FT86CLUB Cool Wall: Caterham Super Seven R300

[Joakim3]

Caterham Super Seven R300



The Specs
Production: 1973 - Current
Style: 2-Door Targa
Engine: 2.0-litre Caterham Powertrain (CPT) Duratec (175hp / 148ft-tq)
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Layout: RWD

[ZetaVI]

I gave it cool because it's cool for track days and that's about it. Looks kinda ugly imo.

[fatoni]

Not cool. It's just a copy. As fun as it may be, you can't be cool without your own identity

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by fatoni

Not cool. It's just a copy. As fun as it may be, you can't be cool without your own identity

Officially licensed from Lotus, so as legit as Ferrari now being a part of Fiat.

That being said, homebuilt Locosts are a step above on the cool chart.

[Chewie4299]

Cool. Because you DON'T have to explain it.

[Shagaliscious]

As awesome as it is for the track, it's completely worthless everywhere else.

Uncool.

[Joakim3]

Originally Posted by Shagaliscious

As awesome as it is for the track, it's completely worthless everywhere else.

Uncool.

This...

While I'd love shredding a couple Lambo's & Ferrari around Virginia International Raceway....

I feel on the ride back home every person on I-95 would be laughing at me... and that my friends is uncool

[MVJ1975]

Sub-zero. Especially in BRG with a yellow nose.

I am not a number... I am a free man!

[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by Marchy

i disagree, you'd have to explain it to anyone who isn't a petrol/gearhead. which is 90% of society. I still think its cool, but can't help but agree with the reason's people find it uncool.

Evo X.... you have to explain why it's cool to your chick because it looks like a sedan.

This thing.... undoubtedly cool. Maybe the casual observer doesn't know specifically why it's cool but they're gonna look twice.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Officially licensed from Lotus, so as legit as Ferrari now being a part of Fiat.

That being said, homebuilt Locosts are a step above on the cool chart.

i dont mind that its not build by lotus. i mind that its not built in the sixties (or like you noted, in someones garage). i wish it was more of a modern rendition than a hot rodded clone

[Joakim3]

Originally Posted by Chewie4299

Evo X.... you have to explain why it's cool to your chick because it looks like a sedan.

This thing.... undoubtedly cool. Maybe the casual observer doesn't know specifically why it's cool but they're gonna look twice.

The Evo X is a loud and flamboyant piece of kit, no one including chicks look at it and say... whats it for? They see it or get in and know it's designed for ripping your head off your spine while carrying you and your 3 mates

This though..... it looks to toy-ish. If you ever stop at your local Shell station 99% of [S]woman[/S] people will need explaining...

There going to ask why doesn't it have a windshield and doors? ***WHATS IT FOR?** and by the time you done receiving questions and explaining the answers, they would have lost interest 20 min ago

[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by Joakim3

The Evo X is a loud and flamboyant piece of kit, no one including chicks look at it and say... whats it for? They see it or get in and know it's designed for ripping your head off your spine while carrying you and your 3 mates

This though..... it looks to toy-ish. If you ever stop at your local Shell station 99% of [S]woman[/S] people will need explaining...

There going to ask why doesn't it have a windshield and doors? ***WHATS IT FOR?** and by the time you done receiving questions and explaining the answers, they would have lost interest 20 min ago

I disagree, again. I owned an Evo and I absolutely love them but NO ONE that doesnt't already know has a clue that it's anything more than a freakish sedan.

Just like the Shelby Cobra,

someone that knows nothing about or has no interest in cars can look at the Caterham and grin. Because it's unique and they know, looking at it once, that the driver/owner IS into cars and they respect that.

When someone walked up to my yellow Evo and asked what it's all about and I had to explain 59 things about it. AWD, Turbo, amazing handling, that BIG ASS wing, yea it's functional..... 90% of lay people are then angry at themselves for asking.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Joakim3

The Evo X is a loud and flamboyant piece of kit, no one including chicks look at it and say... whats it for? They see it or get in and know it's designed for ripping your head off your spine while carrying you and your 3 mates

This though..... it looks to toy-ish. If you ever stop at your local Shell station 99% of [S]woman[/S] people will need explaining...

There going to ask why doesn't it have a windshield and doors? ***WHATS IT FOR?** and by the time you done receiving questions and explaining the answers, they would have lost interest 20 min ago

It takes you 20 minutes to say: 'Because racecar' ?!?



Heh...

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by Chewie4299

...Because it's unique...

A bit of a paradox, isn't it? The car is a copy or emulation, just like the FF Cobra, but what's cool is that it perpetuates something so niche and pure (and hardcore!) it can't help but be cool because the originals are so few and far in-between, and not in the least: astronomically expensive preventing the average joe from ever experiencing them.

Then the 'build' of the car itself comes into question. They were kit cars to begin with, so the authenticity isn't necessarily diminished/diluted except for collecting purposes. This is where it strikes a difference with something like the Ariel Atoms and KTM X-Bows.

So if a company wants to make a kit to offer %99 of the thrills (or more, arguably) with relatively modernized build quality* for such a tiny enthusiast crowd and that's semi-affordable to boot; it's subzero. I don't give a damn if it's completely impractical - if you're using that argument against the grandfather of the lightweight - please hand in your armchair racer card on the way out

*I say this loosely