In my continuing search for a car i have returned to the original idea and now commitment of a Caterham, for reasons earlier defined. Despite the modern day version of making a decision [hours on the interenet] the best advice was from my mate Rog on the Isle of Mann, to 'drive some and buy the one you like' . Now that is not so easy in the Yorkshire Dales in January although i appreciate that it is much harder for many others.

So as the 'in laws' live near to Northwich i went to Oakmere. I actually went to look at an SV but i couldn't reach the pedals. The sales assistant didn't tell me or didn't know that it's possible to move the pedals. Anyway as a result i ended up going out for about 20 minutes in their 160.

It was damp and i had only driven a Crossflow many years ago and remember being a bit scared of it on the right hand side on the road in northern Italy. So after a lap of the car park to find the pedals and controls i pulled out onto the road rather vigorously and the back end did a little dance rather like that of the bumblebee.

I was impressed that the engine was not screaming away, i loved that you could use the right foot without any dramas and i did not feel small nor vulnerable. Instead it felt like bloomin good fun, if only there were fewer cars on the road then this would be the car for me. However as it is i often 'need' to overtake well i would in one of these and thus i would like more power. Before buying i would also have to drive it with a passenger and a bag of stuff in the boot to simulate real life for me.

So lately i have been trying to pick an engine.