Buying a Seven - Help!!!

[Andy-M]

Handy tips, thanks!

[John Vine]

Yes, the SBFS tunnel bag is well worth getting. I use the Touring item and it's invaluable for storing all those essential bits and pieces: hi-viz gilet, spare battery key, earplugs, two-way 12v adaptor for satnav and Road Angel, passport, wallet etc.

 

JV

[Midas]

You will be amazed how much rain the HH keeps off you - we drove from Bristol to Scotland in torrential rain - yes we got damp but while you are moving the cabin stays dry.

 

furthermore, my wife and I now find that if we must drive on the motorway the HH offers great protection against the buffeting wind.

 

Wish i'd bought one years ago.

[irrotational]

Indeed - motorway spec = HH on and earplugs!!

[Andy-M]

Sorry to bother you all again but I'm moving on the next issue on my list: Tyres! It's currently shod with 185/60 13 A021-R tyres which are due for replacement due to age.

 

So....I'm planning to replace them with the same A021-R type but, having done some reading on the forums, see that the 185/70 13's are much cheaper. I *think* I'm right in thinking these would give 18.5mm greater road clearance and will be 18.5 mm closer to the arches, though that may all be Top Gear math! (with those numbers I don't *think* there should be any problem getting them under the arches.

 

The other issue this throws up is it'll put the speedo out - though it seems caterham speedo's are pretty unreliable anyway?

 

Is there anything else I should be aware of / any good arguments for / against switching? If I do go for it how big a job is it to recalibrate the speedo?

[Graham King]

Andy, you won't be able to recalibrate the speedo easily, the older speedos didn't have any adjustment built in.

 

I suspect that moving to 185/70 will actually make the speedo more accurate than it is currently. I believe that the older speedos were calibrated for 185/60 * 14 wheels and tyres, 185/70 * 13 is almost the same rolling circumference. I've never used 185/70 tyres so can't really comment on their performance vs 185/60 I'm afraid, but lots of people use them. I guess in general you will get a slightly more compliant ride vs a slight degredation in handling (as the tyre wall will flex more).

 

Graham.

[Drumster]

Andy,

 

I run with the 21Rs in 185/70/13 profile on an older 7 (1993 de dion) and the sat-nav shows my speedo to be very accurate.

[Andy-M]

Thanks, really useful :).

[Andy-M]

Just to say thanks, once again, to all. I've now had the car over a month and so far have obtained a tunnel bag and long nose shower cap (both really useful), will shortly be acquiring a half hood, and have fitted the larger profile tyres (current price £66 a corner, fitted from George Polley's) which made the speedo reading much more accurate - now about 4 / 5 mph out instead of 10 originally @ an indicated 60mph.