Caterham Super Seven (01 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 05 November 2009
The Caterham 7 has essentially been in production since 1957, and it still looks much the same as it did back then - although not one component remains of the original car. The concept is unchanged too - providing the purest driving experience and the most performance possible for the money. These days you can specify your 7 to suit your intended purposes, be that belting around race tracks or cruising leafy lanes, and you can even have it upscaled so that you'd fit in it properly. But although its advanced over the years, the Caterham is still not a car if you're looking for comfort and offers a back to basics approach. It is hugely involving to drive though and great fun on an open road.
3.5 out of 5

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2 out of 5

Comfort

The seats are supportive and surprisingly comfortable (as long as you fit) but on some models padding is entirely absent, which isn't ideal for longer journeys. Bizarrely the front passenger actually has even less leg room than driver and overall the cockpit is very cramped unless you order the slightly more spacious SV. There's little protection from the elements and in the winter the heater will be working overtime to keep the cockpit moderately warm.

1 out of 5

Practicality

The Caterham is certainly not an everyday car, so practicality isn't a huge factor for most owners, who have one as a second car they can use at the weekend. The flimsy fabric roof is simple to unclip but can be difficult to reattach - especially if there's a sudden downpour, while the plastic doors rarely fit well. Unsurprisingly there's no stowage up front but there is a very small boot .The long bonnet, wide turning circle and sensitive throttle mean it’s also a struggle to drive in slow traffic

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3 out of 5

Behind the wheel

The Caterham is no nonsense car that's focussed on just one thing - driver enjoyment. So it's little surprise to find a spartan cabin with just the essential dials and switches on the dashboard. It's very cramped too - although an SV wide body chassis is available on some versions which gives additional interior and luggage space. The small steering wheel and tight gearbox all reinforce the point that this is nothing short of a race-bred car that is also road legal. However Caterhams can project an air of quality thanks to the standards of finish and materials such as leather and carbon fibre in their construction.