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MG MGA - Getting in and out as you get older

As you know a lot of things get harder (or softer!) when you get old. What's the best way to get in and out of the driver's seat when you are 6 ft (183 cm), weigh 210 lbs (95kgs), aged 57 and a bit stiffer than I was in my 20s. My A has the original 16" wooden steering wheel.
Mike Ellsmore

I'm 6'-4", ove 210 but only 56 so I don't have to worry about that yet!! :)

But for now, I prefer to drive with the top down most of the time which is a lot easier. When the top is up, I have to drop down on my left leg while I thread my right leg into the tunnel. When I can't see the tunnel anymore I'll stop driving...
CD Dewey

You guys with the roadsters have it made! After a weekend of getting and in and out of my coupe door opening a hundred times to do body work (body is on a wooden dolly right now) I'm ready for traction!

LOL, George.

G Goeppner

This post made me smile! I'm 6ft 2in, weigh 210, and just turned 60. I actually had to go into the garage and get in my roadster to see how I do it. (LHD) I plant my right leg inside and my left outside, rotate my butt and sit down while sliding my right leg forward, then I grab my left leg near the knee, fold it back and help it in while turning. Sounds harder than it actually is. Probably most MGA drivers do a version of this. Now, if I only had another 6 inches of space in the cockpit for my legs... Oh, and I try never to put the top up, that helps.
Alex Mullin

Thanks Mike, now I'm wondering if I will be comfortable in my MGA when it's finished. ;-)
I do manage to fit into my midget, top up or down fairly easily (6'4", 250lbs, 58years) but bought the MGA for a larger more comfortable car.
Bill Young

I'm 5'8' 165 lbs and 62 years, LHD MGA. wIth the top up, open the door turn arOUnd, sit on the seat, swing legs in. With the top down, open the door left hand on the scuttle by the windscreen brace, right hand on the rear deck , lift myself up slid right leg past the right side of the steering wheel, opposite for the left,land gently in the seat. Sound ackward, but it's quite smooth. I have decided not to get older; I just become more childish every day! cheers, Bill
w.g cook

Now I knew there was an advantage in being small - 5'8" - 150 lbs. My garage is tiny and I can just open the MGA door to squeeze in and out - if I was a couple of inches taller or a couple of inches more round the waist I don't think I could make it and just enough flexibility at 61 to manage. Occasionally I back the car in and climb out over the closed passenger door (top always off of course)with a cushion on the seat to protect the leather. Cushion normally goes in the small of my back as the seats don't give lumbar support - is it just me with a bad back or do all MGA owners suffer? Cheers Cam
C Cunningham

Bill, as a former midget owner I don't think that the MGA interior is larger by much. While I find the A very comfortable and have taken it on several long trips I am only 5'9" and about 180 lbs. I have always been amazed that the plus 6' crowd can fold yourselves into a midget or A. We have a club member who is about 6'8", seeing him get into his TC with the top up is priceless.
John H

I use Bill's "top up" method to get in and out of my coupe.

Regards,
M.D.
'57 coupe
M. D.

I'm 5'10" 240lb 46yrs with a 59 coupe and use the head first to get in and feet first to get out method. Bob
B WALKER

I may be younger than some of you "codgers" but the way I get in is as follows:

Roof down, open door, put right hand on the top of the seat back, plant right foot by the gearbox tunnel, then in comes left foot as I slide bum down the back of the seat with feet sliding along the floor till said bum hits seat. All very easy and a lot more dignified than wrestling to bend kneed etc.

With the roof up, or hard top on, it's head in first (hurts like hell when you bang an ear on that frame), then sit and knees to the chin to get them in (11.5 size feet you see).

Fortunately the roof hardly ever goes up /on.
dominic clancy

Mike

I find a slightly smaller steering wheel does make things a bit easier.

Larry
58 A
66 and counting
6'1"
Larry Hallanger

I'm almost 60--6'2" tall and weigh 275 lb. There is no graceful way to exit or enter the car top up. I've decided the top should be permanently down. with it down, it's right leg in first, followed by the left, and slip into the seat. Egress is a bit more awkward--legs out--lean forward and try to stand with a bit of grace.
R. L Carleen

I do it similar to Dominic except transposed for RHD. Although I slide my first foot forward and sit down, then bring my second leg in. I have had to put a patch on the floor mat where my first foot slides forward. I am often worried that I am going to break the seat squab as I thump down. I am of the smaller side 5' 9" and 175 and a 13inch wheel. I don't kinow how you larger frame guys do it.

I do have trouble getting out though. My door panel bears plenty of black rubber shoe scrape marks resulting from my swivelling on the seat and lifting each leg out in turn with my hands. I also have a semi-numb left leg from my aircraft ejection back injury that does not help much.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks guys. Glad to here I am not alone, I will pass comments on to my wife who reckons seeing me get in and out of the A is better than the Comedy Channel.
Mike Ellsmore

Didn't know this was going to be like filling out forms at the doctor's office....

