Max driver height ?
Discussion
Hi all,
Sorry if the subject has been done to death - I'm sure it has although I couldn't find anything with the Search tool - but here you go :
How tall do you think a person can be to fit/seat properly in a Caterham without too many comfort issues ?
How does a height of 6"2 sound like ?
Thanks much in advance.
Sorry if the subject has been done to death - I'm sure it has although I couldn't find anything with the Search tool - but here you go :
How tall do you think a person can be to fit/seat properly in a Caterham without too many comfort issues ?
How does a height of 6"2 sound like ?
Thanks much in advance.
I'm 6'5" (18 stone) and have fitted in a superlight R (with the seat removed) and replaced with a very dense foam (like a karrimat). This was fine (with standard floor) - the ride is even more 'direct' than many on here will have experienced - pick your route carefully if not using it on a track. It's like driving a kart - literally!. The steering wheel was also on a removable boss, which tends to bring the wheel closer to the driver to allow some room for knees, etc.
My size 13s had to be clad in race boots, but with the pedals on their furthest setting away from the driver this is fine - just got to be careful on heel 'n' toe downchanges, you have your foot 'square' on the brake (not the case in normal cars).
As has been mentioned already, the floorpan can be dropped about 50mm at the drivers seat part of the wheelbase. This drop is then carried forward to roughly the dash area, then tapered back up to meet the chassis around the pedalbox area. I believe this is what they do to lower the C of G in the race cars. The SV feels very strange after this - like getting out of a car with a bucket seat into something with no lateral support!
My size 13s had to be clad in race boots, but with the pedals on their furthest setting away from the driver this is fine - just got to be careful on heel 'n' toe downchanges, you have your foot 'square' on the brake (not the case in normal cars).
As has been mentioned already, the floorpan can be dropped about 50mm at the drivers seat part of the wheelbase. This drop is then carried forward to roughly the dash area, then tapered back up to meet the chassis around the pedalbox area. I believe this is what they do to lower the C of G in the race cars. The SV feels very strange after this - like getting out of a car with a bucket seat into something with no lateral support!
). I'm 6'2" and have a further 2-3" of seat adjustment with leather seats. The SV has by far the most leg room, at least length ways, of any car I've driven. First up, if you can make yourself fit in a std 7, don't buy an SV.
SV's are (VERY) lovely cars, but you lose a lot of intimacy with the car unless you are VERY big. I couldn't believe how much more room there was in them, and with a car like a 7, this isn't necessarily a good thing.
Size wise, it all depends on your leg to height ratio. If you have especially long legs, you may have trouble, but at 6'2" you should be OK.
I'm 6'4" with a 36" inside leg (quite long I think). I fit very nicely, but:
1) I have only a thin bench seat (comparable to a individually made foam seat as you're practically on the floor - still v.comfy though).
2) I have a 250mm removable wheel. It *just* clears my knees.
3) I have the pedals on the farthest of the three settings (may be just two settings I think on cars older than 95).
4) At my heaviest a couple of yrs ago (18st) I needed several shoe horns, 4 pots of vaseline and couldn't wear a coat when driving to get in
Only thing worth easing up on the food for IMO, though at 14.5st I now feel a bit loose in the car
Check all three things before giving up. I sat in lots of cars before finding one that worked. And boy was it worth it
SV's are (VERY) lovely cars, but you lose a lot of intimacy with the car unless you are VERY big. I couldn't believe how much more room there was in them, and with a car like a 7, this isn't necessarily a good thing.
Size wise, it all depends on your leg to height ratio. If you have especially long legs, you may have trouble, but at 6'2" you should be OK.
I'm 6'4" with a 36" inside leg (quite long I think). I fit very nicely, but:
1) I have only a thin bench seat (comparable to a individually made foam seat as you're practically on the floor - still v.comfy though).
2) I have a 250mm removable wheel. It *just* clears my knees.
3) I have the pedals on the farthest of the three settings (may be just two settings I think on cars older than 95).
4) At my heaviest a couple of yrs ago (18st) I needed several shoe horns, 4 pots of vaseline and couldn't wear a coat when driving to get in
Only thing worth easing up on the food for IMO, though at 14.5st I now feel a bit loose in the car Check all three things before giving up. I sat in lots of cars before finding one that worked. And boy was it worth it
Caterhams & tall people are funny old things, at somat like 6ft3 & 15 stone I spent years convinced I'd never fit in one after experiences with mates kit cars like Strykers, older Westies & Duttons etc that with the seats they had fitted no way could I fit in.
However after trying a Caterham with a bench seat & wearing the slimmest shoes posible on my size 12s it was positivly roomy.
I have since driven a few cats & as long as the pedals are on max extention its fine, even with leather (S type i think they are called) seats & im hardly a compact fella (a detachable wheel is pretty much a must for me for ease of getting in & out tho)
The odd thing ref heights is that I'm pretty much the same height as Jeremy C who has tillets in his SLR, yet Ive tried to fit in a couple of Cats with them & I just can't fit as the seat is not far back enough, so it sort of depends where your length is distibuted i.e legs or body if that makes sence.
