Driving A Caterham In The Wet Is STUPID But Huge Fun! (2005 Super Seven Academy Road Test)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Those in the know say a Caterham is the ultimate in driving purity and everyone should experience one. Joe got the chance to drive an ex-Academy Super Seven, but the conditions weren't exactly ideal...
Proudly supported by Lancaster Insurance - get a quote on YOUR classic car insurance here: www.lancasteri...
Thanks to WB & Sons for loan of the Caterham: wbandsons.com/
- Music -
• RKVC - Burlesque Heartache: • Video
Classics World is a family of brands that includes ten classic publications plus many souvenir bookazines. Check out great offers on these and more on shop.kelsey.co...
More classic car news and reviews online. Stay up to date with our weekly newsletter - register today at classicsworld....
• Facebook: / classicsworlduk
• Instagram: @classicsworlduk
• Twitter: @ClassicsWorldUK
All content on this channel is - unless otherwise stated - the opinion of the given party and any offence caused is severely apologised for. Any and all third-party content is credited and referenced to the best of our ability and all externally-created content is entirely the legal property of its original and rightful owner/s. All rights respected.
I had a 1700 crossflow many years ago. I tended to avoid the rain if at all possible. One the wipers are as much use as an ashtray on a motor bike. Two take a spare pair of underpants or go very slowly if you are an a public road. In the dry, the best fun you can have with your clothes on. Every one should have one once in there life, I wish I still had mine but at nearly 70 getting in and out might be a problem.
Had a similar Caterham for a year. First few days were a nightmare until I realised that the tyres were 10 years old. Easy on this type of car as they don't do many miles. Four new tyres made the world of difference, no spins, couldn't even lock up the wheels (no ABS of course) in hard braking. Car was transformed.
I cannot over state how true this is. Not just new tyres but ones that are attuned to the vehicle itself can transform any car.
Great review....respect to you having shown your spin 👍
Thanks Robert, I won't pretend I'm half as good a driver as the Caterham is a car! -Joe
@@ClassicsWorldUK - I wouldn't be hard on yourself... it looked and sounded like you executed the turn properly and started to accelerate at the correct point as well, but those tyres must be entirely crap (or crap for wet weather) because the second the torque came up it lost the road.
Everyone should have to go in something like this or a go-kart, it would make people much safer on the road I think. Modern cars are too well insulated and heavy
Good review showing how interactive and alert these cars are. They are a proper drivers car, where you have the most influence over the handling balance. Those tyres are definitely old and hard though!
Never been lucky enough to drive one. Though have been taken round a track as a passenger. Scary fast!
I do like these cars, very expensive for what they are though.
Agreed. I think the same thing when looking at the crazy prices people are paying for Minis. Sit in a £40k Cooper S and see just how little car you’re getting for the money
Depends how you view the car. It could be argued that it’s very hard to find a rival regardless of cost that is such a direct, visceral, engaging car that’s suited to fun B-roads and track action straight out of the box.
A year ago I bought a really nice 2016 SV 270S with the all-weather kit, removeable steering wheel, metallic paint etc. for just over £20k and I couldn't be happier. It's only done 14k miles in 6 years so apart from a few stone chips in the paintwork it's as good as new so I think it's amazing value for the thrills I get every time I get in it. I definitely wouldn't use it as my only car but it was a toss-up between buying one or contributing to a pension for a few years and I know I made the right choice, you only live once. It's even gone up in value since I bought it, the dealer keeps texting asking if they can buy it back!
Had a good drive of a Westfield SEight a few years ago. 3.5 Rover V8 on a 4 barrel Holley made for a full on sensual assault.
Maybe not what they had in mind when they offered you a spin in it :))
Should have gone for a more sensational title- Public road test spin. Nice review 👍🏻
Always wanted one these - the plan was for myself and a friend to buy and build one between us and share it. Now I’m older, slightly broader, and bad of back, so on balance, now I’d prefer a Morgan! However, unless I manage to pick the right numbers on a Wednesday night, both are out of reach for now!
You can pick up an older lower spec one for not too much. I had a 1700 crossflow for years and dropped less than £600 when I sold it.
Done several spins like that in mk1 mx5, terrible in the wet
Wow! that was exciding when you through the tail out you are definitely right they are not great on wet roads with slick tyres limited slip diffs and wet shorts lol nice posting :-)
Hmm, a bit scary that it let go at such a low speed, I honestly think those little cars belong on the track. Apart from getting wet when it rains, and trying to avoid death around the mildest of bends in damp conditions, being so low to the ground makes you somewhat hard to see for the big trucks changing lanes if you venture on to motorways or dual carriageways. Not one for the school run or a trip to the shops! Looks like fun though!
I had an interesting time running down the M67 in my Caterham shortly after a thunderstorm. The M67 is renowned for getting flooded and generally being ill-drained. I found myself having to grovel along with the heavies going past me in order to keep it going in a straight line. Not the most fun I have had with the car I can say.
We can imagine not!
Only if i had the money and space... 🤩
They're small, we're sure you can find space! ;)
Would love that here in Indiana. So so much fun I'd have
If you have less rain, you certainly would!
@@ClassicsWorldUK overall I think we get less rain. But we are now moving into snow. Live just south of Chicago. I don't know where Caterham dealer shop is at
me dad had a dutton with a 2.8 capri lump and spun that on black ice me cosuin has a stylus 300bhp delta turbo thats scary! Matt Downes, my dad les has the same with a rover v8 that redline 80mph in secound. I LOVE KIT CARS
How much of the twitchyness is down to the tyres? I had semi-slicks on my MR2, it gripped like a gorilla in the dry, but was lethal in the wet, even just damp..
Could probably use with some much better tyres for the wet.
To be fair, whilst you *can* drive it in the wet, we wouldn't recommend it...
yeah but i wouldnt call these tyres full slicks (like the ones from f1) they still had enough grooves in them, they were not "bald"; this being said, losing the rear on corner entry is a fairly rookie mistake, he was already giving it the throttle before even hitting the apex!
@@ClassicsWorldUK I'd challenge that. I used to commute in my 1600 superlight, on naff tyres for years. Its because you're not used to it? I actually used to deliberately go out in the rain - put 30,000 miles on it. The R500 I replaced it with though, that was a little bit more tasty in the wet.
@@jayrusty2012 Having basic insight in aqua planing would be beneficial.
.....went sideways....against oncoming traffic. This video could have been WAY more entertaing. 👹
Was the 1.8 VVC a reliable Engine?
Sod the caterham :-). What about the mk2 Granada in the background ?
is this the regular or wide chassis spec ??
Regular chassis
...old rear tires me thinks?? 🤔
Old tyres all round for sure. Probably quite hard now. They haven’t made Avon CR500 for a few years now so they are at least that old.
Undoubtedly a fascinating car but personally i wouldn't go anywhere near one!
why?
Try driving one before you make your mind up
👍👍👍👍👍
You just have to respect them, you don’t boot it in the wet, you don’t boot it on cold tyres. Most of all don’t drive like a prat in a car you have no experience in.
How much scared are you on that situation
Great fun but massively overpriced.. that's about 6k worth of bits
You can’t even buy a bare chassis for 6k 🤷🏼♂️ Strong residuals are a good selling point for caterhams in general though.
I sold my first Caterham for more than I bought it for,... its one of those rare cars that doesn't lose any money. I'm building my first GBS Zero now, to keep forever, so residuals are not a consideration.
Only if you have a driver of limited ability