What about the big tall boys?

[Rossell]

What would any of you do if you were too big to fit in a car? What if you were like 6" 4 and weren't able to drive the timeless motors like the Lotus Elise or Caterham 7? (Yes I do want to drive them).

Is there anybody out there who is 6 feet and over just like myself and are experienceing problems with cars and have advice to add? Like what car you should get first to save your legs?

I went to the NEC Motor Show in 1998 and I couldn't fit behind the wheel of a Daihatsu Move. The steering wheels intruded on my legs. Thats what I'm worried about.

I am 6" 4 and I am one year away from being legally able to get my driving license.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Joey D]

sorry man but I'm short (5'9) but I have a friend who is 6'7" and he drives a Blazer. He seems to fit in there alright.

 

[CrackHoor]

I'm 6'2", and I hear ya. When looking for my car (see sig) I was warned not to get the sunroof, as it took up another 2" of headroom. I read stories of tall helmeted people autocrossing with their heads tilted sideways and touching the glass... I also have to adjust my steering column and seat position for a balance between steering control and leg rubbage. Also, the e-brake handle digs into my leg on long drives. So yeah, it kinda suck being tall, but I guess it's better than being short.

 

[Joey D]

Also the best thing to do is stay away from sport compacts and some mid-size cars. your best bet is a truck or SUV.

 

[Concept]

I am 15 and 6'0''. I can still fit in every car I have been in.

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by streetracer780
Also the best thing to do is stay away from sport compacts and some mid-size cars. your best bet is a truck or SUV.

not necessarily. an Impreza has good headroom, most coupes nowaday have a lot of headroom too.

 

[CrackHoor]

Obviously, you should sit in it before you buy it. Most will be good, some not so good.

 

[Solid Fro]

I'm 6'2" and I barely fit in an Explorer.

 

[Sertsa]

I'm 6'3 and, years ago, was pretty big; so, yeah.

Don't just cut out the compacts without looking; some of them are pretty roomy inside, moreso than some larger cars. I had a '92 Sentra which had far more interior room than a friend's Mercury Cougar (a late 80s/early 90s version; big on the outside, inexplicably cramped on the inside). The current Protege, for instance, is pretty roomy inside.

Moonroof/sunroofs do take up a few more inches, so you might want to take out that option depending on the car.

Something I started doing back then (and occasionally still do) is going to the lots after hours. In addition to being no salesman around, quite a few dealers in my region leave several cars unlocked, so you can get in and check out how comfortable and roomy it is. Some may frown on this, though, although I've never had a problem. I at least make sure I don't get the car dirty, take off the emergency brake, nor do anything I wouldn't want someone to do if it would be my next new car, etc.

Quite a while ago, I also saw an article by Daniel Pinkwater, an NPR reporter, who wrote that he is huge. He had trouble finding a car that fit, so he went to a mall parking lot one weekend and tried to see how other huge people were getting in and out of their cars. He wound up getting a New Beetle Turbo. The design provides lots of headroom, for one.

That may have been at the Car Talk site, if interested (it's associated with/linked from cars.com).

 

[Hooligan]

My brother's 6' 3", and he's had no problems with his 2001 Jetta. He's a bit gangly, though (160 lbs). On the other end, my 6' 2" 280lb cousin fit okay in my WRX...but he kind of likes wearing his cars. He owns a Corolla.

 

[1X83Z]

A seven-foot tall person can fit in an Echo or an Aerio. They're like freaking bubbles.

Not that they are "the timeless motors."

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Im 6'4 tall and I fit most of the cars out there except:

-1st gen Mazda Miatas- :bawling:
-Honda S2000- Snug with top down. Haven't tried w/ top up, according to Consumer Guide Magazine, it has the smallest interior space of all roadsters.

I own a 2nd gen Integra and it fits me well inside with less than 2 inches of headroom. Integras of all generations (including RSX) have low roofline inside.

 

[Talentless]

5'9 150

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Oh BTW, I'm 6'4 175 lbs, thin, tall guy

 

[bigwhlkid]

i know a person at school who is 6'6 or possibly taller and he fits into his 89' 240sx just fine.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

I already tried fitting in in a 200SX (S14 Silvia, 240SX in US) I fits me well, too.