Can't fit inside a tiger - help
Discussion
I am currently looking to purchase a built kit car, but I don't have a good enough undestanding of my options. I am extremely keen on Tiger Super 6's (it's that shape I like). I believe robin hoods, caterhams, westfields, tigers, dax all fit the bill.
I've just been to visit a real cracker (tiger), but my biggest problem is that I cannot fit in one. I'm a big bloke, my hips are too wide. Is there anything similar that doesn't have such a high or wide central console? I have about £5000 to spend. Help!
I've just been to visit a real cracker (tiger), but my biggest problem is that I cannot fit in one. I'm a big bloke, my hips are too wide. Is there anything similar that doesn't have such a high or wide central console? I have about £5000 to spend. Help!
Hi Wigman
I had the same problem as you, I tried a Tiger but it was too tight and I'm not that big. So I bought a Westfield....cars from about 1996 onwards are wide bodied with an extra bit of hip room, the build quality is also very good. Look for a SEiW car, W=wide i=independant suspension.
You'll get loads of info on the WSCC web site.
I had the same problem as you, I tried a Tiger but it was too tight and I'm not that big. So I bought a Westfield....cars from about 1996 onwards are wide bodied with an extra bit of hip room, the build quality is also very good. Look for a SEiW car, W=wide i=independant suspension.
You'll get loads of info on the WSCC web site.
The Super6 has the smallest cockpit of all Tiger's models. You could try other Tigers such as the Avon and Supercat, as I believe they have larger cockpits. I think there's also a new XL model with a wider cockpit, although I don't know if any have been built yet to be for sale second-hand.
The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th January 21:19
I know what you mean. I went to see a beautiful Super 6 and was very disappointed to find I could not put it on 
I tried several types, and only felt comfortable in a long wheel base Dax Rush with lowered floor, and the Quantum Xtreme which I finally bought.
Keep looking - you'll find one you like the look of.
BTW westies now have the option of a lowered floor too. This is necessary if you are taller than Colin Chapman, else you will be looking over the windscreen - not through it.
Ian
I tried several types, and only felt comfortable in a long wheel base Dax Rush with lowered floor, and the Quantum Xtreme which I finally bought.
Keep looking - you'll find one you like the look of.
BTW westies now have the option of a lowered floor too. This is necessary if you are taller than Colin Chapman, else you will be looking over the windscreen - not through it.
Ian
JimSuperSix said:
The Super6 has the smallest cockpit of all Tiger's models. You could try other Tigers such as the Avon and Supercat, as I believe they have larger cockpits. I think there's also a new XL model with a wider cockpit, although I don't know if any have been built yet to be for sale second-hand.
The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
Can you tell me the difference between a Super Cat and an E1 please?The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
Edited by JimSuperSix on Sunday 20th January 21:19
CaptainSlow said:
JimSuperSix said:
The Super6 has the smallest cockpit of all Tiger's models. You could try other Tigers such as the Avon and Supercat, as I believe they have larger cockpits. I think there's also a new XL model with a wider cockpit, although I don't know if any have been built yet to be for sale second-hand.
The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
Can you tell me the difference between a Super Cat and an E1 please?The Supercat looks visually very similar to the Super6, although the Avon does not - personally I don't like the styling of the Avon at all, whereas I think the Super6 is one of the best looking Seven-a-likes available.
Edited by JimSuperSix on Sunday 20th January 21:19
Also you do know the Cat lifts the whole dedion setup from the sierra. A lot of people don't rate this for a sevenesque setup. I'm not sure i understand it goes sideways well enough and gives me a grin.
Hello,
Went through the same thing recently.
A visit to Exeter Kit car Show helped.
I am 6'5" and no racing snake. I could fit in Westfield SEiW, MK Indy, Stuart Taylor, Tiger E1 and Quantum.
Quantum wasn't to my taste, Tiger IMHO has awful nose and strange bulges to the front of the rear wheel arches to accomodate sierra's heavy suspension setup.
The other important factor I found when looking was what seats are fitted. Bucket molded seats sit lower but the side walls are rigid and you sit within them and this means they can be narrower than standard sports seats, which you sit more on, (but therefore sit higher).
I eventually went halves with a friend and bought a Westfield SEiW. I find it snug but comfortable and drove it back to the West Country from Kent with no problems (it has standard sports seats).
Another friend is fitting the lower floor in his Westfield at the moment. I will check this out when finished just to see if it puts my head all the way behind the windcreen and provides a bit more room between knee and steering wheel.
There are more SEiW outhere than other types and a huge owners club that gives good support.
For your budget (£5k) you are probably looking at a x flow, pinto or CVH car engined model. (Some bike ones are around this price, but you then get into huge discussions over best engine car or bike (road or track use generally seems to be the deciding factor) and then best engine (Car CVH, x flow, pinto etc!). If you read the forums you will remain as confused as ever. As I understand it the Pinto is heavy but tunable, the X flow are lighter but tuneable, the CVH is a bit newer than the others, tunable but not as catered for as the others. Depending on how much you tune them depends on how drivable they are on the road and how often they are likely to need work.
XE & Zetec lumps are more modern and generally provide more power in standard tune.
We got an imaculate SEiW year of registration 1999, with a CVH engine 4000 miles on the clock, tonnaue, roll bar and spare, in brilliant condition, built by Terry Knightingale (Well known Westfield garage) for £5500.00.
It has 105 Bhp at the rear wheels (that means about 200bhp per ton, in comparrison a standard nissan 200Sx has 197bhp but weighs 1.3 ton approx 151bhp per ton and that at the fly not the back wheels)and will easily go sideways when asked to.
We bought ours for road use with the possibilty of the occasional track day & untill my skills get better 105 bhp will suffice.
Realistically if you want more usable power you need a min of £6,500 to £7,500 to get a 2 litre XE or 1800 Zetec lump.
Good luck.
Went through the same thing recently.
A visit to Exeter Kit car Show helped.
I am 6'5" and no racing snake. I could fit in Westfield SEiW, MK Indy, Stuart Taylor, Tiger E1 and Quantum.
Quantum wasn't to my taste, Tiger IMHO has awful nose and strange bulges to the front of the rear wheel arches to accomodate sierra's heavy suspension setup.
The other important factor I found when looking was what seats are fitted. Bucket molded seats sit lower but the side walls are rigid and you sit within them and this means they can be narrower than standard sports seats, which you sit more on, (but therefore sit higher).
I eventually went halves with a friend and bought a Westfield SEiW. I find it snug but comfortable and drove it back to the West Country from Kent with no problems (it has standard sports seats).
Another friend is fitting the lower floor in his Westfield at the moment. I will check this out when finished just to see if it puts my head all the way behind the windcreen and provides a bit more room between knee and steering wheel.
There are more SEiW outhere than other types and a huge owners club that gives good support.
For your budget (£5k) you are probably looking at a x flow, pinto or CVH car engined model. (Some bike ones are around this price, but you then get into huge discussions over best engine car or bike (road or track use generally seems to be the deciding factor) and then best engine (Car CVH, x flow, pinto etc!). If you read the forums you will remain as confused as ever. As I understand it the Pinto is heavy but tunable, the X flow are lighter but tuneable, the CVH is a bit newer than the others, tunable but not as catered for as the others. Depending on how much you tune them depends on how drivable they are on the road and how often they are likely to need work.
XE & Zetec lumps are more modern and generally provide more power in standard tune.
We got an imaculate SEiW year of registration 1999, with a CVH engine 4000 miles on the clock, tonnaue, roll bar and spare, in brilliant condition, built by Terry Knightingale (Well known Westfield garage) for £5500.00.
It has 105 Bhp at the rear wheels (that means about 200bhp per ton, in comparrison a standard nissan 200Sx has 197bhp but weighs 1.3 ton approx 151bhp per ton and that at the fly not the back wheels)and will easily go sideways when asked to.
We bought ours for road use with the possibilty of the occasional track day & untill my skills get better 105 bhp will suffice.
Realistically if you want more usable power you need a min of £6,500 to £7,500 to get a 2 litre XE or 1800 Zetec lump.
Good luck.
tigers are extreme narrow...a friend of mine had the same problem when i bought a seven-tyope car:
we viewed a tiger and when he entered he already stuck "above" the seats.
no chance...so bye-bye tiger.
next car: westfield narrow body---he fitted but he has to take car to get not fatter anymore.
robin-hoods are bigger...but who will buy a robin hood?
a sylva is wide too.
we viewed a tiger and when he entered he already stuck "above" the seats.
no chance...so bye-bye tiger.
next car: westfield narrow body---he fitted but he has to take car to get not fatter anymore.
robin-hoods are bigger...but who will buy a robin hood?
a sylva is wide too.
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