Elise - Could a Small(ish) Child Drive One?

[Geneve]

My son is 13, but quite small (4'9"). He knows how to drive and races karts, and would like some road car experience (on private land of course), and maybe the MSE junior track events.

Now, I have a Caterham Superlight R300, but the seating, pedal location, and s/s gearbox, don't work for him.

Would an Elise S or R provide better adjustability for someone relatively small?

thanks

[SeanyD]

Geneve said:

My son is 13, but quite small (4'9"). He knows how to drive and races karts, and would like some road car experience (on private land of course), and maybe the MSE junior track events.

Now, I have a Caterham Superlight R300, but the seating, pedal location, and s/s gearbox, don't work for him.

Would an Elise S or R provide better adjustability for someone relatively small?

thanks

Think he may struggle, my missus is around 5'4 and she can only just fully press the pedals using tiptoes, and thats using a back cushion and seat fully fwd.

Worth a try though, as the Elise seems very specific to body shapes/weights etc as to what does and doesn't work, so you never know.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

The S2 Sportracer seat goes further forward than the S1. My husband is 5' 2" and does not need the seat fully forward in the S2. On our S1 111s he had to re arrange the seat rails so he drive!!!

Edited by Mrs Muttleysnoop on Monday 9th November 20:17

[Wildfire]

I think it's very body shap dependent. my brother is around 5'4" and struggles to drive my S2 Sports Tourer, even with the seat fully forward. Same with my Griffith. I'm only 5'7" and have no such issues.

[beefcake42]

My OH is 5'1" and she had driven mine with a bolster cushion, maybe try a childs seat base thing?

[lamb jiblets]

Calvin I think this is one for you !!!

[Geneve]

I'll check it out. His kart is made to measure, but he has used seat inserts on other karts.

[Hammerwerfer]

My girls, 9 and 11, would be just a wee bit taller than your fellow, but they can reach the pedals in my Seicento Sporting without any problem.

A plus is that the car is a throwaway. The younger daughter already managed to hit the back of the house.

[braddo]

I was able to drive an old mini very comfortably when I was about 10/11. I was average height and just needed a block of wood underneath the rear of the seat (it was an old Morris 850 with fixed seats that hinged at the front).

As others have said, ability to drive the Elise comfortably seems vary quite a lot depending on body shape.