VX220 getting in and out

[ewan221]

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

[kambites]

ewan221 said:

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

The VX220 and S2 Elise are identical, in that respect; the S1 Elise is a little bit tighter, but pretty much the same.

[Dalto123]

ewan221 said:

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

They are essentially the same car, built side by side in the same factory, except from the engine and body I believe. It'll be difficult to get in, trust me!

[TonyHetherington]

You do get used to it

[siwil1]

S1 or S2 Elise?, The S2 is easier. I think the VX is slightly easier than the Elise but not a lot.

Its a knack you quickly get used to, Although I always had difficulty getting in the passenger side, Which was very rare.

[kambites]

siwil1 said:

Its a knack you quickly get used to, Although I always had difficulty getting in the passenger side, Which was very rare.

I can't get in and out of the passenger side easily, either.

It is mostly a knack, but someone really overweight will always find it hard because you've basically got to be able to lift your torso weight, pivoting around your thighs, with the strength of one arm.

[Nick3point2]

ewan221 said:

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

You might learn to do it, but when you have a bad back you'll never manage I struggle and I'm a 23 y/o at the prime of my physical conditioning (but not powerfully built) and I find it awkward to get in and out of the VX220 we had at uni.

[rallycross]

Same problem, ok with the roof off but a pain with roof on especially if you are in a hurry or ina tight space, or being watched trying to get in!

[Ebo100]

ewan221 said:

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

I'm a bit older than you and will say no more than I could do with losing a few pounds
I have a VX and manage ok, I got into the knack of moving the seat as far back as it will go to get in and out and returning it forward a couple of notches to drive.
Well worth the effort as the driving experience is great.

[benjj]

Many years ago my mother bought me, my brother and my father a track day at Silverstone in the (then brand new) Lotus Elise.

Me: 6'3'', 19 stones.
Brother: 6'4'', 18 stones.
Father: 6'2'', 17 stones.

Oh how we laughed. I've still got the photos somewhere. We all looked a bit like this:



The only way we got into the bds (with helmets on) was to pop the roofs off. Not sure they'd allow you to do that these days for elf 'n safety.

[Robbo101]

Being of a similar build/age to the OP, I remember when I first bought my S1 Elise a few years ago. Parked on a gradient outside am ATM machine with a group of comely ladies looking on. Opened the door, pushed it open BUT between managing to squeeze my lardy figure out & over the high sill & the door closing, got a smack on the side of the head from the now closing door, knocking my spectacles to the floor & rendering me mole like.

Q much laughter from said ladies, much struggling to locate my glasses (now under the car) & rapid exit from the scene. Still, was a lovely car though.

[CanAm]

ewan221 said:

Had a look at an Elise today and being an overweight 40 year old getting in and out was quite a comedy. Will a VX220 pose the same difficulties ?

Hire a Caterham for a day, and drive round with the hood up. After that you'll find a VX220 a doodle.

[otolith]

It gets easy with practice.

[vexed]

It will be just as difficult, but well worth it. Did you try unclipping the drivers side of the roof and rollinng it back a little? This was my technique. I managed to get an arthritic and excessively tall grandfather into the passenger side doing this, but again it was a bit of a performance...

[J4CKO]

I couldnt fit in an MGF, too tall and am only just over six feet, glad it wasnt my belly !

Was looking at an Elise a guy at work bought and couldnt see a way of physically getting in it, im not that big it just doesnt look a natrual appeture to get through, its more like potholing that entering a car.

[ewan221]

Ok so it's shed a couple of stone and take up yoga or stick to the original chimaera plan :-)

[CraigyMc]

otolith said:

It gets easy with practice.

This.

I'm 6'1" and about 95Kg. I drove an elise S1 (far higher sills than the S2 elise and VX220) for about 2 years. You get the knack of getting in and out fairly quickly, only a few days for me.

[kambites]

CraigyMc said:

I drove an elise S1 (far higher sills than the S2 elise and VX220)...

They're only 2cm higher. It does make a difference, though.

[J4CKO]

Guy at work drives an Else, well he has left now but was 6ft 5 and had a S2 Elise, not fat but very tall and broad as well, it just didnt look possible but he managed fine.

[Cotty]

Ebo100 said:

I got into the knack of moving the seat as far back as it will go to get in and out and returning it forward a couple of notches to drive.

Yep I always do this getting in and out of my S2 with the roof on.

Thing is getting in and out is only a very small part of any journy.