Elise/Exige + being 6' 5" = ???
Discussion
Story of my bloody life. Am a huge petrolhead but am cursed/blesed with being freakishly tall. TVR's are ok but have only tried an S1 Elise (well and a 1990 Esprit Turbo SE) which was very very tight. With the roof bar on the elise I doubt I could have got in at all. Left knee was fouling the gearstick which made me feel uneasy.
I hear and read the S2 cars are more spatious although this is clearly only a relative term. The Exige is what I would prefer but the hard top wont do me any favours re access.
Am I doomed? Is anyone out there anything like my height?
I hear and read the S2 cars are more spatious although this is clearly only a relative term. The Exige is what I would prefer but the hard top wont do me any favours re access.
Am I doomed? Is anyone out there anything like my height?
I have an S2 Elise and I'm 6'3"
Easy to get in and out and loads of head and legroom once inside.
Elise's are always a pain to get in and out of at first. However, once you've owned one for a couple of days you'll find your technique and will be able to get in and out easily.
Don't let it put you off.
Easy to get in and out and loads of head and legroom once inside.
Elise's are always a pain to get in and out of at first. However, once you've owned one for a couple of days you'll find your technique and will be able to get in and out easily.
Don't let it put you off.
I'm 6'2" and can barely fit but because I have very long legs (and arms)
I know of another Exige driver who is my same height but drives with the seat forward! Obviously shorter legs/longer torso.
I know a 6'7" Elise driver, he always drives with the top off
Now, the new Exiges are not any more spacious IMO, only the entry is easier because of the lower sill.
A few things I did was:
-moving the steering wheel higher (about 1" with 3mm spacers at the dash)
-moving the throttle pedal further down (it can be adjusted)
-moving the left footrest further down (easy drilling new holes in the middle thingie)
-shortening the stick 2" and bending it slightly to the left
-adjusting the seat runners until I got one extra click, now it's running against the back wall.
Sadly at 6'5" I think you'll have to drive a soft top instead of an Exige, but at least you can do all what I described to be able to move inside. OTOH, you may just fit but without a helmet.
>> Edited by uldis on Wednesday 22 February 14:13
I know of another Exige driver who is my same height but drives with the seat forward! Obviously shorter legs/longer torso.
I know a 6'7" Elise driver, he always drives with the top off
Now, the new Exiges are not any more spacious IMO, only the entry is easier because of the lower sill.
A few things I did was:
-moving the steering wheel higher (about 1" with 3mm spacers at the dash)
-moving the throttle pedal further down (it can be adjusted)
-moving the left footrest further down (easy drilling new holes in the middle thingie)
-shortening the stick 2" and bending it slightly to the left
-adjusting the seat runners until I got one extra click, now it's running against the back wall.
Sadly at 6'5" I think you'll have to drive a soft top instead of an Exige, but at least you can do all what I described to be able to move inside. OTOH, you may just fit but without a helmet.
>> Edited by uldis on Wednesday 22 February 14:13
jamesk said:
Story of my bloody life. Am a huge petrolhead but am cursed/blesed with being freakishly tall. TVR's are ok but have only tried an S1 Elise (well and a 1990 Esprit Turbo SE) which was very very tight. With the roof bar on the elise I doubt I could have got in at all. Left knee was fouling the gearstick which made me feel uneasy.
I hear and read the S2 cars are more spatious although this is clearly only a relative term. The Exige is what I would prefer but the hard top wont do me any favours re access.
Am I doomed? Is anyone out there anything like my height?
I found the Elise quite big. I am a bit shorter than you, 186 cm (what is that i the strange units...73.2? = 6feet & 1.2 inch, am I right?) and have an Europa which is significantly smaller. I have to remove the padding in the seat to be able to fit in the car when I have a helmet on. I sit in the steel frame mounted onto the floor.
In an Elise, I have AIR between the head and the roof! I think that air would be sufficient even for your extra length with the assumption that your extra length is distrubuted not only on the upper part of your body.
For additional space, remove the seat.
I am 6'3" and was far more comfortable in the TVRs in the past. They seem to be made for bigger people (probably due to Peter Wheeler being a big chap). I do fit in the S1 but rarely put the roof on as that just makes things more difficult. Main problem when seated is my left leg and the gearchange, particularly when pressing hard around a circuit. I am going to order a short shift gear change soon and hope that will help out.
Didn't really notice any more room in the S2s I have been in, only that its a tad easier to get in and out but when seated it seemed the same size. Try it, its the only way to find out. I knew it was the car I wanted so looked at short shift gearsticks, flat bottomed steering wheels etc all to try and get around the fact I am lanky in a corgi car.
Didn't really notice any more room in the S2s I have been in, only that its a tad easier to get in and out but when seated it seemed the same size. Try it, its the only way to find out. I knew it was the car I wanted so looked at short shift gearsticks, flat bottomed steering wheels etc all to try and get around the fact I am lanky in a corgi car.
I can only just fit inside with comfort, and I'm only 6'. But I have long legs (~36" length trousers) and a short torso - I look like a little kid whenever I eat out 
(and they always make the tables too high!)
I like driving with my legs almost straight, but I can't in an Elise. It's not as bad as a lot of other cars (my knees used to be above the edge of the steering wheel on the mini), but it was the one thing putting me off. I've now been in a few and I'm happy I can live with it.
If I were you I'd have a go playing with the seat settings in a couple to see what you think. Any dealer will be happy for you to play if they think they'll get a sale.
(and they always make the tables too high!) I like driving with my legs almost straight, but I can't in an Elise. It's not as bad as a lot of other cars (my knees used to be above the edge of the steering wheel on the mini), but it was the one thing putting me off. I've now been in a few and I'm happy I can live with it.
If I were you I'd have a go playing with the seat settings in a couple to see what you think. Any dealer will be happy for you to play if they think they'll get a sale.
I have an S2 111s and im 6'3". So far the only problem ive had is the fact that 5th gear is tight against my left knee. This hasnt bothered me too much though because whenever im in 5th I just put my foot on the foot rest which moves my knee out of the way.
As for getting in and out, it hasnt been a problem so far, with both soft and hard top. There is a tiny amount more head room with the soft top. In both cases its more than I had in my previous car (Saxo with sun-roof).
Id go for a few test drives if I were you
As for getting in and out, it hasnt been a problem so far, with both soft and hard top. There is a tiny amount more head room with the soft top. In both cases its more than I had in my previous car (Saxo with sun-roof).
Id go for a few test drives if I were you
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