Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Caterham

I think this is absolutely right, Rich. MMC have got no chance if they try and chase the sort of customers they had 30 years ago, they simply don't exist any more in sufficient numbers. The new generation of buyers have little or no desire to get oil under their fingernails, and the roads simply aren't able to support high jinks unless you go very remote or out very early in the morning.

But having said that, there seem to be plenty of people happy to put their money down for a CX car, and jolly good too.

Me too. Two things stopped me with the Caterham, One, tears pouring out of my eyes from 50mph upwards and Two: getting out of one (with weather hood up) at a petrol station. I basically had to roll out ending up laying in the last person's petrol spillage.
Elise, just the getting out hood up or not.
Nick

Sadly super fat men who live on beer and bacon butties don't fit the Caterham. I also thought I would kill myself in one.
I hope MMC quickly learn that at their new price point they need to up the goodies & the quality not to lose share later on.

MMC should try and resolve a no frills "Poverty Spec" CX.

It wouldn't be slow either but an entry level under the Plus Four might just be a good seller. Like they did with the Runabout. Limited palette and options etc etc.

Nice idea, but I'm struggling to think how they could get the price down low enough to attract a new, different tranche of buyers. Could they get near the £45k of a Caterham?

If they did a Speedster version that should reduce the price by approximately 15k. I seem to remember when I got my Plus 8 they were @85k and the Speedster was 70k. That would bring the manual into the late 40's.

Albeit in a different brand, those are exactly my sentiments.

I spent 12+ years with a Caterham and loved every one of them. But you are right Nick, it was a comedy show getting in / out with the roof up. But what a car, mine ended up with 210bhp and weighing in under 500Kg no abs or tc, it could be scary. But it only does what your feet and hands direct it to do and I did find that being so exposed had a somewhat controlling influence on my inputs.

It is a fun car with no earthly practical use at all and in the end that's what did it for me. There are only so many track days you can do and it isn't the best of vehicles for a romantic weekend away. But don't get me wrong, it's one of those cars everyone should drive and I would have another in a heartbeat, given the garage space.

I had a Caterham for 18 years, the most reliable car I have ever owned, with zero faults in the first 10 years of ownership. As said, getting in the car with the roof up was pretty hilarious in my thirties so would be impossible now, I did go touring with it, but the luggage capability was so limited that my wife said never again, Although I think that there are some clever storage solutions available now.

When I see one I still have a bit of a yearn - but that applies to most of my old cars.

Caterham is one of those cars that anyone who calls themselves a 'driver', or is in any way a petrolhead, should have at least once in their lives. It redefines the driving experience and has no other purpose.

It is also great that you can build your own if you so desire, making it even more individual.

I have had a Seven in my garage since 1985 until this year, (not the same one of course, I built about 7 - 8 over time) and I've only got rid of it now because of the difficulty I have getting in and out - reduction in upper body strength. Getting in and out with a hood up is only a matter of technique, it gets easier with practice, but one so rarely has the hood up that one doesn't get much practice!

Like Morgans though, they are getting very expensive, and will only appeal to the well heeled, as a toy.