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For reference, He fits in Highlanders and Subarus (but not the Prius, Pilots or Rangerovers)
If you need help finding your way to those discussions, let me know!
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1. 2009 Dodge Charger--By far, this is the most roomy car I've ever sat in.
2. 2009 Chrysler 300--Nearly as roomy as the charger
3. 2010 VW Tiguan--I went with this one as I really wanted an SUV... very nice ride.
4. 2009 Buick Enclave--Almost as roomy as the tiguan.
5. 2009 Nissan Murano--Not as good as I had hoped. Still much more roomy than my protege. Not bad at all.
I hope this helps some people. It's amazing that this thread has been going on for over 10 years. I know the frustration us tall guys experience when finding cars, shoes, clothes, or girlfriends to fit. Perhaps auto manufacturers will begin paying closer to our needs.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I know this is an older post from 6 months ago, but if you get this message, please let me know the name and number of the shop in Savage Minnesota that does seat modifications/moves - I've had that done here in Colorado on three different cars (they also did some of the Denver Bronco cars), but the main owners retired, sold the business, and the new owners no longer do seat modifications - they even did steering wheel/column modifications/adds that were incredible (I had it done once as it's expensive, and I saw a Mercedes with massive modifications done for a large Bronco player). Please let us know the name/number of the shop. Thank you.
All were sold with engines that pretty much "ran like new". All had oil changes between 7000 and 12000 mile intervals. None were ever exposed to synthetic oil.
When the manufacturer recommends oil changes every 7500 miles, it's a conservative recommendation. Changing oil more frequently will have little benefit. The most critical thing you can do for your Toyota when it comes to oil is to make sure it is never more than a quart low.
If you keep oil in your engine in a Toyota, the car will rust well before the engine ever fails.
I found the kia soul to be roomy as my head doesn't hit the roof, my knees aren't wedged in, I can drive the manual transmission relatively comfortable, the seats are significantly higher than most cars so that helps with blood circulation and comfort, the headrest will actually keep my head from whiplashing back (first time I've found that to be the case in a car) fitting where it's supposed to, and it's also one of the most inexpensive new cars available.
So I'd recommend trying this model out and adding it to your list.
When I was looking to buy, the other cars on my shortlist were the Mazda 6, VW Golf, and Dodge Magnum. The roomiest driver appointment was the VW, by far. But there were no R32's left to test drive and peaky the 1.8T was extremely underwhelming to drive. The Magnum/Charger was comfortable as well but priced way too high for me at the time and I was also dissatisfied by the lack of any manual transmission offerings. The Mazda6 was a big surprise. It was far roomier than other cars in its class and with the V6, it was pretty quick, too. I never got to drive the Speed6 variant but I know I would have loved it. The big downside that pushed me back to the Mini dealership was the Mazda's airbag-equipped B-pillars ecclipsing the shoulder space of a seat moved all the way back.
Have been thinking on a minivan and have heard that some of the new small cars fit tall people but someone close to 7 feet probably not. I have in the past driven VW rabbit and nissan sentra both of which i found not too bad. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
This is unconfirmed, but someone I work with recently purchased a Kia Soul and tells me it has a tremendous amount of headroom, too (he's probably around 6'2").
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I drive a LOT, averaging 25k/year, and need something comfortable for long trips. I owned a Honda Fit, but the ergonomics and seats were so uncomfortable I traded it in within a year. I very much liked my Edge, but it was sadly totaled two weeks ago. New minivans are all too expensive for me, and many used cars don't make financial sense for long-term/high-use ownership. Trucks are all out because of Chicago laws that restrict open-bed vehicles from certain important roads.
There are several standouts for me for driving position and comfort, but all lack fuel economy and become very expensive to own. The Ford Edge (and other Ford SUVs) combined good entry and ergonomics for me but are very expensive to fuel. The CX-7 and 9 are also comfy but require premium gas. The GMC Acadia (and GM sisters) are similar - comfortable, spacious and thirsty.
The Maxima and Altima offer a lot of front-seat room/adjustability and are on the short list. The Jetta TDI Sportwagen offers great value and has been saved from the cost-cutting shortcuts seen on the sedans, but it's a car I basically have to fall to get into. Getting in and out of low cars every day is not good for us tall folk. Subaru's Outback and Forester are both close on price to the Jetta (TDI trim) and are nicer to get in and out of, but suffer from a lousy-feeling drivetrain. The Mazda 6 is comfortable if there is no sunroof.
The other cheaper SUV/hatches are either too small or have glaring flaws. The Cube is enormous inside but is rubbish to drive. Loud, hard, slow. The Scion Xb's dash is set too low for me and I have a hard time reaching the controls. The Mini Cooper fits very well but has a harsh ride for long trips - I regularly spend 3+ hours in my car a day.
