toured great distances in a Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 (edited) A few other thots: There is no lockable storage in a Caterham/Birkin. So when you stop for a bathroom break, anything of particular value has to go in w/you. The heat in the cockpit of a se7en with the exhaust on driver's side can be overwhelming (X-flow/Zetec-Hasn't been an issue so far in my Durtec'd Birkin). Nonetheless, w/5 sp transmission, Dedion, stock suspension and cloth seats, I went up to 600 miles a day in my Caterham. The seats, with an after market lumbar pillow, were incredibly comfortable, the ride was very pleasant, no worse than my M3 BMW. And no idea how it compares to Tr3 but EVERY stop you draw a crowd and are asked the same questions. If you are in no hurry and are enjoying the ride, it's nice. But if you are on a time limit , or not feeling sociable, it is annoying/time consuming. Finally, I did a tour long ago w/my brother in his TR3. The drill was always, get up, repair the car, drive, stop, repair the car. The Caterham stranded me 1x , at a track day, in 16K miles. And once the various bugs were worked out, it was bullet proof. Edited May 1, 2012 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 A few other thots: There is no lockable storage in a Caterham/Birkin. Not the case with a Westfield though. I imagine you could rig up a locking cover for a Caterham if it's a concern. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 (edited) Another NJ seven! yay! I definitely think you can use a seven as a touring car. I took my previous seven up to Maine via RI and Boston and came back to NYC through backroads in NH and VT before dropping down through CT. It did fine on the open road and was even better on a backroad. I even took it to Gettysburg for LOG. As another vouch for its credentials my former seven was driven from NYC to Alaska by its new owner with only two minor headlight and wiper switch fails (easily fixed). I think he has mentally recovered now from such extreme driving! I would like to see a Trumph try that journey without issues. For overnight trips in the seven I have one of the Soft Bits for Sevens RE bags which fits on top of the rear trunk area. I have no problems fitting everything in. Now if I had a high maintenance wife with me then I might have other issues (but luckily I do not). It has loops and straps to allow locking to the roll bar. Valuables come with me in a backpack - even if refueling. Roof still can be put on with an RE bag and you still have visibility out the back. The trunk area in an Caterham SV is nicely roomy. Not too bad in an Birkin/Caterham S3/Westfield chassis. Completely useless in a Caterham CSR because of the diff struts and extra chassis bracing. So the RE bag really does take all of my luggage in my CSR. If you keep the maintenance up then I believe a seven should be more reliable than a Triumph. Other things to consider - the Ford T-9 5 speed gearbox does have its faults (too low first gear) but the overdrive 5th is a wonderful thing to have when touring. - I would think about a zetec in an SV chassis as my old car never got too warm in the cockpit and the extra room in an SV is helpful when touring. A duratec seems to pump out a lot more heat for some reason. - in summer I like running my half hood to provide shade but still allow lots of ventilation and breezes underneath. I have also used it as a rain top on occaison. Definitely a good touring companion. Not sure where you are in NJ but why not come along to the June 10 drive in Milford NJ. http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7398 There will be a variety of sevens there to check out and try on (Bruce, Boxologist, Stig and myself seem to be confirmed with others yet to sort themselves out). Bring the Triumph as you will definitely be able to keep up with us since Bruce will be leading the drive. Alternatively someone may have a spare seat if you want to try a seven out that way. Lunch will be at the Ship Inn afterwards. We can also fill you in on the NJ registration fun that you are letting yourself in for. Alternatively if that date does not work or you are way south NJ then come along to the June 25/26 track days at NJMP where a few sevens will be present to check out. I will be there on June 24 as well with possibly a few others getting in some early practice. Dont worry none of us other than Kitcat drives more than 7/10ths on a circuit. Edited May 1, 2012 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Se7ens make great touring cars. Check out this thread for a group of Se7ens hooning around the Black Hills last summer. http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5889&page=14 Yes, a couple of cars had some minor problems but all were fixed enroute and we had a great time (even if I had to do it in my Miata instead of the Caterham). Some of the Se7ens were driven from southern California and Canada, others were trailered to Wyoming and driven from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryNJ Posted May 2, 2012 Author Share Posted May 2, 2012 I assume you are in NJ and happy to show you around a 7. Send me a PM and we can see if we can arrange something. Another 7 in NJ is never a bad thing! Hey, thanks for the kind offer. Really appreciated. I'll be in touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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