RWD trackdayable cars with loads of headroom?

[bigfatnick]

Hi all,

Being big and tall, I cant fit in my e36 3 series with a helmet on. the same goes for 200sx's, mx5's (screw the helmet, i just cant fit in them).

Anyways, i'm supposed to be doing a trackday in april, with a view to start getting quite serious into it. I bought a bucket seat and attempted to fit it today, and i need to have it so low that it just seems a smidge too low for my legs to be able to get to my pedals quite as i like.

So, it got me thinking, are there any rwd cars that offer loads of headroom, not slow (or not slower than my current e36 325 - 190ish bhp) and dont cost loads?

I was thinking v8 e34 5 series, but theyre not really exciting cars, more bargeish, and no doubt you cant buy as many upgrades for them, and i know its difficult to fit LSD's to them. plus all that weight cant be much great on tyres and breaks.

So, suggestions? I know all the 200sx's are too small to get in with a helmet, mx5's are just impossible, i cant get in them full stop, and even (out of my budget) modern rx-8s would have a roof too low to get in with a helmet.

Suggestions?

Cheers

Nick

[mmm-five]

You could do a stripped out e34 M5/535/540, but there's not loads of headroom anyway with a helmet on.

You'd need to put proper coilovers on to sort the handling, maybe even put the M5 brakes on to help it stop, but you should be able to get it down to below 1400kg - wouldn't be very road friendly though.

There are a couple who've done this on M5Board.com - http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e34-m5-discussion...

[groomi]

Any convertible has infinite headroom - just stop being a wuss wanting the roof up!

[bigfatnick]

groomi said:

Any convertible has infinite headroom - just stop being a wuss wanting the roof up!

i was actually thinking this. a 3 series, convertible with a cage to stiffen it all up, remove the softop and theres a load of weight saved. add a hardtop for the rest of time and i'd be onto as winner. But theyre a bit more expensive. All the usual softops have not enough leg room and knee to steering wheel issues, have auto gearboxes or are front wheel drive. At least all the ones i can think of.

[muckymotor]

[GreenV8S]

TVR V8S has a decent power to weight ratio, superb handling (when set up right) and was designed by somebody 6'4" tall. I'm 6'4" and with a bucket seat on the floor I can even get in there with the roof up and a helmet on.

[iguana]

e36 can have tons of headroom, BUT needs the sunroof removed, & the floor modified with seat mounting rails cut in, without that its just too tight to the cage for the tall.

Because of the way the bucket seats mount if you dont sort the foor out there is more headroom with regular seats than the buckets as you can get your bum lower with the tilt- I cope ok in my m3 with helmet on with stock m3 seats & its a sunroof car- im 6'4 btw

Edited by iguana on Sunday 22 February 21:00

[martin thomas]

Would it give you any more headroom if you took the headlining out??


martin

[bigfatnick]

iguana said:

e36 can have tons of headroom, BUT needs the sunroof removed, & the floor modified with seat mounting rails cut in, without that its just too tight to the cage for the tall.

Because of the way the bucket seats mount if you dont sort the foor out there is more headroom with regular seats than the buckets as you can get your bum lower with the tilt- I cope ok in my m3 with helmet on with stock m3 seats & its a sunroof car- im 6'4 btw

Cheers mate, i was thinking what you've confirmed, that if i decided to get a cage that my head would pretty much go where the cage goes.

I was planning on making my own mounts as i've heard the subframes you can buy for them often end up raising them. Infact, what i had mocked up today, had me sat low enough to avoid the roof, but i'll have to cut out a section of carpet and those vents that dont seem to do anything, they cirtainly dont blow air)

I'm an inch shorter than you (although 20 stone - and not just flab, i suppose i've got a big frame), and there is no way in hell i'd manage to get in with my helmet! I have no idea how you manage! Do the m3 seats go much lower? i cant imagine bmw making fully functioning seats that go much lower.

I was looking at the sunroof and it looks heavy (so deffo a reason to remove it) but i cant imagine gaining anything more than an inch by removing the roof and rooflining.


cheers mate

[groomi]

bigfatnick said:

...20 stone - and not just flab, i suppose i've got a big frame...

There is a large element of pot calling kettle in this jibe...

[bigfatnick]

groomi said:

bigfatnick said:

...20 stone - and not just flab, i suppose i've got a big frame...

There is a large element of pot calling kettle in this jibe...

haha, theres no doubt theres plenty of flab! i dont deny it! infact, i'm on the atkins diet at the mo, meat tastic. Its just if you say your 20 stone, people tend to think the fire brigade have to be called when you want to go to the shops, and i do more jumping about like a 12 year old than most mid 20's types.

