Car for a tall person
Discussion
I'm 6ft 4. Not crazy tall but it seems my torso is long. So are my legs. I currently have a 2015 Fiesta. I wish the seat would drop another 2 inches. The view out if the windscreen is taken up by the rear view mirror.
Can anyone recommend me a car, literally any car where the seat base is low to the floor so I can look through the middle of the screen and not have to crane my neck and slouch? Or are there kits to "slam" your seat?
Cheers.
Can anyone recommend me a car, literally any car where the seat base is low to the floor so I can look through the middle of the screen and not have to crane my neck and slouch? Or are there kits to "slam" your seat?
Cheers.
Master Bean said:
I'm 6ft 4. Not crazy tall but it seems my torso is long. So are my legs. I currently have a 2015 Fiesta. I wish the seat would drop another 2 inches. The view out if the windscreen is taken up by the rear view mirror.
Can anyone recommend me a car, literally any car where the seat base is low to the floor so I can look through the middle of the screen and not have to crane my neck and slouch? Or are there kits to "slam" your seat?
Cheers.
I’m 6’2” but I’m also longer in the back, causing issues with headroom. Can anyone recommend me a car, literally any car where the seat base is low to the floor so I can look through the middle of the screen and not have to crane my neck and slouch? Or are there kits to "slam" your seat?
Cheers.
Generally German cars are more suitable, avoid anything with a sunroof!
You may find that something like a golf will be enough to solve the issue.
I've had a few small cars. VW Up/Skoda Citigo/Seat Mii should be big enough, I'm 6'6" and I had a Citigo. Seat and Skoda just had the 1.0 engine, VW kept the turbo versions for themselves with the TSI (88-90bhp depending where you look) and GTI (115bhp) models if you want something that isn't slow. Smarts are big inside too (I've had 2) and Minis are supposed to be big too but I haven't sat in one (I don't think I have anyway). Avoid Fiat 500/Panda and C1/108/Aygo.
Edited by ajprice on Friday 13th August 23:51
For most cars, I'm afraid the answer is simply "no".
I'm the same height and have the same problem. Currently driving a '16 Skoda Rapid and that's pretty good for a medium sized car, but frankly, I've spent so many years ducking past rear-view mirrors and putting the passenger sun visor back up that I hardly even think about it. You'll just have to accept that you're outside the 95% that cars are designed around...and keep scratching your head at people who think buying a car you've never sat in off the internet is a good idea.
Other pointers I've really picked up over the years are:
Height adjustable seats are often worse than the non-adjustable versions as the motors etc take up space and they ending up not going as low as the bog standard ones.
Sunroofs (sunrooves?) often steal the last inch that makes the difference!
Check for enough space to rest your over-sized feet, too - especially the left but also the right if you have cruise (the Rapid is good for this, too).
Cars that sit you "upright" rather than "relaxed" often give more room than you'd expect (I can sit "behind myself" in a Mk1 Aygo, for example) - but you're still looking out the top of the windscreen.
Don't buy anything with a very curvy screen - the original Puma gave me a headache as the bit of the screen I was looking through was so distorted.
Finally - there's no substitute for actually sitting in the exact car you're going to buy - there are so many options and small changes, facelifts, etc in some ranges, you can never be quite sure you'll have the same fit one example to the next.
I'm the same height and have the same problem. Currently driving a '16 Skoda Rapid and that's pretty good for a medium sized car, but frankly, I've spent so many years ducking past rear-view mirrors and putting the passenger sun visor back up that I hardly even think about it. You'll just have to accept that you're outside the 95% that cars are designed around...and keep scratching your head at people who think buying a car you've never sat in off the internet is a good idea.
Other pointers I've really picked up over the years are:
Height adjustable seats are often worse than the non-adjustable versions as the motors etc take up space and they ending up not going as low as the bog standard ones.
Sunroofs (sunrooves?) often steal the last inch that makes the difference!
Check for enough space to rest your over-sized feet, too - especially the left but also the right if you have cruise (the Rapid is good for this, too).
Cars that sit you "upright" rather than "relaxed" often give more room than you'd expect (I can sit "behind myself" in a Mk1 Aygo, for example) - but you're still looking out the top of the windscreen.
Don't buy anything with a very curvy screen - the original Puma gave me a headache as the bit of the screen I was looking through was so distorted.
Finally - there's no substitute for actually sitting in the exact car you're going to buy - there are so many options and small changes, facelifts, etc in some ranges, you can never be quite sure you'll have the same fit one example to the next.
Same height and currently have a Golf. No issues at all. Most comfortable car I’ve owned.
Have an Astra at work and it’s not too bad (17 or 69 plate the 15/16 plates are crap for driving position).
Had the following with no issues either.
BMW 330D Estate
Ford Mondeo ST (diesel) Saloon
BMW 528 Estate
Even the 2012 Corsa I had wasn’t too bad.
