The Caterham Seven is a Supercar Slayer

[@drew699]

My Caterham 7 was the best sportscar I have ever owned. So fast, so pure, so raw, so simple, so much fun. There is no substitute.

[@marksulloway5669]

Lotus 7 was my dream car since I first saw one in 1963 beat a group of then new Jaguar XKE's at an airport time trials in France. Purchased the Dutch variant - Donkervoort in the 1980's. Would have kept it forever but could not import it back to the USA when I returned.

[@Birkguitars]

My brother has recently bought a 360R in almost exactly the colour scheme in the thumbnail. For anyone wondering, the number in the model name is the approximate power to weight ratio. So his generates 180bhp in a car weighing around half a ton hence 360. And yes that does mean that the 620R has almost the same p/w as a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. But more importantly is the smiles per mile figure which is totally off the scale.

[@deseast1267]

The Lotus Seven was banned by the British Racing and Sports car club from UK racing with other sports car makes because usually they won virtually any races they entered which had other marques competing, so when Caterham took over production they had to go for a one make racing series. I saw just one mixed make race at Brands hatch where the Caterham's were allowed to race against MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, TVR's and some other smaller makes, the only proviso being that all the Caterhams had to start at the back of the grid regardless of qualifying times. Once the race started within about 4 laps virtually all of the Sevens had got past the competiton and gapped them. It was an unusual sight but it made me want to get hold of a Caterham.

[@TravellingTechie]

One of the best things is you can build most models in the range in your own garage. I did, with my father (A 360R SV).

[@Heavenlygamer19YT]

I'm thinking about getting one at some point tbh

[@jamesonpace726]

At 16 I drove the 7 back from a show as only I fit in it. Lost my vision at 130mph on well known back roads & have needed 1 ever since. This may be the moment....

[@stevesteve201]

Tottaly impractical. I carry a change of clothes. In case it rains. But the most engaging car there is. It's surprising how many people drive it for a couple of minutes then say they want someone else to drive. You really do have to have a passion for cars to drive it. Perfect drivers car.

[@old_toucs6283]

I own one. The purchase price does not buy you equipment or size. It buys you a very focused car that is also a lot of fun, fun just driving normally, you don't need to drive like a maniac to enjoy it. Running costs are tiny. Most parts are cheap, some very cheap, compared to other cars. Insurance and fuel economy are also better than most other options. Little kids love it, they relate to it as a cartoon or toy.

[@brake_later]

Nothing better than a lightweight car. I've a Westfield (similar to a Caterham) with 250bhp in 550kg, it's such an adrenaline rush!

[@ianashton1593]

Have a Westfield too, mines only a 1.8 Zetec putting out about 155 bhp but it’s great fun 👍

[@brake_later]

@@ianashton1593 With just over half a tonne to push around, it'll still be rapid!

[@ianashton1593]

@@brake_later It is, looking to sell at the moment though and get a 2.0 Duratec powered car 👍

[@brake_later]

@ianashton1593 I know quite a few people with duratecs, they're a good engine and can make good power (quite light too). Mine is the Honda S2000 powered car, my previous car was a Zetec

[@ianashton1593]

@@brake_later Cool, I’ve heard the S2000 cars are very quick 👍 Haven’t driven a Duratec engined car but have been out in one and was surprised how quick it was. Just need to get my current car sold.

[@MENSA.lady2]

What would I swap a Caterham for ? Maybe a 1948 Mk.6 Bentley. Totally different but both fun to drive. About the same price today.

[@douganderson771]

I would dearly love to have one , it will be a replacement for my motorcycle . I will need one with an automatic gear box since I can no longer depend on my clutch leg . I wonder if the sequential gear box might work ?? Any help or direction is appreciated .

[@vito1064]

sequentials still are three pedals cars, they work just like motorcycles. you need the clutch pedal to take off, you can do clutchless upshifts even if the car doesn't have a quickshifter lifting the throttle but I don't think they have a blipper to do clutchless downshifts. some drivers do clutchless downshifts blipping the throttle themselves because they brake with the left foot but still, both feet are required to drive them

[@chizzlemo3094]

used models retain value because many of us don't have time to build one!

[@davidmcdermott3415]

I want a Project V so bad, I hope it comes stateside. It's exactly what I want, a sport coupe EV, not an SUV or Crossover.