Right now I'm leaning towards the TDI because it ends up being a couple hundred dollars LESS a month to run than the others, thanks to the great mileage. I'm a bit of a corner-case, being tall and driving so many miles, so my options are even fewer than for most. On top of it all, I play music and have to move large equipment around so a hatch is almost a must (I could just rent a van when needed). My uncle in Sweden drives a Ford Mondeo diesel wagon and I have been green with envy ever since driving it. The Mazda 6 is basically the same car but you can't get a wagon version in the states, nor a diesel. I'll just have to deal with the poor entry/exit.
You would think that pickup trucks would be the best-think again. Some trucks are good- the ford f-150 being one, and the fords older than 2003 are best. Some trucks have enough headroom but the windshield is too short, or the roof slopes down too far. Examples : NissanTitan, Toyota Tundra after 2007, Chev Silverado. I can't see stop signs from these vehicles.
In suv's the Subaru Forester has OK headroom but the seats are terrible. The Honda CRV in models without sunroof have decent headroom and good windshield visibility. I would have bought one if they still came equipped with a manual 5 speed. The Honda Pilot has enough headroom in models without sunroof, but I didn't find the seats to be very good- the lumbar is too low for a tall guy.
In cars, it's hard to beat the headroom in the Volkswagen new Beetle. Otherwise, I haven't found a passenger car I can sit in- either as a passenger or a driver......cheers, 2Grumpy.
Please email pr@edmunds.com by November 4, 2011 with your daytime phone number and a comment about your experience.
Very comfortable leather seat with lumbar and heat, nav system is terrific and the dash lights up in an Ice Blue color that looks fantastic at night. Throw in the power liftgate and backup camera and I was sold! I was between this and the 2011 Subaru Outback, but this had more legroom and was more comfortable overall. I'm averaging 26mpg so far, which isn't bad for an AWD vehicle. My right knee doesn't rest against the center console like in my Toyota, there is plenty of room. Overall I couldn't be happier and I get tons of compliments. Great option for a tall person that has decent fuel economy, all wheel drive and lots of room, even with the moonroof!! :shades:
I traded the BMW in for a 2011 Kia Optima. This is a GREAT car for the $'s. VERY roomy both leg room and head room and still room in the back seat. Only drawback is that the seats aren't terrific for thigh support (a little short). But all in all, for the $'s, you should really check it out.
Oh, and a 200 hp 4 cyl that gets 35 mpg on the highway. Mine was $23K out the door, brand new.
Was there any discussion about liability concerns? Did you happen to ask your insurance company if there was any problem with moving the seat track?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
1) Driver head room
2) Driver leg room
3) Average MPG
4) Standard Warranty length
5) Price
It is a real pain sorting through all the MFG hype just to find a few key elements.
It's a start even though you can't first sort by head room.
One Saturday morning, I took my son with me and we did a tour of the local car dealers trying out all of the sedans we could find. This included Camry, Accord, Hyundai, Kia and Ford Fusion. I liked the Hyundai Sonata and that was my first choice based on looks. According to the specs on paper, it has the best front legroom (45.5"), good front headroom (40"), average rear headroom but relatively poor rear legroom. The front seat does have good leg and head room. If you don't use the back seat much (at least for tall people), then this would be a pretty good choice for a tall driver. With the sloping roof line, the back seat would not be comfortable for six-footers. The only model choice is the GL because all of the rest have a sunroof and that makes the front headroom inadequate. The GL does not come with an electric driver's seat (it may be an option if you buy it new). It does have an adjustable steering wheel. I still liked the car but it felt a bit cramped overall, even sitting in the front seat.
We tried the Kia (same basic car as the Hyundai), the Accord (they didn't have one in stock without a sunroof) and the Fusion (felt cramped - especially in the back). I already have an older Camry and I really like it (even though front legroom is limited). A newer Camry wasn't at the top of my list because the interior dimensions on paper just seemed average, Toyota has been having some reliability issues and the styling was pretty conservative. Once we sat in it, there was no turning back. Initially we tried a 2012 and it is a bit larger than the older models but not by much. The front leg and headroom was very good and with the electric driver's seat (and adjustable steering wheel), it made it even better. With a squarer roof line than the Sonata (and most other sedans), the back seat was also very good for leg and head room. We started looking for used Camry's and I found a 2010 Hybrid that we liked so we bought it. We just finished a vacation trip to Florida in it and we found it to be very comfortable and at 40+ mpg, very efficient as well. Luggage room in the trunk is a bit limited because of the battery pack but the car fit three adults and our luggage quite adequately. For local use, it can comfortably fit 4 or even 5 adults with adequate headroom for six-footers in front and back.
In conclusion, I recommend the Camry, and especially the Hybrid for its interior room as well as its efficiency. I did quite a bit of research on the Camry Hybrid and found that it has an excellent reliability record. The Toyota engineers seem to have done a really good job on this car. Unlike the Prius, the Camry Hybrid feels pretty much like a normal car. It has a lot of technology in it but this hasn't lead to lots of failures or expensive replacement of parts. With 2 engines and dual braking systems, many key parts aren't under as much stress as they would be in a normal gas engine car. The battery pack was designed to last for the life of the car and so far, that seems to be the case. I also learned that you have to try them out to get a real feel for the interior room. I still don't understand how the Sonata and the Camry can both be rated as having the same rear headroom (37.8") when they are, in fact, so different. There are quite a few Camry Hybrids so it isn't too hard to find a used one at a fairly reasonable price. I ended up paying about the same as I was expecting to pay for a used 2011 (non-hybrid) Sonata.
