difference between M-series and Vixen/grantura's/tuscan/grif

[GTRene]

Question, today I was looking at a TVR 2500M LHD just to see how such model would suit me, one was nearby, so had a look for such example.

It was a bit difficult to get behind the steering wheel, first feets under the pedals which are way out 'line'
and then try the pedals...gas, ok, clutch a bit strange and harsh? but then if you went for the brake pedal, your knee goes against the steering wheel, no matter what, I'm just 1.81 and not heavy, never thought a M-series would be like that...

My question, are all M-series cars like that? (I was in a LHD 2500M)

next question, how is that compared to the Vixen models 1 to 4 and or the Grantura models and or Griffith and Tuscans (pre 80)

Do those have the same space for your knee/leg, to the steering-wheel?

In the pictures it all looks fine, enough space from this angle but the reality is different.

[DAKOTAstorm]

I’m about 193cm with a ‘79 3000M. During rebuild I’ve moved pedal box back 6mm, fitted smallest diameter steering wheel I can, removed wood below runners and had an inch of foam removed from seat base. I still don’t comfortably fit but have adapted driving style to suit. My next move is to remove an inch of foam from the seat back. However I feel the only solution with a definitive outcome would be to remove an inch from my thigh bone and an inch from my shin bone!

I know others have lowered floors, fitted different pedal boxes and seats to find the right combination.

[Granturadriver]

In the Grantura it is basically narrower because the doors are shorter. The seat is firmly bolted and the outriggers prevent it from moving the seats even further back.

I have a large Triumph steering wheel, so the space for the legs is even more limited.

It's easier to ride in that car when you're 20 and under six feet. Unfortunately both do not apply to me.

[Moto]

I am 1.8m and have owned both a 1600M and Vixen S3.

The 1600M had the ignition key mounted on the steering column which if I recall correctly did interfere with my knee but not in any way that caused a problem. It just became natural to adjust leg position to suit.

When I purchased the Vixen it had the same ignition key mounted on the column , which is odd as every other Vixen I've seen have the ignition in the dash panel. One of the first jobs I did on the car was to relocate it to the dashboard.

Apart from this I've always felt very comfortable driving both cars. They are both RHD though. Also the Vixen seat is mounted on non-standard seat runners (early MGB) which may be lower than the original type or allow greater rearward travel.

I've just checked the gap between leg and steering wheel and there is approx an 8cm gap at the closest point when using the brake pedal.

Hope that is useful.

Moto

[anonymous-user]

Floor mounted pedal box, flat bottom steering wheel.

[GTRene]

DAKOTAstorm said:

I’m about 193cm with a ‘79 3000M. During rebuild I’ve moved pedal box back 6mm, fitted smallest diameter steering wheel I can, removed wood below runners and had an inch of foam removed from seat base. I still don’t comfortably fit but have adapted driving style to suit. My next move is to remove an inch of foam from the seat back. However I feel the only solution with a definitive outcome would be to remove an inch from my thigh bone and an inch from my shin bone!

I know others have lowered floors, fitted different pedal boxes and seats to find the right combination.

193cm :-) that must give you headaches sometimes, say over bumps ;-) its low and the roofline is nearby, even with my 181cm.

6mm or 60? ok its a bit, but would still be a bit struggling, at least with LHD, smaller steering would help a bit I can imagine.

ofcourse LHD or RHD makes a big difference with braking, LHD is braking with your brake leg against the transmission tunnel and pedals far to the left, because of the wide tunnel, in a RHD its way different with your leg against the 'door' and more straight, so I guess then your free from the steering wheel when braking.

Maybe some LHD M owners have also such experiences?
I can not remember (also long time ago, which does not help my poor brains hah) having such things in my ex TVR Griffith 4.3 BV or LHD V8S , but then those are a bit bigger I guess?

Granturadriver said:

In the Grantura it is basically narrower because the doors are shorter. The seat is firmly bolted and the outriggers prevent it from moving the seats even further back.

I have a large Triumph steering wheel, so the space for the legs is even more limited.

It's easier to ride in that car when you're 20 and under six feet. Unfortunately both do not apply to me.

Narrower getting in and out I don't have such big problems with I guess, for me its the pedals so far to the left (LHD) but what surprised me, when braking the right knee firm against the steering wheel, I guess all LHD M series will the have such?

