will my wife be able to drive one?
Discussion
WildfireS3 said:
Yes, they are pretty heavy on the steering front. Turning circle is pretty bad.
unless you have a heavy right foot and get on well with the local tyre fitters.
Agree with Chris, can be a bit heavy on the steering. Having said that, my other half has an S2 and gets on with it ok, but its a weekend only car. If it was everyday I think she would find it too heavy.
old64er said:
thanks for the replies, its what i thought!!
Maybe i will have to get that Suzuki cappuccino that she fancies then
Thought it would be too good to be true to have 2 tivs
well we have 2 Tivs and 2 everyday hacks, and that works ok. and we never race each other, of course not...
Cappuccino is a cool car 
been for a ride in a friends and it's a sorted little motor.
The S I have to say is a little wearing especially if you drive it as much as I do, but the turning circle is horrendous unless you adopt the heavy right foot method outlined above, I have to 3 point turn in the extra wide roads on the industrial estate where I work.
I never full appreciated how heavy the controls were until I drove my parent's Merc 280 Estate. Much bigger heavier car, dream to drive comppared to the S, and I'm used to heavy controls, my mini having no servo brakes, competition sprung clutch with no inner tension springs, no power steering, very wide wheels and a tiny steering wheel.
been for a ride in a friends and it's a sorted little motor. The S I have to say is a little wearing especially if you drive it as much as I do, but the turning circle is horrendous unless you adopt the heavy right foot method outlined above, I have to 3 point turn in the extra wide roads on the industrial estate where I work.
I never full appreciated how heavy the controls were until I drove my parent's Merc 280 Estate. Much bigger heavier car, dream to drive comppared to the S, and I'm used to heavy controls, my mini having no servo brakes, competition sprung clutch with no inner tension springs, no power steering, very wide wheels and a tiny steering wheel.
Why not arrange a test drive in an S for your other half and see how she gets on ?
One of the factors influencing my decision to buy the S was that the Mrs had to be comfortable driving it. Whilst she's not the tallest, she finds the car fine to drive albeit a little heavy on the steering, certainly compared to modern power assisted cars.
One of the factors influencing my decision to buy the S was that the Mrs had to be comfortable driving it. Whilst she's not the tallest, she finds the car fine to drive albeit a little heavy on the steering, certainly compared to modern power assisted cars.
i would arrange a drive but she has been in a couple of Suzukis and they are light to drive, if i can arrange a test drive before this saturday, i may be able to persuade her differently
anybody out there in S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire area willing to let the missus have a go (will be repaid with a drive in my Griff)
anybody out there in S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire area willing to let the missus have a go (will be repaid with a drive in my Griff)
Am I reading this thread wrong, or do I infer correctly that you are looking for an S for your lady when not only does she not want one, but her driving style doesn't suit it?
The answer to your first question - 'will my wife be able to drive one', is undoubtedly yes. Some of the PH ladies are tiny and drive all sorts of cars; I remember meeting S Girl for lunch and her turning up in her non-PAS Griff 500 - she's about 5'2, built like a sparrow and was 8 months pregnant at the time! But if your lady's not a driving enthusiast, or if she really wants something very different, then buying one will inevitably bring misery to both of you.
Why not arrange a test drive in an S, and then just let her buy what she wants? Personally, I'd be properly offended if a partner presumed to choose my car for me.
The answer to your first question - 'will my wife be able to drive one', is undoubtedly yes. Some of the PH ladies are tiny and drive all sorts of cars; I remember meeting S Girl for lunch and her turning up in her non-PAS Griff 500 - she's about 5'2, built like a sparrow and was 8 months pregnant at the time! But if your lady's not a driving enthusiast, or if she really wants something very different, then buying one will inevitably bring misery to both of you.
Why not arrange a test drive in an S, and then just let her buy what she wants? Personally, I'd be properly offended if a partner presumed to choose my car for me.
rude girl said:Totally agree with that point, my wife used to drive our S3c and loved it. That said climbing back into it after I first test drove a few Griff’s and the S seemed heavy - draw your own conclusion from that! Interestingly we got the S3c because my wife wanted us to get an MX5 and I took her to Chequered Flag in Chiswick. Parked amongst the multitude of MX5's was a dark blue S3, she had never seen a TVR before but immediately saw the curves, walnut and leather and said "Now that's lovely". The rest is history, I've now got the Griff and she drives a 3.0 Alfa Spider!
The answer to your first question - 'will my wife be able to drive one', is undoubtedly yes.
WildfireS3 said:Try a Cerbera then, double-figure point turns on that!
but the turning circle is horrendous unless you adopt the heavy right foot method outlined above, I have to 3 point turn in the extra wide roads on the industrial estate where I work.
Mind you the power steering is a god-send.
Got to say though, while I love my S and would probably pie one (Pies'
) tomorrow if I had the money and another garage, for an every day car it would be a strain on an fan, to put up with those foibles if you didn't love it simply wouldn't work.sotonS2 said:Yes, they shortened the boot to expand the driving space and door size.
My wife is about 5'3". She can reach the pedals but then we have the S1.5. I know the doors are longer on later versions but is the seating position any different ?
Ask Schozz, as Claire has tried both for size I beleive and uses a wee booster cushion to reach the pedals on her S, mind you that's only so she can get the throttle to the bump stop as she doesn't hang around
Tripps said:My wife is 5'3" and drove the S3c no problems. I didn't think they changed the structure, I simply thought there more door lenght and less front wing on the sides. Rich...
My wife is about 5'3". She can reach the pedals but then we have the S1.5. I know the doors are longer on later versions but is the seating position any different ?
Yes, they shortened the boot to expand the driving space and door size.
RichB said:I'd heard taller folks fitted it better...
sotonS2 said:
My wife is about 5'3". She can reach the pedals but then we have the S1.5. I know the doors are longer on later versions but is the seating position any different ?
Yes, they shortened the boot to expand the driving space and door size.
My wife is 5'3" and drove the S3c no problems. I didn't think they changed the structure, I simply thought there more door lenght and less front wing on the sides. Rich...
Perhaps there is more space to adjust the seat (longer rail) rather than footwell space then.
Of course some people are short with longer legs, so it might just be a matter of that
Shnozz - what is your esteemed opinion?Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff