Seat Comfort

[DrPhantom]

I’ve been eavesdropping here for a while now and I have a sitting posture question. This may be an issue for others as well, especially those of us of ‘advanced age.’

Seat height is very important. I cannot sit on the floor for long periods because I get lower back aches. Does any FFR model have enough head room to allow a seat that is 8-12” off the floor? I’m 5”10” but have a long trunk and short legs—so consider me 6’ for headroom purposes.

Tom

[billjr212]

I would bet you could get a roadster seat 8" off the floor without much difficulty, particularly if you were measuring from the floor height in the pedal box area...but the catch is, do you plan to track the car? Clearing a helmet below the roll bar may be tricky. I'm sure others will soon weigh in.

[DrPhantom]

Ah, stupid me! I also neglected to mention that I need a roof!

Purpose of vehicle: daily driver, general use. I need something I can drive 6-10K miles/yr for 10-15 years, 4-season environment, not overly maintenance intensive. No racing, just spirited enough to make winding roads fun.

[billjr212]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say the Subaru BRZ and Mazda MX-5 seem nice, but for the real answer I'm sure one of our road warriors will chime in soon.

[skullandbones]

With your seat specifications, I would say the 33 Hot Rod would be the only FFR that would even come close to your needs. They have power window kits now so you would have a hard top and completely dry environment. You could put a mild crate engine in that would have plenty of power for your needs. I have seen the 33 in action and it does not handle like the hot rods with straight axles and leaf springs! The cool thing is, it can become an open roadster and you have a fun summer car to enjoy on those good weather occasions. I don't know if you could get 12 inches of drop. It doesn't have the dropped footbox so I think you would loss some vertical. The reason I think it would be better is the way I have seen people sit in them. It just looks more like they are sitting normally like a chair than a car seat. Those could be custom "benches". The one I sat in did not feel the same as sitting in my roadster which is more of a reclined position. I am comfortable in the roadster but it does cause the lower back to stiffen up a little after a long drive. I think you would sit more square to the midline of the chassis with a hot rod also. The roadster has you in a somewhat angled leg position to make room for the engine and trans. I think that can aggravate a lower back condition if you sit twisted, so to speak. Good luck on your quest! WEK.

[DrPhantom]

Thanks Bill and WEK!

I’m not a racer, and I don’t want a ‘show car,’ I just want what I want.

Sadly, automobiles have become commodities, they’re all the same! If I’m going to drop my precious coins I want to be able to chose, and FFR may come the closest to providing my vehicle of choice.

FFR seems to have the leading auto build offerings as far as I can tell. They seem to have a quality product (highly dependent on the assembler, of course) at a very good price. The chassis alone would seem to put it well ahead of most competitors.

And this website is absolutely amazing! I can’t believe there are so many viewers who have all dealt with the same set of problems and who are willing to share their solutions and their expertise. What a value!

I think you are correct, WEM, that the 33 is best suited to my needs. I like the MK4, the Coupe, and the 33.

I’m tied up with other projects right now, so I won’t be starting a vehicle build for probably two years. I’ll just continue to watch these threads. Maybe FFR will come out with a mid-50s T-Bird or Vet in the mean time. (-;

Tom

[rich grsc]

I think if you can set in a Vet, you would be fine. Post your location, someone may be close enough to offer a ride.

[JWilkins]

Your issue with the Hot Rod will not be head room, it will be seeing out the windshield. I am 6'2" and am using seats out of an Audi TT extensively modified to sit as close to the floor as possible (not your issue, I know). I am resigned to having to use a prism to see traffic lights, but don't like to slump down to see the horizon through the top of the hard top windshield. If you are able to sit in one, don't marvel at the headroom, look out the windshield to be sure you can comfortably see the horizon. The suspension can be adjusted to help, but if you go too far, you will either have tire clearance issues on the back (using bike fenders) or have a nose high stance which just looks weird!