7 type for big person suggestions please

7 type for big person suggestions please

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Discussion

git-r

Original Poster:

969 posts

206 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Hi All,

I'm finding myself really falling for Westfield/caterham type cars and was hoping some of you may be able to help with suggestions for one that might fit.

I'm nearly 6"4", 36" waist and 34" leg but wide across my shoulders.

Years ago I went to the caterham factory to try an SV version for bigger people but was really disappointed to find it didn't fit. My head would've been the first point of contact if I'd rolled it and my knees were wedged in too tight to the steering wheel.

I know very little about the different makes but ideally would need one that could be used on road, have full wet gear and heater, and also be great on track.

I have a budget of 10 - 15k but would of course be happier to pay less!

Thanks in advance smile


beerexpressman

240 posts

144 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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Lego Viento perhaps?

beerexpressman

240 posts

144 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Luego Viento. Damn autocorrect.

spaximus

4,289 posts

260 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
The Luego was certainly the bigger car of that type. I would say with your size if you went and tried a Westfield wide body but make sure it has the lowered floor pans and floor mounted pedals, you would be okay.

I am shorter than you but have a long back with a 44 inch chest and I fit fine. All are a squeeze with the roof up and no doubt are entertaining to get in with the hood up as the doors are all small. Some of the Caterham boys have a zipped roof flap so they can get in and then zip it in place.

The Luego is a good enough car but not in the same league as Caterham or Westfield especially if you want to use on track.

Go to Stoneligh next weekend and you will find lots of owners will be willing to let you sit in their cars and try for size

Chris-S

282 posts

95 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
spaximus said:
The Luego was certainly the bigger car of that type. I would say with your size if you went and tried a Westfield wide body but make sure it has the lowered floor pans and floor mounted pedals, you would be okay.

I am shorter than you but have a long back with a 44 inch chest and I fit fine. All are a squeeze with the roof up and no doubt are entertaining to get in with the hood up as the doors are all small. Some of the Caterham boys have a zipped roof flap so they can get in and then zip it in place.

The Luego is a good enough car but not in the same league as Caterham or Westfield especially if you want to use on track.

Go to Stoneligh next weekend and you will find lots of owners will be willing to let you sit in their cars and try for size
A friend of mine who is best described as a larger gentleman has recently bought a Viento and he fits fine. I can't speak to the qualities though as I've never even seen one the metal.

One of the funniest things I have ever heard came from the innocent mouth of a small child one day as I clambered out of the Westfield with the roof on. "Oh mummy, how on earth did that big fat man fit in that tiny little car" So I absolutely concur with the comments about access with the roof up!

spaximus

4,289 posts

260 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Chris-S said:
spaximus said:
The Luego was certainly the bigger car of that type. I would say with your size if you went and tried a Westfield wide body but make sure it has the lowered floor pans and floor mounted pedals, you would be okay.

I am shorter than you but have a long back with a 44 inch chest and I fit fine. All are a squeeze with the roof up and no doubt are entertaining to get in with the hood up as the doors are all small. Some of the Caterham boys have a zipped roof flap so they can get in and then zip it in place.

The Luego is a good enough car but not in the same league as Caterham or Westfield especially if you want to use on track.

Go to Stoneligh next weekend and you will find lots of owners will be willing to let you sit in their cars and try for size
A friend of mine who is best described as a larger gentleman has recently bought a Viento and he fits fine. I can't speak to the qualities though as I've never even seen one the metal.

One of the funniest things I have ever heard came from the innocent mouth of a small child one day as I clambered out of the Westfield with the roof on. "Oh mummy, how on earth did that big fat man fit in that tiny little car" So I absolutely concur with the comments about access with the roof up!
My first Westfield was a narrow body version. I drove from Bristol to Elvington as I had promised to do a trackday with a mate there. Fine going up but the weather coming back next day was monsoon so reluctantly put the hood on.

The car had a cut down mini fuel tank that they used then, which held about 5 gallons, so every other motorway service was the same ritual. Stop take off harness then crawl out on all fours. Flop around like a big ole Tuna and try to look cool whilst filling up. Realise everyone was waiting to see you get back in, which was a reverse sort of manoeuvre of the getting out. Then by the time you have fastened the door, fitted the harness, the window is now steamed up.

Start up and wait for the heater to breath like an asthmatic goat and clear enough to drive off. Great fun afterwards

Frankthered

1,630 posts

187 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
spaximus said:
Chris-S said:
spaximus said:
The Luego was certainly the bigger car of that type. I would say with your size if you went and tried a Westfield wide body but make sure it has the lowered floor pans and floor mounted pedals, you would be okay.

I am shorter than you but have a long back with a 44 inch chest and I fit fine. All are a squeeze with the roof up and no doubt are entertaining to get in with the hood up as the doors are all small. Some of the Caterham boys have a zipped roof flap so they can get in and then zip it in place.