Its just a crying shame that the spec Caterham I want is so flippin' pricy
Tryed a quite new Westie the other day (1999 SEiW Zetec) not in the same leauge as a Cat in terms of agility & point & squirtability, felt as lacking in power as a 1.6k road sport too. It was only the one example I drove & it may have been set up quite softly for its mature owner, but over all I wasnt greatly impressed (quite tight inside with the leather seats too, but drivable without too much grief)
However after trying a Caterham with a bench seat & wearing the slimmest shoes posible on my size 12s it was positivly roomy.
I have since driven a few cats & as long as the pedals are on max extention its fine, even with leather (S type i think they are called) seats & im hardly a compact fella
(a detachable wheel is pretty much a must for me for ease of getting in & out tho) The odd thing ref heights is that I'm pretty much the same height as Jeremy C who has tillets in his SLR, yet Ive tried to fit in a couple of Cats with them & I just can't fit as the seat is not far back enough, so it sort of depends where your length is distibuted i.e legs or body if that makes sence.
Its just a crying shame that the spec Caterham I want is so flippin' pricy
Tryed a quite new Westie the other day (1999 SEiW Zetec) not in the same leauge as a Cat in terms of agility & point & squirtability, felt as lacking in power as a 1.6k road sport too. It was only the one example I drove & it may have been set up quite softly for its mature owner, but over all I wasnt greatly impressed (quite tight inside with the leather seats too, but drivable without too much grief)
Thanks again for the various comments.
The only seven lookalike I've tried to sit in in recent times is a Lotus Seven Series 1. There was no way I could fit in as my legs are too long
(rubystone : this is a sportscar forum here, so please keep correct and don't use rude words in the likes of Por*che
)
The only seven lookalike I've tried to sit in in recent times is a Lotus Seven Series 1. There was no way I could fit in as my legs are too long
(rubystone : this is a sportscar forum here, so please keep correct and don't use rude words in the likes of Por*che
)I actually sat in what I believe to be a bog standard car the other week and my long legs fit very comfortably (it wouldn't be possible to drive with the "hood" on though, but who cares about it anyway ?).
Long feet seem to be an issue though, but I don't think possible to really figure it out until I actually get to drive one.
Long feet seem to be an issue though, but I don't think possible to really figure it out until I actually get to drive one.
Blimey - purists would be very upset if you referred to a Lotus 7 Series 1 as a "Seven Lookalike". The Series 1 is THE original and is quite a rare (and valuable) beast. However, I would suggest that the Series 1 could not give you any inkling at all as to what modern Caterham Sevens are like.
As has been suggested, sit in as many Sevens as possible. The "comfort" level varies enormously between individual cars. The SV is a relatively new model (2000) and many 6ft plus drivers have successfully owned and driven standard cars. The one thing I would be most careful about is the height of the roll over bar. The standard bar as fitted by the factory is a pretty weedy affair and is invariably lower than the driver's head! If possible, try and get a Seven with an FIA Roll Over Bar or, even better, the "tall" FIA Roll Over Bar. The FIA bars are much more substantial. I've had an FIA bar fitted and I'm only 5 ft 6 ins tall.
An added bonus to having an FIA bar is that you will be allowed to take part in Seven Club organised track days (they insist on this). Also, if you are considering Sprinting or Hillclimbing the car, the FIA Bar is mandatory.
As has been suggested, sit in as many Sevens as possible. The "comfort" level varies enormously between individual cars. The SV is a relatively new model (2000) and many 6ft plus drivers have successfully owned and driven standard cars. The one thing I would be most careful about is the height of the roll over bar. The standard bar as fitted by the factory is a pretty weedy affair and is invariably lower than the driver's head! If possible, try and get a Seven with an FIA Roll Over Bar or, even better, the "tall" FIA Roll Over Bar. The FIA bars are much more substantial. I've had an FIA bar fitted and I'm only 5 ft 6 ins tall.
An added bonus to having an FIA bar is that you will be allowed to take part in Seven Club organised track days (they insist on this). Also, if you are considering Sprinting or Hillclimbing the car, the FIA Bar is mandatory.
Eric Mc said:
Blimey - purists would be very upset if you referred to a Lotus 7 Series 1 as a "Seven Lookalike". The Series 1 is THE original and is quite a rare (and valuable) beast.
Well ... "Seven lookalike" was actually the only term that then felt appropriate to me instead of some sort of Caterfieldvoortwhatever ...
Forgive me Chapman for I have sinned, etc etc ...
>> Edited by Thom on Wednesday 14th April 17:52
As I've said before (possibly here too), there are Sevens and Seven lookalikes. All Lotuses and Caterhams are true Sevens. Westfields, Birkins, Sylvas, Dankevoorts, Tigers, etc etc are lookalilkes or "Sevenesque".
To be honest, I love them all (especially the Birkin - which is evry bit as good as any Seven made by anyone) but the Lotus and Caterhams are the originals.
To be honest, I love them all (especially the Birkin - which is evry bit as good as any Seven made by anyone) but the Lotus and Caterhams are the originals.
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