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Things I learned about driving a 7


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Just picked up my car sunday and drove it home which was about an 850 mile trip. Learned several things:

 

1. Putting the top up means you will just get less wet than if it was down.

 

2. Us southern boys usually drive barefoot in the summer. Not a good idea in a seven. The floor boards can get hot enough to cause burns w/blisters. Ended up at Wally World to buy some swim shoes so my fat feet wouldn't hit all the pedals at once.

 

3. Never follow an 18 wheeler. They can go over things that you can not.

 

4. Do not buy a 7 if you are afraid or do not want to be bothered to talk to people.

 

5. Do not listen to your spouse when she tells you it looks like a large go cart.

 

6. Do not listen to your spouse when she tells you that the 4 point harnesses are for amusement park rides, not cars. Also do not inform her that they are to keep heavy objects from flying around the driving compartment.

 

7. Try not to get depressed when you think that you should have bought one years ago.

 

Gary

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Well done - you learn quickly! Let me add to your list:

 

- Sevens have no grip in snow or very wet weather and turn from the best handling cars in to some of the most challenging to keep on the tarmac.

 

- Never tell the owner of a V8 (Mustang, Corvette, etc) that you can whip their fanny in the corners and braking areas (and fuel economy). They will want to challenge you - to a drag race.

 

- A NYC taxi does not check mirrors or look over shoulders when changing lanes - they just go.

 

- A seven can drive underneath a (stationary) tractor trailer for a dare (done at Harrisburg on the way to LOG 30).

 

- Small road bumps look REALLY BIG when you are 2 inches from the road surface.

 

- Do not tell bystanders in jest that one advantage of sitting low in a seven is to look up the skirts of pretty ladies. The subsequent conversation with a police officer is challenging.

 

- A short 5 minute drive to Home Despot for supplies can frequently turn into 300 mile backroad tours.

 

- A seven has been an excellent tool to opening up opportunities to pick up chicks. The only problem is this tool behind the wheel crashes and burns in the subsequent conversation.

 

- If you want to feel like a rockstar then drive a seven into the middle of Times Square on Sunday afternoon. You will cause a traffic jam. You will also be abused by New York's finest police.

 

- Make sure you look good when you drive your seven - you will have lots of photos taken of you by other drivers.

 

- Eventually (about 18 months for me) you will learn that bikers are giving the secret Masonic signal of fraternity and are not giving you the bird.

 

- If you cannot reach the security gate sensor for getting out of your company parking lot when you take your seven to work, you can just drive underneath the barrier arm at least once. However, the following week you should also consider that the security guards might just adjust the barrier to be lower to stop such an escape in the future (I have the broken barrier in my office as a momento).

 

- I have also met some really great other seven owners who are good friends!

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Everytime you stop, even at a traffic light, be prepared to answer the following questions: What is it, how much does it cost, how fast does it go, who makes it, what engine's it got, it's a kit car isn't it? Over and over and over and over.....It just blows peoples' minds. I cant imagine a flying saucer would generate any more curiosity:).

Edited by Kitcat
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On my recent 1200 mile trip, it got so that my 15 year old daughter could field questions when I was running in to convenience marts to get food or use the facilities.

 

We stopped counting the number of people who took pictures when we stopped for gas or food (or repair!) not to mention those who took pix from moving cars.

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I've learned that it is GOOD NEWS when the passenger is holding the camera/cell phone/other electronic device taking your picture. When it is the DRIVER you should beware.

Taber

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Speaking of "hot rods" I was nearly denied historic plates in NJ because, upon seeing pix of my car, one rep said "We don't do street rods here, you have to go to the main office for that." Thankfully, one of her co-workers checked their photo database and confirmed what the title person had seen the day before —*that the cars came looking like this from the factory.

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Hey Seafarer,

 

Couple of ideas to help:

 

To lower the heat in the cabin and reduce vibration, I used these products:

 

Under the tunnel carpets, floor and on the fire wall:

http://www.b-quiet.com/ultimate.html

 

Under the floor carpets and on the firewall:

 

http://www.b-quiet.com/hliner.html

 

Limited weight penalty and no loss of fun factor = happier feet and a less fatigue after a full day run

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Rain can get every little bit of you. Wind buffeting can dry almost all of you.

 

Ours is polished. Old guys at car shows touch the surface and ask if it is stainless steel.

 

Wear long sleeve shirts - it shields you from the sun, stones...

 

Cary hearing protection and spare wrap-around safety glasses when giving rides.

 

Kids love to sit in the car.

 

I smile a lot when I'm in the 7.

 

You always look good in a 7.

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Rain can get every little bit of you. Wind buffeting can dry almost all of you.

 

Ours is polished. Old guys at car shows touch the surface and ask if it is stainless steel.

 

Wear long sleeve shirts - it shields you from the sun, stones...

 

Cary hearing protection and spare wrap-around safety glasses when giving rides.

 

Kids love to sit in the car.

 

I smile a lot when I'm in the 7.

 

You always look good in a 7.

 

I agree with all but the last comment !

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I have noticed that animals and children are not cautious when I approach, and I have to be especially careful. :auto:

 

Once, before I learned this lesson, I was motoring along and came upon a duck sitting in the middle of the road. It turned its head and watched as I came closer, and finally decided to move out of my way at the last moment.

 

It look flight TOWARDS me! :eek:

 

It came straight at my windshield, and barely cleared my head and roll bar. I felt it pass over. I don't know if it was the disturbed airflow I felt, but I swear it was the webbed feet dragging across my cap!

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WTS2K:

 

Rik was referring (humorously) to the last cmt by Dean G that we all look good in our se7ens. Don't think Rik actually owns a se7en, tho I mite be wrong.

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On our recent Denver to LA trip, we had to slalom around prairie dogs on the road out of Cortez, CO. And I also noticed (twice) that things that looked like paper or wood turned out to be living lizards sunbathing...so some more swerving was in order.

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I finished my car earlier this week with the first start on Monday. Drove it straight to a local tuning shop for a dyno tune and final check so my first real drive was home from the shop yesterday evening. I stopped to top off the gas and it took me 20 minutes for 4 gallons of gas, and Q&A... it's been on the road less time than that! And I thought my '59 FIAT 600 was a conversation starter...

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On our recent Denver to LA trip, we had to slalom around prairie dogs on the road out of Cortez, CO. And I also noticed (twice) that things that looked like paper or wood turned out to be living lizards sunbathing...so some more swerving was in order.

 

After a LOG in Birmingham my wife & I left for a tour of the west coast in our M100. In New Mexico we were driving top down at extra legal speeds. There were lots of black dots on the road. After 10 minutes or so I realized they were moving! It turned out it was a tarantula migration. I didn't mention it to my wife - she would have insisted I stop and collect one for a pet.

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