My Caterham ownership (it's not pleasent)

[Nevinear]

There were a few that did pass me here and there and they really didn't look that beefed up but of course I know I'm going for the cheaper older versions It's really about steering feel and precision so I will be test driving as soon as I can get a chance to be sure it's what I'm missing after selling the Exige.

 

I hear ya about the usefulness of top speed! It's all about having that fast feeling at lower speeds, I think the lowness to the ground should help there right?

 

Thanks for the info on the club, now I can formulate a plan to buy one and track it at one if their events on the way home! hehe the wife is going to kill me she thought I was done with spending for a bit. :devil:

 

Another question, how common is it to have a soft top included to throw on in case of rain? My biggest concern is getting caught out in the middle of nowhere in a downpour.

[bigdog]

There were a few that did pass me here and there and they really didn't look that beefed up but of course I know I'm going for the cheaper older versions It's really about steering feel and precision so I will be test driving as soon as I can get a chance to be sure it's what I'm missing after selling the Exige.

 

I hear ya about the usefulness of top speed! It's all about having that fast feeling at lower speeds, I think the lowness to the ground should help there right?

 

Thanks for the info on the club, now I can formulate a plan to buy one and track it at one if their events on the way home! hehe the wife is going to kill me she thought I was done with spending for a bit. :devil:

 

Another question, how common is it to have a soft top included to throw on in case of rain? My biggest concern is getting caught out in the middle of nowhere in a downpour.

 

The hood is a hit and miss thing. Mine came with one and a tonneau cover. your best bet is to buy a half hood. It will button onto the windscreen go up and over the roll bar and fasten at the roll bar base with straps. (Think Jeep bikini top) The full hood is a bit of a pain. It takes a full 5 minutes or so to deploy in the garage. I use it when it's cold as my Cat has a heater. But you would not believe the gyrations and double jointed contortions one has to perform to ingress a seven with the full hood on. The half hood with the full doors will protect you from most weather.

 

To give you an Idea of performance. My X-flow at 100HP in 1983 did a 0-60 time that was nearly identical to my 2006 BMW Zed-4 3.0 Si.

The one area that can bite you on a seven is the lack of safety nannies that we have grown to rely upon. You need to treat a seven like a motorcycle on the street. I.E. keep it smooth.

 

I have a general German question for you. Do the German drivers in northern Bavaria ALWAYS drive over the centerline in a corner? They sure do in Rhineland-Pfalz. I have had more near head-on crashes in the four years of living in Germany than most folks would see in several lifetimes in the USA. They just love to drive like they are on a race track & will always use a racing line (on coming traffic be damned).

[slomove]

........(on coming traffic be damned).......

 

Yes, and solid center line (equivalent to double yellow here) be damned, too. I guess that is normal. At least most drivers do that only when technically feasible and no police is around. If you go further south in Europe you can not rely on that anymore. There is more reliance on the horn and a guardian angel.

[bigdog]

Yes, and solid center line (equivalent to double yellow here) be damned, too. I guess that is normal. At least most drivers do that only when technically feasible and no police is around. If you go further south in Europe you can not rely on that anymore. There is more reliance on the horn and a guardian angel.

 

At least most drivers do that only when technically feasible.

 

I wish that was the case. I've come around a blind right curve and met a motorcycle on my side. Most that I see do a line crossing do so whether they have a clear view or not. The Germans are mostly good drivers EXCEPT when it comes to lane discipline. I always thought the fun of curves was to be on a curve, Not avoid it by making it straighter. unless one is in a race and needs to save time by avoiding curves. I.E. the racing line. Maybe I'm the odd one. But why buy a car that handles the curves then do everything to avoid them.

 

Of course we all know the answer to that one. It's the Alpha male I must cross the finish line first no matter the cost. I'm not sure that I've ever seen a finish line on a public road. But that's the answer. (pecker waving)

[vicguz]

Hello Bigdog,

 

I am glad to hear that nothing too major is going on with your car!

 

I, like a few of you contributing to this thread, am also an American living in Germany. I also happen to work for Westermann GmbH/MOG racing, which was mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

I apologize for being so late with this reply, I actually just recently registered to this forum. I understand how frustrating language barriers can be, especially when it comes to making sure our prized possessions are well sorted for!

 

Feel free to PM or give us a call next time you need anything. We can help you guys with performance/replacement parts, carbon composite/lightweight parts, as well as technical help.

 

 

(This obviously goes for EVERYONE else on this forum as well!)

 

 

We recently updated our website as well, which now also includes full English descriptions.

 

 

Check it out! http://westermann-motorsport.com/

 

 

 

 

All of you in Germany can also feel free to catch us at the Hockenheimring this weekend if you have any free time. We will be competeing in the 2014 Tuner Grand Prix with 4 of our vehicles, including the new 620R from Caterham :auto:

 

 

Most importantly, we wish that the rest of your ownership experience is smooth sailing!!!!

Edited May 20, 2014 by vicguz

[Kitcat]

Welcome aboard Vicguz. You guys are the real deal! I enjoyed your website (after i clicked on the British flag for the English language). Good luck racing: it will be fascinating to see how the new 620R does in competition.

[vicguz]

Thank you for your support Kitcat! We are also glad to hear you enjoyed checking out the website.

 

We are very excited to see how an essentially stock 620R will preform around the ring against some heavily-modified competition. I will make sure to post some pictures/videos next week!