Hankering for an MX5

[LukeSi]

Never really paid much attention to MX5s due to their small size and my, well, large size. However after having a play in a couple on track (managed to squeeze myself in) I've got a real hankering for one.
First off I'm 6 foot 6 so other than the typical tall mods (Smaller steering wheel, (I believe the standard Momo on early cars is 370mm?) and a foamectomy) is there anything else that can make them more accomdating for me? To be fair I've never sat in one with the tall mods done and in standard ones my head is above the A-Pillar and my knees are against the wheel.

I was bidding on one that went for £690 on ebay with no rust and 12 months MOT but didn't win it sadly.

[Rickyy]

LukeSi said:

Never really paid much attention to MX5s due to their small size and my, well, large size. However after having a play in a couple on track (managed to squeeze myself in) I've got a real hankering for one.
First off I'm 6 foot 6 so other than the typical tall mods (Smaller steering wheel, (I believe the standard Momo on early cars is 370mm?) and a foamectomy) is there anything else that can make them more accomdating for me? To be fair I've never sat in one with the tall mods done and in standard ones my head is above the A-Pillar and my knees are against the wheel.

I was bidding on one that went for £690 on ebay with no rust and 12 months MOT but didn't win it sadly.

I'm 6'4" and haven't done the tall mods, it's a tight squeeze though!

I want to remove the interior door handles and replace them with straps, as that's where I struggle for room, if I'm wearing my work trousers, with knee pads, I can't get my hand past my knee when steering!

Also, take "no rust" with a pinch of salt, especially if looking at mk2s.

[mikefacel]

I'm looking for one too, but have become dejected. Been looking for a decent Mk2/2.5 but the sheer number with tin worm is ridiculous. Even if the seller says the car hasn't got any, it has. And that's just on the sills/arches/boot - seems impossible to tell if chassis rails are rotten without getting them on a ramp, which means buying private is very risky. I haven't got too much of a problem with rust, as long as price is low enough for me to get it sorted. Unfortunately, it seems prices are going up now the sun is out. So thinking of abandoning the search and waiting until the autumn and a load more hit the market. Or just getting something else altogether (road and occasional track use), although an MX5 does seem like the ideal choice.

[Gilhooligan]

People have put bucket seats in and bolted them straight to the floor with no runners. This helps to get you sitting lower.
Mk1's don't suffer chassis rail rust.

Edited by Gilhooligan on Sunday 24th May 19:39

[GravelBen]

Gilhooligan said:

People have put bucket seats in and bogeyed ten straight to the floor with no runners. This helps to get you sitting lower.

Even on the standard rails some buckets are much lower than standard seats - I had a Momo T-frame bolted to the standard rails in mine - it felt like I was sitting on the floor as the seat base dips down between the rails.

[drgoatboy]

Seat, steering wheel and door handle as others have mentioned. But be wary of some seats on standard runners as they actually sit higher. The standard runners are quite narrow so for example elise seats (which I'm currently fitting to mine on custom rails) are designed so the base of the seat sits between the runners, no can do on standard rails...

Take the foot rest out (left foot, 2 bolts) gives you loads more room to stretch that leg out.

You could get a seat much lower if it wasn't for the lumps and bumps on the floor which the standard seat attaches to. Some have cut these out and welded the floor flat but I have no idea what that would do for strength or safety....

[MX-5 Lazza]

Actually, Elise seats can be fitted to the stock runners so that the base hangs between the runners, almost touching the floor. I had them on my car, S1 and then S2 seats. I found that after fitting them I had absolutely masses of space, especially legroom. I could push them back so that my feet were at least 6" from the pedals. I'm 6'2".

I have MX5 Mk3 seats in my Mk2.5 now which only give me a touch more space than the stock Mk2.5 seats but they hold me in way better. Had to sell the Elise seats as Mrs Lazza said they were uncomfortable, otherwise I'd still have them.