HELP - Kit/7 Car for a 6' 4" driver............
Discussion
Hi all,
Curretly have a Clio V6 and want to move onto a kit car/7 shaped for the new year.
Was lucky enough to go out in a 2007 Caterham 7 1600 SV this morning which was a great pleasure to drive, however sadly out of my price range (budget is £7-8k). The guys at Caterham really looked after me and knew I would not be buying new.
Would anyone be able to list the longer/larger/wider kit cars avaialvle so I know what to hunt through on the classifieds. I.e Westies, MK's Tigers and what model exactly is the larger/longer variation.
I know I will need Composite style seats for a few extra cm's of leg stretch. I'm pretty skinny if anything, its just getting my legs under the wheel without getting my knees wedged against it when I am off the clutch.
Any advice, reconmemdations or info greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Curretly have a Clio V6 and want to move onto a kit car/7 shaped for the new year.
Was lucky enough to go out in a 2007 Caterham 7 1600 SV this morning which was a great pleasure to drive, however sadly out of my price range (budget is £7-8k). The guys at Caterham really looked after me and knew I would not be buying new.
Would anyone be able to list the longer/larger/wider kit cars avaialvle so I know what to hunt through on the classifieds. I.e Westies, MK's Tigers and what model exactly is the larger/longer variation.
I know I will need Composite style seats for a few extra cm's of leg stretch. I'm pretty skinny if anything, its just getting my legs under the wheel without getting my knees wedged against it when I am off the clutch.
Any advice, reconmemdations or info greatly appreciated.
Cheers
from my own experience try:
- MNR Vortx - ample space, race-bred and Yorkshire to boot
- Quantum Xtreme - ample space, sit within rather than on the car
- Luego Viento - best looking of the three, takes huge V8s if that's your thing, but a fair old trek to Aberdeenshire
If you find any others, I'd be pleased to hear!
- MNR Vortx - ample space, race-bred and Yorkshire to boot
- Quantum Xtreme - ample space, sit within rather than on the car
- Luego Viento - best looking of the three, takes huge V8s if that's your thing, but a fair old trek to Aberdeenshire
If you find any others, I'd be pleased to hear!
Edited by Melch on Friday 19th October 20:07
I'm 6'4" and i fit comfortably into my Sylva R1ot www.sylva.co.uk
cheers for the info guys.
IS the westfield sei Wide similar to the caterham SV?
And I read that the Tiger CatE1 and Super car are both larger than the Tiger Super Six, but does this include the body you sit within or just the wheels base externaly?
Really stcuk as to what to look for as I dont knwo what I am gonna fit in with out wasting a sellers time
IS the westfield sei Wide similar to the caterham SV?
And I read that the Tiger CatE1 and Super car are both larger than the Tiger Super Six, but does this include the body you sit within or just the wheels base externaly?
Really stcuk as to what to look for as I dont knwo what I am gonna fit in with out wasting a sellers time
As I am looking at preowned, how easy is it to move things like pedal boxes and seat location once its been fitted?
secondly, I read baout being able to raide the steering wheel (maybe a spacer or hub) my main concern is just having my knees behind the back of the wheel!
what a great experince and real sence of occasion it is driving these. the 1600 caterham 7 I took out was similar performance speed wise to my current clio v6, but the control, cornering and dare I say it noise is unreal!
it has to be done!
secondly, I read baout being able to raide the steering wheel (maybe a spacer or hub) my main concern is just having my knees behind the back of the wheel!
what a great experince and real sence of occasion it is driving these. the 1600 caterham 7 I took out was similar performance speed wise to my current clio v6, but the control, cornering and dare I say it noise is unreal!
it has to be done!
kriss said:
cheers for the info guys.
IS the westfield sei Wide similar to the caterham SV?
Yes, there are bigger guys than you with wide Westfield's. Biggest I know of is 6'6".IS the westfield sei Wide similar to the caterham SV?
As you rightly say, you'll need GRP shell seats to get you as low and as far back as possible and ideally you want to find a car with floor mounted pedal which free up a few more valuable cm's. Also, you want an RAC rollbar (rear braced), the standard one is to low for avergae hieght people and is woefully inadequate in the event of needing to use it. Unfortunately most people don't fit them but they are only £240 from Westfield and are worth every penny.
Pop over to the Westfield forum at boardroom.wscc.co.uk and there will be all manner of help and advice.
