There is a lot I like about the United Kingdom – the traditions and history, to name but two things. Then there’s the fact that so many niche car manufacturers hail from Great Britain: Ariel, McLaren, Noble, Radical, Morgan and Caterham to name just a few. Apart from that, British motoring enthusiasts have a tremendous interest in cars, motorsport and automotive history. During a recent visit to the UK for the Infiniti launch, I took the opportunity to sample one of these niche cars, a Caterham.
History
If you think the Caterham looks similar to the original Lotus Seven, you would be right. After the late Colin Chapman designed and manufactured the Lotus Seven, Caterham Cars took over production rights for the Seven from Lotus in 1973. Based in the small town of Caterham in Surrey, south of London, the town had a Lotus dealership (called Caterham Cars) since 1959. Today the Caterham dealership is situated in the town’s centre. It includes a showroom and a huge used-car showroom that accommodates approximately 30 cars. Here you can drool over the available chassis sizes (standard, and SV if you are above average size), colour options, trim levels and all the available models. In total, Caterham offers nine different Seven models and an even more serious race car in the form of the SP/300.R.
I had organised a Roadsport 125 for a thrilling 24 hours.
On the road
As can be expected, the car fits snugly around you. Think of the impression you get when closing the door of a Honda S2000 while you’re seated behind the steering wheel, but on an even more intimate level.
The small steering wheel (1,9 turns lock-to-lock, for the record) and extremely short gearlever underline the car’s sporty intentions. It is all about driving and being in control.
Under the louvered bonnet rests a 1,6-litre Ford Sigma engine that has been tuned to produce 93 kW and 163 N.m. That may not sound like a lot, but remember, the Caterham tips the scales at just 550 kg, and therefore the power-to-mass ratio is an impressive 169 W/kg. To put this into perspective, this figure compares favourably with a Porsche Cayman R’s 175 W/kg.
It takes a few kilometres to get used the three pedals: they’re very close to one another and sensitive in their operation, but this setup is perfect for fast driving.
The metal gearknob is also a joy to use. Shift actions can be executed quickly and with a level of immediacy, unlike any other car I have driven. There is no play in any gear. The gearlever slides perfectly through the gates and each shift is little more than a wrist action away. If you have ever cocked a hunting rifle, you will know the feeling.
Unfortunately, there are few roads around London where you can play, so it is best to head to one of the tracks used by the local automotive publications.
Longcross Proving Ground (also known as Chobham Test Track) is situated 50 km (mostly on motorways) from Caterham. On the open road you do feel somewhat exposed, especially as you sit so close to the road and essentially below the axle-level of the many sizeable good lorries that ply the motorways. On the positive side, you do feel in total control.
Being a motorcycle rider, I remembered to take my earplugs along. The exhaust pipe doesn’t sit far from your hip, and contributes even more to the experience when driving the Caterham.
Arriving at the test track, I noticed two McLaren MP4-12Cs. Later I found out McLaren uses this compact track for shake-down runs before customers take delivery of their cars.
On track
Scroll to the end of the above series of pictures, and you can see an aerial view of the track. On the main straight the Roadsport will easily hit 160 km/h, but it’s through the “snake” (the bit winding through the forest area) where the Caterham’s true colours are immediately unveiled.
The engine needs little encouragement to rev. Keep it between 4 000 and 6 700 r/min and it is lively, ready to thrust the car forward.
Direction changes are executed with the slightest tug of the steering wheel, while you can leave braking to what feels like a few metres before each corner. Leave it too late, and the rear will get light as you turn the steering wheel. The Avon 185/60 R14 tyres offer enough grip initially, but a more aggressive approach (getting on the throttle earlier when exiting a corner or turning into a corner with too much speed) will see the rear tyres slide very quickly. I am no driving guru, but never have I laughed out loud so many times through a corner while balancing the car on the throttle as much as the steering wheel. What a sensational experience!
Put a set of semi-slicks on this car, and you will have more grip, but you won’t have as much fun. The Caterham will allow you to play, but, if you overdo it, the rear will swing around so quickly that it will take a skilled driver to recover it. I can say from first-hand experience that it can happen in the blink of an eye.
Summary
Apart from the Caterham Classic, which is the entry-level model, the Roadsport is the most basic Caterham in terms of performance. After my on-track experience, I can only imagine what the Superlight models and the CSR are capable of. During a chat with Caterham Car’s international business development manager, he confirmed that the R300 is the company’s best-selling model. It seems that most customers have sense to purchase the car that sits squarely in the middle of the model line-up.
In terms of pure driving thrills, this is the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel of a car in a very long time. One of CAR’s test team members always asks after you had driven a car “Will you buy it?” The answer here was, without a doubt, yes.
Specifications*
Model: Caterham Roadsport 125
Engine: 1,6-litre, four-cylinder petrol (Ford Sigma)
Power: 93 kW at 6 100 r/min
Torque: 163 N.m at 5 350 r/min
0-97 km/h: 5,9 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Weight: 550 kg
Power-to-mass ratio: 169 W/kg
Gearbox: six-speed manual
Starting price: £19 495**
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*Manufacturer’s figures
** All of Caterham’s cars can be purchased (and imported) in completely knocked down kits. This way the customer can save a fair chunk of money.
For more information on Caterham Cars South Africa, visit its website: caterham.co.za.