I'm 53 yrs, 5'8" and 165 lbs. Getting in is right hand on top of steering whee, right foot centered on the floor in front of the seat, place left cheek on seat bottom, then rotate clockwise swinging the left foot in whie placing both cheeks centered on the seat bottom.

Have had both coupe and roadster. I would rate them from easiest to best, 1) roadster (top down) 2) coupe and a far distant 3rd) roadster (top up w/ sidecurtains).

Most definitely it is much easier to perform with a 15" wheel vs the original banjo wheel.

Getting out involves the same in reverse. Swing left leg out, place on the ground while rotating bak to the left cheek on the seat bottom, then in one smooth motion lean forward, pull/then push on the steering wheel with the right hand andsupport on the door sil with the left hand, and then stand up on the left leg while dragging out the right leg:>) Easier said than done. Needless to say it is a left hand drive car.

Chuck
Chcuk Schaefer

Hi Steve. You British do take your James Bond Movies to heart dont you? I know Bond's Aston Martin had a passenger ejection seat to lose the bad guy, but I never thought that you would mimic the movie, and install a driver side aircraft ejection seat in your MGA! Isn't that a difficult installation? While I'm sorry to hear you injured your back while ejecting from your car, I can only wonder what type of impending disaster forced you to eject out of your MGA? Did it need a major tuneup, or were the wire wheel hub splines worn out? No matter, you clearly survived the ejection pretty much unscathed! Cheers! Glenn

PS, I bet Barney Gaylord would appreciate instructions, and detailed drawings on your aircraft ejection unit for the MGA!
Glenn

Glenn

Steve used to be a RAF pilot I think.
dominic clancy

It seems like a lot of you MGA guys have masochistic tendencies and enjoy torturing yourselves!
But I have the solution..... buy a MGB, much roomier!
Robert from MGB forum.
p.s. Only joking, somehow I don't think you will be taking my advice!
R J Collier

Robert,i get out of our B the same way as our A.Bob
B WALKER

Bob
I am 47 so you and I are a bit younger than some here
& I too am fit enough to use the head in feet out method!
I think it was Dominic who affectionately called the likes of Cam Cunningham a "codger"and I would second that comment!
As far as I know the only exercise Cam gets it occasionally climbing over the door of his MGA!

By the way Cam & I are in the same MG club http://westlancsmg.co.uk/ We have a member from the US,but none from "down under"as yet!
Robert.
R J Collier

Now Steve seems to have the best idea for getting out of an MGA - fit an aircraft ejection seat - but you are reminded not to activate it whilst in the garage otherwise you might get slightly more than a numb leg.Thanks to Dominic and his "codgers" remark - it has unfurtunately given one of our MGB bretheren ammunition to use at the next West Lancs MG meeting (Thursday 16th Feb at Briars Hall with a Scalextric Racing evening - no age,weight or height advantage there)- and by the way Robert - you know very well that I get more exercise than that - I have also been known to push the trolley round Tesco - cheers Cam
C Cunningham

Glenn

Twas out of an RAF McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG1. The going out was fine, it was the landing that hurt. I was in the chute for a few seconds only and impacted the ground at high speed on my backside going backwards and smashed my spine. When you are only doing 100mph sliding sideways across the grass, the possibility of cartwheeling and 22,000lbs of avtur around you, the options are limited!

Interestingly, like the MGA, size also mattered in a number of our British fighters. We had a tall American pilot posted to my Lightning (not the P38) squadron. There was doubt that his knees would clear the instrument panel on ejection so the engineers borrowed a large crane, removed the canopy, got him to strap in, then hoisted the seat up the rails to check there was clearance. That was why I was a breed of small pilots (5' 9") employed to fly the Lightning in the 60s and 70s.

Now that would be a good idea in my MGA garage. An electric hoist to lower me in and raise me out!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Cam
Re Getting in and out as you get older/ejector seats.

As a "codger" I have a website that may be of interest to you. http://www.mobilityone.co.uk/

Apologies to other board users.
Robert

R J Collier

It's starting to get personal now Robert - remind me not to buy you a drink at the club meeting - if I can get there in my wheelcahir!
Steve - your exploits in Phantoms and Lightnings sound fascinating - how about giving a talk to our MG club members sometime? - Cheers Cam
C Cunningham

My dad always rolled out of his Porsche 944 (he, at the time, was 65, 5'10", 190 pounds).

Open door, roll to the left, hands on the ground, knees GENTLY to the ground, stand up, shut door.

I never saw him get IN the car.
TheMiz

Cam
I don't think you have bought me a drink yet!

