Smallest Elise driver

[rossybee]

Quick one - who on here has a wife/gf who isn't particularly tall, but can manage to drive their elise/exige without issues?

Is 5' 1" an ok height? Any cushion required?

TIA

[j2 lot]

Other half is 5 foot and could drive Elises ok but I got the backrest cushion which made it easier. The biggest problem she had was that with her heels on the floor the pedals were quite high so she was pressing them with her toes rather than the sole of her foot. I had to get inch thick ' rubberised foam' ( can't remember correct name) and cut a template to the same shape as the carpet mat that went under the mat to raise her feet up. It was easy enough to take it out and store behind the seat for me to drive.

[duggiesmith]

Susan is 5'3 and doesn't have any problems with the current Elise (2007 Toyota engine S2).
However she had difficulty reaching the pedals in the old Elise (2001 K Series S2).

[tut]

I am 5' 1" and I have no problem.........

tut

[KennyT]

My wife is 5'2" and happily drives my Exige, seat is right forward but she can manage fine.
She also drove my S1 and preferred the Corbeau seats, didn't get on well with the harnesses but no real problem.

[DJ]

I seem to have smallest wife so far at 4 ft 11. She couldn't reach the pedals of our S2 Elise or the Exige. Not just at an uncomfortable level but even in a minor emergency once at home and can't remember why she couldn't use her car, I told her to take the Exige. She couldn't reach the clutch enough to control it. Hence has never driven either Loti however was fine with the Boxster. Maybe 5ft is about the threshold.
When testing seat position in an Evora recently, Brandon mentioned Craig might have a trick to gain an inch or two on the seat, so if an issue perhaps something that can also be done for an Elise?

[neil]

My OH is 5ft and can't reach the pedals in mine. I think it will depend on the car though as I don't think my drivers seat goes fully forward due to having harnesses and seatbelts fitted as they jam against the centre console.

[tut]

Happy to help out with any of your wives that are too short.

tut

[rossybee]

I wasnt asking about my wife

[rossybee]

Actually, more specific details....

Actual height 5foot 1.5inches, (couldn't do half) and I appreciate different models have different seats, so it's likely to be an S2 or S3 Elise. I suggested she pop to murrays as they'll have a 1.6 she can try.

Assuming none have height adjusters on the seats, do any have adjustable pedal boxes?

And just to reiterate, when/if I get a Lotus, my darling wife won't be remotely interested in driving it, even at 5'5"

[Dominic]

AFAIK none have adjustable pedals.

Earlier cars definitely do not have height adjustment - not sure about the newer stuff, but would be surprised if they did.

Edit ; depending on the seat, you may be able to get a thicker pad bad up to increase the height.

[Andy]

My good lady is 5'1 and can reach the pedals in our 2014 Elise no problem at all. Our 2003 Elise was a different story though, and she needed a wee bean cushion thingy just to hold her a little further forward. Both cars had fixed seats, no adjustment other than forward and back.

Lotus did do a booster pad years ago, but any decent upholstery company would be able to make you a shaped pad either for the back and/or bottom of the seat which could be tucked behind the seat when not in use.

[thinfourth]

5'1"

Are we talking height or circumference?


We haven't had a fat joke in years

[highlander]

FWIW....I'm 6'3" and Mandy's 5'4"(on a good day!!) and we both had/have no problems fitting into S2 Elise although I had to take the harness bar out to get the seat back far enough.

[ScottJ-PS]

My wife is 4ft 11.

We have a K series S2. She has driven a bit with me in the car. Cushion under bum and pillow behind back. Even then it is a stretch and I don't think it is safe in an emergency stop with the non servoed brakes.

So apart from spacers any ideas yet on how to raise seat and even move it forward couple inches.

I suggested selling the MX5 but she won't/can't drive the Elise on her own so went sh*t. She drove our M100 for 10 years with no problems. Worst case scenario is I sell Elise and MX5 to buy a toyota engined car with servoed brakes and ABS .