MPG in the 160

Well I'm just going to say it seem's that with most people who buy sevens fuel economy isn't exactly much of a concern and I understand that. Get out and drive it, have fun in it, race it, how much fuel you use having all this fun is of minor concern to most.

I drive my seven in a spirited but safe way and I don't really keep eye on on mpg normally but my last tank of unleaded got me 49. something mpg. I have just filled up with 29.11 litres after 323.2 buzzing miles (from 1 tank) which I think gives me 50.47 miles per gallon, I think is just fantastic.

 Caterham have got the 160 spot on I reckon, Light and small engined perfect balance for road driving with out getting into too much trouble and it's economical, personally I think it's bloody brilliant.

1000 mile service

Well I have just nearly completed the first service on the Caterham 160 which went well, I struggled at first to remove the oil filter but after a quick trip to get an oil filter removal tool from Halfords it came off no problem.

There seems to be a little confusion over reference numbers, bare with me... the genuine filter as above is 16510-81404, however Caterham told me the reference number was fram ph 4997. After a trip to GSF car parts I bought the equivalent filtres purflux ls 896 /1206M0070.

I know that other owners have used different filters, all I know is that this fits a treat. I used 3lts of shell helix pro 5w-30. After a quick engine run to warm it up and make sure that there are no leaks all seems ok and as soon as I started the engine the oil pressure went up to 4 and not just above the red line so that little problem seems sorted as well. :-)

N/B It's a good job I thought I'd take the rear wheels off for a clean up and check around I found that the near side front lower radius arm M12 bolt was spin around loose! I'm going check all the nuts around the car just in case.

I was just about to change the diff oil and realised that it takes 1.3 litres and I only have a 1 litre bottle another trip to halfrauds looms.

Well 1 week later I have finally changed the diff oil, Which went well although if you have glued your boot carpet down I would imagine that it would be a bit of a nightmare, First remove carpet then the wooden shelf this gives great access to remove the metal cap on the top of the diff a little gentle persuasion with a screwdriver did it for me just don't lose the spring inside, then under the diff undo the drain plug/bolt and washer. Once its drained refit bolt then I used a small funnel to pour the 1.3 ltrs of diff oil in this did take a while.

Also today I fitted the door mirrors from the windscreen (to get thru the iva test)to the doors not knowing how far back they go I had a guess at around 5" and got drilling and then found that the holes are all ready pre drilled although covered in vinyl it was just good luck that I drilled thru the holes on the first go! All you have to do is feel along the vinyl and you can feel the holes in the metal framework ,just mark and drill,  They look much better on the doors than on the windscreen time will tell if they work better.

The fashion police

Well I've been using the 160 most days when I can so when my wife asked me to pick up a few things from Morrisons Supermarket after collecting my son from primary school I thought no problem.... my idea of a few bits is rather different from my wife's! only just squeezed it all in but my main problem was my shoes!!

Luminous blue sparco race boots!  I swear everyone looked at them from the second I walked in, all probably thinking what the hell have you got on your feet! personally I couldn't give a monkeys but just in case i'll be popping a spare pair of shoes in the boot to blend in more next time! 

In the garden and a little spin.

last weekend in the sunshine nice and clean (plenty of autoglym polish) although the following day was torrential rain, It still didn't stop me from going out and having some fun although I found out that the roundabout outside the Aston Martin factory is a little slippy when wet:-)' I went into the roundabout a bit to quick and after a perfect 180 spin ended up facing the wrong way! luckily no one else was around no harm done part from to my heart rate!

I have managed to get up to just over a 1000 miles with no problems at all, I'll be changing the oil and filter at the weekend which I'm hoping will resolve a slightly low oil pressure reading.