Help! Too tall for a MX5 - Any solutions?

[Ari]

Test drove an MX5 a couple of days ago with my girlfriend, it was a grey metallic late 2006 2.0 litre.

Both loved the car, it drove and handled superbly and I really liked the way it felt, solid and precise, everything I'd hoped it would be.

The problem we have is that I'm 6ft 3 and she's 6ft 1, and we just seem to be that little bit too tall for it. Once we got past 45mph with the roof down I was finding it uncomfortably windy around the top half of my head, and my girlfriend was experiencing a sensation she described as "like being firmly thumped over the head repeatedly with a large soft pillow". In fact it was so bad for her that it gave her a headache.

If we scooched down in the seats about six inches we were both ok, but clearly we can't drive around like that.

We (ok, I) want the car as a weekend toy, something we can take off for a run to a nice hotel somewhere for example. The car is fine for that, the seats are comfortable, the ride is fine, it's not too noisy, all is well, but we both agreed we'd probably last about quarter of an hour tops at any speed before we would be pulling over to put the top back up, which of course completely defeats the object. Might as well take the existing tin top as do that.

The car was fitted with the (presumably) standard little windbreak behind the seats, guess it was about four inches tall. I wondered whether there was a taller one available? I think that might help a bit although we've still got the issue of the airflow over the screen "hitting" my girlfriend over the head.

Also wondered whether there was any seat height adjustment (we couldn't find any but you never know). Or whether a different model (like a "Sport" for instance) might have lower seats or more adjustment?

At the moment the idea of buying the car has been canned because there's just no point. But I'd be very interested to hear of any possible solutions that might re-open the possibility, or indeed whether anyone else has experienced similar?

Cheers in anticipation.

Ari

[gd49]

Dunno about the Mk3, but the Mk2 and 2.5s had slightly higher seats than the Mk1, so it might be worth trying the older spec cars and seeing if you fit in any better? Obviously the older ones don't have as many toys, but if you get a looked after one they tend to be pretty reliable, so should be ok as a weekend toy.

[MG Mark]

I have a Mk2 (there is no seat height adjustment) and I'm 6' 1" - it's on the limits of comfort at that, unless you resort to changing the seats to the likes of a low bucket seat with minimal padding such as found in a Lotus Elise. Tricky decision and, much, as i love the car, if it isn't comfortable.....

MG Mark

[Ari]

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

There is more space in a Mk3 than in previous models though.

[Jonny671]

Ari said:

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Edit: Just checked in the showroom, only drivers.. Apologies!

Maybe different on leather/sport though, I only checked the 20th Anniversary, Cloth seats.

Edited by Jonny671 on Wednesday 14th April 11:22

[MX-5 Lazza]

Jonny671 said:

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Mazda website said:

Height-adjustable steering wheel and drivers seat

http://www.mazda.co.uk/showroom/mx-5/specification...
Maybe the OP should take another test-drive

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 14th April 11:27

[Jonny671]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Jonny671 said:

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Mazda website said:

Height-adjustable steering wheel and drivers seat

http://www.mazda.co.uk/showroom/mx-5/specification...
Maybe the OP should take another test-drive

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 14th April 11:27

I didn't mean to question mark, at the end of my statement

It does, passenger seat isn't though unfortunately.. Maybe if the OP has the seat slightly forwards and the back slightly sloped may fit in abit better..

[Lefty Two Drams]

Buy an Elise/VX220?

I had a VX220T and am 6'4" and fitted just fine. In fact, I didn't need the seat all the way back. But I had to take the soft top off for trackdays because I didn't fit with a lid on.

An Elise S2 or VX220 will be (almost) as practical as an MX5. Plenty of people use em as only cars. And they are quite a bit more focussed. The VX is a bit softer than the Elise and has the safety net of ABS and airbag. That's the main reason i went for one over an Elise as it was to be my only car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Is there any video of you climbing in/out of an Elise with the top fitted? It's a struggle for me and I'm about 6'2"!
I don't think there is a lady-like way for a female to climb out of an Elise

[Lefty Two Drams]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Is there any video of you climbing in/out of an Elise with the top fitted? It's a struggle for me and I'm about 6'2"!
I don't think there is a lady-like way for a female to climb out of an Elise

It takes a bit of practice!

One of the reasons men like these cars so much is that a lady in a skirt HAS to flash her pants getting in and out. Be wary of the gentleman holding the door for you. he may not be as chivalrous as you first think...

[Ari]

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Edit: Just checked in the showroom, only drivers.. Apologies!

Maybe different on leather/sport though, I only checked the 20th Anniversary, Cloth seats.

