Daily Driver/roof/hardtop?

[marcus_b]

Hi all,

Im considering the 5exi and wondered if anyone used the car as there daily car...and if you do... do you have a roof or just brave the elements?

Also ive seen the pictures with the roof up... but does anyone have a photo of the roof up but with the "opening" unzipped? do you have to completely undo the studs on one side to get in?

Has anyone attempted a hardtop?

Thanks in advance,

Marcus

[MikeR]

Hi Marcus,
Not sure that a 5Exi would be a good daily drive although i did get caught in a heavy shower and the roof didn't leak at all. To get into the car the popper on the door top need to be undone but the rest stay where they are , all a bit fiddly really.

Mike R

[bigrich]

Not a daily driver type car. Simple as that.

Rich

[alackofspeed]

It's a car that if you used it every day would grate. Similarly my friend had a VX220 turbo a few years back, and even using that (which is far more civilised than a 5exi) as a daily driver got on his nerves. It also meant that driving it was less of an occasion.... so he bought a cheap 406 HDI, and kept the VX for pleasurable drives.

In the case of my car, the hood is a fiddle, and best kept for days when you get the weather wrong.... or you have no choice but to drive in the rain. It works, but it's crude - much better than the Caterfield solutions, which are plain useless! I have to use ear plugs when I drive with hood on, as it contains lots of noise.

[SDMC001]

Marcus

I echo comments made by the other owners. This is definatelly a fair weather car. The rag top does seem to work well, but depending if you have the doored version the water comes in through other routes, even when the body was fitted proffesionally.

If you are looking for a daily driver I would consider an Elise, or another derivitive.

If you are after a Kit car for a daily use maybe a Quantum 2+2, this was on my radrar initilally, as was the Shelsley T2.

Steve

[limpabit]

As Steve says, even with the roof on, the water comes through other entries that needs blocking up. under dash, side pods (doored version, gaps under the door.

Not a bad weather daily driver. Showers but that's about it, even with the hood. Hood itself, keeps the elements from up above and does a very good job at this. But it is very cosy inside. And with my head going slightly above the roof line, can see a hump when I'm in it!

[marcus_b]

Thanks for the replies,

Limpabit...how tall are you by the way?

[alackofspeed]

Originally Posted by marcus_b

Thanks for the replies,

Limpabit...how tall are you by the way?

....and what seats.....?

If you use Elise seats, your bottom will be about 25mm above the floor, but if you use sparco rally seats (or similar), your bottom will be considerably higher in most cases.

I'm 5'10", have S1 Elise seats, and with a helmet on I'd have plenty of clearance to the underside of the hood.

[craig]

I'm 6' 1" and although I've not been in with a helmet fit fine under the roll bar with elise seats

Craig

[limpabit]

I'm 6'1 as well. But have a false floor and chunky seats for long journey's!

That's probably the reason for the bulge!