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Comments
I thought the 300M was huge inside, but also felt huge behind the wheel. The A4 is a little tighter up front than the Passat, but the rear legroom is much less. The 1999 BMW 3-series felt too small overall in just about every dimension. I think the BMW feels smaller than it really is.
Check out the Passat, but be warned... availability can be a real problem, especially if you like leather interior. I've got one on order.
mackayt, I think Swedish cars (Saab, Volvo) tend to have a bit more headroom than others. Maybe check out the Saab 9-5. Actually, I think a BMW 5-series (just picking a car at random here) might fit a 6-5 person, with no sunroof and sport seats. An Infiniti I30 might have even a bit more headroom. It depends on how long your torso is vs. your legs.
If you try one car yourself, you then can compare headroom specs.
Some of the cars i thought were quite comfy included the BMW 5-Series, the Lexus GS300 and the Volvo S80. I love Miatas but can't drive one, but I fit okay in an Alfa Spyder. Go figure...
Yeah, 6'3"+ and over 260#! I put over 30K on my Miata in two years and loved every minute. Of course, it was garaged both at home and at work so it spent 80% of its life with the top down, thus making it very easy to get into and out of on a daily basis.
It was a fantastic car! Perfectly built, never had a problem of any kind whatsoever. It just wasn't "family-friendly."
Before it I had a Mazda 626 (that saved my life even as it was destroyed in a driverside crash--someone else ran a light), it too was perfectly assembled and without the slightest mechanical flaw.
But I've always wanted a Jeep, and now that's what I am in. It fits well, too. Only different.
I ended up buying the Passat and am glad I did but I think the Intrique favors a tall driver by a small margin.
Other vehicles tried: Ford F150 P/U, Olds 88, Toyota Camry, Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler LHS, Dodge Sebring, Chevy Lumina, Ford Taurus.
I noticed that power seats can work for or against the tall driver. The Dodge Intrepid is fine with regular seats but loses legroom with power seats. Try the model you like with power seats and without to get an accurate picture. Also the legroom figures given in the spec sections of car tests give very little insight into the actual space in the vehicle. When you get close to something that fits, the position of the accelerator pedal make a difference also.
I'll see what I can do.
I may have mentioned that I went shopping for a friend to help them buy a luxury-type sedan, and while the headroom was okay on all of them, some had a fairly agressive downward (from centerline to the side windows) curve, and if I moved my head to the left, it would contact the headliner or top of the door frame. I could see myself getting bonked on rough roads...also, being proportionally wide to my height, I find both the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A6 too cramped...no room for my elbows unless I raised the seat way up high, thereby aggravating the headroom issue.
I was shocked at how much legroom the Audi A4 had...I actually had to move the seat up a bit. The telescoping steering wheel helps. But don't even think of transporting adults in the back seat for long periods of time. The Passat is basically the same car so is probably just as roomy, but with more rear passenger room.
The new 3-series BMWs had enough leg and headroom but seemed cramped overall. Not for the claustrophobic. They are classified as compacts, after all. But that's the first time I've been in a 3-series (with a sunroof even) and my head didn't hit the roof (and it was a hoot to drive).
Finally, I drove the new Acura TL and found that it also had enough leg and headroom, but without much to spare. I guess I'm a bit biased toward European cars and found the Acura luxurious (not to mention a bargain) but lacking in panache.
Overall, I found many more choices available to me than I thought existed before I started looking. Good luck!
what BS! trust me, the A4 is one tiny car. i'd imagine the same goes for the passat.
I have a '99 Passat and one of the reasons I bought it was the legroom. The Intrique was a bit better but the Passat is solid in the legroom department.
If you have the front seats all the way back, the legroom in the rear does get tight from an adult standpoint. No question about that.
I normally live by several rules, and in 4 years time I found that they didn't change much - so I though I'd pass `em on...
1. Coupes have longer seat tracks than sedans
2. Understand that if you are 6'3" or taller and insist on a sedan you will turn it into a coupe anyway because nothing less than a midget can fit in behind you.
3. If you really really need all 4 doors - get an SUV. They're not that expensive. And FORD makes the best, most comfortable one on the market. Even my 6'9" boyfriend fit comfortably driving.
4. Coupes/Sedans: Almost anything German/Swedish beats out anything American/Japanese for legroom & overall comfort (except for the 90's Jetta, which put decent seat tracks, yet NO YOKE on teh steering column so you felt like you were a mile away from the wheel!!)
Good Luck!
old Saab 900 Series thru 97-98. I'm 6'4"
and drive a 98 900S w/ sunroof. Absolutely
no problems with the clearance-even wearing
baseball cap or outback hat when traveling
to fly-fishing locales.
Used 900 Series 97-98 can be found well under
$25K
I am 6'3, and looking for a European-made car that will fit my frame. The Passat fits great, but it is a little pricey for me, as I am looking to spend under 20K. I was thinking along the lines of a used Saab, I have test driven a used 900S coupe, and it fit great. But I found it strange that when I recently sat in a 9-3, and it didn't fit me at all.
