I cant fit in a Kit car help!

[Austin316]

I recently was struck by the idea of some summer fun. A nice 7 type or cobra replica to scream around while we have the sun.
A friend of mine had the same idea and purchaced a Tiger 6. Fantastic! 2000cc of Vtec with twin 45's and and exhaust note that had me running to the bank.....almost!
Trouble is i dont fit! Im 6ft 5 and when i sit the the driving seat and raise the clutch my knee slams into the wheel, not the best for fast gear changes on the road.
I considered a half wheel like i had on a mini once or it has been suggested a differnt peddle box. To be honest i want some fun now! I want to know ill fit in the car i go to look at before i leave home. All your suggestions will be much appreciated as the longer it takes to find out the more rubber isn't getting burnt!

[Dave Brookes]

Hi Austin.
An extended footwell Dax Cobra or Rush(7 type) will fit you no probs.

[.Adam.]

Don't know how big/small a Tiger 6 is, but have you tried a wide bodied Westie, or a Caterham SV. I think Dax cars are bigger as well? I know I was speaking to a bloke with a V8 Dax that had trouble with width restrictions.

D'oh, beaten to it!

>> Edited by .Adam. on Wednesday 25th May 19:32

[d-man]

At the risk of sounding a complete fool and turning this into a 'recommend your own car' thread, RAW think that very tall drivers fit in the externally very small Striker. I think it's to do with the way the engine is offset to the passenger side, gives more space in the drivers side footwell and allows the pedal box to be mounted further back.

I'm 6ft and the pedals in their demonstrator are really too far away for me, I could only just push the clutch to the floor. Passenger side footwell is certainly much shorter, feet were comfortably on the back of that one.

[liszt]

I am 6'4" and around the 17 stone mark.

I am building a LWB Dax Rush. There is not a ton of room, but I fit. I had been looking at Tigers until I sat in one. Another choice is a luego [sp?] But I really don't like the look of them.

[Twincam16]

The Madgewick '7' rep was deliberately designed around taller (and wider) drivers.

Hope this helps. One of the best handlers too!

[FlossyThePig]

Look at Gary's site and see what someone 6' 8" can get in, you may be surprised

www.btinternet.com/~g.j.milburn/gjm7/

Hugh

[Ex-biker]

I think Luego do a big '7' too.

[melch]

I have been having the same issues at 6'5", albeit having reined in the pie intake I'm only 14.5 stone.

The results of my tests/research to date:-

Luego Viento - I fit!
Quantum Xtreme - I fit!. Also design of this car means that you sit deeper in the vehicle than similar types meaning you look through and not over the screen
Tiger Cat (wide/xl) - Fit the width, and scope to move pedal box forward would appear to solve length issues
MNR Vortx - Kit Car report that this is suitable, something I hope to check out shortly.
Raw Striker! - hope to check out at Newark
Dax Rush LWB - totalkitcar report that a 7ft driver could get into this... one to check out

The Viento is my favourite, but would rack up the most cost. The Xtreme looks is a fine car, albeit the initial layout is higher than the other. The Vortx is made around the corner from me, winning the geographical vote. The Striker looks to offer the best value for money as an established class leader.

Decisions, decisions!

Looking forward to writing a big fat cheque later this summer!

>> Edited by melch on Thursday 26th May 10:06

[Spartan_andy]

just my 2 pen'worth and i know i keep talking about them but I fit in a Vindicator and im 6'4 and 15 1/2 stone too many and

[KITT]

The Tiger Six is probably the tightest Se7en I've ever sat in so don't worry, there's plenty of alternatives that can accommodate the taller figure

[RazMan]

Whatever the choice of car, the choice of seat is even more crucial. I bought (and subsequently sold) three pairs of seats and finally settled on a pair from a Lotus Elise. These leather trimmed beauties are really low down and were the only ones which gave me enough leg and headroom in my GT2 - all of the other seats (Cobra Imola, Monaco etc) left me with my knees against the steering wheel and my head over the roof line.

p.s. but I am only a titch at 6' 2" & 17 stone

[BobM]

As has already been stated there are loads of options. Don't forget also that you can vary things around - I'm 6' 5" and when I built my Westy I raised the steering column and extended it a couple of inches to improve clearance.

I'm about to build a Fisher Fury and there seems to be plenty of room in that.

[busa_rush]

I sat in a LWB Dax Rush (I have a normal BEC Rush) with the lowered floor and I had loads of room, I'm 6'2" and a little bit wider than I'd like and it was the biggest 7 I've been in. Not tried a Luego though.

With the Dax top mounted pedal box and the way it mounts, there is scope to move it even further forward if you need to.

I tried a Caterham a few years back at Bedford Autodrome and I could just about squeeze in but not drive it properly.

[Xracer]

Definetly try the MNR Vortx, I,m 6' 2'' & 18st but fit in, they have also sold cars to guys much taller than me.
Cheers
Ian

[anonymous-user]

I'm about 6ft and JUST barely fit into my Six - it's really really tight, not only length (my knee hits the steering wheel) but also width - basically you just sort of drop in and get wedged...

Mind you, my choice of Intatrim Odysseys hasn't helped, as they have angled backs and reduce the legroom by a good few inches - I might have to swap them out for thin pad seats if my left knee can't take the strain - just a few minutes sat in the car holding my clutch-leg knee bent results in pain....bummer.

Still, never mind - once the car's going properly on the road I'm sure the speed and fear will mask the pain..

[dieselnut]

RazMan said:

Whatever the choice of car, the choice of seat is even more crucial.

I'll second that, I have a Robin Hood S7... by 7 standards it's a bit lardy, but it does

I have literally two pieces of plywood with foam attached and covered in vinyl, when I'm sat on it it compresses to around half an inch.

The thing to watch is that your head is below the height of the rollbar... you can get a taller roll bar for road use, but I believe you need a regulation height FIA bar for race use (barring the occasional trackday)

These all-in-one GRP things are nice for support... but when you're my size then you're jammed between the transmission tunnel and the outside of the car, so support really isn't an issue..

As goes pedal boxes, there's enough room for me to move the pedal box so I can drive. You can get advustable pedal box kits which allow you to essentially move the entire pedal assembly up and down to suit various drivers


p.s. 6'3" and 16stone some-odd

[gafferjim]

The S7 Robin Hood is one of the "thinest" then came the Exmo, mark3 (&3A) these are slightly wider, and you can get much better seats in them, but the latest Robin Hood is the 2b (and there's a number of varients) but you can get Standard OE seats from a smaller "normal" car in those. (Handy if SWMBO has those "child bearing hips" )

jim

[MElliottUK]

Hi, i have brought this thread back from the dead.............

Im about 6"3" does anyone have a list of cars which will accommodate me without having to get a long wheel base model?

Im Looking at West fields/Tigers/Dax 7 type cars.

P.S im not fat, about 13.5 stone

Thank You for your inputs

Matt

Edited by MElliottUK on Monday 30th March 19:00

[singlecoil]

If cars were driven standing up then the height of the driver would be an issue. However, they are not, so the body shape and length of leg is what matters.

I used to share a car with a chap of almost identical height (6'4") and whenever one had been driving it, the other would have to adjust the seat positon and the mirrors by a quite noticeable amount.

Anecdotal evidence of driver of X height fitting in Y car is of no use at all, you simply MUST try the car for youself.