But yeah, i'm a fatty, haha

[iguana]

bigfatnick said:

iguana said:

e36 can have tons of headroom, BUT needs the sunroof removed, & the floor modified with seat mounting rails cut in, without that its just too tight to the cage for the tall.

Because of the way the bucket seats mount if you dont sort the foor out there is more headroom with regular seats than the buckets as you can get your bum lower with the tilt- I cope ok in my m3 with helmet on with stock m3 seats & its a sunroof car- im 6'4 btw

Cheers mate, i was thinking what you've confirmed, that if i decided to get a cage that my head would pretty much go where the cage goes.

I was planning on making my own mounts as i've heard the subframes you can buy for them often end up raising them. Infact, what i had mocked up today, had me sat low enough to avoid the roof, but i'll have to cut out a section of carpet and those vents that dont seem to do anything, they cirtainly dont blow air)

I'm an inch shorter than you (although 20 stone - and not just flab, i suppose i've got a big frame), and there is no way in hell i'd manage to get in with my helmet! I have no idea how you manage! Do the m3 seats go much lower? i cant imagine bmw making fully functioning seats that go much lower.

I was looking at the sunroof and it looks heavy (so deffo a reason to remove it) but i cant imagine gaining anything more than an inch by removing the roof and rooflining.


cheers mate

To mount properly low you need to cut out more than just a bit of carpet, the crossmember on the floor needs to be cut into & mounting rails welded in, I'll find a pic for you & with that & sunroof loss the headroom gained is really massive. Its trackm3s car that ive sat in like this & the headroom was really excellent forget helmet, I could even wear a top hat

Its not ideal for me with stock m3 seats at all, but its do-able & better then many other cars & far better for me than caged m3s with buckets & regular bucket mounts, they are dangerous as my head is literally resting on the cage even without a helmet

[bigfatnick]

thanks mate!

[redtwin]

Can't see an E34 being particularly roomy. I am 6'4ish and found my E34 quite cramped. Is your E36 a coupe or saloon?. The coupes have less headroom by nearly an inch.

I currently have an E46 saloon and find it quite roomy even when I was weighing quite a bit more than 20 stone.

E46 saloon, strip the carpets and floor mount the racing seat (no sliders etc) and you should be OK. I don't know of any RWD cars with headroom that you would want to drive around a track. I recently did a driving day in a 360 and even slouching down as much as possible the helmet was still touching the headlining.

If I was buying a track thrasher I would be looking at a convertible with roll hoops and if need be, pour a foam seat directly on the floorboards.

[bigfatnick]

redtwin said:

Can't see an E34 being particularly roomy. I am 6'4ish and found my E34 quite cramped. Is your E36 a coupe or saloon?. The coupes have less headroom by nearly an inch.

I currently have an E46 saloon and find it quite roomy even when I was weighing quite a bit more than 20 stone.

E46 saloon, strip the carpets and floor mount the racing seat (no sliders etc) and you should be OK. I don't know of any RWD cars with headroom that you would want to drive around a track. I recently did a driving day in a 360 and even slouching down as much as possible the helmet was still touching the headlining.

If I was buying a track thrasher I would be looking at a convertible with roll hoops and if need be, pour a foam seat directly on the floorboards.

The reason i say e34, was that i remember my old one fit JUST right, but then i never even thought about getting in it with a helmet, so i'll sack that idea off. And to be honest, my research has led me to discover ways i can adapt mine! So thats cool, i can keep my existing car! However my mate had a boggo e46 320d se, and i seem to remember his being a little short of headroom. Mind, i would love a touring car style e46!

cheers mate, mines a coupe, and the saloon having more room thing is interesting to know!

thanks guys!

[dreamer75]

Widebody Caterham or Westfield?

[haircutmike]

TVR Chimaera with Elise seats.

6' 2", just fit in with roof on, I always use it on the track with the roof off, (so far)!

[eddyendo]

haircutmike said:

TVR Chimaera with Elise seats.

6' 2", just fit in with roof on, I always use it on the track with the roof off, (so far)!

I wouldn't want to roll your chim, I think you'd get a bit of a bad head acke !:-)

[haircutmike]

Don't worry, I always carry some asprin!
Roll bar actually touches underside of roof but targa panel is sculpted out for headroom, tadts!

[1]

You can make most cars work if you make the effort and don't need too much seat adjustment.

I am 6ft 5 and over 18 stone and fit in my MK1 MX5 just fine. With my helmet on my head is a good 2 inches under the cage. I simply put the seat as far back as it would go (on the bulk head) and bolted it straight to the floor!

Edited by 1 on Wednesday 25th February 00:16