The only other contenders seem to be the Passat or a used A4. Also, has anyone had success with leg and head room in the Volvo 850?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully next week I will have a chance to drive a New Jetta. If that fits my body and budget, it could be the solution..
Thanks!
--Markus
I currently have a 1990 Saab 900 and I fit fine in it (I'm 6'4" and 36" inseam) and have had the same problem as you with the new 9-3....I don't fit at all! I test drove the new Jetta and had plenty of room. Did you like it?? I thought it was a fantastic car. I had test drove the A4 and thought the Jetta was much quieter. If VW gets its act together and starts importing the GLX, I think I've found my new car. Good luck.
Jim
I actually just test drove the new Jetta last week. My first impression was that it is a very nice car, handles great and has generious interior space and comfort. While I was waiting in the showroom for the guy to pull my test car around, I took turns hopping back and forth from the Passat to the Jetta. The Passat seems to have a bit more room, which is no surprise. The jetta had just enough leg room for me, but I would love the extra few inches which are available in the Passat. Head room is great in the Jetta though. I also felt the driving position was a bit higher in the Jetta than in the Passat.
How did you feel about the Jetta's performance? I thought the 5-speed had reasonable pick-up, but to me the engine just seemed a bit wheezy and under-powered. I haven't test-driven the Audi A4 yet, but I think that is next on my list. I assume it will be comparable to the Passat.
I have also been toying with the idea of getting a used Saab. How has your '90 model held up through the years? Do you think I would be getting myself into a money pit, if I bought a '91 or '92 900? I have never driven a Saab from that generation, but I had always wanted one. I will probably ask around the Saab topic, once the discussion on corporate market strategy winds down over there.
Good luck, and let me know what you decide!
- Mark
My wife has her heart bent on a sunroof in our next new vehicle. I am interested in moving back into a sedan now that we have had our fun with an SUV for 8 years.
I am 6'6" with a 35-36" inseam. A car with a sunroof was going to be difficult and expensive. But I have managed to uncover some surprises. Order from least to most expensive (roughly)and all with power sunroofs (factory installed not add on):
Chevy Malibu (I haven't driven it but seem to fit in front passenger seat fine. I have driven a none sunroof version as a rental car. Decent car for the the reasonable price.)
VW Beetle: Wins the award for maximum headroom. Just not functional enough in other ways.
VW Passat: This one surprised me. The manual height adjustment is a breeze to use and I still had several heights I could set without bumping my head. I drove this car in Scotland for 400 miles. Loved it. Test drove in the US and liked it as well. I would choose the V6 over the 1.8 Turbo 4. You really have to wind the 4 up to get the power. Handles very well. Comfortable interior with enough features and no extra fat. Worlds worst cup holders. Spilled several drinks in Scotland. My wife feels thrown around a little too much on corners (seats don't seam to hold her in place well when I get in the fun mood)
Saab 9-5: If only I was 6'5". My wife really wanted this one. I really liked the 5speed on the 4 cylinder. But that liner brushing the top of my head would drive me nuts before 8-10 years are up.
Audi A6 Quattro: Well equipped, enough room. Fantastic winter traction through heavy snow. Quiet with just a little engine noise out the muffler in the back. Smooth handling. With the Autostick (Tiptronic) transmission it moves pretty well but you can feel the weightiness of the car. Cornering is much smoother in this car vs. the Passat. Number 2 on the car choice list.
Volvo S80 2.9 and T6: Third best headroom after the Beatle and Passat. Best legroom. The power seat really moves a long ways. T-6 is wonderful balance of power and smoothness. Excellent transmission. Super seats although the A-6 seats provided a little longer seat cushion for leg support. Now we have to decide if we really want to spend $40k. This is the car if we do.
I fit in the Mercedes E series and S series, BMW 5 series but these generally go beyond reasonable investment in a depreciating asset (Especially when living where they use salt on the winter roads).
Do not fit in Audi A8 (older body style with flat roof vs. A6 rounded roof) or A4. No to all Japanese and other American sedans with sunroofs although I haven't been in a Lexus 400 recently to know.
Hope this is useful to any of you in the 2 meter height range.
tt66 (tall tom 6'6")
longer than expected). I fit very well in it.
6'7", 36 inseam. Liked the car, didn't like the reliability. And the next big repair will probably end the car's term of service. I've been looking for the next car.
Looking at used cars in the '96-'97 range. So far the best has been aHonda Accord V6 LX well-equipped. I was shocked to find that I fit comfortably in the car even with the sunroof. The seats sat very low in the car, with both legs and head fitting nicely. And yes, I could fully extend my legs without the acrobatic squirm even most large cars require.