Edited by Martin Keene on Sunday 21st October 11:25
Edited by Martin Keene on Sunday 21st October 11:26
Anything's possible within reason but the bulkheades will be the limiting factor. The angle of the steering column is probably an issue for you too. I don't think you have any choice but to get out there and try a few for size now. FWIW you will defo fit in an MK Indy or MNR if it was built with a big driver in mind. If you want to try some for size near you ask in locostbuilders.
Cheers for the replies again guys.
Stupid question alert- Locost? Is that a name given to 7 style kit cars or an actual compnay? I keep coming across this word but not sure if its a term or make or style. sorry.
Think I will join the owners clubs and see if I can take a perch in a locally based guys car. seems the only option but i hate wasting peoples time.
Did someone mention that the Dax rush is fairly large? I love them to pieces and seen a few pinto lump ones within budget!
How easy it is to fit the hub/spacer for thw steering wheel and is this a common job to undertake?
Stupid question alert- Locost? Is that a name given to 7 style kit cars or an actual compnay? I keep coming across this word but not sure if its a term or make or style. sorry.
Think I will join the owners clubs and see if I can take a perch in a locally based guys car. seems the only option but i hate wasting peoples time.
Did someone mention that the Dax rush is fairly large? I love them to pieces and seen a few pinto lump ones within budget!
How easy it is to fit the hub/spacer for thw steering wheel and is this a common job to undertake?
Kriss the Locost is a type of chassis. It sprung up from a guy claiming you could build a Caterham 7 style car for around £250, but you have to weld your own chassis, fabricate your own body panels, and completely strip a donor car. He then released the book as a Haynes manual with the plans in.
I have the book on how to build a Locost if you would like to borrow it. A Locost is not for you, but it still makes interesting reading.
I have the book on how to build a Locost if you would like to borrow it. A Locost is not for you, but it still makes interesting reading.
Melch said:
from my own experience try:
- MNR Vortx - ample space, race-bred and Yorkshire to boot
- Quantum Xtreme - ample space, sit within rather than on the car
- Luego Viento - best looking of the three, takes huge V8s if that's your thing, but a fair old trek to Aberdeenshire
If you find any others, I'd be pleased to hear!
Add Westfield to the list! Visited the factory yesterday and pleased to report that I fit in now that all models have the lowered floor. - MNR Vortx - ample space, race-bred and Yorkshire to boot
- Quantum Xtreme - ample space, sit within rather than on the car
- Luego Viento - best looking of the three, takes huge V8s if that's your thing, but a fair old trek to Aberdeenshire
If you find any others, I'd be pleased to hear!
Edited by Melch on Friday 19th October 20:07
Being 6' 4" with most of the length in my legs, I can appreciate your problems. I settled on a second hand Quantum Xtreme which you should be able to get for your budget with either a good spec pinto or a zetec lump.
I tried a number of cars, and explained the situation of me being long/FAT and all owners were most helpful and did did not mind me trying their great cars for size.
DAX LWB with the lowered floor was the only one that came close, but the Xtreme edged it becuase of the fact that even at 6'4" you have to pull the seat forward a notch and sit in the car looking through the middle of the windscreen with the rollbar well over your head.
Xtreme is heavier than a Caterham./Westie becuase of stainless tub construction - but stiffer too which makes for great handling.
HTH Ian
I tried a number of cars, and explained the situation of me being long/FAT and all owners were most helpful and did did not mind me trying their great cars for size.
DAX LWB with the lowered floor was the only one that came close, but the Xtreme edged it becuase of the fact that even at 6'4" you have to pull the seat forward a notch and sit in the car looking through the middle of the windscreen with the rollbar well over your head.
Xtreme is heavier than a Caterham./Westie becuase of stainless tub construction - but stiffer too which makes for great handling.
HTH Ian
i have also been advised (via locostbuilder site) that the MNR vortx and MAC~1's are also fine for me.
Just a case of bolting the seats to the floor without runners and using thin seats in the forst place.
anyone aware of any meets or events going on in the south. i want to sit in as many as i can to make up my mind!
Just a case of bolting the seats to the floor without runners and using thin seats in the forst place.
anyone aware of any meets or events going on in the south. i want to sit in as many as i can to make up my mind!
kriss said:
anyone aware of any meets or events going on in the south. i want to sit in as many as i can to make up my mind!
Hi Kriss, Season closing Exeter kit car show is later this month http://www.car-shows.co.uk/exeterkit.htm
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff