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I agree with the recommendation about the Fit as long as you don't need driver's leg room. It seems to have good height and cargo capacity, without being high off the ground.
The Matrix or Vibe also have a higher roofline, so they have better cargo capacity than most hatchbacks (because of the vertical advantage) without being high off the ground. They also have much better driver's leg room than the fit. Observe that the current generation (2008 and earlier) have somewhat different rear hatch dimensions, so you'd probably want to evaluate that based on your wheelchair storage needs.
VW's new Jetta wagon will be out in the spring, so that will be another option.
Chris
I went to the 2008 model year auto show in SF Bay Area in early Dec and thought these comments may be useful.
I'm 6 3, inseam 34. My prior car was the 4 door-sedan 1997 Integra GSR where I could clear the standard sun roof pretty well (the 2 dr Integra wasn't good). I guess the seats are more bucket-like. It's pretty funny when I get out, cause people expect a smaller/shorter guy...
I think they've changed the seating in the new cars with more upright seating, which is not good for persons looking for headroom.
The best was Altima--regular and hybrid. Great legroom and headroom. Can't be beat in that category. Good mileage.
On most cars, my eye level is at the blue tint area to blue tint-front windshield seam.
For Honda, I didn't fit well in the Civic. Accord was just over the tolerance level. The Fit--no good. The Element was excellent. Honda CRV is good.
Amongst Toyota, the Camry wasn't good for my headroom. The Prius and Corolla were out. RAV4 was very good (same mileage and category as the Honda CRV).
In Mazda, Matrix 3 headroom was at the top of the window.
Scion was totally smaller and couldn't fit in any model comfortably. I guess they made a major change in the 2008 model...?
Good luck.
The surprise is - a 2002 Ford Escort - I tried on both the 4 door sedan and the 2 door ZX2 coupe. And I could drive both. Now I'm not saying I was comfortable, but it is nothing short of a miracle to find that I can fit in a car that gets around 30mpg and can be bought for less than an arm and a leg.
My husband is often referred to as "Andre the Giant". He is 6' 10" and about 475lbs. He has a beer belly and large hips. He has a very long legs too. (by the way I'm 6'2 myself!). My husband is on disability because of his weight and bad legs, they have been broken many times and he has had many surgeries on them.. so driving a car with cramped legs is NOT an option.
We are looking for a used car, something from 1999-2003.. preferbally something that would go for around $5,000.00 - 8,000.00. Something V6 thats good on gas would be a plus.
My husband jokes that he are going to have to buy a Hummer to shuttle his big but around.. it really bothers him, and we just want a normal car,suv, or even a van, no trucks.He often says he just wants what those big 'ole football players drive around in.. those guys are huge, they must have cars that fit them.
As you can assume we really need something where the front seat slides far back, and there is lots of headroom. Also would need tilt steering.. and the console between the seats where he rests his "gas pedal" leg against should be comfortable. We rented a brand new minivan for our beach trip, (can't remember the model) it was cramped and my husbands leg had a huge bruise on the side of his leg under his knee from leaning against the console/dash/divider.
He also gets very discouraged (and embarrassed) to go to car lot after car lot.. just to sit in a car. So he wanted me to ask online and see if there are recommendations for superlarge and extra roomy models out there?
Thank you!
another suggestion is to buy a vehicle that sits high so he won't have to bend down too low to get in... like a small suv.
Short of a Hummer, the largest and most accessible egress and driver headroom, hip room, and shoulder room is the full sized General Motors SUVs [GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, etc.] These SUVs have the largest doors, highest headroom, tilt steering wheels, adjustable power seats, and models built before 2003 without consoles are absolutely the most spacious on the road.
Equipped with a 350 engine they get the best mileage [although not very good] of other large SUVs by Ford, et. al.
I have a 1998 and have compared it to every other SUV and NOTHING comes anywhere close to the spacious egress and sitting area! The power seats change the seating dynamics of every vehicle and other than retrofitting with relocating the seat further back from the dash - no other alternative is likely to be desirable.
Regarding Scion xB:
At 6'2, ingress\egress measurement (H2) is indeed a very important consideration, but once inside, some manufacturers can sure mess up a good thing. I tried out a 2008 Scion xB, and while it was fairly easy to climb in, it sure wasn't very comfortable to drive. The xB's pedals are too close to the driver unless the seat is pushed all the way back, but then the steering wheel is too far away (no telescopic feature). No sale here.
Regarding Elantra SE:
Solid, economical car. With telescopic wheel feature, offered good tall driver comfort, but I do wish the roof was a few inches taller.
>>
>> The vehicles with the greatest available H2 measurement (ingress\egress) are the easiest to get in and out of.
Could you tell us what exactly the 2007 Choice Awards are and who awards them? And the source for that chart?
Thanks for your help!!
I am able to drive my car without undue difficulty or discomfort, but I still have a size problem: The door simply isn't big enough--I have to squeeze in, which means by butt wears out the rubber door-strip deal as I slide across it to get in. I'm 6' 2", 400 LBs and drive a 2003 Toyota Corolla. A truck would be best (including an SUV or van, which actually are trucks) but I hate gas guzzlers and parking outside (My "two-car" garage is barely big enough for my Corolla and my wife's Matrix--no way would an SUV or van fit in there.)
After eliminating gas hogs, I think a mid-size two-door would be the best option for me.
Neither have I, but I've hurt my back getting into my car.
Does anyone have any experience with the Ford Freestar, Honda Element, or Buick Rendezvous ? Maybe even what year to look at?
Thanks everyone!
Roland
Make sure you look at the total cost of operating the vehicle including the initial purchase price and the ongoing gas and maintenance expense. Be honest wih yourself about how long you will keep the vehicle, and you migh find out that that extra 10 to 15 miles per gallon savings doesn't pay the premium being charged for reliable high mileage vehicles.
As for me, right now I drive a 94 Toyota Landcruiser with 230,000 miles. Still runs great, but I will be updating it soon. I will most likely get either a Sequoia or 100 series Land Cruiser (1998 - 2007). Both these vehicles are full size SUV's with V-8's so they drink gas, however, since they don't have a lot of changes throught the model year, you can get an early model in great shape for very reasonable prices. They have room, style, and are very reliable. The GM full size SUV's are good too and cheaper, but I don't the "mushy" way they drive.
Safety. As us big guys squeeze into smaller vehicles, we should be concerned about survivability. I know we have airbags and the sort to save us, but some times there is no substitute for more space and metal around you.
Finanly, the "green" factor. Well I am an environmental engineer, so I know a little bit about the subject. First I will say that the larger Trucks and SUV's do have higher emmissions, so if this is a concern (and I agree it should be), then my logic potentially fails here. However, think about the emmissions you save by extending the life of a used vehicle (if it were a beer can we would call it recycling) and if you look at the fact that with our bigger cars we have a greater opportunity to car pool with more passengers, then the SUV's may not be the biggest problem. Also note that despite the current propaganda, emmisions from well maintained suv's driven by large and tall drivers is the least of our concerns. The emmisions form industrial and commercial activities has a far greater impact, but it is easier to shame us into smaller vehicles than it is to ask big business to give up just a little profit for better emmisions.
Hope this helps.
We used to get the same in our Honda Pilot, too. But you probably wouldn't care for it if you are used to a more luxurious type of vehicle. Plus, the Honda resale value makes it less of a good buy on the used side.
In other words, I won't tell you that you don't need an SUV, but I must question all those who feel they must have one that gets 15 mpg. (Again, unless towing heavy equipment, which is a VERY small percentage of those who own them)
'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
Of course, the XC90 would be preferable if it fit the bill and there were no need to do the intellectual backflips to justify driving a 5000+ lb. vehicle. But there are individuals like myself who are, for instance, 6'5" & 375#, drive a 2005 Sequoia and lament the 15mpg EVERY TIME I fill the tank. Gas prices then were almost exactly what they are now (about $1.89) and, even though I did forsee a rise in prices (although not to $4.50!), I too gauged that cost as against the premium that I would have had to pay for an RX400h (the only viable alternative at the time). In my case, though, the RX just just fit. Were I making the purchase today, I would investigate a Highlander hybrid and see if a custom shop could move the drivers seat.
The Sequoia, strangly given its size, drives very nearly like a full sized sedan. It's quite amazing. Additionally, there have been MANY times over the past 4 years that we've loaded it up with 7 people (we have the second row captains chairs) and have thus foregone the need for a second vehicle. So, while this is by no means the norm, it does offer some mental peace of mind.
Regarding the earlier comment about recycling/replacement, althought we intended all along to keep this vehicle for a minimum of 10 yrs, current conditions may well lengthen that considerably. That, of course has little or nothing to do with its mpg but is just an added kudos to the Sequoia.
In the end, we (she-who-must-be-obeyed is the Sequoia's primary driver) are ecstatic with the choice and are so so thankful that we didn't choose the Escalade p.o.s. that was choice #2. The only major caveat that we both agree on is the third row not folding into the floor, which I understand has been corrected in the Sequoia's current itteration.
Of course.
And, at 6'5", it is a concern of mine, too. I do, however, only come in at 200 lbs.
My only point was that a V8 is unnecessary for most. The XC90 seats 7, as does the Pilot. And both easily accomodate my height. But, then again, height isn't really the issue, is it? I also fit fine in my G35, as I did in my 350Z. The problem with those would only be for wider folks. In any case, the XC90 and Pilot shouldn't present a problem for wider folks, either.
'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
After a lot of looking I chose a Chevrolet Avalanche. I tried an Escalade but the sunroof was too tight for me.
I am concerned about some of the comments I read in this blog as I see than many people want to modify their car seat mounting brackets or position. This will change the geometry of all the airbags and the seatbelts. Be very careful with this one as you may be killed by it in an accident. I agree that the manufacturers are not doing enough for us in this regard. I am sure that they do not test their vehicles with "people who enjoy good food" or those of superior stature. More is the pity. If I want to buy a North American made vehicle I guess I need to stay with trucks and large SUV's.
LOL!
I am concerned about some of the comments I read in this blog as I see than many people want to modify their car seat mounting brackets or position. This will change the geometry of all the airbags and the seatbelts.
I think that's a good point, if you share your vehicle with someone else. But keep in mind that the airbags/seatbelt are set for average-sized folks. So if you position the seat for someone our height, then the airbag and seatbelt should still fall correctly. But, regardless, most vehicle won't let you gain more than an inch or so, anyway.
More is the pity. If I want to buy a North American made vehicle I guess I need to stay with trucks and large SUV's.
Well, I dunno about that. Have you ever tried an EX-L Accord, for instance? I can't say it is the most comfortable vehicle, but definitely no issues fitting in it.
Best-fitting car I ever owned was my Volvo S70, however. Loads of seat travel and a telescoping steering wheel. I could cruise all day in perfect comfort. But, no, its not "north american made."
Well, for a short time, they are still making the Grand Marquis or Town Car.
I know those can fit large folks.
'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
recently appeared in the showrooms and has not been
widely advertised. I'm 6'6" and have difficulty with head and
leg room. The Cube is small ( much like the original
Scion XB ) but has an amazing amount of interior
room and I felt comfortable. The price is reasonable,
although, I suspect discounting will appear as the
Nissan lots fill up with more Cube units. The Cube has
quirky styling that will not appeal to everyone. Everyone
to his own taste, I'm more interested in finding a vehicle
that works for me than styling. I felt more secure driving
the Cube than I did with the original Scion XB.
All in all, definitely give it a shot. You won't regret it.
