Sports car help for tall people

[JoeBurnz]

I spent a lot of time researching what 'affordable' mordern 'sports' cars fit big/tall drivers to try and save myself the time and effort of testing myself. There's no substitute for trying them out on your own, but long story short I never quite found the answer I was looking for - so I took a day of extreme hardhship to go and sit in a load of cars at dealerships not too far apart.

Hoping this post might help some other tall dudes out in future - but we're all different in what we fit in. I find an XC40 amazing for space which others think is mad.

For reference, I am 6'7 and 120kg - more than a hint of dad bod. Fairly even split of legs and torso for me.

Cars I tried were: A110GT, base A110 with buckets, Emira, 718 Cayman, 992 911 Carrera S (not sure exactly which seats but they were electric) and a Mustang (comfort seats), A45 AMG, CLA 45 AMG, CLE 55, BMW Z4, M8 and M4.

1. A110 with buckets - no go even on lowest setting
2. A110 GT - my personal favourite and with the comfort seats as low and far back as they will go this fits, although a helmet may be a problem.
3. Emira - Leg room fantastic and better than everything else, but headroom lacking (got to bend the neck to fit) so a no go
4. Cayman - no chance
5. 911 - Very good and fits, not as good as the A110 GT interestingly for me (and also out of budget for any 992)
6. S650 Mustang - Very good space, plenty of room
7. A45/CLA 45 - No good
8. CLE 55 - Very good space and felt lovely inside but nobody is sitting behind
9. Z4 m40i - Not happening ever
10. M8 - Just about workable but very crampt, too much so for size of car.
11. M4 - Plenty of space

Next stop is a test drive of the A110.

[Shnozz]

If you’re prepared to go older, TVRs are pretty good for tall folk.

[Scabutz]

I'm 6'5", 110kg so little smaller than you. I've always found Audis very spacious. I had a V10 S6 and I could sit behind myself in it. I've driven an R8 round a track and that was comfortable. Unlike the Fezza 360 I had to fold myself into

[JoeBurnz]

R8 being comfortable for 6'5 is amazing - that's good to know.

Something about TVR's has always terrified me.

[Lefty]

Shnozz said:

If you re prepared to go older, TVRs are pretty good for tall folk.

I was about to post this. I’m only 194cm so about 6’4” and a bit but have tons of room in a Cerbera, I think you would fit just fine.

[Shnozz]

Lefty said:

Shnozz said:

If you re prepared to go older, TVRs are pretty good for tall folk.

I was about to post this. I m only 194cm so about 6 4 and a bit but have tons of room in a Cerbera, I think you would fit just fine.

I’m 190cm and must say I struggled in the rear seats of a cerb but not up front.

[Lefty]

Oh yeah I was talking about the front seats!!

[Leins]

I m similarly sized to you OP, and most roadsters are a no go for me. However I found the Merc SLK of all gens an exception. What about an SLK55?

Generally most BMWs fit me well due to the driving position, plus the likes of 911s

[nessiemac]

Alfa Romeo 4C?

I found them to be slightly roomier than the A110.

[DodgyGeezer]

not a Lamborghini I suspect...

[Scabutz]

DodgyGeezer said:

not a Lamborghini I suspect...

Love it. Looks like Noddy.

[BigMon]

I'm 6ft 6 and long in the body so this is very handy. Thanks!

Although all my 'dream cars' I've tried so far I didn't fit in. 2016 911 (not a cabriolet though), Nissan GTR, any Ferrari, old Bentley Turbo R, etc.

What year were the 911 and M4 out of interest?

They are on my 'retirement pressie' list, although at current prices it would be about a 2 to 3 year old M4 vs about a 10 year old 911.

Edited by BigMon on Monday 7th July 20:34

Edited by BigMon on Monday 7th July 20:40

[raspy]

Porsche Panamera? Apparently the former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking who is 6'3" tall, forced the car to be redesigned after he wanted the back seats to be comfortable enough for tall people like him!

[springfan62]

I am 6'6" and I have an A110 and I am fine with the headroom, one of the design team was 6'7" so that might explain why its so good in that department.

[SaulGoodman]

Heh - this is me! I am trying to get the weight down a bit though.

Surprised to see the Z4 as a no go. Never been in one but always liked the look of them. That's disappointing. Not one for the affordable list, but I did sit in a McLaren 570 Spider and my head was almost fully above the windscreen.

I'm lucky I am evenly proportioned. I have a friend who is an inch taller but is probably 6 inches longer in the leg. He has to get his clothes specially made...

[davek_964]

SaulGoodman said:

Surprised to see the Z4 as a no go. Never been in one but always liked the look of them.

I test drove one a couple of weeks ago (M40i) and you're not really missing much - I didn't like it at all, and it definitely didn't feel like a sports car. I've always liked the look of them too, but found it very disappointing.

Since the OP had M4 on the list - that was on my list too (until I drove the Z4 and realised some of the things I didn't like about it were common with the M4) - I ended up with an Alfa Giulia Quad. Obviously not really "sports car" - but very impressive speed / handling and plenty of room (although I'm not particularly tall)

[Mouse Rat]

I'm 6"7 100kg.
Mostly found German cars to be good. Especially BMW coupes and most Porches . Z4 cab.
I think the tallest bloke in Europe drove an M4.


Mustang good too.

Once had a E350 coupe with panoramic roof. Careful they eat into head room.

I found TVRs hit and miss. Couldn't fit into a T350. Chimera and cerb have wide transmission tunnels .
However the Tuscan is fine. Easier getting in and out without the roof!

Couldn't fit into F Type coupe, S2000, Ferrari 308, Z4 coupe.

AM Vantage had room. But little adjustment to the steering wheel made the driving position uncomfortable.

Loads of room in the Alfa QV (brilliant car) However getting in and out wasn't easy due to small door aperture.

Trial and error unfortunately. Still have a scar on my knee from attempting entry into a polestar 2.

Edited by Mouse Rat on Tuesday 8th July 09:07

[blueg33]

Mk1 Evora has lower seats than the Emira and stacks of driver legroom

If 4 doors is ok Giulia Quadrifoglio may be an option.

[JoeBurnz]

R8 being comfortable for 6'5 is amazing - that's good to know.

Something about TVR's has always terrified me.

[JoeBurnz]

BigMon said:

I'm 6ft 6 and long in the body so this is very handy. Thanks!

Although all my 'dream cars' I've tried so far I didn't fit in. 2016 911 (not a cabriolet though), Nissan GTR, any Ferrari, old Bentley Turbo R, etc.

What year were the 911 and M4 out of interest?

They are on my 'retirement pressie' list, although at current prices it would be about a 2 to 3 year old M4 vs about a 10 year old 911.

Edited by BigMon on Monday 7th July 20:34

Edited by BigMon on Monday 7th July 20:40

Both most recent MY's as they were in dealerships. I think anything from the 992 generation 911 would be totally fine, and I hear the 991's are also roomy but don't have the experience