718 legroom

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Discussion

stef1808

Original Poster:

973 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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Im trying the boxter on a long test drive and started to get some back pains. Am 6ft3 so my legs are almost at a 90 degree angle which I'm sure doesn't help.
The real concern is that in the pdk there's hardly any room for your left leg to rest as the side of the footwell sticks out - so my question is if it's the same in a manual (which I'll be ordering) as I can't really see any space for an extra pedal

Otherwise really impressed with the car and probably find it funner to drive than the 911

Over over under steer

676 posts

130 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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I'm 6'3", 35" leg and long arms and I fit in no problem and find the car comfortable on a longer drive. PS mine is a manual


ClioTrophy55

312 posts

107 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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I'm 6'6". 36" legs. 718 GT4
The less functionality in the seats you specify the thinner they are, and so the more legroom you get, I think - worth checking/measuring the depth and movement of each seat option.
I have carbon buckets which are far thinner than e.g. the 18-ways in my 911 and provide a good couple of inches more legroom IMHO.
I go PDK as manual requires your left leg position to be right for gear changing movements rather than just sitting doing nothing. Although I was happy in a manual 981 Spyder because it had buckets.
In a PDK I can rest my left foot to the right of the footrest, gaining a few more inches, and not inhibit the braking action. Test this.
All not ideal I know but the alternative is driving a Ford Focus.


Maxym

2,196 posts

243 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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OP, Porsche seats of any type (and i'm not talking buckets here) are well designed and are some of the best seats I've sat in. If your back is aching I suspect it's a question of adjustment - most likely either your arms are too stretched or your back is too upright. Well those are what make my back hurt...

At (only) 6ft 0in I've been comfortable in everything from the base seats to 18-ways, but I'd say the more adjustable the seat the more likely you are to find a setting that is ache-free and ergonomically sound.

sticks090460

1,106 posts

165 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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I’m 6’2” and find driving my wife’s PDK Boxster with the 14-way electric seats absolutely fine, but for some reason the passenger experience isn’t great. I like to be a bit reclined and down low to keep out of the slipstream, and if you do that, legroom isn't great, TBH. Much less than in her previous car, a Mini.

DJMC

3,521 posts

110 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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I have 14-way seats in my 981. The advantage with long legs is that the thigh support can be extended forwards and the seat front raised to give two methods of support.

Without this, standard seats left my knees moving from side to side as they were left suspended in the air.

14/18 way seats also give auto steering wheel raising/lowering on entry/exit which assists in getting into the driver's seat if you're tall/large.

I'm 6' 1" and I think I'd struggle if the cockpit was any smaller, as I did in the 987 models I tried. At 6' 3" you may be pushing the limits as to how comfortable you'll be. Try every seat option you can.

stef1808

Original Poster:

973 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies and further research it seems there are a lot of tall drivers that find the car comfortable. Just got back from a 1 hour drive and it already felt better with less aches, perhaps just needed to get use to the new position.

Still concerned about the manual and trying to operate the clutch with a slightly crooked left leg. In my F355 the pedals are off centre and sadly the clutch gets very tiring. Probably for the best but I end up hardly driving the car mostly due to this.

stef1808

Original Poster:

973 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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Trying all seat options and even finding a manual car is seeming to be difficult in my country so kinda winging it

DJMC

3,521 posts

110 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
quotequote all
I've driven a 981 manual and aside from the stiff clutch I don't recall anywhere to rest your left foot.

The gas pedal side has a toe rest so that you can sit your foot to the side when using cruise control. Not many manufacturers think to allow for this.

If you don't use cruise much this is unimportant but you may find it tiresome not to have a perch for your left foot when on the motorway etc. Perhaps a 718 manual owner could advise more?

I guess it has to be a manual? You've tried PDK and didn't like it?

stef1808

Original Poster:

973 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
quotequote all
Weekend fun car so has to be manual for sure!
Although got to admit the pdk does seem to really suit it

esuuv

1,353 posts

212 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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I'm 6'6 and drive a manual 718 as my daily.

There is a rest for your left foot when you're not using the clutch. It's not Rolls Royce comfortable but it works.

DJMC

3,521 posts

110 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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stef1808 said:
Weekend fun car so has to be manual for sure!
Although got to admit the pdk does seem to really suit it
Mine's a daily so had to be PDK for the motorway jams etc.

Mind you, in manual mode the PDK shift is ultra fast with paddles or gear lever (if you want to pretend it's a manual) and never a crunched gear or shaky take off from the lights. But I can understand those wanting the 'involvement' a clutch pedal gives, especially for a fun car.

Had mine 6+ years now and no plans to change it. Best thing is the 6 cylinder sound track. ;-)

LiamH66

840 posts

98 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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DJMC said:
I've driven a 981 manual and aside from the stiff clutch I don't recall anywhere to rest your left foot.

The gas pedal side has a toe rest so that you can sit your foot to the side when using cruise control. Not many manufacturers think to allow for this.

If you don't use cruise much this is unimportant but you may find it tiresome not to have a perch for your left foot when on the motorway etc. Perhaps a 718 manual owner could advise more?

I guess it has to be a manual? You've tried PDK and didn't like it?
I have a 981 GT4 and I am also on my second 718 Cayman, all have been manual. 718 clutch is much lighter than the 981 (everything is, I like it being more civilised than the GT4, I also like the GT4 being less civilised than the 718... wink ).

I'm only 5' 10", but a 6' 6" friend has been pleasantly surprised that there are small sports cars he can fit into without reclining the seat a long way back. He hasn't driven either of them for more than 30 minutes though. Both my 718s have had the lowest spec seats (I prefer the alcantara centres).

Places to rest feet, move legs, feel supported and so on have been fine for me. Probably the most comfortable cars I have driven. Fortunately the carbon buckets in the GT4 are just about perfect for my body frame. I did have some back trouble a few years ago when using my first 718 a lot, but it wasn't the car. I'm in my 50s, and one or 2 x 5 hour drives a week needed supplementing with a decent amount of ambulant exercise to keep the skeleton operational.

Liam

BobM

895 posts

262 months

Friday 21st January 2022
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6' 5" with 36" inside leg here in a manual 718 GT4 with carbon buckets. It's fine. As previously stated, there's a footrest to the left of the clutch pedal so sounds like the footwell/tunnel must be a bit different in a PDK? My son has a 718 GTS 4.0 PDK so I'll try to compare today.