But I hope...the older Vixen's and or Grantura's, the dash/steering column? could be a bit higher ? or the steering kolum needs to be a bit replaced to the left in such LHD oldie, hm...

Moto said:

I am 1.8m and have owned both a 1600M and Vixen S3.

The 1600M had the ignition key mounted on the steering column which if I recall correctly did interfere with my knee but not in any way that caused a problem. It just became natural to adjust leg position to suit.

When I purchased the Vixen it had the same ignition key mounted on the column , which is odd as every other Vixen I've seen have the ignition in the dash panel. One of the first jobs I did on the car was to relocate it to the dashboard.

Apart from this I've always felt very comfortable driving both cars. They are both RHD though. Also the Vixen seat is mounted on non-standard seat runners (early MGB) which may be lower than the original type or allow greater rearward travel.

I've just checked the gap between leg and steering wheel and there is approx an 8cm gap at the closest point when using the brake pedal.

Hope that is useful.

Moto

thanks, hm, so you RHD drivers have more luck, right leg braking is next to door and pretty normal use, sadly LHD means big tunnel next your brake leg and so your leg is pushed to the left, also so are the pedals which means, to the left, to the steering wheel...aaaargh :-)

so, a 1600M and Vixen, ok RHD, but did you noticed any further difference? meaning hight steering wheel from the floor? does that from a Vixen sit a bit higher or is that the same?
ofcourse a flattened steering wheel could help easier in and out, or maybe a pretty deep-ish steering wheel could also help, more space behind the wheel for your knee's

TVRMs said:

Floor mounted pedal box, flat bottom steering wheel.

hm, guess those will help as well, otherwise your shoes get a bit stuck under the pedals when getting in, ok you get used to it and adapt even more to the car, but it surprised me a bit in the LHD version.

I do not hope say a LHD Griffith 200 would be the same with braking/space, that would/could crush owning such car which is on my bucket list.

Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 17th September 22:08

[GTRene]

ah, I've made a small 2500M vs Griffith 200 and sort like.

this griff does not have the extra panel the way the M series have, and so in LHD your right knee can go more to the right and so stays away from the steering wheel I guess, it a small different set-up, of course you can also play with say a deep-dish steering wheel, so more space behind the wheel.

I guess the Vixen also have a bit more knee space for LHD cars, since those dash panels are mostly flat.

[catfishdb]

I have a 2500M LHD body. I'm 183cm. with a long torso. When purchased, the steering wheel was not centred on the gauges. I have since redone the dash panel to align the gauges with the steering column. I have removed the ignition key from the column because of knee interference. Moved it to the dash panel.

I have since replaced the seats with '06 Lotus Elise seats. With the slides mounted directly to the floor. My head just, and I mean just, clears the sunroof hardware.

The pedal box is skewed to the left. But I have gotten used to it. Only issue is there is nowhere to rest your left foot. On longer journeys I find myself tucking it under the clutch pedal which never feels right.

Also installed a Momo Personal steering wheel in a smaller diameter to give me more knee room.

Quite comfy now. Contemplating a full cage recently. I sometimes get a wee bit freaked out on the highway when a large truck pulls up along side and I have a clear view of the brake caliper and all the greasy bits. New cage might make getting in/out a smidge more challenging.

Arthur

[phazed]

I had a lovely vixen a couple of years ago but didn't keep it any longer than about a year.

I couldn't get used to the driving position. I am 1.88 in metric with a longish back.

I found the pedals skewed to one side, the steering wheel constantly rubbing on my knees and the general ergonomics of the driving position pretty poor.

Compared to the vixen my Chimaera with Elise seats is like a luxury car with loads of legroom and everything falls into hand as it should do.

I know my vixen was 1970 and less thought was put into the ergonomics but it really was an uncomfortable and unpleasant drive. Couple that with the harsh ride and excessive internal noise and it had to go.

Such a shame, as it was a beautiful car but I couldn't warrant keeping it just to look at it in the garage!

[griffer500]

You can lower the floor like we did.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Amateur-Spor...

[GTRene]

phazed said:

Compared to the vixen my Chimaera with Elise seats is like a luxury car with loads of legroom and everything falls into hand as it should do.