The Luego is a good enough car but not in the same league as Caterham or Westfield especially if you want to use on track.

Go to Stoneligh next weekend and you will find lots of owners will be willing to let you sit in their cars and try for size
A friend of mine who is best described as a larger gentleman has recently bought a Viento and he fits fine. I can't speak to the qualities though as I've never even seen one the metal.

One of the funniest things I have ever heard came from the innocent mouth of a small child one day as I clambered out of the Westfield with the roof on. "Oh mummy, how on earth did that big fat man fit in that tiny little car" So I absolutely concur with the comments about access with the roof up!
My first Westfield was a narrow body version. I drove from Bristol to Elvington as I had promised to do a trackday with a mate there. Fine going up but the weather coming back next day was monsoon so reluctantly put the hood on.

The car had a cut down mini fuel tank that they used then, which held about 5 gallons, so every other motorway service was the same ritual. Stop take off harness then crawl out on all fours. Flop around like a big ole Tuna and try to look cool whilst filling up. Realise everyone was waiting to see you get back in, which was a reverse sort of manoeuvre of the getting out. Then by the time you have fastened the door, fitted the harness, the window is now steamed up.

Start up and wait for the heater to breath like an asthmatic goat and clear enough to drive off. Great fun afterwards
Does anybody do heated screens for Westfields yet? :grin:

OP, Spaximus is right, your best bet is to go to Stoneleigh next Sunday or Monday (Sunday probably slightly busier?) to the National Kit Car Show - It's near Coventry and you'll get to see everything you need and speak to anyone you want to!

Chris-S

282 posts

95 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Westfield actually do a heated screen now...although how effective it is I have no idea. We still have full weather gear but I really don't much care for driving it with the roof on these days. It feels noisy and claustrophobic.

Yep, 100% get yourself to Stoneleigh next weekend - best place to see pretty much the entire kit car market in one place plus hundreds of examples of actual builds.

Must make the effort this year - not been for a while now.

ikarl

3,739 posts

206 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
not exactly 7-type, more Atom-esque but in a similar situation to yourself, I went for a MEV Exocet - based on the MX5 there's plenty of room for us 6ft plus'ers

mines is turbocharged so 370hp/tonne and can keep with pretty much all on track except the Caterham R500s (or 620's etc.)

I'll send you a pm

git-r

Original Poster:

969 posts

206 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Huge thanks for the helpful replies chaps and also for the lol at picturing the fuel stop smile

Stoneliegh would be a great idea but unfortunately I can't make it.

The Exocet sounds ace, thanks for the pm, will take a look.

Cheers all smile

greengreenwood7

806 posts

198 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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a Luego viento would generally offer plenty of room ( as has been said above ).....as for quality imho its the same with any kit car ( discounting caterhams from this comment), they're only as good as the owner that bolted them/fettled them....there's plenty of kits including westies that are less than perfect.

performance/handling of a Viento....having driven alongside a pal that has one for the last few years if they're set up right then there's no reason why the can't be pedaled extremely rapidly. There's one coming up soon on the skcc site ( the one alluded to above ), guessing it may end up on pheads too along the way.

MikeGoodwin

3,470 posts

124 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
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Theres a nice Luego viento one ebay at the moment. Bit large for my garage. But looks good to me.

Lordbenny

8,664 posts

226 months

Thursday 4th May 2017
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You should be ok in a Westy SEiW....maybe a Dax 7 would be more appropriate.

DJT

231 posts

168 months

Friday 5th May 2017
quotequote all
git-r said:
Hi All,

I'm finding myself really falling for Westfield/caterham type cars and was hoping some of you may be able to help with suggestions for one that might fit.

I'm nearly 6"4", 36" waist and 34" leg but wide across my shoulders.

Years ago I went to the caterham factory to try an SV version for bigger people but was really disappointed to find it didn't fit. My head would've been the first point of contact if I'd rolled it and my knees were wedged in too tight to the steering wheel.

I know very little about the different makes but ideally would need one that could be used on road, have full wet gear and heater, and also be great on track.

I have a budget of 10 - 15k but would of course be happier to pay less!

Thanks in advance smile
This is the car for you: http://southernkitcars.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4...

Having toured around Europe (Black Forest, Vosges Mountains, etc.) with this car and its owner, I can confidently state that this is a very reliable car, with great performance and sweet soundtrack.

finishing touch

809 posts

174 months

Monday 8th May 2017
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You could always scratch build your own. It would be made to measure then.

Paul G

Darryl247W

564 posts

130 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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You hardly find one now, but didn't Robin Hood do a 'Friar Tuck' version for the larger gentleman at some point?

sundown

36 posts

119 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
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hi i have a luego viento for sale with a chevy small block 5.7 engine only done 2500 miles