Too Short? - LotusTalk

karajabola · 09-26-2009, 08:04 AM

That's right, an exact opposite of the infinitum 'too tall' posts around here...

Big day yesterday. I finally got my wife to drive the Elise. Mostly just stop-starting in an empty parking lot to learn how to drive a manual transmission. What surprised me most was with the seat all the way forward, she couldn't quite get the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. She was still able to engage and disengage the clutch, but from my angle she seemed uncomfortably close to the engagement point when she was pushing it as far as she could. I think that took away a bit from her enjoyment of the "first lesson". The steering wheel also affected her forward visibility.

She's 5' 2". Anyone else around this height have a problem depressing the clutch fully? I was just amazed at this, given how small the car is. I think she's going to need 2 pillows to drive it effectively, one behind her and one under her!

407Driver · 09-26-2009, 08:50 AM

My GF is 5' 2" as well and has the same issues driving the elise, she adapts to the seat with two memory foam pads, one is 2" thick for her back and 1" for her little butt, she does get the clutch all the way in and is quite skilled with a six speed, so that good

Chris Mackey · 09-26-2009, 08:54 AM

dickedup · 09-26-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Mackey

Karajabola simply wants some help and you smack him across the face.

garycurtis · 09-26-2009, 09:38 AM

My wife is 5'1" and manages with a single cushion to sit on. I haven't watched closely as she operates the clutch but she doesn't seem to have any difficulty. She can't see well without the cushion however

dasmoofler · 09-26-2009, 09:39 AM

I have a friend that is about the same height and she has to put her purse behind her back to reach the pedals. When I went to drive her Vette I thought I was going to be crushed when the seat started moving forward to her setting.

jasper · 09-26-2009, 10:27 AM

brookstone sells some nice memory foam pads for this that come in various sizes, my wife uses them in our caterham - can't see why they wouldn't work in the elise and probably make the seat more comfortable

ads_green · 09-26-2009, 11:38 AM

A good solution if you are too short by a little is to take the drivers seat out (four hex bolts) and swap the angled feet from the front holes to the seat rails to the back. This allows about 2" more forward movement without compromising the rear movement.

karajabola · 09-26-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ads_green

A good solution if you are too short by a little is to take the drivers seat out (four hex bolts) and swap the angled feet from the front holes to the seat rails to the back. This allows about 2" more forward movement without compromising the rear movement.

Excellent suggestion! I'll have to take a look at that.

*edit* Are these "angled feet" visible in the attached diagram? It appears the front "feet" are fixed to the mechanism. Thanks

CALtd · 09-26-2009, 02:22 PM

You might also want to investigate raising the seat. I am 5'3" with 26.5" inseam, but use the 2nd detent back from full forward after altering seat height.

ads_green · 09-26-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karajabola

Excellent suggestion! I'll have to take a look at that.

*edit* Are these "angled feet" visible in the attached diagram? It appears the front "feet" are fixed to the mechanism. Thanks

They are the angled bits that bolt labelled number 5 goes through.
They weren't fixed on my car and just slide into the seat rail. The rear is secured by a t clip (item 4) that does the same thing and are interchangeable with the angled bit.

I did this on mine for wifey and it definately adds an extra bit that makes things easier.

09-26-2009, 08:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
karajabola Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 321	Too Short? That's right, an exact opposite of the infinitum 'too tall' posts around here... Big day yesterday. I finally got my wife to drive the Elise. Mostly just stop-starting in an empty parking lot to learn how to drive a manual transmission. What surprised me most was with the seat all the way forward, she couldn't quite get the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. She was still able to engage and disengage the clutch, but from my angle she seemed uncomfortably close to the engagement point when she was pushing it as far as she could. I think that took away a bit from her enjoyment of the "first lesson". The steering wheel also affected her forward visibility. She's 5' 2". Anyone else around this height have a problem depressing the clutch fully? I was just amazed at this, given how small the car is. I think she's going to need 2 pillows to drive it effectively, one behind her and one under her!

09-26-2009, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
407Driver Live from the Bubble Room Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 148	My GF is 5' 2" as well and has the same issues driving the elise, she adapts to the seat with two memory foam pads, one is 2" thick for her back and 1" for her little butt, she does get the clutch all the way in and is quite skilled with a six speed, so that good __________________ "Never leave well enough alone" Raymond Loewy

09-26-2009, 08:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	__________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

09-26-2009, 09:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
garycurtis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 46	Wife is 5'1". My wife is 5'1" and manages with a single cushion to sit on. I haven't watched closely as she operates the clutch but she doesn't seem to have any difficulty. She can't see well without the cushion however __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise: Saffron Yellow, Touring (#2244) 2002 Subaru WRX

09-26-2009, 10:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
jasper thread killer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 357	brookstone sells some nice memory foam pads for this that come in various sizes, my wife uses them in our caterham - can't see why they wouldn't work in the elise and probably make the seat more comfortable __________________ 2006 Exige (wife's car) 2005 Caterham Superlight (4 wheel motorcycle) 2004 Subaru STI (Urban Assault Vehicle) 1966 Lincoln Continental - in progress (dropped and chopped)

09-26-2009, 09:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
dasmoofler Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE WI Posts: 3,088	I have a friend that is about the same height and she has to put her purse behind her back to reach the pedals. When I went to drive her Vette I thought I was going to be crushed when the seat started moving forward to her setting.

09-26-2009, 11:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 366	A good solution if you are too short by a little is to take the drivers seat out (four hex bolts) and swap the angled feet from the front holes to the seat rails to the back. This allows about 2" more forward movement without compromising the rear movement.

09-26-2009, 02:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
CALtd not a Mod, just an Admin Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ocean Beach, CA Posts: 1,149	You might also want to investigate raising the seat. I am 5'3" with 26.5" inseam, but use the 2nd detent back from full forward after altering seat height.

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