A Lotus Exige for Big Guys - is there one?
Discussion
Samjeev said:
6'4" and 115kg? that's not really very big though is it, driving an elise/exige will always feel tiny on the inside.
I've seen taller and larger people drive a Vx220 with no problem and of course they're based on the same platform.
It depends on whether it's legs or body that's long.I've seen taller and larger people drive a Vx220 with no problem and of course they're based on the same platform.
Edited by Samjeev on Wednesday 10th February 09:50
I've no proper chance of getting comfortable, in a VX/Elise or Ultima, God knows I've tried.
TVR's (had 4)and Noble's( had 2) have always been fine.
The steering column extension mentioned by Long-Un on page 1 is virtually standard if you care about ergonomics. I'm 5'10" and need one in any Elise, Exige or 2-Eleven. Lotus cocked up the driving position basically, so to reach the steering wheel most people have bent legs and straight arms (often strained shoulder muscles too to reach the wheel properly) and you need only be a bit out of average proportions to not be able to drive one at all. Your knees bent uncomfortably should only be a concern if you've already got the seat as far back as it'll go.
As for the head on the roof, there are a few options involving fiddling with the seat, but yes, that's more of a concern.
Perhaps consider a 996 stripped and lightened, a TVR or a Noble?
As for the head on the roof, there are a few options involving fiddling with the seat, but yes, that's more of a concern.
Perhaps consider a 996 stripped and lightened, a TVR or a Noble?
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 10th February 15:00
sjc said:
It depends on whether it's legs or body that's long.
I've no proper chance of getting comfortable, in a VX/Elise or Ultima, God knows I've tried.
TVR's (had 4)and Noble's( had 2) have always been fine.
Agree with this as I had a couple of VX220s and I am exactly the same size/weight as the OP. But I'm proportionate so don't have really long legs or a really long torso - my brother is the same height and yet looked like a tarantula being forced into thimble in my car!I've no proper chance of getting comfortable, in a VX/Elise or Ultima, God knows I've tried.
TVR's (had 4)and Noble's( had 2) have always been fine.
You can't say that on General Gassing! 
You may wish to look into how Elise/Exige racers sit in their cars. It may be that without runners, your seat (or a replacement seat) could be mounted a fair bit lower. Racing bucket seats are surprisingly comfortable and many come in various sizes so they can fit you better than the road standard seat. Aside from just fitting in the car, it also helps if your comfortable, especially for track days and spirited driving. I know for example that I'm not happy unless the steering wheel is in front of me - I hate the golf buggy type driving position that most modern cars seem to have adopted.
As I said above, fitting a steering wheel spacer is a very common mod to an Elise or Exige - I can barely drive one without. I'm not sure how things work with an airbag, but with the standard wheel on pre-airbag models you just need a boss to convert the steering wheel fitment to a Momo style one, which brings the wheel a little closer, then buy a six holed Momo style replacement steering wheel and then choose an appropriate spacer. Somewhere like Demon Tweeks stock spacers in lots of different sizes. The indicator stalks won't move with the wheel, but I found that I quickly got used to reached forwards for them and it wasn't really a problem. When you make this mod make sure you can reach the gearstick still - I was right on the limit of being able to get first gear. If you're handy at fabricating you can even modify the gearstick as well; for example my first race car had an extension piece on it to bring the gearchange within reach (I sat with my seat up against the back of the rear passenger footwell!!).
- got me. Totally missed that one! Had the same issue as you and went for a TVR T350 which didn't break down in 20,000 miles over 3 years. 25k will get you a good one and it's a truly special car you will love.
I test drove the Evora it was a nice steer but for me it didn't feel special enough inside or decent value at current prices, a few years down the line at 20k they will be a great buy in my opinion.
I test drove the Evora it was a nice steer but for me it didn't feel special enough inside or decent value at current prices, a few years down the line at 20k they will be a great buy in my opinion.
zedhex said:
<puts curmudgeonly mac on...>
McLaren: too f*ckin expensive
Evora: see above
911: engine in wrong place. hate 'em.
TVR: too old, soft top, break down all the time
Z4: quite possibly the ugliest sports car in the world (to be said in a Clarkson voice)
Ultima: great on track, crap off it.
Ginetta: see above
Alfa 4C: too expensive (and Clarkson was lying)
Noble: aha... maybe we have something here.
6'8" 135kg, Tuscan S. Targa roof, and I think you've been led well astray by pub talk to say a TVR will break down all the time compared to that likely bunch.McLaren: too f*ckin expensive
Evora: see above
911: engine in wrong place. hate 'em.
TVR: too old, soft top, break down all the time
Z4: quite possibly the ugliest sports car in the world (to be said in a Clarkson voice)
Ultima: great on track, crap off it.
Ginetta: see above
Alfa 4C: too expensive (and Clarkson was lying)
Noble: aha... maybe we have something here.
A well looked after and sorted one is in your budget (perhaps not an S) and delivers plenty of wow factor and performance. They handle too once the factory suspension is dumped, which by now will have already been done on a decent car.
Another shout out for the Corvette C6. Great cars, but with an image all to themselves.
otolith said:
Wouldn't have thought a large capacity front engined car like a Corvette or TVR would be a similar sort of thing to an Exige, not in the way that a Noble might be?
That is what I am thinking. I already have a couple of front engined sports cars (a very nice 944 turbo which appreciates daily and a massively modified Soarer which doesn't), and that is precisely why I wanted an Exige - something basic, simple and fast, but with its speed coming from light weight rather than humongous power. My Soarer was last dynoed at 495bhp, and it only goes round corners sideways. You might not think so, but the thrill of that is actually wearing off a bit (just try touching the gas on a wet roundabout - it'll do pirouettes like a ballerina). I think a Noble might be just the ticket - but can I get one for reasonable money (30 - 35K ish)? I don't think so. Maybe I should buy an Exige and just try to inflate it.
Edited by zedhex on Wednesday 10th February 17:49
zedhex said:
Yup - TVR Sagaris: 60K ish. Maybe I need to sell the wife+kids (although I could probably find 35K if I had to... just don't tell HID)
TVR T350 then.Edited by zedhex on Wednesday 10th February 16:31
http://www.str8six.co.uk/CAR%20SALES/page28/page28...
And that noise is to die for.
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