Lowered floor option - pro v cons (and an exhaust question)
Discussion
Just another one for general opinion. Im told that for anyone around 6' tall the lowered floor is an option worth considering. What would be the benefits, is it mainly that your head is out of the airstream, does the lowered floor create a significant compromise on ground clearance.
I know this is a slightly strange one but I feel that i have a better chance of 'selling' the caterham to my wife as a car we can both enjoy if I have the new sigma engined as the exhaust exits on the divers side and hence makes the passenger less 'deafened'. Is that a realistic consideration?
I know this is a slightly strange one but I feel that i have a better chance of 'selling' the caterham to my wife as a car we can both enjoy if I have the new sigma engined as the exhaust exits on the divers side and hence makes the passenger less 'deafened'. Is that a realistic consideration?
Lowered floor is mainly for safety purposes with how high you sit in relation to the roll bar.
A lowered floor will also get you out of the airstream a tad more if you have an aeroscreen.
Its personal choice really and all depends on what seats your fitting as well.
In terms of exhaust noise, Its a caterham so it wont be quiet.
If your going for something with side doors and a screen then you will be fine.
If your going for a superlight with half doors and no screen then you will feel all the elements but this is what makes a caterham and caterham and so much fun to drive.
A lowered floor will also get you out of the airstream a tad more if you have an aeroscreen.
Its personal choice really and all depends on what seats your fitting as well.
In terms of exhaust noise, Its a caterham so it wont be quiet.
If your going for something with side doors and a screen then you will be fine.
If your going for a superlight with half doors and no screen then you will feel all the elements but this is what makes a caterham and caterham and so much fun to drive.
I have the lowered floor on mine on the drivers side. To be honest my head with a helmet on was poking above the roll cage so it had to be done. It doesn't affect ground clearance to my knowledge as the sump is lower anyway so that's what grounds first. It's a good mod for taller people and why should shorties have all the fun?
For those of us who aren't vertically challenged a lowered floor allows us to look through the middle of the windscreen which is a bonus.
However before you go down that route you may want to consider different seating options. Tillets will get you pretty low down and there's always the option of floor mounted seats.
If you're generally OK in the car but find your head protruding over the top of the rollbar when wearing a helmet the alternative option is to go for an extra height rollbar instead of lowered floor. If this were a permanent fixture then your hood wouldn't fit although why that matters escapes me.
However before you go down that route you may want to consider different seating options. Tillets will get you pretty low down and there's always the option of floor mounted seats.
If you're generally OK in the car but find your head protruding over the top of the rollbar when wearing a helmet the alternative option is to go for an extra height rollbar instead of lowered floor. If this were a permanent fixture then your hood wouldn't fit although why that matters escapes me.
The only way to decide is to sit in a few cars with/without lowered floors.
I'm 5`11" and with most cars/seats i prefer to have a lowered floor.
The advantage is that the top edge of the windscreen doesn't block your vision as much and the top of your head is further out of the airstream. There's no real disadvantages except the extra cost and that small people might find it too low to drive!
Something else to check is that i *think* the seating position is fractionally higher in the new Sigma chassis. Not 100% on that one but heard something about it. Check with Caterham.
As for having a Sigma/driver's side exhaust for added passenger comfort, i really don't think it will make all that much difference......won't change wind and induction noise anyway.
I'm 5`11" and with most cars/seats i prefer to have a lowered floor.
The advantage is that the top edge of the windscreen doesn't block your vision as much and the top of your head is further out of the airstream. There's no real disadvantages except the extra cost and that small people might find it too low to drive!
Something else to check is that i *think* the seating position is fractionally higher in the new Sigma chassis. Not 100% on that one but heard something about it. Check with Caterham.
As for having a Sigma/driver's side exhaust for added passenger comfort, i really don't think it will make all that much difference......won't change wind and induction noise anyway.
Gingerbread Man said:
Is this a mod that Joe Public can do to his Caterham himself? Or is it part of the build and quite a bit of work to have changed?
If you have a drill to drill out all the old rivets, a sealant applicator and a rivet gun, it is very easy to fit yourself. Just make sure you take your time with preparing the seals, etc prior to mounting the lowered floor.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff