S3 body versus SV, especially foot space!
Discussion
If I buy second hand, looking for an SV does limit my options. There are some really nice standard body Caterhams out there that I can squeeze into (it's not height related I am a normal 6' but stocky) the seats are fine but the narrow foot-well is a problem. I can't press the accelerator without hitting the brake pedal. Caterham South say you can adjust the pedals to avoid this - HOW?
I should really get an SV second hand or better a new kit as I find them much more comfortable and foot space his not an issue BUT it is frustrating seeing some lovely S3 versions on the market and not being able to drive/buy one.
How do others cope with the limited foot space? I wear narrow shoes size 10!
I should really get an SV second hand or better a new kit as I find them much more comfortable and foot space his not an issue BUT it is frustrating seeing some lovely S3 versions on the market and not being able to drive/buy one.
How do others cope with the limited foot space? I wear narrow shoes size 10!
I'm 6ft, On the Fat Side (44 Waist, 17stone), size 11 feet.
An S3 is nice & Snug, you don't rattle around but never had a problem with the peddles providing you have the correct fottwear.
Standard shoes or trainers tend to have a lip around the outside which can catch on the peddles, find a shoe or trainer which is a smooth outside, I use puma speedcat's but there are others around to suit all tastes.
An S3 is nice & Snug, you don't rattle around but never had a problem with the peddles providing you have the correct fottwear.
Standard shoes or trainers tend to have a lip around the outside which can catch on the peddles, find a shoe or trainer which is a smooth outside, I use puma speedcat's but there are others around to suit all tastes.
When I tried the S3 I found it just too snug all round. Yes, you can wear narrow shoes but with a passenger the car felt very small. You're shoulder to shoulder and have to ask them to keep their hands in their lap so as not to interfer with the gear-change.
A lot probably depends on what use the car will be put to.
For mainly track use I might be tempted by the S3 with lowered floors and put up with the embarrassment of wearing kart boots or the like when out and about.
For road use and touring I'm very happy with my SV. I believe the wide-track suspension makes the car less skittish and feel more planted as well.
As a bonus the SV holds it's value very well as well.
Why not visit a Lotus 7 Club area meeting and sit in a few cars?
A lot probably depends on what use the car will be put to.
For mainly track use I might be tempted by the S3 with lowered floors and put up with the embarrassment of wearing kart boots or the like when out and about.
For road use and touring I'm very happy with my SV. I believe the wide-track suspension makes the car less skittish and feel more planted as well.
As a bonus the SV holds it's value very well as well.
Why not visit a Lotus 7 Club area meeting and sit in a few cars?
It sounds better to get an SV, this will be a car for life so better to get it as right as possible and I will be using mine for Sunday runs and a few tours.
I am hoping go to go a meet this month to talk through spec etc (have missed the last two). The Caterham showroom is only a few miles away from me which has been handy trying a few cars out for size.
They are shifting some stock down there, a very nice 60 or 61 plate SV Supersport has just sold for some serious money
Similar to this one in colours
http://life.caterham.co.uk/news/used-car-of-the-mo...
I am hoping go to go a meet this month to talk through spec etc (have missed the last two). The Caterham showroom is only a few miles away from me which has been handy trying a few cars out for size.
They are shifting some stock down there, a very nice 60 or 61 plate SV Supersport has just sold for some serious money
Similar to this one in colours
http://life.caterham.co.uk/news/used-car-of-the-mo...
Edited by Zagster on Sunday 5th May 09:12
Edited by Zagster on Sunday 5th May 09:13
This is a very timely post for me as I was at Caterham South yesterday pondering what spec would be best for me.
I turned up utterly convinced that I was after an S3 and left knowing I would realistically have to get an SV. To give some context I'm 5ft 8, slender build, size 8 feet and have no problems fitting in the narrower car. My other half is the same height but with longer legs than me and wider hips. There several issues for us with the standard car:
1) with 2 up in the car, the cockpit is simply too busy, your shoulder to shoulder and as someone has already suggested, there is simply no space for the passengers right arm on the transmission tunnel as your arm needs to be there for the gear stick.