I test drove an Avalon, but found that the space between the brake pedal and the center column was not wide enough to confidently put my foot through. Every time I went to the accelerator, I found myself brushing the edge of the brake pedal. Distracting enough that I really couldn't get a feel for the rest of the car. Never found a bench seat version to try. Has anybody else noticed this problem in the Avalon? Does it exist in the Camry's?
Still have the Passat to try, but the Accord felt good on the road, and looks to be the next long-term car for me. The Chrysler large
cars look promising, but after the Taurus, and Chrysler's history with the Concorde et al. line, I want several years of reliable service before I go for one.
I have a full review on my web site:
http://www.users.fast.net/~mikul/cars/323i.html
Accord, 626, Maxima, Altima, Cougar
I'm very happy with my choice.
Over the last few years I've looked at many cars since my wife needed a car a couple of years ago. Some that I fit into were Taurus, Intrepid (97 & 99), Concorde, Camry, Accord, 98 Neon (YES, a NEON!), a 99 Mazda 626, and a few others. I can squeeze into a Contour, Stratus, and a Saturn, but I couldn't live in them for more than a few miles. None of the above had sunroofs, and that is the problem with most of the upscale cars for me. They only come with sunroofs. The only exception is that a Lexus sales person told me that in Florida, Lexus delivers cars with optional sunroofs due to the extreme sun/heat, but the rest of the country gets mandatory sunroofs. Sunroofs eat up 2-4 inches of headroom and makes it impossible for long torso people to sit in them.
Someone earlier mentioned a Maxima. It's got lots of headroom but my problem with the Maxima was knee room! The steering wheel wouldn't go high enough to get off my knees/legs. If you've got 35" inseam, you probably won't fit in the a Maxima or many other Nissan products. My son has the Pathfinder and it has the same problem; plenty of headroom, but the wheel is into my knees!
Another person earlier mentioned the Seville. A friend of mine has 96 or 97 Seville and it has gobs of room. Headroom AND legroom. So much so that I also considered getting one.
I've been meaing to look at the Passat and therefore was pleased to read that many of think it is roomy. I may be going to Europe this year and was trying to figure out what car I could afford to rent that might fit me. Maybe I've found it ??
There are times when I wish I were "only" 6' tall.....
The most comfortable car I have ever driven is my current Volvo 850 wagon. No sunroof. Incredibly comfortable seats with great lumbar support. Great leg room, too. The new Audi A6 is also pretty good. The Volvo S80 is just as comfortable as my 850, even with a sunroof.
I can't even fit into the backseat of an Infiniti or VW. I also got leg cramps trying the back seat of an Audi A4. Honda Accords with sunroofs brush the top of my head, unless I recline the seat in a funny position that man was not meant to drive in for long.
I sat in a Porshe Boxster in the showroom, with the top down. The upper rim of the windshield was at the level of the bridge of my nose!
Anyway, its good to know there are others out there with the same problem. Salespeople still look at me funny when I insist on sitting in the back seat of cars on the showroom, usually before I sit in the front seat--I don't want to start to like a car only to find out it is miserable in the back seat.
4+ months like I did.
I have been in my brothers hundai elantra and you can stretch your legs almost straight out and in my concorde this can not be done.
I am just about 6' and I am uncomfortable sitting in the passenger seat as I can't stretch my legs out much.....I just can't understand why Chrysler would not have made the seat track longer to allow the seat to go back further for added comfort for the front seat passenger.
The concorde has lots of head room and the seats are very comfortable and the car is fun to drive but it is very uncomfortable for your legs which makes for a very uncomfortable car overall for a front seat passenger who is over 6 foot.
has enough room for me to adjust the driver's seat to my normal position, but still provide enough room that when I sat in the back seat, my knees were still not hitting the front seat. In the other cars I have owned, and i always felt that I would just as comfortable taking the drivers seat out and driving from the back seat! My Avalon has bench seats, but no sunroof, so I could not comment on the XLS model. It should be worth a test drive, though.
For the last three years I have been driving a Bonneville SSEi (with the SSEi driver's seat, nine buttons on the center console to adjust everything). I can recommend this as a great seat for tall people. It offers a DEEP seat that doesn't hit me mid-thigh and allows considerable thigh support. The back of the seat can also be adjusted down so that I have enough headroom - even with the sunroof.
With respect to other cars, if I could fit into the Acura TL I would have bought one already. Audi A4 and BMW 3 series have great front seat adjustments (as most German cars do), but with me in the front seat, the back seat room is hopeless. Passat is better roomwise than the A4 but just doesn't impress me. Avalon will be a great car someday if they do something to make the styling interesting. I am seriously considering a Y2K Maxima (without sunroof), which I normally never would have thought about. 300M (again without sunroof) might be a possibility, but I want to see what improvements they make in the 2000 model.
I need a new car and I am hoping that Pontiac doesn't change the interior room dimensions or seat functions on the Y2K Bonneville due out this Fall - but then do I really want to buy a GM product in its first year???