How do you get in your car

Right leg, butt, left leg to get in
left leg, right leg, roll onto floor to get out

In: I aim to plant my right toes just below my throttle pedal, grab the top of the steering wheel, and plant my butt....all at the same time, and then drag my left leg in.
I'm 6ft. 1in. so your mileage may vary.
Out: Make like it's on fire......You'll get out!

6'-2" and my butt has to go in first, followed by my head and torso, swinging to the right my feet and legs follow. Reverse order to exit.

I have no idea how you guys can manage this. I went to see a GT5 last year and left thoroughly dejected.At 6'3" I couldn't get in unless you sawed my legs off.

Because of the bucket seats: right leg in, lean on left arm then left leg, drop butt in seat

Surgically altered is always a consideration.

A quick release steering wheel will help.

Getting in is usually the easy part. Getting out can be an issue.

I would say that a Jag XKE is worse. Getting out in that one for me is a heads first thing. Kind of embarrassing when people see you do it.

You can't see your feet at all once you are in also.

Only car I can think of that is worse is a Lotus Europa. You had better not be claustrophobic in that one although a Mangusta is made for a small jockey. Perhaps a chimpanze?

These cars are all, "small mans revenge" cars. Foreget about a tall blond GF as a passenger. You need to go to the Italian Car Day event and look for the daughter of the owner of the Restaurant.

5'0", 5'1" is the best bet, but she can cook!

How do I get in my car?

All Excited and Smiley, especially so at speed.

Re: daughter of owner of Italian restaurant: She may cook, but Jumpin' Jesus she's got a temper!

I (being about 6'1") am with tberg ... same sequence: Butt, head/torso,then pivot to right bringing legs in. Although, depending on how wide the door is open, I may need to pull my legs in with my arms to clear the door panel. Getting out ... just the reverse.

BTW, this is how I enter all cars. In the past, I put the right leg in first. That was until I had left knee pains. My Doctor explained that this is typical result for that type of car entry. He explained that the butt in first is the way to go. Never had the knee problem again.

BG

Yes sit down, then swing both legs in the same time.

Used to get into everything the same way. Right leg first.

Left knee, left hip, left (testicle: I call him lefty ) all had inexplicable discomfort.

Now it's sit down (butt goes in first) then pivot and swing both legs in.

Getting out of the P is a different story. First...open the door,

...next grab the left foot with the left hand and wedge it out the door

...now depending on the level of pain involved, either head goes out next or pick up the right foot with the right hand and push it out the door.

...oh, make sure lefty is ok with the entire thing...nobody makes a special cup for this procedure, and you certainly don't want exploratory sergery on him to find out what is wrong. That was one nasty, ugly nurse, and she had some grip for sure!

What the hell??? You guys drive these cars regularly????????? Is this with or without the firewall kit BTW?!?!?!

quote:

Originally posted by PanTTera:
In: I aim to plant my right toes just below my throttle pedal, grab the top of the steering wheel, and plant my butt....all at the same time, and then drag my left leg in.
I'm 6ft. 1in. so your mileage may vary.
Out: Make like it's on fire......You'll get out!

This is how I broke my steering wheel! I started going butt first lately.

quote:

Originally posted by DeLoreans and DeTomasos:
What the hell??? You guys drive these cars regularly????????? Is this with or without the firewall kit BTW?!?!?!

Well, a real GT5 is going to have a HUGE cabin in comparison to the earlier cars.

Reducing the size of the protrusion into the cabin of the "bubble" on the bulkhead cover is a very significant improvement.

It is paramount in making the passenger seat inhabitable by an adult human with all the complete parts.

It is helpful for me otherwise I pound my right elbow on it.

I am a large 6'2". I'm at 200# for the last 35 years but there was a time when my shoulders were an issue because I was the size of an NFL linebacker.

My solution on my '73 was first to get rid of the original seats. They just didn't fit my body.

Thigh support was in the wrong place.

Second my bulkhead is changed to being FLAT. Not just reducing the size of the bubble like Kirk Evans does.

Next, the floorpans are lowered 2". I found after doing this that the stock seat mounting of the tracks is TOO LOW!

This played into my plans of building Ford Taurus power seat tracks into the Hall recovered and contoured Pantera seats.

Now the seat not only goes fore and aft, it tilts in the back, tilts in the front, and rises. If you can't find the right spot for you, at least you'll have a great time playing with the motors in the seats!

Next, the steering column in mine has a height adjustment built into the stock column. It comes out of a Honda Civic.

The steering wheel is a Momo. No biggie there, but the quick release mechanism from Wilkinson sure is. Makes life human again.

I didn't stop there. The foot pedal box is spaced out 1-1/2" into the trunk. This is something that you will not see in a stock GT5.

Another thing that helps is the lower right corner of the brake pedal is cut off and is just the right amount to let you angle your right foot to the accelerator while wearing sneakers. Not barefoot like some guys drive.

My gear shift lever is shortened not by cutting it with a hacksaw, but by using one of MacMans delrin shift knobs.