2) By male standards I have small feet and yet in the standard car I couldn't get along with the pedal box at all. I too would have been hitting the brake pedal and accelerator together. Admittedly I didn't have very narrow shoes on but equally they weren't that wide either. The main issue I found was that the right hand side of the car tended to push my foot left and onto the brake. I tried a few different cars and all felt different but certainly not ideal
3) for longer journeys, my other half would have struggled to bend her legs without hitting the underside of the dash.
Shame really as with just me in the car the narrower car would be the ideal. I concede though that as predominant use for us will be road use it seems silly to compromise for the odd occasion where I might to do a track day alone.
Does limit your options for second hand cars somewhat though as someone already mentioned.
I left very tempted to put my name down for a new SV Supersport R, can't imagine there are many of those around at the moment!
I turned up utterly convinced that I was after an S3 and left knowing I would realistically have to get an SV. To give some context I'm 5ft 8, slender build, size 8 feet and have no problems fitting in the narrower car. My other half is the same height but with longer legs than me and wider hips. There several issues for us with the standard car:
1) with 2 up in the car, the cockpit is simply too busy, your shoulder to shoulder and as someone has already suggested, there is simply no space for the passengers right arm on the transmission tunnel as your arm needs to be there for the gear stick.
2) By male standards I have small feet and yet in the standard car I couldn't get along with the pedal box at all. I too would have been hitting the brake pedal and accelerator together. Admittedly I didn't have very narrow shoes on but equally they weren't that wide either. The main issue I found was that the right hand side of the car tended to push my foot left and onto the brake. I tried a few different cars and all felt different but certainly not ideal
3) for longer journeys, my other half would have struggled to bend her legs without hitting the underside of the dash.
Shame really as with just me in the car the narrower car would be the ideal. I concede though that as predominant use for us will be road use it seems silly to compromise for the odd occasion where I might to do a track day alone.
Does limit your options for second hand cars somewhat though as someone already mentioned.
I left very tempted to put my name down for a new SV Supersport R, can't imagine there are many of those around at the moment!
The Caterham S3 footwell is narrow.....use appropriate footwear.
This is not a car to jump into in any old trainers anyway, you want to be able to feel the pedals.
I'm 6'1" and Size 10 feet. I just use black Karting boots when I drive..it would be impossible in any other footwear I own as I would hit the accelerator and brake together.
The pedals are adjustable back and forward and to a certain extent to the side (with a brace and a big iron bar when out of the car) :-)
I've tried an SV for size, but to be honest on a track, I'd feel like it wasn't tight enough for me. I want to feel "part" of the car and not have any movement or space around my hips to slide about in.
For passengers, to be honest, they shouldn't really be sat with legs bent far enough up to hit the underside of the dash. Legs straight is normal or slightly bent and braced against the sides if you are pushing on :-)
This is not a car to jump into in any old trainers anyway, you want to be able to feel the pedals.
I'm 6'1" and Size 10 feet. I just use black Karting boots when I drive..it would be impossible in any other footwear I own as I would hit the accelerator and brake together.
The pedals are adjustable back and forward and to a certain extent to the side (with a brace and a big iron bar when out of the car) :-)
I've tried an SV for size, but to be honest on a track, I'd feel like it wasn't tight enough for me. I want to feel "part" of the car and not have any movement or space around my hips to slide about in.
For passengers, to be honest, they shouldn't really be sat with legs bent far enough up to hit the underside of the dash. Legs straight is normal or slightly bent and braced against the sides if you are pushing on :-)
Great question, when I was in the market for ours 12 years ago (this month) I'd tried an R500 and an SV and the SV won out on two main points. First, the extra footwell space was great for long trips, and the steering wheel was not resting on my thighs. Second, I have a more generous build, and the extra space when suitably strapped in makes all the difference, and we can pack a few extras behind our seat when touring so there was no real issue.
Not seen a lot of folks disagree with the above, I'm 6' so it fits me very well, and I find I have enough room under the clutch pedal to rest my foot extended when on motorway or long deserted A roads it just feels, right.
Not seen a lot of folks disagree with the above, I'm 6' so it fits me very well, and I find I have enough room under the clutch pedal to rest my foot extended when on motorway or long deserted A roads it just feels, right.
