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

[BernieParticipant]

Peter,

A “Broad Church” indeed and so, welcome.

I personally prefer the French models but, having owned a mixture of Paris and Slough cars over the last 50 years, I can understand why the later appeal to many (as well as why the former may not).

I believe you will have no trouble driving a Big 15 although you may possibly have to move the seat back a little, depending how much of your 6’5” is leg.  The space behind is so big that any rear passengers will still struggle to kick the back of the driving seat to attract your attention.

Driver’s leg-room in a Light 15 will be similar but if your width is proportional to your height you will almost certainly be cramped against the door on your right and any unfortunate front seat passenger on the left. That can be fun when you are young but, at my age, I am very happy to have recently moved to a wide-bodied model after 28 happy years in a Légère.  Furthermore, if you find you do need to move the seat back beyond its normal range, only a legless dwarf is likely to be comfortable behind you.

Slough-built 4-cylinder Familiales are, as Poirot might say, “having the rarity of the tooth of the female chicken”.  I have only ever come across 2 but my experience of LHD models is that the rearward travel of the driver’s seat is in fact restricted to ensure legroom for the passengers in the strapontin seats.  I am not tall but, even with the seat fully back, I found myself uncomfortably close to the steering wheel and I think you would definitely struggle with the pedals.  Altering the position of the Driver’s seat is possible but to do so would almost certainly render the strapontins impractical and therefore remove the key reason for owning a Familale.

One of our members did successfully convert two Normales to RHD but, sadly, he passed away quite recently and both cars have now been sold to new owners.  I don’t know how he achieved it and we can no longer ask but I would anticipate getting hold of a serviceable RHD steering rack is likely to be one of the biggest challenges.

Chris has suggested you contact Jasmin.  I think that is probably the best way for you to start because you can then go along to some local meetings and get the feeling of sitting in different cars – sort of try before you buy (and most owners don’t charge much for just sitting!).

It only took me 47 years to find my dream car – I wish you all the luck in finding yours a little more swiftly.

B………….