Hi folks,
wow it is hard to get into this forum!
First the CAPTCHA image verification for the registration procedure didn’t appear, and I had to phone the site owner to bring it to his attention.
Then it took a couple of days to have my account approved!
Anyhow now I’m in, I hope maybe you can help with some advice, please.
I want to own an Elise. Actually I want to own a car which looks and performs like an Elise but sits all 4 of us in there, but sadly that car doesn’t exist. I tried an Evora but my son doesn’t fit behind me when my 6’2, 21 stone frame is in the driving seat.
So now I’m looking at buying an Elise (or a convertible Exige) for fun and the odd trip with the missus. The problem is that I’m too wide for any of the Elise seats I have tried. The sides dig into my hips.
I spoke to a couple of guys at the Lotus factory. One suggested I find an Exige owner with the Probax sport seats which are slightly wider (or softer) and that I may fit in.
If I can live with that, I could have one fitted in an Elise - problem solved.
So is there an Exige owner near Telford who can spare me a little time please? I know it’s an odd request, but the nearest Lotus dealer is Peter Smiths near Burton (over an hour away) and they have no Exiges in stock.
Or if anyone has other suggestions, they would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure that the Probax seats are fitted in both the Elise and Exige from about 2005 so it doesn’t have to be and Exige.
Lotus can supply a new ‘Hans’ compatible seat that they have just developed, I sat in one that was in a 2-11 and it seemed much wider across the back than my probax seat does (Im only a wee monster so noticed the extra quite alot…).
You should be able to spec them from new if not then speak to Russ Gibbons at Lotus’s motorsport division.
gav
Thanks.
It was Russell (I heard it as Givvons, but then my hearing is crap) who advised I try to find a Probax seat.
He’s the one who suggested I register and ask here.
I have sat in an SC Elise which was equally painful. I would guess that had a Probax in it, then. Are there different sports versions?
Russell made no mention of a ‘Hans’ seat.
I would prefer to buy a near new Elise and save 10 grand, than spec a new one.
The Hans seats would be ����, I have seen some pretty big guys driving elises so I am quite surprised.
Other than that I guess its a no go.
Boothy
Sorry when you mentioned the Evora I thought you where looking for new…
Surprised Russ never mentioned the Hans seat but then I suppose it is more a race product (it still has comfy padding).
The other options are non lotus seats. there are a few carbon fibre ‘shell’ type seats on the market from Reverie and Tillet which would accomodate a larger driver but you sacrifice the comfort…
Just had a test drive of an 09 Elise SC Wow! So much like riding a bike! I completely forgot the problem with the seat!
I thought the Probax were an option?