Edited by Jonny671 on Wednesday 14th April 11:22

That's interesting! I looked for a lever on the drivers side but couldn't find one.

Unfortunately it doesn't resolve the problem of the car being uncomfortable to ride in for the missus.

[Jonny671]

Ari said:

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Edit: Just checked in the showroom, only drivers.. Apologies!

Maybe different on leather/sport though, I only checked the 20th Anniversary, Cloth seats.

Edited by Jonny671 on Wednesday 14th April 11:22

That's interesting! I looked for a lever on the drivers side but couldn't find one.

Unfortunately it doesn't resolve the problem of the car being uncomfortable to ride in for the missus.

Ah right, on the right hand side you have one near the front for height, and one nearer the back (same as on the passenger chair) for the back angle.

[Ari]

Lefty Two Drams said:

Buy an Elise/VX220?

I had a VX220T and am 6'4" and fitted just fine. In fact, I didn't need the seat all the way back. But I had to take the soft top off for trackdays because I didn't fit with a lid on.

An Elise S2 or VX220 will be (almost) as practical as an MX5. Plenty of people use em as only cars. And they are quite a bit more focussed. The VX is a bit softer than the Elise and has the safety net of ABS and airbag. That's the main reason i went for one over an Elise as it was to be my only car.

Too dear unfortunately. What attracts me to the Mazda is I can afford a very tidy (it looked and felt like new actually) low mileage (20K) 3 year old car fairly easily and without borrowing any money, and I feel reasonably confident in it's reliability and ability to be serviced and fixed fairly cheaply, insured reasonably and so on.

I'm not after ultimate performance, I just want something quick-ish that drives and rides nicely that we can use as a little two seat tourer rather than out and out performance car.

The MX5 ticks all the boxes for me, and as I say, it's the right price. Hence really frustrated about the fact we're both too flippin' tall for one!

[Ari]

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Edit: Just checked in the showroom, only drivers.. Apologies!

Maybe different on leather/sport though, I only checked the 20th Anniversary, Cloth seats.

Edited by Jonny671 on Wednesday 14th April 11:22

That's interesting! I looked for a lever on the drivers side but couldn't find one.

Unfortunately it doesn't resolve the problem of the car being uncomfortable to ride in for the missus.

Ah right, on the right hand side you have one near the front for height, and one nearer the back (same as on the passenger chair) for the back angle.

Many thanks for that, found the backrest one, I guess I must have thought the other was for sliding the seat forward and back (it was in the right place so I didn't try adjusting it).

Definitely nothing on the passenger side though?

[Lefty Two Drams]

Do you mind me asking what a 3 year old MX5 goes for? Must be ~£10k...?

[Ari]

The one I looked at was at a main dealer (with warranty) for just under £10K.

And as I say, it was like new really.

[Jonny671]

Ari said:

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Jonny671 said:

Ari said:

Thanks guys. Looks like it's back to the drawing board then...

Bloody shame, great car.

MK3 has adjustable seats?

Edit: Just checked in the showroom, only drivers.. Apologies!

Maybe different on leather/sport though, I only checked the 20th Anniversary, Cloth seats.

Edited by Jonny671 on Wednesday 14th April 11:22

That's interesting! I looked for a lever on the drivers side but couldn't find one.

Unfortunately it doesn't resolve the problem of the car being uncomfortable to ride in for the missus.

Ah right, on the right hand side you have one near the front for height, and one nearer the back (same as on the passenger chair) for the back angle.

Many thanks for that, found the backrest one, I guess I must have thought the other was for sliding the seat forward and back (it was in the right place so I didn't try adjusting it).

Definitely nothing on the passenger side though?

No, unfortunately the passenger side doesn't.. I wonder how difficult it might be to put a european 'drivers' (Our passenger) seat in it though if you wanted the MX-5 enough

[Lefty Two Drams]

Ari said:

The one I looked at was at a main dealer (with warranty) for just under £10K.

And as I say, it was like new really.

Definitely Elise/VX territory. Seriously, either of these (but a VX in particular) are pretty usable and amazing fun to drive.

[genericguy]

gd49 said:

Dunno about the Mk3, but the Mk2 and 2.5s had slightly higher seats than the Mk1, so it might be worth trying the older spec cars and seeing if you fit in any better?

Someone with both checked on Mx5Nutz and the MKi and MKii seats were actually the same height.
They did find that leather seats sat slightly higher because they had less give.
If you're really keen buy some aftermarket or Elise seats, could get a decent set and have them fitted for >£400?
Or do a foamectomy (still planning one of these myself!)