I have just recently found the Ford 500/ Mercury Montego which I drove and really liked. It has just as much back seat head and leg room as the front, I thought it was a typo. Only problem is they have discontinued the model, and apparently they were mainly fleet cars. Not many used I can find in my area. I also read about some serious design flaws with the car surging forward while breaking and other times intermittently, and frequent bad rear brake problems. I have driven the Grand Marquis and like it, but it didn't have the rear head and leg room of the Ford 500/Montego. I used to haul a lot of building materials for my husband, the builder, and I definitely enjoyed my suburbans where both (2nd and 3rd row) seats folded into the floor. None of the newer ones do that. I am trying to pass the gopher jobs onto my sons, so maybe I don't need the SUV anymore. Any other suggestions?
I have been car pooling around town to all the sports and activities of my kids for years, and since I don't commute, I only put on about 5k miles a year. Therefore gas mileage is not a concern. I have occasionally driven a small car, and although it's possible for me alone, they will not work, as my car is the weekend trip to grandma's for the whole family still. Crash ratings are of highest concern when buying the next car.
'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
Vehicles for Tall Drivers
I especially like how the article describes the importance of gauging comfort based on ease of getting in-and-out of the car, in addition to measuring legroom, etc. after being seated inside.
As far as what I actually own and drive, my every day commuter is a 2007 Malibu Maxx. Don't make them anymore, but I fit very well, and I have always been a big fan of hatchbacks. Our family vehicle is a 2009 Saturn Outlook SUV. Much more room in the first and second rows for tall/big people than even Tahoes and Suburbans. Saturns are bye-bye, but check out the Traverse/Arcadia/Enclave as they are the same vehicle. Trust me, the room is incredible.
That's all I can think of right now, but hope this info helps someone out. I am actually looking forward to trying the new Honda CR-Z, just in the hopes I might fit, and could possibly relive my college days where I drove my '89 CRX to death...
I fit fairly well in it, but even with the tilt steering wheel and the 6-way power seat, I can't get the steering wheel console clear of my legs. Before I knew how to use the tilt feature (too bad the wheel doesn't telescope, ugh!), I had to reach the throttle and brake by shifting my lower leg instead of using the entire leg like normal. To top it off, I have to hold the wheel at 10 and 2 o'clock to keep my hands comfortable, even though I prefer 9 and 3. :confuse:
To be fair, though, my dad is 6'2" and it's worked well for him for, oh, the last 10 years or so. And I do consider myself somewhat fortunate since there are other cars that would fit worse.
By the way, I've done a lot of research on the topic of fitting cars, and I highly recommend that anyone doing car shopping look into the 5 step test of car economics. You can find it on the Height Site.
For those of you that took high school algebra, you may have done those optimization problems like this: A farmer has x yards of fencing. Design a pen that will hold the maximum amount of area. In open space, squares are the best four-sided structures, but circles are the best overall. This is for two-dimensional shapes.
Many cars, in their most basic form, have shoebox-shaped cabins, but we've already known that. Why is this an important nuance? Because the shoebox shape, while conventional, does not always maximize volume relative to the amount of metal in the car. Of course, tall people put a premium on the volume in a cabin because their bodies take up more volume to begin with.
If a circle is the most efficient shape in 2-D for volume to area, one can argue that the sphere is the most efficient shape in 3-D. The VW Beetle, a car that has received arguable the most praise in this forum, has a hemispherical shape. Coincidence? I think not.
But cubes (special shoeboxes where all the sides have the same dimensions) are also very good shapes for finding volume. Of course, the most notable example in today's automotive culture is the Scion xB, another car that has received high praise here. But many pickups (particularly full-size) and SUVs also make use of more "cube-like" shapes than cars, and, for a long time, have been considered the standard for the choice of a tall person vehicle. Noticing a pattern?