I was thinking more of fitting an electric rise & recline seat mechanism to your MGA rather than a wheelchair!

See you next Thursday anyway!Hope Steve from Lytham
can come along!
Robert
R J Collier

Cam
Sorry meant Thursday 16th February
http://westlancsmg.co.uk/
Robert
R J Collier

Electric hoist eh? Well, believe it or not, I've been toying with the idea of using an engine hoist and a sling/seat arrangement to hoist my 81 year old father into the coupe. He's fairly big, about 6'2", 230lbs and had a knee replacement. Would love to take him for a ride now that the car is back on the road. He has touble enough getting in and out of his big Buick.

Ah, the joys of aging.....
GTF
G T Foster

I almost hate to tell you this but my father has an MGA is 79 and I've never heard him complain about getting in an out of it. I on the other hand find it much harder to get in an out of one now at 53 than it was at 21 when I bought mine. Dad hasn't had his but 10 years or so, that was when we convinced him to sell his motorcycle and restore an "A"!

You're only as old as you'll admit to!
John
John Nelson

Mike

It would appear Abingdon realised that access and egress were a problem. During production they reduced the size of the stops on the hinges (Jun 58 # 52916 coupe and Sept 58 # 56069 roadster scource Clausager) which gave an increased door opening.

When you look at the doors in the open position there is a significant difference in how much room there is to get in and out between the two types of hinges.

If you have an earlier car you could consider changing to the later hinges, although this may not be as simple as it appears (8 bolts per hinge) as I understand Abingdon often used to bend the hinges to aid door alignment.

Plan B would be Steve's ejector seat although with a more gentle landing.....JB
J Bray

I am 57, 5.11 160lbs,and I do it with grace and aploom,as I always have. It wasn't JUST the MGA that made her choose me.
wc wolcott

Robert, checked out your club site (very nice)both you and Cam don't look like codger material.Bob
B WALKER

Well said Bob - glad you liked the site -Cheers Cam
C Cunningham

The MG Antics manual (notes collected from the Michigan USA club several years ago) has an article that addresses this issue. The author cut 17" long tapered wedges from pressure treated stud lumber, 1.5" tall at the front, and 0" at the rear, and used them to raise the front of the driver's seat by placing them between the rails and the floor. He claims it offers relief for driving position and for egress/entry.

I am 6'2" tall and about 275 lbs as well (like the poster above) but am only 38 (and counting). I will likely be at least 40 before I have to worry about getting in and out of my MGA roadster, though -- it's currently in pieces and about to be cut in half.

I may consider the later model hinges trick, though - as I've noticed the doors don't open very wide!

JIM in NH, USA
AJ Mail

Thanks Guys. I like The Miz's Dad's solution -just roll over and slide out on to the ground! I would love to find out how his Dad gets back in - this may be my solution in few years - who said MGA drivers were stuffy old farts who take themselves too seriously! By the way my A is 1960 - 1600 - one of the 6,000 or so CKDs that were built in Australia - it is in good condition but not concours (I don't want to get into that argument or this could end up being the longest thread on record).
Mike Ellsmore

Hi Guys,
reading this thread is priceless and made me chuckle. I have a 1960 coupe and I am often seen around Kent crawling out off my car on all fours.
I open the garage door and the pain starts, I struggle with the help of the wife to get in, once in the driving position the pain killers kick in and I'm good for 10 miles (round trip of course)! Which brings me to my next question, Anyone know of Mod to fit Stena body lift, so I can change to the roadster?
Sadly she will be going in the spring the laughter is unbearable!
My love for MGs involes a lot of pain........

Kind regards Colin.
C Cheetham

Colin

Have you told the wife yet that she is going in the spring?!! How will you get into the MGA without her?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve,
nice one, you have to laugh. While I was typing the above message my hip, back and shoulder began to throb... so it seem I only need to think of the car and the pain kicks in!!
I may consider your suggestion but I would ask you to inform the present Mrs Cheetham...
The car will go when the weather bucks up!
Happy landings- GGYAT out of Rochester.
Colin.
C Cheetham

Colin
Glad you have got your priorities right! Bet you will be sorry to see her go though!....Who will do all the cooking & ironing?
By the way you say the laughter is unbearable, I take
it is Mrs Cheethams laugh that is unbearable, hence her departure in the spring!
Robert
R J Collier

Well, the old RA is kicking up a fuss, 5'& 1/2" and shrinking 195 lbs, and gotta use a cane to get around now without falling.
But got into my son's '80 RB 'B' yesterday.
And I'll think I'll be OK.
Who was that sadi; 'Nava give up, Nava'

Oh yeah, the American born P.M.
SF
Dwight
Dwight

This thread was discussed between 03/02/2006 and 09/02/2006

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