Have an Astra at work and it’s not too bad (17 or 69 plate the 15/16 plates are crap for driving position).
Had the following with no issues either.
BMW 330D Estate
Ford Mondeo ST (diesel) Saloon
BMW 528 Estate
Even the 2012 Corsa I had wasn’t too bad.
I'm 6'3" and am just about the fussiest person I know with regard to car seating position, sitting low enough to not feel perched on top of the car.
Whilst I can fit in most cars, there are not many that I feel truly comfortable driving
BMW 1 and 2 series from 2012 on is great provided you avoid electric seats. The sports seats are good because they come with a tilt function.
Likewise BMW 4 series even with electric seats (I haven't tried without).
VW Golf from the past 10 years are pretty good.
Mini is surprisingly good.
Porsche 911 from 997 onwards are very good.
The only car I sat in where I felt the seat went too low for me is the latest Aston Martin Vantage.
That's not a long list but they are the ones that I remember from those I have tried.
Whilst I can fit in most cars, there are not many that I feel truly comfortable driving
BMW 1 and 2 series from 2012 on is great provided you avoid electric seats. The sports seats are good because they come with a tilt function.
Likewise BMW 4 series even with electric seats (I haven't tried without).
VW Golf from the past 10 years are pretty good.
Mini is surprisingly good.
Porsche 911 from 997 onwards are very good.
The only car I sat in where I felt the seat went too low for me is the latest Aston Martin Vantage.
That's not a long list but they are the ones that I remember from those I have tried.
Totally feel your pain.
My experience, sadly, is that newer cars are better than older. Whenever I’ve tried to buy something nice and retro, it’s been a no go for me. Most telling was the Bentley Turbo R - loved the car, but I simply didn’t fit. It was a non starter.
At the more exotic end, my current bentley GT is great. Excellent driving position for 6’4. Appreciate this isn’t practical as a car to take rubbish to the tip etc, but, it’s effectively a VAG car, so, I’d hope that carries over to the rest of the range, as others have pointed out.
We also have a recent GLA - I wasn’t impressed, but, interestingly it’s the sun roof that makes it passable for me, contrary to what others have said.
Of course none of this is a substitute to sitting in each and every car. Good luck, I do feel your pain.
My experience, sadly, is that newer cars are better than older. Whenever I’ve tried to buy something nice and retro, it’s been a no go for me. Most telling was the Bentley Turbo R - loved the car, but I simply didn’t fit. It was a non starter.
At the more exotic end, my current bentley GT is great. Excellent driving position for 6’4. Appreciate this isn’t practical as a car to take rubbish to the tip etc, but, it’s effectively a VAG car, so, I’d hope that carries over to the rest of the range, as others have pointed out.
We also have a recent GLA - I wasn’t impressed, but, interestingly it’s the sun roof that makes it passable for me, contrary to what others have said.
Of course none of this is a substitute to sitting in each and every car. Good luck, I do feel your pain.
Don’t know if you want a cheap runaround, probably not, but if you did the w169 Merc A Class could be ideal. I’m not quite as tall as you but the seat goes miles back and nice and low combined with a very tall cabin. I’ve never been in another car with such spaceious cabin, especially for the size. They are a packaging masterpiece. I think Merc boasted the same passenger space as an S Class in the advertising.
blueST said:
Don’t know if you want a cheap runaround, probably not, but if you did the w169 Merc A Class could be ideal. I’m not quite as tall as you but the seat goes miles back and nice and low combined with a very tall cabin. I’ve never been in another car with such spaceious cabin, especially for the size. They are a packaging masterpiece. I think Merc boasted the same passenger space as an S Class in the advertising.
Agreed, I had the wee three door, absolutely vast inside. I’m 6’5” and never had an issue and I find the German cars better. The problem tend to be carrying passengers and children on boosters.
Another issue is the B-pillar in the way when the seat is pushed back on 4/5 door cars (coupes and 3 door cars have longer doors) and it’s for that reason I own coupe for decades until the children arrived.
I currently own a E class wagon which seems to fit all the bills
Another issue is the B-pillar in the way when the seat is pushed back on 4/5 door cars (coupes and 3 door cars have longer doors) and it’s for that reason I own coupe for decades until the children arrived.
I currently own a E class wagon which seems to fit all the bills
At 6’ 4” you are obviously towards the upper percentiles, but you are not so large that most car manufacturers aren’t engineering a car for you. Not all cars will be OK, but there’s plenty out there for someone your size. Obviously avoid small cars, but anything say Focus-sized and larger made in the last 10 years should suit. Things have changed massively in this area in 15 years e.g. the EP2/EP3 civics have no reach adjustment on the steering wheel. So even when you get low or far back enough for your legs, you can’t reach the wheel! Ergonomics has moved on a lot in 20 years. The Fiesta is just too small I think.
Edited by F20CN16 on Sunday 15th August 07:54
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