818 for Tall Drivers?

[EricScottZehnder]

So, I was recently given the opportunity to sit in my #1 choice (Type 65 Coupe) and I just don't know if even the correct seat choice and slight body mods will make it comfortable.

I'm intrigued by the price point of this car and the fact that it is a full Factory Five model (many exocars have little to no documentation or production-based engineering - all one-offs). I saw this video and it looks like someone who's 6'4" will have a hard time in this car as well. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN_jVWlSPmk&feature=player_detailpage#t=81s

Thoughts?

EDIT: Awww crap. Just saw in the Chassis Design section of the main website it says the chassis is slightly longer than an Elise. This is getting really frustrating to find something, anything that will be comfortable for a taller driver. (,__,)

[Xusia]

While there are no guarantees, I'd keep your eye on this car. Dave Smith has stated many times the 818 will accommodate taller folks. Those who have sat in the 818S have stated it has more interior room than any other Factory Five. People have been able to make the Mkxx Roadsters fit taller folks, and since the 818 has more room the job should be easier. You should probably expect, however, accommodating a 6'4" driver in the 818 will require aftermarket seats at additional expense over the advertised $9900 kit price.

[AZPete]

Eric, wait with confidence. I'm 6'3" and built a Factory Five roadster that was confortable for long drives. I put Kirkey seats in my roadster to make more space and guys up to 6'7" have made other changes for more room. The coupe is tougher to get into/out of because of the low roof. I have pre-ordered an 818S and I'm confident that FFR will make it compatible with tall guys, plus we can install seats, pedals and other stuff to help if necessary.
Pete

[Triathletedave]

I agree with AZPete. I'm 6'4" and I was also surprised at how tight the type 65 coupe felt when I tried to get into one recently. I still have a great deal of confidence that the FFR crew will make certain that us beanpoles can fit into the 818.

[Oppenheimer]

'Tall' can mean two different things regarding fitting into a car. Tall legroom or tall headroom (or a bit of both). Kirky type seats usually help both, because they are so much thinner, they can be mounted lower, and farther back.

Which issue will you be contending with? You mention wheelbase, so I'm guessing its legroom?

[RyanH]

I'm 6' 2". I sat in the 818 mockup at sema. I seemed to fit pretty good...enough leg room and my head was below the rollbar. I think they had gtm seats in it...

[EricScottZehnder]

Very long legs, proportional torso, long arms. I'll be keeping my eye on this car but I'm also investigating smaller exocar makers since many of them can customize the frame per customer and some are as low as 1100lbs (thinking of Superlite Cars Nemesis).

[Grintch]

I'm 6' 2". I sat in the 818 mockup at sema. I seemed to fit pretty good...enough leg room and my head was below the rollbar. I think they had gtm seats in it...

Did you fit 2" under the bar? While wearing a helmet (which adds another 1-2" to your height)? Would a line drawn from the main hoop to the front hoop still pass over your helmet (the hardest rule to meet, although I will admit it is rarely checked or enforced).

I assume this was the 818R as I understand the 818S interior wasn't quite ready for prime time, so the above track/race car issues are very relevant.

It appears to me that the show car roll cage was too low for anyone much over 6' (high cages don't look as good). I hope the real thing is taller or there is a tall man option.

6'4", long torso with an '04 STI donor car in my driveway.

[wallace18]

Don't forget Dave has stated several times these cars were prototypes. They are aware of the racing rules and I feel confident they will have a solution for tall guys. I had to modify many Porsches for tall guys back in the 80's. This 818 will lend itself to modify easier IMO. Stock seats most likely won't work for those over 6'2" IMO. I am using Kirkey racing seats for that reason. I am 6'3". As a kit car you will be able to modify to meet your needs.

[skullandbones]

The FFR community has developed many mods that will transfer to the 818 such as the 65 Coupe seat or butt mod that allows 2 extra inches for taller drivers. I don't think FFR can accomodate every oversize person who decides to build an FFR but they do pretty good to include a large enough population to get it done. Those who are challenged to fit will be so motivated that they will be the ones to make it work. With the extra inches in wheel base and the small center tunnel, the odds are that most tall guys will fit with very few mods. It may be necessary to lay them down a little but it is done and will be done in this car as well. BTW, FFR will probably never send out cars that fit everybody. That's why mods are done by the builder. Maybe Superformance does the mods before they leave SA. WEK.

[EricScottZehnder]

The thing is, if they made the chassis a few inches longer they could accomodate us very easily. Those who are shorter would mount their seats further up or on rails. The problem is when we simply don't have the space from the get go. I don't have the knowledge to do heavy duty modification to a kit car chassis. I'm looking for something that is mostly about assembly not fabrication.

[Oppenheimer]

That would only help those tall of leg, not those tall of torso. The whole point of the 818 is that it would be more about assembly than fabrication. FFR has always been about that (compared to other kit bar makers), and the 818 takes that even farther. Of course, there will always be room for fabrication for those motivated enough to want something a little different than what FFR offers for 818 options.

So you're right to expect to not have to modify the chassis to lengthen it to fit someone tall of leg, within reason. But to fit different seats, that are thinner, so you sit farther back, that should be expected. Just how tall of leg will the 818 allow? We will have to wait and see. Don't assume they didn't factor that in when they designed it.

[Xusia]

The thing is, if they made the chassis a few inches longer they could accomodate us very easily. Those who are shorter would mount their seats further up or on rails. The problem is when we simply don't have the space from the get go. I don't have the knowledge to do heavy duty modification to a kit car chassis. I'm looking for something that is mostly about assembly not fabrication.

I think that's premature to say. NO ONE has sat in a production 818 - because the car isn't finished yet! Those that have sat in the prototypes have all said the same thing: It's got the most room of ANY FFR kit to date. Roadster kits can accommodate taller folks (to a point, of course), so this bodes very well for the 818. Also, Dave has stated the 818 will be "wookie" compatible. While I don't know Dave personally, from everything I've seen and heard, he is a man of his word. We should give him the benefit of the doubt.

So before we start suggesting they add a few inches, let's see what they do with the space they've already got. :)