Of course, this is not an end-all-be-all, as other factors play a role in cabin comfort. But I'm just bringing this factoid up, that's all. But even if you can't or won't drive a cube or sphere-shaped car, at least look for vehicles with curved rooflines and more "sphere-like" shapes, for example, the Vibe/Matrix or any Porsche models, new or used.
Long post short... Definately get a vehicle that is "comfortable on your body, has head room and easy on your wallet". And don't be afraid to get a comfortable to drive vehicle and investigate the option of lowering its front seats. Like I did on my current mini-van. On my new mini-van, I lowered its manual control front seats under 3 hour time window...
.
While you're inside the car, swing your left leg out of the car and plant your foot on the ground, as if getting out. Your lower leg should be straight up and down, and your upper leg should slope downwards towards the ground as you exit the vehicle. If it isn't, you're putting your joints under extra stress and you should look elsewhere.
By the way, has anybody had any unpleasant experiences with moonroofs? I figure that they might be tall-friendly because they're integrated into the roof, but I'm no expert on the subject.
I also use "line of sight" while seated inside the vehicle and looking out its front windshield as a "major comfort" rating as well. My line of sight needs to be at 2/3 window space. If my eyes are above 2/3 position, my vision sees too much front moving road. And if my eyes are below 2/3 postion, it sees too much sky. For me, 2/3 front window "line of sight" works great (regardless of vehicle's head room distance).
My conclusion is that this test only applies to cars with manual transmissions, which makes much more sense. If you're driving an automatic, and it certainly sounds like you are, this shouldn't be a worry because your foot does nothing where it is. But if you're driving a vehicle where that space is occupied by a pedal, your left foot has to go somewhere because it's not supposed to be there all the time. That, in turn, would form a logical basis for the aforementioned test.
1) CAPTAIN SEATING - Often you can look at a car from the outside and just by the size and shape you think "Wow! This car should fit me easily!" But, then you open the driver door and realize that you have almost have to climb up a ladder to get into the seat. The salesguy proudly described it as "Captain's Seating" so all the little 5-foot nothing housewives can see over the dashboards. Well that would be all fine but then the power seats don't allow you to bring the seat back down low enough and all that space below is wasted. Another NO-SALE!!
2) WINDSHIELD - Good headroom is great but I'm NOT going to drive around looking at the sun visor. I guess for "style" reasons and safety each redesign of vehicles during the last 30 years has resulted in the top of the windshield being lower and lower. I'm lucky if I'm only having to look through the tinted top part of the windshield meaning I can't see the traffic signals, etc. NO-SALE!!
One other tip is look for a car that has a manual seat height adjuster. They allow you to lower the seat further than the power seats. (No motors, gears, etc.) Ala a 1998 VW Passat. That, combined with the bubble shape roof makes me look like I'm about 5'2" when I'm driving it.
BTW, I'm 6'4" and love my Scion Xb...for short trips.
There really is almost no need for this forum, since the problem is easy to fix. But renting is another issue. My experience with Ford cars is that legroom is miserly. Crown Vics and Grand Marquis are way too cramped in knee room. I always refuse them or a Taurus when renting cars. I am 6'6", so that may not apply to others. But is there a Ford policy to shun tall drivers? European cars are mixed, but BMW’s are pretty much off limits. If I purchase one, of course I would send it to the shop for the fix.
The Chrysler 300 is great, and GM large cars are certainly adequate. Mitsubishis are from hell.
Yes, I'm being facetious. My point is, while I can't speak for the Rogue, I can tell you that cars that typically aren't good for taller drivers lack a telescoping steering wheel, in addition to the seat travel issue. So it is NOT an easy fix if you truly want a comfortable and SAFE driving position.
'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
A lot of trucks are great at this, but they do undergo style changes every few years. Be mindful that scions are designed more for people in the ages 18-30 demographic. Are you okay being seen with it several years from now?
German brands might not be the most "hip", per se, but a lot of models have gotten positive reviews here, and a number of them have styling that still looks good after a number of years.
Granted, this depends on how long you will own the car...