I am in the market for a mid-sized SUV to replace my truck. The cost of fuel is KILLING me at 14 miles per gallon. I am going to try Honda, GMC and Hyundai. I am hoping to stay 27k or less. Due to injuries sustained while I was military, cars are just too painful to get in and out of...that being said, my ex did get me to try her 2011 Yaris and she got a great laugh, it just was not designed for a guy with a 60" chest.
What fits in a car is very different depending on your build, I am cursed with a long body and a 36" inseam and a 60" chest. I wish car dealers would tailor advertising a little toward our market. I found the Terrain easy to get in and out of with a tilt/telescoping wheel. It sits high enough to not be hard on my knees but low enough that I am not climbing into it. It uses E85 fuel so I am anticipating an almost $200 a month drop in fuel costs by moving from my Dodge to this. At a $29k sticker price for the SLE2 package with power/heater seats and AWD It was an easy sell.
For all you tall folks out there, please try the GMC Terrain (or the sister vehicle the Chevrolet Equinox - 2010 on) if you need leg and head room, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Thank you GM for puting some leg room in your vehicles - if you put the seat back further, you can always slide the seat up if your short, but you can never slide it back...
It seems to me that newer cars have both lower roof lines and even lower openings, probably for more structural rigidity to hold up better in a crash. The thing is, it makes ingress and egress a pain, no matter what the ergos are once you get in and out of a car.
My handicap is that I had my neck fused on three levels in January. I really don't want to have to get a truck as they are slow, handle poorly and get bad gas mileage. Oh well. I really wanted that SS Camaro, but it won't work. .
I mostly see them outfitted as light delivery vehicles... for florists, etc...
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If the gas mileage was a bit better, (and maybe it would get over 30 highway with a tall 5th gear), I could live with the lack of oomph. Be fun to outfit the back as a camping rig and the 4 GB indash computer could be fun too.
If Ford can sell a niche vehicle like this in the US and make a profit, you'd think someone would figure out that there are a lot of larger people needing comfortable rides who don't want something big on the outside like a King Ranch pickup.
I am trying to find the vehicles with the most rear leg and headroom. Pretty much all the cars with enough room in the back for my son, at 6'7", have enough room for me in the front (6'5").
What I really need doesn't exist, as I want a 4 dr hatchback, 4 wheel drive, used/new under $25K, with lots of storage space and at least 100 mpg, with a plug in to recharge the battery, and at least a 500 mile range.
I will settle for a used car under $25K, that is under 100K miles.
cliff
MIA
Otherwise, what about an SUV? The Honda Pilot has huge rear leg room (at least our '03 did). As does the volvo XC90.
OR, if sticking with cars, you have some large options out there like the Grand Marquis/Towncar, Ford 500/Taurus, and dodge Charger.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I need to rent a European car and I will be forced to get a subcompact because of the prices ($150/day minimum in this particular area).
I realize I will have to drive with some discomfort and tight space, but I have three choices I can afford:
1.) 2010 Toyota Yaris
2.) 2010 Suzuki Swift
3.) 2011 Hyundai I10 / 2012 Kia Picanto (same frame?)
The rental company has an employee my height who said the Swift will certainly be more comfortable than the Yaris, but the Hyundai is with a competing company.
Can anyone please tell me how the Hyundai might compare in headroom/legroom to the Swift? I can't find the Swift dimensions, but the Hyundai seems to have 39.5" front headroom, but is narrower. The Hyundai is about 5% cheaper so I would prefer that IF I will fit.
I've been looking for the better part of a year now with no real luck although i have found dodge makes to be a fair bit roomier than most.
It's as comfy as my old Expedition.. and didn't break the bank when bought.
Wish I could have bought domestic but i could not fit in any domestic with similar mpg rating or even close to same price point.
I just sold it recently for $1500 more than I paid for it. However I feel sick for doing so, I thought I wanted a more luxurious commuter car, but have realized, there are not too many out there under $10,000 that get over 25mpg's. The Scion xB on average always got 33mpg's & city driving 27mpg's. The only "cons" I can note are the nicknames I acquired when driving the xB, but they never bothered me & my favorite was Fred Flintstone. It is a basic, no frills car. It is very comfortable & dependable. There is some road noise, but not the type that gives you a headache. My air conditioner died after the first year of ownership. Toyota wanted $2200 to replace, I found a private mechanic who did it for $900 & no problems since.
I loved my xB & feel dumb for letting it go, I'm now looking for another one. The newer body style xB's have the gear shift on the center dash now & I've not tried sitting in one yet, but pretty sure it will constrict my right leg room area.
Hope this helps.
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