Reply To: New member in Suffolk, no car yet, but am considering..

Thanks Richard and David for your prompt replies.  I’d familiarised myself with the Light (Legere) and Big (Normale) models, but thank you for confirming that the Familiale and Commerciale were not made to Slough specs.   Might I ask – what is the difference is between the 11cv Normale and the 11cv Limousine.  Were these the same wheelbase but 4 and 6 light respectively. ?

And, if I were fortunate enough to find a long wheelbase car from France or Belgium, would it be a practical proposition to convert to RHD ?  (my Ami is LHD and it’s OK but not ideal).

The seats I do move back., and even though I did this for the Ami – there’s not a lot of foreleg height because the body sits aloof the A-series chassis. Nor is there length because so does the front axle tube / steering rack ..just t’other side of bulkhead.   If I moved the seat back any further, then I’m sitting with shoulders positioned behind the B-post ..so the seat-belts would have to be remounted to somewhere across the rear doors.

I have changed the driver’s seat for one from the deluxe model of Ami, which gave an adjustable backrest ..and that helps a little, even though I have to do a sit-up to reach the gear change ( it’s good exercise ..but not slick :))   Sorry if this all sounds like I’m whining – I don’t wish to.  I’m just explaining that I’ve been adaptive – but really I’m just too big.  It cannot be helped ..and at my age I really don’t want to aggravate back problems .

The steering column also has a UJ at its bottom inbetween the pedals with a rubber boot over it, which very much limits where my size 12 feet might go.  I narrowed the central gear-change box to gain an extra inch or more, so it is perfectly usable now ..but not really for me to travel hours at a time.

And I also tried lowering the seat’s squab, but found this posture akin to that of a collapsed beach chair ..with my knees up and my behind down  – a non too comfortable stance.  And getting in and out was not easy because the seat frame tubes are high to either side.  So with the seat squab where it should be – I have to duck to see traffic lights and my head touches the underside of the roof. Fortunately there’s no metal headlining bars just there.  I have considered changing the seat yet again to one where the cushion sits on top of its frame, rather than is slung between them like the Ami’s and other A-series, but really I’d still be on a hiding to nothing regarding legroom.  It’s disappointing but the bottom line is that I’ll be selling this car because it’s just not convenient nor comfortable to use

I can’t blame the cars nor their designers, as apparently my stature is only of one soul in ten-thousand, but I would say to kids – ” DON’T eat your vegetables – they’ll make you grow.! ”  😉