Can you daily drive a Caterham? | REVIEW
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- We find out if you can live with a Caterham as your only car.
Read more at Auto Express:
Caterham 420R review: bit.ly/3V0zG8C
Caterham Seven review: bit.ly/3W20Z3D
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The Caterham Seven is stripped back, hardcore, and unlikely to be your only car. However, our very own Nicola Hume decided to challenge this assumption by living with a 420R model as her daily driver, whatever the weather. She’s been using the dinky British track refugee for Christmas shopping, work trips and even grabbing the odd takeaway, but for its final test, Nicola must hunt down a Christmas tree in time for the festive season. The Caterham has no boot to speak of, so we’ve had to think outside the box…
The Seven has its roots way back in 1957. Designed originally by Lotus founder Colin Chapman nearly 60 years ago, the first Seven looked similar to how it does today, proving that the recipe has remained pure and true to the car’s original values. We’re using the 210bhp 420R for this test, which can sprint from 0-60mph in a scant 3.8 seconds thanks to its 560kg kerb weight.
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I've had a Caterham 7 SV since 2003 as my daily driver 365 days a year. Roof down regardless of weather or temperature, except in heavy rain or snow. Commuted to and from work (17 miles each way, half on country roads) from 2003 untill I was forced to retire in 2015. And still (2023) use it as frequently as I can for any purpose. You CAN daily a Seven!
You are number 6
Damn - I thought I was number 7!
Recently another restriction to daily driving has arrived - the extended ULEZ zone. Being a 2003 car, and also limited volume production/'kit' car, my Seven is automatically assumed by TFL to be non-compliant, and, despite every bit of evidence I can find (and present to TFL) that the K Series engine emissions match or better EU4 standards, including numerous 2003 registered Rover and Lotus cars with the same engine which TFL themselves say are compliant, they refuse to accept anything other than a certificate from the manufacturer as proof. Which, of course, I cannot get as Caterhams only have an IVA test and Rover went out of business in 2006.
So now I have to find routes out of the Zone which avoid the SCAMeras, or be forced to pay £12.50 a day...............
But, you are e free man
@@helipeek2736 True - but my freedom is being curtailed on false evidence - or no ACTUAL evidence at all.
And for anyone who believes you can't drive a Seven in Winter, I took mine out today in brilliant but very cold (4-6° C) sunshine, roof down, with the heater and fan both on so I was quite comfortably warm. You do have to dress appropriately: buff round the neck, hoodie, windproof/rainproof jacket over the top, baseball cap (peak used as a sun visor) and cyclist's thinsulate gloves. Toasty..........
Loads of new SUV’s would struggle with a tree that size.I reckon you done good.
Absolutely hilarious video Nicola. Well done you are a legend. Happy Christmas.
Auto Express have found a star in you.
Thanks Nicola, I needed a giggle, it's just been one of those days. Enjoyable as always. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas Nicola. Looking forward to more of your good humoured reviews next year.
Nicola struggling with seats or doors has somehow become my favourite thing in reviews. It's so funny.
The innuendo is off the charts.
@@markm0000 back doors?
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi bite the pillow
Smiled from start to finish 🤣🤣
Nicola is literally perfect wife material
Down atrocious
Wonderful! Thanks for all the great reviews and the laughs this year, Nicola and AE team! Merry Christmas 🎄🎅
I did daily 2 Caterhams for 8 years, then switched to an S2 Elise 111S as a daily for 8 years. Now have an Emira but not using it as a daily.
In all honesty, it wouldn't be any easier with something like 500 Abarth, so in that regard, yeah that car just is reasonably practical.
Get the abarth cabriolet
Love her
I once knew someone who used a '7' [pre Caterham Lotus ] as a daily driver. He was 6'4", and used to hang glide, including taking the glider on top. ( Folded & bagged, of course ).
I also transported a 7' Swiss Cheese plant in my Midtec Spyder [ also my daily drive for several years, & without even a hood ]. Infinite headroom, and a handy rollbar to strap the 'taller' luggage to.
