any experience? (super 7)

[Le Pirate]

took a ride in one of these:




I want! The damn thing was SOOOOO much fun.

I might have to put another bike on hold for one.

This was a caterham. The guy said that there are alot of different kit makers out there...but he liked Caterham best.

anyone have one, or know someone who does? I don't know much about them besides what I looked at on this one. It had a ford engine, but he said you could put lots of different engines in them. It was a 1.6 liter and it would haul.

[swampduc]

There was an article in Automobile magazine about a rally in TN full of them last year. I just did a quick search of the website and couldn't find it, but you can try. IIRC the one they liked best had a supercharged s2000 engine 

[stateprez]

IIRC the one they liked best had a supercharged s2000 engine 

Pretty sure you could file that one under "stupid fast".

Top Gear built one last season doing a Stig race/challenge thing.
DIY Caterham vs The Stig - Top Gear - BBC autos

[NAKID]

I FREAKIN WISH! I have always loved those things...

[erkishhorde]

What's insurance like on custom cars compared to a normal car?

[Le Pirate]

What's insurance like on custom cars compared to a normal car?

Haven't looked into that yet.

I have a feeling, atleast in TX, that it will be registered as a motorcycle....I think thats how they do cars like the ariel atom. Soley due to it not having bumpers. I however, could just be making that up 

I did see the top gear where they built one. I'm sure it'll be alot of work, but thats okay. The wife said I have to finish the 65 bug in the garage first. I'm only allowed to have one car in pieces at a time 

[El Matador]

Haven't looked into that yet.

I have a feeling, atleast in TX, that it will be registered as a motorcycle....I think thats how they do cars like the ariel atom. Soley due to it not having bumpers. I however, could just be making that up 

I did see the top gear where they built one. I'm sure it'll be alot of work, but thats okay. The wife said I have to finish the 65 bug in the garage first. I'm only allowed to have one car in pieces at a time 

go to this page:

http://dpcars.net/

On the left scroll bar go to where it says PAST. Once the new screen comes up click on the Westfield Megabusa.

It recounts the experience of one  guy building the whole thing in his garage. It's actually pretty useful if you're really interested, he has some really good solutions for the problems usually encountered.

[Airborne]

autocar.tv: Caterham R500 vs Ducati

[Monsterlover]

that's cool!!!

[Super T.I.B]

From what I remember, some builders in Australia were fitting 5.0 V8's into them. 

[superjohn]

From what I remember, some builders in Australia were fitting 5.0 V8's into them. 

They're coming out with a $100K+ version with a 500HP RS Performance V8 in it.

I'm not even sure you can keep that on the road.

[NAKID]

How much understerr would a heavy engine like that cause in such a light car? You can't exactly put it any farther back in the engine bay...

[Monsterlover]

It would be like a lawn dart...

[Mad Duc]

How much understeer would a heavy engine like that cause in such a light car? You can't exactly put it any farther back in the engine bay...

I drove a friend of mine's and it's an odd feeling having the front sooo far out, boat like almost.  Properly setup understeer is what you want it to be. The older original style ones Caterham makes are for old time enthusiasts, the new Caterham CSR is for people whom want the modern go fast version.  150hp is great in this car, any more and you had better know how to drive fast or else you die. Seriously. This is not a forgiving car.   The Ford Zetec is a great modern engine, the older Crossflows are vintage fun - but still fast.  If I had the cash I would be hard up to decide between the Caterham CSR and Ariel Atom.  Atom wins with raw sexiness and speed/power, Caterham wins with engineering/suspension/drivability.

[Latinbalar]

alright guys there is two ways to get a caterham r500.  The first is to go to their website and find the one dealer in the US.  There are a few different model lines but the one shown on top gear was the R500.  All they send you is the car minus engine and transmission. they go for $42K before shipping.  The motor they recommend and which bolts right up is a Ford 2.0 Duratec engine.  once you emptied your savings you will be doing 0-06 in about 3 seconds or lower.

Second option (one i will be doing in about 5 years)  search for a caterham kit car. for about 3 grand you get a frame and stainless body panels. then you purchase a miata donor car and move over what you need to the kit.  if you spend some more and get performance miata parts then you will have something similar to the real Caterham R500.

And yes i know all of this since I am actually entertaining the idea of doing this myself.