Woah, never thought I'd see this thread here. Heh, yes, I am a huge Lotus fan boy and have run the idea of owning a Caterham for a while now. I've gone back and forth on this for years (probably about 7, oddly enough) and even though I still don't think I'm ready for one, it's a car I always think about owning.
They are really easy cars to maintain, but they do need regular service and things are going to go wrong on a performance car like this. Most owners I've spoken with say it does have an operators expense... meaning you will be working on it frequently, however none of them seem to mind. This is really a do it yourself car though, and a great car to own if you love working under the hood.
The tops are very good at keeping the rain out, they have pop in doors and the roof works better than you would probably think by looking at it. Though the roof can be sort of a pain to but on, literally. It's got a ton of little snaps (at least the models I've seen... some newer models may be similar to the wrangler's roof) that just wear your hand out as you put the thing on. There is also a tiny trunk that you can store the roof and maybe a back pack or two in, but space is really not something the Caterham has.
There is no stereo, but you wouldn't be able to hear it anyway, so who cares. This car is loud! Not like wow that car is loud, loud... like HOLY FUCKING SHIT I CAN'T HEAR YOU OR ANYTHING ANYMORE, loud. But I think that is some of it's charm. Starting up a 7 in a parking garage (like on the third floor of the one at my work for instance) makes car alarms go off, people jump around in fear, and I'd imagine horses go nuts somewhere (birds clear trees, etc, etc). It has a character, but this is not a subtle car. Luckily it has the looks and performance to make you both look better as you leave said garage
Handling is amazing, the car will corner at incredible speeds. I was actually reading an owners account of a problem he had with his seven many years ago. He called up the dealer and said that his breaks were over heating once in a while and were causing him problems. The dealer said... oh, try not to break so much while cornering. Sure enough he tried it and was amazed at just how fast and controlled the car could take the turns. These cars are amazing handlers and have bested even the Exige on the track.
Suspensions a mixed bag. The De Dion suspension is supposedly very nice, but the older suspensions will leave you a little sore. There are, however, plenty of mods (like spring loaded seats) to smooth out the ride if that is a concern.
I could probably go on and on, but your question was much more to the point. Is this a practical daily driver? Well, no, it's a toy, a very very fun toy, but a toy none the less. I think you could pull it off, but it would not be the most practical thing you could drive. Hell even the Corvette has a bigger trunk and more interior space. It's a great car, the deprecation is just about nil on them, so they are a decent investment as well... and there is something amazing about driving in a completely open roadster. However, I think it will be hard to fit the 7 into your daily life unless you really don't think you'll ever need a trunk, or the security of doors and a roof, or the ability to carry more than another person... or not frighten children when you start it up... and don't mind losing your hearing... etc, etc
Honestly, great cars... closest thing to a motorcycle you'll find with four wheels. Raw, real, true car... I was actually talking to someone about the 7 tonight, she loved the raw old roadsters and had always liked Lotus and the like. It's true, there is something pure and beautiful in it's simple design. No, it's not practical, but if you want one, chances are you are like me and just don't care.
(then again, I'll probably end up with an Eclat or Europa if I could ever find one that actually runs.)