Nicola, when are you gonna present Top Gear? You've got the perfect sense of humour for that show 😄
Merry Christmas and very entertaining review as always Nicola! At this point it doesn't even matter what the review is, it will be fun and informative
Good fun Nicola, thank you; enjoy your Christmas now you've got the tree!
Well done. If I remember from Henry Catchpole's year in a Seven for Evo the essential purchase is a sailing jacket. Would endorse the recommendation for a Roadsport spec if daily driving is intended. Wonderful machines. Just think of it as camping at speed!
People can keep their expensive Supercars, AMG’s, BMW M’s etc., just give me any Caterham!
I will import one to the states and daily drive it to a million miles.
Merry Xmas Nicola !
You are funny Nicola, with the tree 😆
Lovely Jubbly video, but Merry Christmas to the funniest car presenter I've ever seen, and a Happy New year too.
Merry Jollies Nicola and the team hope santa fetches you lots of twiddly doodahs....😆😉
My 40k garage would be an up! GTI 3 door for daily and a suzuki jimny for adventures and dog walks
You did it. Tremendous video! Next Christmas Nicola drive a big tractor
You can walk daily, pushbike daily, motorbike daily in all weathers, so what's the big deal driving a caterham 7 daily. Non story.
Tree-mendous!
You all know by now that Caterham now sells their cars with normal seats and standard 3-point seatbelts. Once again, the media is poking fun at Caterham for only making track-focused cars for most of their life and not showing what a bog-standard "Road" Caterham (like the 360) can do.
I've always wanted a Caterham in my retirement, I no longer live in the UK so it's time to make my dream come true. I know what iam getting, a life long wish needs to be concluded, waiting for this to happen since the 1970,s so one can say I've been very patient.
Yes, I'm after the 420 I want something bloody quick, it's got a 2.0 lite engine 0/60 in a blink of the eye, watching you drive this baby is wonderful the sound the raw experience is exactly what motoring is all about, roll on next year the wait is driving me nuts. Nice report 🙂👍👍👍👍🇬🇧
Looking forward to a comparison test of: Ariel Atom vs. Caterham vs. Morgan 3 Wheeler, with Xmas tree carrying ability, as decisive winning factor...
I didn't notice an indicator but then I realised it's a British version. We don't need them in the UK. 😜 We have all the time in the world on roundabouts to wait for all the traffic to cross as we don't know where they're going 😁 On another note superb review Nicola. Merry Christmas
Indys are the toggle switch below the red start button on the middle of the dash.
No self cancelling either. =]
Got a poor man's caterham, a Robin Hood. Got to say, unless it's 20 degrees and perfect sun.. nah I'd rather get the bus 😂 Oh to be seat belt buckle though 😶
Nice one, Nicola, but Eddie Hall beat you in the absurdity stakes with his Peel P50. All the best in '24...
Merry Christmas Nicola you make my day
Why does every “tester” try to daily a Caterham? The car is intended to be a race car that can be driven to and from the track. It is NOT the wagon Queen family truckster! Let it be what it is and if that does not appeal then you don’t want a Caterham.
Hi Nicola. Love your reviews, they are so interesting and entertaining. You are absolutely wonderful and fabulous; thank you for all the great work you do. From a car guy from Montreal, Canada, I wish you and your team a merry Christmas and very happy Hollidays. Best wishes for the new year.
Of course you can. I daily’d my Westfield for almost two years without a windscreen or doors or roof. Weekly commutes from Watford to York!
I daily an ND2 Miata, which to be fair, has considerably more weather protection than the Caterham, but is still not the usual car for middle aged person to daily. I would however love to daily a Caterham and would absolutely do so if given the opportunity.
HMM, NC2.5 owner here, a Caterham is a step too far to daily drive.
@@waynesimpson2074 I'd give it go. I've also lived for a stretch with just motorcycles as my daily, so a Caterham would still be a step up.