I can imagine that a bit, I could not remember having such 'knee/leg' problem in the later Griffith or Chimaera, just looked back to Chimaera interior, the legs are more behind/under the steering wheel, I guess thats why :-)
So if you then have to move your leg for say the braking pedal, your knee/leg stays more behind/under the steering.

The Elise seats would be a update I guess, better holding and lower, especially when you're above 1.80mtr

agreed, those Vixen's from s2 version's look lovely, compact, classic etc, those things are not only the most important things :-)

[GTRene]

catfishdb said:

I have a 2500M LHD body. I'm 183cm. with a long torso. When purchased, the steering wheel was not centred on the gauges. I have since redone the dash panel to align the gauges with the steering column. I have removed the ignition key from the column because of knee interference. Moved it to the dash panel.

I have since replaced the seats with '06 Lotus Elise seats. With the slides mounted directly to the floor. My head just, and I mean just, clears the sunroof hardware.

The pedal box is skewed to the left. But I have gotten used to it. Only issue is there is nowhere to rest your left foot. On longer journeys I find myself tucking it under the clutch pedal which never feels right.

Also installed a Momo Personal steering wheel in a smaller diameter to give me more knee room.

Quite comfy now. Contemplating a full cage recently. I sometimes get a wee bit freaked out on the highway when a large truck pulls up along side and I have a clear view of the brake caliper and all the greasy bits. New cage might make getting in/out a smidge more challenging.

Arthur

I've seen more like that, the wheel not centered to the gauges, guess thats normal? or would they have put the steering wheel more to the left so you had a little bit more leg/knee space?

I've also seen 2500M without that lower console panel which goes a bit into the cabin, like my example picture some inputs above.
Those had the same sort styling wood dash like say some older Vixen's etc, so straight, meaning a bit more space for your knee to move, like this 2500M or did they make it after the factory that way because more space?



this 2500M has a bit deep-dish steering wheel, which can give a bit more legroom under/behind the steering I reckon.



I guess if you really wanted, some things can be done like some here say and or did to their TVR's
of course the (in a LHD) pedals way offset can not change, so I guess with such you then have yo live with

[Slow M]

Rene,

I’m glad to know, that you’re finally going to get into a TVR. Great news!

Ingress and egress can be relatively simple, in an M, especially if you’re in decent physical condition. Good leg strength helps, as you can start with a one legged knee bend, whilst stuffing the raised, straightened leg (right, in a LHD car) into the footwell, under the steering wheel. Meanwhile couching the upper body ensures that the head doesn’t hit the door aperture. Pulling the left leg in requires a little abdominal strength.


The skewed driving position may be awkward, but it becomes “normal” very quickly.

Very excited for you.
Best,
Bernard.

[SRT Hellcat]

The Griffith and I guess therefore the Grantura is 1" narrower on the left hand side of the car between the tunnel and the door. So you will have more width in a RHD car

[GTRene]

SRT Hellcat said:

The Griffith and I guess therefore the Grantura is 1" narrower on the left hand side of the car between the tunnel and the door. So you will have more width in a RHD car

also not hindered by the console when lifting your leg from the gas pedal for braking, especially if the console has that 45 degree angle thing that a flat dash to console does not have.

Of course you can get used to it, but for now not so much into the M-series, although some come with the flat dash/console.

a few weeks back I sat in a AMG GTS edition 1, just in a showroom, I 'hate' all extra's and stuff (mostly because I do not understand most and to much for my old brains) but boy was that a lovely interior, felt like my car with great seats, although the hood looked very long from the drivers seat, but the seats and the console ala jet fighter, wow deeply impressed by it.

Also the mostly aluminum body/chassis with also some magnesium etc, and ow...more than 700nm torque and V8 and 510hp + with some tuning around 600hp and 800nm, what more could I need (ah money) still a bit expensive, but such car is now on my bucket list as well.
and ow, that fine chunky steering wheel felt also perfect in my hands, it was a bad decision to go to the showroom :-)

example from such edition 1 interior

[Moto]

Just not seeing how that has anything in common with a TVR Afraid it doesn't float my boat even if it does have 510bhp. Bet it's a dull to drive 'cause there'll be a million ECU tricks being played every second to confuse any input the driver makes (or doesn't).

Moto