Now having said all of this, there isn't going to be a perfect set up for anyone. In some respects the cabin is now too large?

I can drive the car for about 5 hours straight and be comfortable all of the time.I usually get lost by then and stop for directions and a "big Mac"?

Getting out quickly, is another issue.

The biggest problem is that with the lowered pans, the rocker panels now become like in a Corvette or a GT40 and you have to climb over them.

This is the point that you need to grab your left foot and guide it out through the door. Sometimes the right will follow, sometimes not?

The other issue with getting out is that because of the location of the inner fender well, it puts the door pillar post further back then it normally would be in a "normal" car, and your left leg needs help...and you need to be careful of "lefty". He just falls in the wrong spot and you are spreadin' your legs to get out.

Sounds worse then it really is. It isn't as bad as climbing out through the window of "General Lee" but then again, that never stopped those Duke's Boys and it don't stop me either!

This is a funny funny thread. All we need now are videos and pictures to compliment the mental images. LOL I gave a 6-0 guy a ride in the passenger seat the other day LOL that was funny. Braking hard he almost hit his head on the windshield. LOL

I am 6 ft momo wheel fixed
open door, left hand top of door, right arm a piller, right foot on clutch pedal, then it is a controlled fall to the seat. Not real graceful but my wife says butt first and NO Short Skirts of course I hold the door for her.

We had a heck of a time getting this one into the cars...

All the guys were over to the side with their cameras...

quote:

No Pictures! No Pictures!

quote:

Originally posted by ItalFord:
This is a funny funny thread. All we need now are videos and pictures to compliment the mental images. LOL I gave a 6-0 guy a ride in the passenger seat the other day LOL that was funny. Braking hard he almost hit his head on the windshield. LOL

That wasn't funny.

I think Doug has built the ultimate big and tall Pantera! The trick cutting the corner off the brake pedal was one of the best things I EVER did for 1362. I got Garth to add it to best mods for under 20 dollar list.

The best modification you can do to a Pantera is to have your left leg surgically shortened by about six inches.

Of course that is more than 20 bucks and would have repercussions...like having to have all of your jeans shortened on just the left leg.

Of course that is just the P car. Who knows with the Mangusta.

Some day I'll post a movie.

Let's just say many people stand around waiting for me to climb in (or out) and ask for a repeat performance.

i bend over in the car to find support with right hand on the middle console or handbrake lever . Then i pivot 1/4 turn to get my ass in the seat ,right leg, ok, left leg with a little help from arm force...getting out , again helping my left leg, right leg and then trying to righten after some concentration for a gymnastic exercise
My wife always wonders how i manouvre that way.. she has no problems, ofcourse she's some inches smaller and above all alot cubic inches

quote:

Originally posted by Belgiumbarry:
i bend over in the car to find support with right hand on the middle console or handbrake lever . Then i pivot 1/4 turn to get my ass in the seat ,right leg, ok, left leg with a little help from arm force...getting out , again helping my left leg, right leg and then trying to righten after some concentration for a gymnastic exercise
My wife always wonders how i manouvre that way.. she has no problems, ofcourse she's some inches smaller and above all alot cubic inches

From your avitar pic, your getting in the hard way! LOL

quote:

Originally posted by lastpushbutton:

quote:

Originally posted by Belgiumbarry:
i bend over in the car to find support with right hand on the middle console or handbrake lever . Then i pivot 1/4 turn to get my ass in the seat ,right leg, ok, left leg with a little help from arm force...getting out , again helping my left leg, right leg and then trying to righten after some concentration for a gymnastic exercise
My wife always wonders how i manouvre that way.. she has no problems, ofcourse she's some inches smaller and above all alot cubic inches

From your avitar pic, your getting in the hard way! LOL

you're right , i tryed that... but half way there's a window , i got stuck

Funny stuff. Butt first then swing in the rest. Removable wheel helps after big meals. I have more issues with shoes and pedals - mostly drive barefoot. You guys?

There's no other way to fit in for me, but throttle foot first past the steering wheel.

There's also about single crouching position I can sit in not to have my head into headliner. During the 3500mile trip to France and back my body probably somehow set into that position.

I turn it 90 degr. And step in

quote:

I have more issues with shoes and pedals - mostly drive barefoot. You guys?

I use to drive with race driver-like shoes, with a very small sole. Race driver-like as for design, without the real racer looks.

Not the same shoes, but you get the idea..

HMMM I am 6'6" 245. Right foot in, and aim my butt on its semi controlled drop for the seat, then left foot.
To exit, I place my left hand on the door sill left foot out and start to roll out of the car while pushing up and hoping my momentum is strong enough to get me upright or I may just end up on the ground!!!
Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Kid:

quote:

I have more issues with shoes and pedals - mostly drive barefoot. You guys?

I use to drive with race driver-like shoes, with a very small sole. Race driver-like as for design, without the real racer looks.

Cut the brake pedal on the lower right quadrant. It helps a lot.

Damn, I wish you shared your solution earlier with me/us.

I removed my little toe instead...

Yikes! What about lefty.