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Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 11:41 am
by Victor Meldrew
I know that a few ex Lotus Elise/Exige/Evora owners have owned a Caterham over the years. I was curious as to your experiences regarding whether you still felt accepted as part of the Lotus community?

A Caterham is just a Lotus 7 with a different badge at the end of the day?




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Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 12:46 pm
by jason
Can't say I personally ever felt a 'Lotus owner' when I owned my Caterham. Why? Cos it isn't a Lotus. When I collected our Elise several years later, that was my "I own a Lotus" emotional moment.

...though - for the very obvious reason of them being evolved from the original Lotus 7 S3's DNA - the owners' club is still named the Lotus 7 Club.

For the pedants/detail-obsessed, IIRC, a notable piece of trivia is the last common part to the Lotus and Caterham 7 was the under-dash handbrake - which ceased to be on any new Caterham model a good few years ago.

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:42 pm
by Ferg
One of the reasons I'm such a fan of the marque was growing up with a Super Seven. I still think 'Lotus' when I see a caterham as a result. Its possible to have something very close to the original, but Caterham have forked the DNA into something newer and better which is fine. But that makes them a Caterham, not a lotus, which is ok by me.

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:50 pm
by campbell
Always felt plenty in common with Se7en owners. The rawness, leaks, regular spannering and flakiness. And the early shared heritage / paternity.

Go for it, John. Can't be any harder work than your ageing S1.

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:13 pm
by Victor Meldrew
campbell wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:50 pm
Always felt plenty in common with Se7en owners. The rawness, leaks, regular spannering and flakiness. And the early shared heritage / paternity.

Go for it, John. Can't be any harder work than your ageing S1.
That is roughly where my head is just now..... Still have a few concerns though... need to see if I can fit in one..

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:56 pm
by rossybee
jason wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 12:46 pm
Can't say I personally ever felt a 'Lotus owner' when I owned my Caterham. Why? Cos it isn't a Lotus. When I collected our Elise several years later, that was my "I own a Lotus" emotional moment.

...though - for the very obvious reason of them being evolved from the original Lotus 7 S3's DNA - the owners' club is still named the Lotus 7 Club.

For the pedants/detail-obsessed, IIRC, a notable piece of trivia is the last common part to the Lotus and Caterham 7 was the under-dash handbrake - which ceased to be on any new Caterham model a good few years ago.
Bang on Jason. The under dash handbrake ended about '95, my first one was a '97 and had it on the tunnel.

Had two Caterhams and still regard myself as never having owned a Lotus.

So, to answer your question, no.

John, if I recall correctly you are about my height and build, so an S3 chassis is a lovely tight fit.

Go for it man!


PS yes I'll have another and yes I look at them all the time :blackeye

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:57 pm
by j2 lot
I don’t think a Caterham is a Lotus anymore but don’t let it stop you taking the step - a Lotus has always been a sum of the parts and Caterham took the original 7 and improved it bit by bit until none of the original is there but it’s better for it

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:17 pm
by point n squirt
Always gave a wave if in the Elise to a caterham they never waved back , crossed paths nearly ten years ago at a certain weekend , most unpleasant bunch of car guys i ever met , very un Lotus actually put me off getting one. No offence to any owners on here obviously the minority.

Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:30 pm
by Victor Meldrew
point n squirt wrote:Always gave a wave if in the Elise to a caterham they never waved back , crossed paths nearly ten years ago at a certain weekend , most unpleasant bunch of car guys i ever met , very un Lotus actually put me off getting one. No offence to any owners on here obviously the minority.
I must admit that I have been around sound of the “other” groups in Scotland and depending on who turns up on the day you could be forgiven for going home with that same impression.

The fist ever road run I did not long after I bought the Elise was with Ross and Thinforth when we joined up with the Seven owners club on their Scottish tour. I was made to feel very welcome.

If I did make the change I doubt very much that it would change in any way the groups I choose to associate with, it was more a question to gauge the opinion of the SE group as to what they felt about Caterhams in general. I want to stick to something light and nimble. Not interested in massive speeds, although a V6 Exige would be nice.

I know they are a few Porsche (fancy beetles) converts in SE also. A Cayman was also being considered but that going even further away from what I am looking for.


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Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:07 am
by rossybee
Victor Meldrew wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:30 pm
The first ever road run I did not long after I bought the Elise was with Ross and Thinforth when we joined up with the Seven owners club on their Scottish tour. I was made to feel very welcome.
Why thank you, we did always make an effort :blackeye

Same with any groups - you'll always get nobbers, unfortunately certain brands have a higher percentage :mrgreen:

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:43 pm
by smoo25
I've always shared a wave or a thumbsup when passing any caterhams. They share our passion for lightweight sh*t that make you smile. But then I'm not in a "proper" Lotus either. But you guys always make me feel welcome. I've had occasional looks at westfields as they have a fat boy variant, and the girlfriend's dad has a V8 one! Even if I went that route I wouldn't think twice about turning up at SE events, you wouldn't get rid of me that easy!

Re: Is a Caterham just a Lotus with a different badge

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:54 pm
by rossybee
You could say a Westfield is more akin to an Elise, as it smells like a canoe too.

/ironic :blackeye