A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Hi Everyone, I have been researching buying a new Elise and I am really close to a purchase. I am just curious how tall or short people are that are driving the car. I am 5 foot maybe a little over, and I have always driven Corvettes both C5'S, but I have always had to get an automatic because its a long stretch to put down the clutch to the floor and was never really comfortable. I was amazingly surprised at how short the clutch throw is on the Elise and when I drove it for the 10 minutes I got to drive it, I was pleasantly surprised... I felt pretty comfortable... I felt like I might want to put a cushion behind me just to give me a little more room but then I thought maybe my leg felt tired and wierd because its been so long since I have driven a standard shift. Or maybe under me just to give me an inch up and forward... probably not necessary though... Then my concern of course was the airbag, the manual says to make sure there is 10 inches between you and the bag... I didn't measure it or anything. Anyhow what are people's thoughts? Any 5 foot folks driving this car?
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I'm 5 feet 5/6 inches and I don't have problems. For racing I scoot the seat up pretty far. I don't think there's a way around the air bag issue for you though.
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My wife is about 5ft 1in and she can drive the Elise no problem. Although she does like a cushion to sit on because she thinks the stock seats are too hard.
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I have to put the seat all the way forward... it seems ok... thinking a small cushion or maybe one of those beaded things would make it perfect...
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My wife puts the seat all the way forward as well but she still seems plenty far from the airbag. Its not like she's 300lbs and pressing against the steering wheel
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Total height is not the issue, but inseam is. I am 5'3" with 26" inseam. I followed instructors' advice and raised my seat 3/4" for Auto-X. The seat does not go all the way back and under the roll hoop any more but I don't let anyone else drive my car.
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My 5'5" co-pilot with the 26.5" inseam can drive it just fine. The one time I let him, at least.
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I'm 6'1" and getting in is a pain but once in the seat I'm comfortable. The sides of the seat press on my hips just a tiny bit but no big deal.
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Originally Posted by CALtd
Total height is not the issue, but inseam is. I am 5'3" with 26" inseam. I followed instructors' advice and raised my seat 3/4" for Auto-X. The seat does not go all the way back and under the roll hoop any more but I don't let anyone else drive my car.
Raising the seat would be perfect for me. Can you tell me how you did it? Who what where how? DO you have pictures? Are you still able to move the seat forward and back? I find that I can hit the clutch perfectly but just the very top of the steering wheel is annoying... I am sure i could get used to it, but I only need 3/4" - 1".... i hae the same inseam...
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You must be this tall to ride:
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Originally Posted by ascott
Raising the seat would be perfect for me. Can you tell me how you did it? Who what where how? DO you have pictures? Are you still able to move the seat forward and back? I find that I can hit the clutch perfectly but just the very top of the steering wheel is annoying... I am sure i could get used to it, but I only need 3/4" - 1".... i hae the same inseam...
I'm 5'2" with a 27" inseam. I keep the seat at 3 "clicks" from forward. Position is pretty good...a little more elbow bend than I'd like, but not bad.
Check out my previous post....
And this link...
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What do you mean in your post when you say you use bolts as spacers? I was thinking of using washers as indicated inthe picture... I want to try and minimize the safety factor and I dont need a whole much more height... just a little so i thought the spacers were a good idea, that way i can make it higher or lower based on what i want....
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M= 6'0"
I ride with the seat all the way back but when I run through the canyons I move it up four clicks. I do it because I have short legs and arms.......
Hope this helps
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Originally Posted by JLElise
I'm 5'2" with a 27" inseam. I keep the seat at 3 "clicks" from forward. Position is pretty good...a little more elbow bend than I'd like, but not bad.
Check out my previous post....
And this link...
Sheesh!
I am a full 10" taller with a 30.5 inseam...... But I'm sexy!
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Originally Posted by ascott
What do you mean in your post when you say you use bolts as spacers? I was thinking of using washers as indicated inthe picture... I want to try and minimize the safety factor and I dont need a whole much more height... just a little so i thought the spacers were a good idea, that way i can make it higher or lower based on what i want....
You'd think I'd know the difference between a "nut" and a "bolt". I used a hex nut instead of washers...less chance of movement with one nut as opposed to many washers.
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Originally Posted by JLElise
You'd think I'd know the difference between a "nut" and a "bolt". I used a hex nut instead of washers...less chance of movement with one nut as opposed to many washers.
Hahaha funny... so did your hex nut thread onto the bolt??? I dont have my car yet (next Friday delivery) is there a nut under the floor that I have to worry about or does it go straight into the floor? What size replacements did you buy??? Meaning I am sure you had to lengthen the bolt from the installed one... I am going to want about half to three quarters of an inch... and I was thinking of just doing the back of the drivers seat.. not anything with the front.
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Can someone show some pics of the seat raised and how they did the bolts/washers?
I'm 5'5" w/ 27" inseam and have not problems with pedals but I feel a bit too far down for daily driving purposes...I would really like more visibility.
Pics would be great - PLEASE!
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Originally Posted by ascott
Hahaha funny... so did your hex nut thread onto the bolt??? I dont have my car yet (next Friday delivery) is there a nut under the floor that I have to worry about or does it go straight into the floor? What size replacements did you buy??? Meaning I am sure you had to lengthen the bolt from the installed one... I am going to want about half to three quarters of an inch... and I was thinking of just doing the back of the drivers seat.. not anything with the front.
The hex nut doesn't thread onto the bolt, it's there only as a spacer. The existing or replacement bolt threads directly into the floorboard, no nut under the floor to worry about dropping. I just went to my local hardware store and purchased a longer bolt with the same thread pitch...I don't remember the length or size.
Also, as you suggest doing, I only raised the rear of the driver's seat to give a little lift to help see over the hood more.
I'll try to shoot some pix in the next couple of days.
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OK that would be great.. .thinking you used the hex nut just because its thicker thank the washers and would need less of them?