I picked up my SV from Caterham south about 3 weeks ago.
I'm only 6 foot and 13 1/2 stone but I preferred the SV and even had the floors lowered.
I'm not going racing in mine, its purely for trips out with the wife, kids or mates, so the super snug dimensions of the S3 was not the be all and end all for me.
The extra footspace did swing it for me, but even the wife said the S3 is a bit too snug when two up.
SV's have also got a bigger fuel tank which may or may not be a consideration when buying depending on your intended use of the car.
Amongst the best advice I got when looking to buy was decide what's right for you.
You may not need an SV, but if that's what you want get it and enjoy driving it.
I did.
I'm only 6 foot and 13 1/2 stone but I preferred the SV and even had the floors lowered.
I'm not going racing in mine, its purely for trips out with the wife, kids or mates, so the super snug dimensions of the S3 was not the be all and end all for me.
The extra footspace did swing it for me, but even the wife said the S3 is a bit too snug when two up.
SV's have also got a bigger fuel tank which may or may not be a consideration when buying depending on your intended use of the car.
Amongst the best advice I got when looking to buy was decide what's right for you.
You may not need an SV, but if that's what you want get it and enjoy driving it.
I did.
Edited by Emily's dad on Sunday 5th May 17:23
RedCat7 said:
I'm 6'0" and 13 stone. I built an SV and very glad I did. S3 was uncomfortable for me - particularly the lack of shoulder room. Everyone is different - buy what feels right for you!
I am the same size and run an S3 superlight I have bags of room and actually drive with the seat slightly forward and have no issues driving and most of the time 2 up with swmbo, only time I think its cramped is if we both jump in and try and belt up at the same time knocking elbows,I let her get in first and comfy then get in , oh the other time is the one time I tried the hood on when we were out and got caught in a down pour that was a mare getting in and out! I have quite broad feet so I actually modified my pedals on this car to move the clutch towards the tunnel and the brake slightly towards the throttle, not a lot but it gives more room and makes it easier to tow and heel but I still only drive it in narrow shoes, (I use Merrell Goal Striker shoes) Ive previously owned a CSR260 (sv size) and although I thought it was a fantastic car to drive and yes it had loads more room in fact so much more I rattled around in it! I never gelled with the looks of it, proportions for me just looked wrong and If I looked at it on a wrong angle it reminded me of a Robin Hood that I previously owned!
What height you are isn't as important as where you have the height - in my case I'm almost 6'2", 14st, and size 11 feet, but have fairly long legs, so whilst I can drive an S3, the steering wheel is just touching my legs (with the pedals in the furthest forward setting).
The SV windscreen is also about 25mm taller than the S3, and you can get lowered floors for both models if height is a problem.
The longer cockpit and wider pedal box means I can sit comfortably in the car, have enough room in the pedal box for a small left foot rest, and plenty of shoulder room.
Although I don't need the width of the wider cockpit I don't find I "slide around" as long as the 4-point harness is done up tightly (as it should be!).
I've done over 60,000 miles in mine, and a lot of touring, some of it with passengers, and in those cases I'd certainly find the S3 too cramped for comfort.
The only answer is to try one of each (join the Lotus 7 Club and get along to a local meeting where you'll probably be able to sit in different cars if you ask) and decide which of them is best for you. Try to test them with you and your partner, both sitting in and getting in/out (and for a laugh, try that with the hood or half-hood on
).
The SV windscreen is also about 25mm taller than the S3, and you can get lowered floors for both models if height is a problem.
The longer cockpit and wider pedal box means I can sit comfortably in the car, have enough room in the pedal box for a small left foot rest, and plenty of shoulder room.
Although I don't need the width of the wider cockpit I don't find I "slide around" as long as the 4-point harness is done up tightly (as it should be!).
I've done over 60,000 miles in mine, and a lot of touring, some of it with passengers, and in those cases I'd certainly find the S3 too cramped for comfort.
The only answer is to try one of each (join the Lotus 7 Club and get along to a local meeting where you'll probably be able to sit in different cars if you ask) and decide which of them is best for you. Try to test them with you and your partner, both sitting in and getting in/out (and for a laugh, try that with the hood or half-hood on
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