Everyday? Sadly these cars are not for everyday use but I took mine out in the rain and it was great, I even went to Tesco and the DIY store so don’t write it off completely. You may not want to travel on too many motorways but a holiday on back roads and country B&Bs would be a great deal of fun as would frankly anything else you can justify; these cars are addictive!
Emotion and Spirit Ignoring all stats the Caterham 7 has always been and should always be about the driving experience. By this I mean noise, smell, fun, excitement and smiles per mile. Every version of the car offers this in almost the same amount regardless of power. However, the level of fear and adrenaline does certainly increase with the number printed on the side. Accessible Thrills It is important to note that these cars are for everyone. Yes they are more challenging to drive, they lack ABS, traction control and even power steering. But they are not a Ferrari or something that costs a million pounds and will kill you as soon as look at you. With some practice, some care and some time anyone could grab a Seven and have the time of their life. One of the really amazing things about these cars is that anyone that I have ever asked to sit in one does so
with a smile. It is almost impossible not to be happy in a Caterham 7. Pushing the Limits There is no getting away from the fact the two test cars I was given were on the faster end of the scale. Caterham, offer a lovely 160 model which is all fun and not so much fear and the 270 is a wonderful jaunt into a little more madness. The 360 however really started opening up Pandora’s box. It will scream to 60 in under 5 seconds, it is loud and it will not stop accelerating until long after your bravery has departed. The 420 however… well it suffices to say getting to 60 in under 4 seconds feels a lot faster. This becomes a car that needs a great deal of respect and not something to be taken lightly. That being said this errant teenager of a car still knows how to behave and with a careful but firm hand brings a new level of exhilaration.
Join the Club Yes…I know my cup runneth over with praise again but one more thing I love about these cars is the fact that you really get to join a club when you buy one. The amazing showroom in Crawley is testament to that as are the various clubs and events you can go to. It is not just buying a car its buying into something bigger and Caterham has just celebrated its 60th Birthday so there is a lot of history to buy into too! You can even build your own, but most people let the professionals deal with that as it’s only another couple of grand and a big chunk of peace of mind. The Bottom Line OK so I admit, these cars might not suit a family of four with two young kids. But for anyone who wants something special, someone who has always dreamt of a sports car or a classic car but has a sensible fear of it being a money pit can now turn to Caterham. They will outperform almost anything on the road, they offer a more intense driving experience than even some motorbikes and they use reliable Ford engines. They have a lovely workshop in Sussex and you can rest assured your car will not be breaking down every two minutes. Depreciation is considerably better than most new cars on the market too!
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