[@soweboughtacaterham]

A great 'drivers car' with none of the gadgets and gizmos you see in modern cars and a low end entry level Caterham can still be tweaked over time to get a lot more out of it.

[@paullubliner6221]

I have always had one since 1983. Built 3 so far. Keep your Porsche or Ferrari. Absolutely NOTHING else literally puts you as close to the road at speed ...or at a standstill. I'm considering being buried in my current 1720cc Lotus Twin Cam powered 6 speed deDion as it's about the same size as a casket...

[@stankygeorge]

The Super 7s are sports cars not touring cars, therefor they are not meant to be daily drivers, so comfort takes a back seat, driving fun is what counts in this type of car.

[@HarleyPebley]

Wow! An EV that weighs in less than my FRS! Wonder what it's range will be. I'd absolutely take the "experience of a raw, analog sports car" over anything digital. I grew up before all the computerization of the driving experience and hate the insulation modern cars have from the road. That's one of the things I love about my FRS. It's pretty minimalistic by modern standards; and why my wife hates it. 🙂

[@Dggb2345]

Brilliant video. Editing was best ever I’ve seen for selling the Caterham. The Outlaw narrative for Colin Chapman was a smart move. If Caterham didn’t pay for this they should have. Oh and BTW, dump the EV they’re passé.

[@davidblalock9945]

I’m crazy enough to build one with a boosted Coyote.

[@SvenTviking]

The weight would screw the handling. The 620R has 620hp per ton. That’s Bugatti figures.

[@philipethier9136]

5:52 There's my car, sold on 10/10/23

[@philipethier9136]

It looks different now. I have had the fenders and nose painted Caterham Firecracker Yellow to make the car more-visible.

[@dafunkfresh219]

wait, what? it's pronounced "Katrem"? I always called it "Kater-Ham" 😆

[@paullubliner6221]

The town and the auto-mobeele company refer to themselves as KAY-TRUM!

[@findkip]

Yes please

[@tigerrider6711]

How is it better than a written off corvette with all the body panels removed?

[@jonathanhicks140]

It goes straight round a tight bend at a speed that the Corvette would be off the road/ track before it hit the apex.

[@tigerrider6711]

@@jonathanhicks140 how about any other used open wheel chassis? I just don’t see much of a use case for these cars. The street legal part isn’t much of a selling feature to me, these are terrifying to be sharing the road on.

[@jonathanhicks140]

@@tigerrider6711 you wouldn’t want one as a daily driver, but for fun on a challenging track or a weekend drive in the winding mountain roads of Wales where I live (with a drop off to eternity on the outside of the bends), there’s nothing to touch these for thrills and performance this side of a quarter of a million pound hyper car - which will then need to overhauled in a laboratory, whereas you just get the spanners out with the Caterham. Years ago I met a chap who had the Westfield version with a 4.5 litre “breathed on” TVR V8 in it - he was trying to get a set of rear tires to last 3,000 miles, but failing….

[@aceytoja]

the difference is that Catherams are good cars

[@tigerrider6711]

@@aceytojanot disagreeing there, but it’s a tired comparison to compare it to a super car. It’s 70s chassis and should be compared with other open wheel cars.

[@martinluke9470]

Lotus got it right in 1958.

[@bigl6322]

Fun looking toy, way to much dollars for the ride tho. I’m rolling a 1st gen firebird with a stroked small block for the same money.

[@joeracer302]

Bro.

[@jeffmoffat5202]

The caterham is soooo much faster.

[@bigl6322]

@@jeffmoffat5202 so is a hellcat, so is an Ariel atom, or a new corvette for chrissakes… what’s your point? Speed equals fun?? I disagree

[@bigl6322]

@@jeffmoffat5202 and how much does it weigh? And can you roll your windows up and put the heat on? Whatever…. You do your original story and I’ll do mine

[@ibast1]

They are now far too dear for what they are. Far too narrow a focus car, and impractical focus at that, for that price.

[@hotmechanic222]

There are literally dozens of other companies in the UK producing their own version of the Lotus 7, most of them a lot cheaper then Caterham

[@chizzlemo3094]

disassembly manual ahahaha

[@hotmechanic222]

That is classic Colin Chapman for you!!

[@MENSA.lady2]

Only compeditor ? maybe a Morgan. Only the British could build either.

[@S3N3]

First