@@stephencavanaugh8377 yup, done the bike thing when I was young and daft, too risky these days with the volume of traffic. Tòo many friends lost. Cheers.
If you have a 7 with a heater have a tonneau cover fitted. In the winter you can leave the passenger side on and be toasty warm. Make sure that you are alone or have a very small passenger. 😂
This is what a car review should be, stuff ordinary people can relate to. As much as we'd like to think, not many of us can powerslide around a bend like Lewis Hamilton. So this review is not onlly relatable, but thoroughly entertaining. Well done!
Summer car only. Not exactly theft proof. People empty rubbish bins in them.
Clarkson would be proud of you!... and don't forget, the list of cars that you could not have carted the tree in is vast!
I've been daily my MGB roadster 20 years I feel I am someone on the road yet I am actually nobody!
coming from daily on a motorcycle, this is far more luxurious. I'm serious.
I drive an MX5 RF but I still NEED one of these! 😜
Just bought this beauty with my friend. Awesome machine
Very funny Nicola and the team. You are always fun to watch. Happy Christmas to you all!
Definitely bookmarking this for when I need to convince the wife to let me have one 🤪
Shoulda brought it to the track 🎄
Had to watch 5:52 3 times to realize the shape of the roll cage on top.
Could you please do review of Nissan x trail e power!
stop the engine. get off the clutch. raise the hand break. NOT the other way round.😃
*Brake
Cracking shaped rear-end on that. 👍
So I guess the tree didn't fit in your flat.
Where does she think hot air comes from in a car !!!!
Just watched your video after looking at my Caterham in the garage. I was considering going out at -10C for a spin but chickened out due to the crazy Christmas shoppers in pickup trucks here in Canada. Mine has an excellent heater by the way! Keep up the great reviews.
I have always wondered what a Caterham would be like as a daily drive around Christmas. Now I know and I got to know Nicola. What an utterly charming girl she is. Merry Christmas Nicola 🙂
Watching your video is great start of the day. Merry Xmas and well done to your husband.
ho ho ho
merry christmas to all
great entertainment 👌
I enjoyed watching the Video Review. One my favourite British Sports Car 😊
Please don’t tell my wife how much I enjoyed this video.
Cars? Boring. Journos? Wannabes. Videos combining the two? Very tedious.
Best review of xmas tree transport I've ever seen!
I'm disappointed in Nicola's rather contained ambition. Look at how long that bonnet is. She could have got a taller tree at least as long as the car. Fold down the windshield, then using a pair of ratchet straps, secured the tree to the bonnet. So a taller tree would rest along the whole length of the car. 😬🤣🤣
Merry Christmas 🎄
nice back 😍
white tights🙏
Merry Christmas Nicola.
I get it. Grunting every 2 seconds tells everyone how difficult it is to get into a Lotus. Hope this gets better.
😆
friggin love them
It just needs cup-holders and it'll be alright.......
Yes This would be my Weekend car !!! For the summer when it get here !!
And what we wanted to see was: how did that huge tree fit in your lounge! 🤣
Just because you could doesn't mean you should
it's over.
Love your patience buckling up the seat belts
No not really. Saved you 10 mins.
Fun in the right setting but not a daily pmsl
Brilliant, Nicola at her best!
Nice short throw on the gearbox!
Haha and well done Nichola!
“Dailying”? Really? FFS use proper English
That's a bit ironic
Saabs, Saabs, Saabs. I’d spend it all on Saabs.
Clarkson, Hammond and May already did the same thing 11 years ago
@@robhills2613 James used one. They intentionally avoided Ariel Atom at that time
Presumably the addition of a Christmas Tree makes it Fir Wheel Drive?
Not playing I'll be home for Christmas .....
What poor audio ....
Try harder.
I KNOW COMMON SENSE IS NOT SO COMMON ANYMORE ......
Nicola never fails to make me laugh! Merry Xmas Auto Express and youtube gang!