How to create more interior space in s3
How to create more interior space in s3
Author
Discussion

Bigpagey1

Original Poster:

41 posts

120 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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I am looking to purchase a Tvr later this year, being 6 foot 4 and of rugby player build interior space is always going to be tight, I have sat in s3's and chimaeras, chimaeras do have more room but I have always liked the look of an s3. Is there anyway of creating more room in an s3. Smaller or flat bottomed steering wheel. What replacement seats would give me the most legroom and head room? Can the steering column be raised up? Hopefully you can help me, any advice great fully received.

magpies

5,191 posts

204 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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I have a smaller steering wheel and Lotus Elise seats - loads of room (I'm nowhere near your size though smile )

GreenV8S

30,999 posts

306 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Depends how much of your height is in the back, but the S series have very good headroom as standard. I'm 6'4 and had no problem with headroom with the standard seats. However, there wasn't enough height for me with a crash helmet on until I replaced the driver's seat with a bucket seat. This also gave massively better driver location, especially after fitting some seat brace bars. However, it required bolting the seat directly to the floor. No problem for me since I don't plan to get any taller, but might be a problem for others who need to share the car with other drivers.

The Big G

1,001 posts

190 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Im 6'4" and have no real issues in my v8s. Have removed the rear spacing nuts on the seats to tilt and lower them a bit. Apart from that, the only other easy option is a smaller wheel, then getting more difficult, change the seat, adjust the pedal box, lower the fibreglass floor.

Pedal box is a bit of cutting and welding to suit. Long reach pedal boxes were offered as a option and there is a bit of wasted space behind the pedals.

Floor is only fibreglass with nothing structural. If you don't care too much about originality this could be cut out and then lowered on the drivers side, a bit like a caterham SV. But it would be a big job!

The Big G

1,001 posts

190 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Looks like the 6'4" bit shouldn't be a problem smile

glenrobbo

39,245 posts

172 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Big Ian seems to cope okay with his S3, and he's not anorexic.

MX-5 seats can be fitted and some of the foam sliced away / removed to thin them down a bit.

The steering column cannot easily be raised without structural modification and butchering the dash, you should be able to move the seat back far enough to get decent knee clearance and still reach the pedals, unless a roll cage restricts rear travel of the seat.
I also believe the factory had two sizes of pedal box.

Bigpagey1

Original Poster:

41 posts

120 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Magpies, do you have pictures of the Elise seats and smaller steering wheel?

magpies

5,191 posts

204 months

Friday 15th April 2016
quotequote all
Not the best photo - I can confirm along with my co-driver that the seats are very comfortable even over long distances


Edited by magpies on Friday 15th April 22:14

GreenV8S

30,999 posts

306 months

Friday 15th April 2016
quotequote all
If you're planning to do any spirited driving then I'd be wary about reducing the steering wheel size - the steering can get pretty heavy when the car is loaded up on hot tyres.

mk1fan

10,835 posts

247 months

Saturday 16th April 2016
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The Big G said:
]Im 6'4" and have no real issues in my v8s. Have removed the rear spacing nuts on the seats to tilt and lower them a bit. Apart from Long reach pedal boxes were offered as a option and there is a bit of wasted space behind the pedals.
I'm not sure the option was a long reach but a short reach pedalbox.

Either way, the box position is different in both my S. One is a lot nearer although the plate for the servo and clutch res are against the bulkhead on both.

I prefer the closer pedals but need to add a 10mm spacer to the steering wheel to fine tune the position.

As for getting in:
One leg in the footwell.
Twist 90 degrees so back is to the car.
Bum on seat.
Twist round bringing other leg in.

Works on all my Trevs.