Garage width

[Pearcy]

Looking for a weekend car that's analogue/special and an 'event' to drive along with preferably being 2+2 (kids 6 and 4), hence currently looking at Evoras and Cerbs. Challenge being current garage width... Although the door/entrance is 8 feet wide the width is reduced in the middle due to a chimney breast (garage is under the house), I've looked into removing the chimney breast but it's not practical to do so. Minimum width is 7ft 5in which is around the area the car door would open. I've attached carpet to the walls etc. but still have concerns around what will fit in the garage whilst allowing enough space to get in and out. The drive in front of the garage is sloped so not possible to get out first and push in!

Would anyone be good enough to get a tape measure out and measure width across the car including an extra 1-2 inches past the passenger mirror and enough gap on the driver's side with driver's door opened just enough to allow access, I guess with window down? Luckily I'm slim and I'm hoping that as Evoras are slimmer in the middle there will be enough room to open the door enough to gain access.

Anyone else manage with a slim garage?

[Don262]

Hi Percy,
I too have a small garage with an 8 foot door and a total width of around 8 foot 6 inches.I have measured mine with the Evora door open to the minimum width (16inches from door seal to door card) to allow me to get in and its 8 foot 2 inches. There is no way 7 foot 5 inches will allow you to get out or in.

[Don262]

Sorry Pearcy, missed the "a" out before. I should also have said that the car is as close as I can get it to the left side of the garage (as near as the mirror will allow when its not folded), the front wheel arch is 3.5 inches from the wall when parked and the rear wheel arch misses the door frame by about 1 inch when I drive in. All in all a tight fit.

[Pearcy]

Ah, that's a shame. Still I suspected as much given the overall Evora width. I posted a similar thread in the Cerb forum and it was felt that whilst Cerbs have long doors they are slim enough to most probably fit/allow access so I guess I'll concentrate the search on Cerbs. A 996 C2 would fit I guess, or leave the kids at home and get an Elise/Exige!

Thanks for checking, appreciated

[mik_ok]

Google reckons the Cerb is almost 2cm wider than the Evora. My mate has a 4.5 and that feels right to me.

You sure nothing can be done with the Chimney Brest? It's going to limit your choices significantly.

[Pearcy]

Cerb's are definitely slimmer...

Cerb: Width overall (Inc. mirrors) 1865 mm

Evora: Overall width (door mirrors included) 1972mm


I have had the e46 330i daily in the garage to try it and it does fit and it is just possible to squeeze in and out although the doors are relatively short (it's a touring, not a coupe). The width including mirrors is: 1947 mm

[anonymous-user]

Personally, I don't think you've got any hope of getting out in that space.

The design of the Evora doors and the wide sills means that you have to have the door open a reasonable amount to have any chance of getting out.

[Rich135]

I have a similar garage, 8ft 2in (but with a couple of brick supports making some parts narrower), so it ruled out a more modern Lotus, I went for an Elan +2, which the kids can fit in (with lap belts in the back) and I can still work on in the garage (just about).

Obviously totally different from a modern Lotus, but the kids love it and always want to be taken to school in it!

Rich

[alicrozier]

You're a bit limited on convertible 2+2's (especially Lotus) but on an Elise/Exige you could unclip and roll back the roof then step in over the doors...

[Spathodus77]

I've seen a cerb modified with a sunroof. How about an evora modified with a sunroof? You could leave it open and climb in and out via that...