Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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I drove both the Highlander and the Lexus RX300 - don't even bother with these if you like having a sunroof AND headroom. Additionally, it's like driving a Corolla - the wheel only tilts up and down and is too close to the dash robbing me of knee room. Plus, the seat doesn't go back far enough. Finally, there isn't enough leg/thigh support.
I'm really disappointed, because I like the reliability and handling.
Come on Toyota, when are you going to start making a few small changes so the tall population can drive in COMFORT in your vehicles?!?!
I drove the Jeep Grand Cherokee and loved the room (head, leg, knees, arm to steering wheel) - but only with power seats. However, I'm scared about their reliability - especially when I'm looking for a used vehicle to keep the costs down a bit.
Any advice? Pathfinder? Help!
- Mike
What about the Isuzu Trooper?
Definitely worth a test drive. I drove a Trooper but hated the seat.
tidester
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SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
Ideally, I'd like that "perfect SUV" to have that balance of comfort, reliability, and cost. (Am I really saying anything new here ... lol)
Has anyone looked into the new Mitsubishi Montero. I had heard that the interior had been slightly redesigned.
but thats only my $0.02
Odie
I have actually had a lot of luck with room in some of the smaller SUV's. The Escape/Tribute are basically the same vehicle wrapped in a different skin and the suspension is tuned differently but both have good interior room. Lower back support is lacking and the interior bits are on the low budget end of the spectrum. I also had good head room in the Hyundai Sante Fe but the leg room wasn't as good. It has an instrument pod on the drivers door and the center console is a bit wider than in other vehicles so my legs were not as comfortable as in the Escape/Tribute. The Subaru Forester had great head and leg room for the driver but there is very little leg room for rear seat passengers when the front seats are back all the way. The head room was good in the Jeep Liberty but the leg room was not as good. My shins were pressed against the shin bolster in the Liberty.
One thing to consider is where your hinge point is. Are you taller in your lower body (legs) or in your upper body? I'm split about 50-50 so I have to consider both head and leg room. Sunroofs are definitely out since they usually take out an inch or more in head room which puts them out of consideration for me. Another thing to consider is how you will be using the vehicle. Off-road stuff? Primarily on-road stuff? Do you need the AWD/4WD? How much cargo/passenger room do you need? These are important things to consider.
As I stated before, I could sit in a non-sunroof Ford Escape and I really liked it. The start up problems, like the Focus, scared me away. But, overall the Escape was a wonderful vehicle and a good fit for a small SUV.
My bro-in-law has the 4 runner, cramped! but it is a 2 door model.
I had a montero sport head hit the door liner each time I got in and out.
Test drive them all and get what fits ya best.
Good luck.
Oh well - we must upgrade from the Corolla since the baby is due in T-minus 7 days!
I'll let you guys know what we select!
Odie
First off, I'm about 6'4" tall. When I drove the Trooper, I couldn't see the traffic light when stopped. My eyes were at the same level as the top of the windshield! Plus, the seat didn't go back enough. Didn't like it. By the way, I also sat in an Axiom - worse leg room than the Toyota Corolla we traded in.
The Escape was a little tight for leg/knees, but had plenty of headroom. Not bad. Not 0% financing however. Couldn't justify paying for a new one when I could pick up a used SUV with not too much mileage for less.
The Explorer was awesome in a lot of ways. Fit-wise, it was the best. Seriously. We drove a 2002 or 2003 I think. Lots of bells and whistles. I wasn't up to paying new car price however, so I started researching older models, and found that the optional 3rd row of seats wasn't offered until 2002 I believe. Anyhoo, we nearly started looking hard for a used one anyway.
Then I found two 2001 Nissan Pathfinders with less than 20,000 miles for around $21,000. We drove about 5 hours on a Friday night (as you might remember, my wife is (was) pregnant and was actually due on that date!). She was feeling fine... so it was okay. We ended up purchasing one for $21,200 with 16,000 miles, putting down $7,000 and financing $14,000 @ 4.75% interest. Whadda deal!
Reasons for purchasing a PF:
Good headroom - no probs there.
Leg room was just right at it's maxed out seat position.
Wheel was very comfortable to reach to.
Amenities were fine - we bought an SE w/ Bose CD player & power everything. No sunroof, and cloth seats - but I like the seats.. not your normal cheap-looking cloth seats.
Additionally, after doing the research, we found that the 2001 version had a bigger 230HP engine - and has great pickup.
Finally, the deciding factor over the Explorer was probably the reliability - as Consumer Reports lists it as one of the only recommended used SUVs out there.
So there! Now you're up to speed! Thanks for all of your help!
- Mike (and Jenn)
Thanks.
I'm 6'3" and for several years drove an MGB designed for people under 6' feet so a certain amount of negative headroom can be tolerated if the spirit is willing.
Shifty says Alfas have good head room although 6'7" may be pushing it.
I can't really help with newer cars. I had an S2000 for a couple of years, but it was pretty tight (though comfortable - best seats I've ever had experience with). I suspect that 6'7" would be a bit too big.
Good luck!
-Chris
One thing that tall drivers often overlook is the placement of the "dead pedal". You need a comfortable place for your BIG LEFT FOOT to rest when you aren't shifting.
On short test drives this doesn't show itself as a problem as you compensate, or are distracted. But if your left foot is too confined, you will find it extremely annoying on long trips. Stowing the left foot UNDER the clutch pedal just doesn't cut it.
Yeah, headroom in a modern sportscar is a rare thing. You pay big time for those low slung shapes, and a big "buggy soft top" that allows headroom isn't very attractive.
You may have to settle for a coupe with an arcing roofline, like an Audi TT or something.
There are plenty of nice sports sedans that offer good headroom and seats w multi-adjustments. In particular Saab 9-5 and new 9-3, Mercedes C-class.
Audi A4, A6, VW Passat, BMW 5-Series.
Most Euro sedans offer good headroom, better than American or Japanese cars, usually. Germans and Swedes are pretty big sometimes.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93