How much head/leg room could i gain in with bucket seats?

[bigfatnick]

Hi all,

i've been mulling over my next car for a while, and whilst something with a v8 is what i really want, its not really practical, everything points towards me getting an mx5. The problem i have is, i'm 6foot3 tall, which isn't that tall, but i'm also 18 stone, and its kind of all over, not just on the belly, so i'm kinda just, well, huge.

ive sat in a few, i seem to remember the mk1's meaning my knee's were wedged against the wheel, and in the mk2 i sat in, i had the same, only with the door handle being pressed against my right leg. So, i did some research, and i saw that people fit lotus elise seats, but i really fancy a fixed bucket, mainly so i can use it in competitions if it takes my fancy.

So, what i'm asking, has anyone fitted a fixed bucket seat to their mx5, how much head and leg room did you gain? And if i was to get a roll cage fitted, could i still put the seats ALL the way back?

Thanks

Nick

[kevham]

I'm afraid you are going to struggle. I'm 6' and 16 stone and I managed to squeeze into a Sparco Sprint but I couldn't get it in a comfy position in the car. I couldn't get it low enough and I couldn't get it far enough back with my Hard Dog roll-bar.

Your best option would be a Kirkey alumninium seat but it is not FIA approved so might not be suitable for some competition.

[iguana]

I've stock seats in mk1 (tho its is a California so they are a tiny bit diferent shape) & im 6'4 & 2 stone lighter that you but there is tons of room, does have aftermarket momo steering wheel tho.

[skinny]

with any fixed back bucket you are really going to struggle to gain any more head and leg room. i've bolted mine (sparco corsa, fibreglass shell seat) directly to the floor and still i seem to have about the same room as stock.

i think the elise seat is really the only way to get more room

[redgriff500]

I have tried many and currently have Elise seats and mates several inches and stone smaller than you say its too tight.

Sorry you're too big for MX5 delights... maybe a 944 ?

[redgriff500]

iguana said:

I've stock seats in mk1 (tho its is a California so they are a tiny bit diferent shape)

Different shape seats ?

I thought it was basically the paint and wheels, whats different about the seats ?

[bigfatnick]

thanks guys

quote=redgriff500]I have tried many and currently have Elise seats and mates several inches and stone smaller than you say its too tight.

Sorry you're too big for MX5 delights... maybe a 944 ?
[/quote]

shame yeah, 944's dont really do anything for me, that and i can only imagine one of the ones in my budget would be a dog, plus repairs must be stupid on them...

I guess it's back to looking at bmw 3 series' with choice chassis modifications or going silly and spending way over the odds on a corolla ae86.