Why not more 3 seaters?

[vanman1936]

We all know the heritage of the F1, now T50; but why aren’t there more 3 seater sports, let alone super cars....surely a big differentiator in crowded sectors?

[RDMcG]

I cannot delight in crawling over the passenger seat to get to the driver's seat and also not being on the conventional side of the road as a driver. Perfect for track of course.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I'm not surprised that there aren't more 3 seaters but perhaps there is a market for more single seaters?

[Cheib]

I suspect one reason is cost/the shared architecture for different models...like McLaren for instance, aren’t all the cars including P1 based on the same carbon tub ? Not sure what Porsche’s excuse with something like the 918 is though given that doesn’t share a tub with anything and is as wide as a bus so I assume could have fitted 3 seats...I guess the Spyder bit would be tricky !

[LotusJas]

vanman1936 said:

We all know the heritage of the F1, now T50; but why aren’t there more 3 seater sports, let alone super cars....surely a big differentiator in crowded sectors?

Speedtail too.

[hyphen]

RDMcG said:

I cannot delight in crawling over the passenger seat to get to the driver's seat ...

That's probably the biggest reason. When you get in a 3 seater, its very ungainly clambering over which probably puts many buyers off.

[Iwontlietoyou]

Less about the clambering over passengers for me... more about how special a central driving position. I rarely have others in the car with me and would love the idea of sitting in the middle

[Ferruccio]

Used to get taken to school by my father in a Matra Simca Bagheera.
3 seats. LHD ie the driver sat on the far left with two further seats in the front.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2...

[carspath]

For all the reasons that have already been mentioned .

But maybe also because :

1) Most of us either drive alone , or with one passenger in a sports car .
In a family car , we usually have more than one passenger , over and above the spouse
So having 2 passenger seats , is usually one seat too many OR one or more seats too few

2) In a sportscar , where theoretically weight distribution is an important consideration , and assuming you have just the one passenger ( which is probably the most common situation ) - then having one passenger seat occupied and one unoccupied , will result in an unevenly balanced car

???

[woppum]

3 seats is more compromised but offers a great point of difference to other cars. It’s compromise is purely lack of space. 3 people take up more space than 2 no matter how you package it. The right hand seat of the F1 and t50 I would think is really only for kids, I am not sure I would have much comfort there... that said sitting in the middle rather the right to the left, way up front with your toes so far forward will be a sensory overload I’m sure. Can’t wait for the T50. Not sure my wife will enjoy being a passenger quite so much...

[Bispal]

woppum said:

3 seats is more compromised but offers a great point of difference to other cars. It’s compromise is purely lack of space. 3 people take up more space than 2 no matter how you package it. The right hand seat of the F1 and t50 I would think is really only for kids, I am not sure I would have much comfort there... that said sitting in the middle rather the right to the left, way up front with your toes so far forward will be a sensory overload I’m sure. Can’t wait for the T50. Not sure my wife will enjoy being a passenger quite so much...

I bet she will sit on your left side :-)

[SSO]

LotusJas said:

vanman1936 said:

We all know the heritage of the F1, now T50; but why aren’t there more 3 seater sports, let alone super cars....surely a big differentiator in crowded sectors?

Speedtail too.

Also the SCG 004S is a 3 seater.

[sparta6]

Ferrari were there early doors with the Tre-Posti

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362196/three-...

[SSO]

sparta6 said:

Ferrari were there early doors with the Tre-Posti

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362196/three-...

I believe Ferrari made 2 of the 365Ps. If my memory is correct, this one was a no sale at auction.

[minimalist]

SSO said:

sparta6 said:

Ferrari were there early doors with the Tre-Posti

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362196/three-...

I believe Ferrari made 2 of the 365Ps. If my memory is correct, this one was a no sale at auction.

It was featured on an episode of Chasing Classic Cars. Unsold at auction but I think was sold shortly afterwards to the highest bidder.

[sparta6]

minimalist said:

SSO said:

sparta6 said:

Ferrari were there early doors with the Tre-Posti

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362196/three-...

I believe Ferrari made 2 of the 365Ps. If my memory is correct, this one was a no sale at auction.

It was featured on an episode of Chasing Classic Cars. Unsold at auction but I think was sold shortly afterwards to the highest bidder.

Interesting, presumably Ferrari found there was little demand hence the very limited "run".
Personally I like it.

I witnessed GM glide in and out of his F1 with those long legs. My attempt was far less graceful

[SSO]

sparta6 said:

minimalist said:

SSO said:

sparta6 said:

Ferrari were there early doors with the Tre-Posti

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362196/three-...

I believe Ferrari made 2 of the 365Ps. If my memory is correct, this one was a no sale at auction.

It was featured on an episode of Chasing Classic Cars. Unsold at auction but I think was sold shortly afterwards to the highest bidder.

Interesting, presumably Ferrari found there was little demand hence the very limited "run".
Personally I like it.

I witnessed GM glide in and out of his F1 with those long legs. My attempt was far less graceful

I don't think Ferrari actually tried to sell them. It was more of a design project.

[henrycrun]

I've always thought that Lotus or similar could have had a FWD ragtop with a 3 seater tadpole cabin.
The rear passenger sits centrally with feet between the front seats. No need to sell up when the baby arrives.

Not sure where the handbrake goes...