Gary G Posted May 30, 2002 Share Posted May 30, 2002 Here is an extract from a reader's letter to Road & Track magazine (USA) following their road test of a Seven: "I never thought I would offer a criticism of a Peter Egan feature, but his Caterham Seven article has a glaring ommission. He says it's "an exhilarating daily commuter" and a great car for Sunday morning drives, but he fails to mention that it's woefully unsafe on public roads. The driver and passenger are virtually unprotected should there be an accident. The car can't be sold fully assembled for precisely this reason. Whether an enthusiast concludes that the driving enjoyment outweighs this obvious negative is not the point. To ignore safety issues completely is irresponsible" Richard Rivenes Prescott, Arizona Peter Egan responds: "Whether the driving enjoyment outweighs the negative is exactly the point. It's a choice you have to make. It's a free country" Gary G responds: "The only thing that makes driving a Seven in the USA dangerous is the moron who insists on driving a 3-tonne truck with 16 million airbags into the side of it, because he's too busy trying to decide which drinks holder to put his 25 gallon Coke "cup" into." C7 GAR id=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 So what safety related aspect of the car makes it unsaleable in the US in fully built form? It's a well proven fact that a ligther object suffers less damage if it hits a solid immovable (sp?) object. without getting scientific I guess this is simply down to the lower momentum. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 The problem in the states is the ground clearance of most of these monsters. I suspect your average stateside pick-up would ride over the much lower 7 in a shunt rather than push it to one side. I believe 35 % of all vehicles sold in the states are pick-ups so this is a factor to consider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Have they ever seen the racing accidents? I have seen a video at a show where one barrel rolls into the barrier about 6 times! The car was still relatively complete and the driver suffered cuts and bruises! Americans have to drive stupidly large cars and how would they cope with something they had to change gears in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 So should we all rgister on Road & Tracks forum and treat them with the resepect we did 4Car a year or so ago??[/b} In case you want to the URL for the European cars section is http://www.roadandtrack.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=6&DaysPrune=20 Lets go have fun! Fat Arn Visit the K2 RUM siteid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Elizabeth Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Good god ! Any forum that has post "Why Vipers are better than anything else" needs to be given a very wide berth IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 TOO BLOODY RIGHT!!!! We have enough people to give them a good roasting on that forum. I am currently searching for the best outlet. I think the EUro car bit is mostly european people. We have evidence to counter that claim. GOD I AM FIRED UP!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 God you lot are touchy. They are American, ignore 'em. wink.gif SL = Heaven teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Elizabeth Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 I find it hard to ignore a place that has posts on "How fast have you been" which got a response from a 13 year old boy, who had maxed out his dads Bimmer and his uncles Jag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Oh well Noger. Boys will be boys after all. SL = Heaven teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim and Tonic Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 The "Hot or not" thread. Looks promising I thought. It's about the Renault Avantime. Are these people for real? Jim and Tonic "Mine's a large one" smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Elizabeth Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 I'm just jealous Al. My dad had a Rover 2600, and I broke the electric windows by making them go up and down twice in a row "they're not for playing with" he said. Wasn't allowed to touch anything after that. Interesting the car was delivered pre-stocked with real ash in the ash tray. Now you don't get customer service like that these days smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 The thing is the cars in the usa are cr@p. The only US made car I think I would own would be a Cobra. X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Yes but I think they need to be educated. Afterall the more cars they buy the more Caterham has to spend on R and D so we all have better cars teeth.gif I know educating americans is an oxymoron but hey teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Noger. teeth.gif SL = Heaven teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Simon, Was the Cobra not made by AC cars in Surrey ? Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 "American Sportscar" - another Oxymoron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick M Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Greg, the original Cobras, as opposed to the old AC Ace and the modern versions, were made in the US by Carroll Shelby. I think they're correctly titled as Shelby Cobras as opposed to the AC Cobra which are the more recent derivatives made by AC here in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 I can't believe the Viper is that bad a car for the money. Does rather well in GT form. Won a few races in it's time.... SL = Heaven teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Elizabeth Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Dino - good work fellah thumbsup.gifsmile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Have you read a posting on Vipers by any chance Noger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Elizabeth Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Yes indeed. Cat about to find itself amongst the pigeons methinks smile.gif I had a little search for that Ligenfelter corvette that does 0-60 in 1.98 secs. Non-production car of course so doesn't count. The company advertises by having a picture of a 'vette smoking its rear tyres. Perhaps I am stupid, but I always thought that going forwards fast was the general idea ? Hey ho. tongue.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 They won't like it at all!!! The article is written to stir them up! I wait with interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Mr. Crickmore thank you for your support!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Crickmore Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 I see an opp for us to wind some Americans up big time. wink.gif SL = Heaven teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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