Sports cars for the tall

[atallsteve]

I have a rather annoying problem - I’m looking for a sports car with fairly lax standards - two seats preferably open top rear wheel drive lightweight car - with a budget of £17,000 for a car that's only suitable for the weekend and £23000 for something a bit more practical. Only problem is I can’t find a suitable car I can fit in. I'm 6'8" and quite long in the legs and as a result most of the car's I have looked at are either hideously uncomfortable or simply undividable.

So far I have looked at...
Lotus exige / vx220 (30 seconds to get in then totally unable to turn the wheel or operate the pedals)

BMW z4 dashboard blocks left knee when operating the clutch

Toyota mr2 (old) not enough room between legs for wheel
Toyota mr2 (new) both legs impeded by dashboard

TVR Tuscan seriously tight fit though drivable and not really cheap enough

TVR chimera not enough room on right leg or head

350z open and coupe not enough headroom

Mazda mx5 all versions no room for legs and wheel at the same time

Ariel atom possible with modification but not suitable for day to data and the price is a bit higher than I can afford

Caterham not a chance

Westfield not a chance

Honda s2000 couldn't even sit in

Porche boxer - very little space and have to duck with the roof on

Rx8 legs impeded by dashboard

The list goes on for a depressingly long time

Is there anyone out there 6'7" and above who could make suggestions or knows someone as tall as me who drives a sports car. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me.

Many thanks

[schmokin1]

classic Marcos? the seat was a set of cushions that sat on the floor and against the bulkhead so could be custom fitted, and the pedal box adjusts. How about looking at other cars to see if a custom seat or set of cushions could be used - that's all they have in a lot of race cars....

BTW I have a chimaera and the seats can be removed easily for adjustment of the mountings - perhaps revisit this option also?

Edited by schmokin1 on Thursday 24th April 18:48

[DippedHeadlights]

Either go classic (so you can move the seats without worry about seat belt pretensioners and other stuff) or Swedish. 9-3 is one of the roomiest I've found for us lanky gits.

[ganglandboss]

I'm sure you'll squeeze into something!

[Simpo Two]

Double-decker bus and sit upstairs?

[thinfourth2]

Caterham SV with a bag seat

The normal caterham seats take up alot of room so you might find you fit without a seat. then get a proper bag type race seat made up.

[absolutely]

Mercedes are always good for tall people, but a comprimise on how "sporty" you want it to be!

[billys]

not sure its a sports car or a gt but at 6 foot 6 and 30 stone is used a monaro for 3 lovely year and the seat when back further than needed

not open top but i can sell you a hack saw

billy

[tubbystu]

Many TVR's (certainly the older pre-Tuscan models) were sold with pedal box depth options so you might need to try a couple more, at a meet maybe ?

[Snake the Sniper]

Try something "lower" down the 7 ladder. There are MUCH bigger version out there. I have an MK Indy, and am 6'3" and quite long in the leg. My seat still has 2 clicks to go on the runners. And there are even bigger version again. The Luego Viento is absolutely HUGE. It's maybe an extra 15cm wider than mine and about a foot longer in the cockpit. MNR also have an in house tall person who is 6'5" IIRC and has size 13 boats shoes to fit in!

[darronwall]

porsche 996 i am six four and have no probs

[LeoSayer]

Non sunroof Porsche 996 has a fair bit of headroom and can be made better if you spend a bit of money on a bucket seat. You can also remove the cente console for more knee room.

[Prof Beard]

What about a Corvette - Yanks tend to be taller then us Brits?

[ewenm]

thinfourth2 said:

Caterham SV with a bag seat

The normal caterham seats take up alot of room so you might find you fit without a seat. then get a proper bag type race seat made up.

I know some tall people who fit into an SV this way.

[Smiler.]

Civic Type-R had enough room for me (6'7&quot. I have a Monaro now, which amazingly enough, I need to put the seat forward. Not really a sports car though.

Good luck.

[mattley]

Skylines are good for tall people, the seats go a fair way back and though it can still be a knees high, there's no obstructions. Plus you could get a really good one way under your budget.

[thinfourth2]

ewenm said:

thinfourth2 said:

Caterham SV with a bag seat

The normal caterham seats take up alot of room so you might find you fit without a seat. then get a proper bag type race seat made up.

I know some tall people who fit into an SV this way.

And the pedals are adjustable

[Steve E]

Have you tried a TVR Cerbera?

I'm 6' and have the seat nearly all the way forwards!

Which is why the seats get worn so much getting in and out.

[Fondue]

Do you have to have a manual? If not, then the Z4 may be a goer?

[Futuramic]

MGB GT, simply take the front seat out and sit on the back bench thing, on top of the batteries.

I love being 5'7".