Family Car for Tall Driver

Noblejoker on 08/11/2012 - 10:13

G'day
After a new/newish car for the family 2A + 2K
SUV, wagon or Large sedan
Trick is that at 6'6"/196 I find many cars cramped as a driver
If not cramped then the seat travels so far back that the blind spot from the pillar comes around into my field of vision so much it is dangerous - very dangerous

My current car is a Magna I bought new in 2002
At that time I tried Falcon, Commodore and Magna and the Magna had the most leg room as well as the footwell being deeper into the bonnet so the seat wasn't set as far back

I had thought about a Toyota Kluger or similar with the hope that you would sit up higher & straighter like a truck driver and not so far back. But same problem.
Living regionally I don't have many local choices to try & sit in.

Anyone else have this sort of problem and want to recommend me a brand/model to consider?
Most appreciated :)

Automotive

Comments

  • maldrat on 08/11/2012 - 10:18

    Open top Jeep Wrangler 4dr.

    • Noblejoker on 08/11/2012 - 10:40

      Open top so I can stick my big head through the roof? lol
      Or are you suggesting driving position in Jeep is good

      • nubzy on 08/11/2012 - 13:00
        +1

        The Wrangler is a great vehicle and alot of fun to drive if you don't mind paying for the fuel. I am similar height and fit perfectly in these, and taking the roof off in summer is great. They are a comfortable car now they have been redesigned in 2011.

  • JayOh on 08/11/2012 - 12:05
    +1

    I'm 6'4" and have two teenagers - my son is almost my height and daughter is quite tall too. Finding a car that we all fit in comfortably was difficult as the rear legroom behind me was tricky. We whittled the list down to a statesman, ford territory and citroen picasso.

    Bought the Picasso because it was the nicest to drive, best equipped and had the best interior layout. It was also a diesel so great performance and economy.

    I don't know that you would find it that comfortable though - on long trips the seating position got a bit uncomfortable, but if you have a Citroen dealer handy it would be worth having a look. It was also the most reliable car I've owned.

    Renault Scenics are also great for interior space and layout but unfortunately the model has been discontinued in Australia.

    Otherwise have a look at the Territory, you'll probably find its a good fit.

    • Noblejoker on 08/11/2012 - 15:41

      Not sure about parts cost and servicing on a Citroen given I am at least 2 hours away from a dealer
      Will definitely have a look at a Territory though and maybe a Statesman
      They have a diesel now too

      • JayOh on 09/11/2012 - 01:07

        Citroen parts and servicing we actually found quite reasonable, but then again we have probably Australia's best Citroen dealer / specialist not far from us so it was pretty easy. In your circumstances I'd probably not recommend it - not because there is anything wrong with the cars but only because you want to have it looked after by someone who is very familiar with them.

        That being said, ours was incredibly reliable - never once let us down. Better than the magna wagon we sold to buy the Citroen.

        In your situation a domestic product is probably going to be the best fit. If you don't need 4WD for towing or going bush, don't buy one - they are not as nice on the road and not as safe as a car.

        I've spent some time in the car industry and have always found jeep parts to be stupidly expensive and they constantly needed fixing. The more recent models may have improved, and the grand cherokee with the 3.0L diesel is apparently quite a good thing. But I don't know what the parts costs are like for the more recent models.

        The Territory diesel, assuming it fits your budget, is definitely something to test drive. The statesman is nice to drive but not as practical as the wagon shape like the territory.

      • kryptoz on 09/11/2012 - 23:18

        I would be very wary of buying a diesel now, if you don't keep up with the news, you may have missed this:
        http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jun/12/diesel-fumes-c…

        whether you believe it is a risk to your own health or not, you should consider the impact on resale value, just as you ought to buying a car with a low crash test rating, the market is increasingly looking at these factors and will very likely have a huge impact on resale in future.

        • JayOh on 10/11/2012 - 13:05
          +2

          Of course I'm aware of this - it's been front page news for months, people have been rioting in the streets, picketing petrol stations and burning diesel cars outside the headquarters of oil companies and car manufacturers. My car gets vandalised everywhere I go and someone spraypainted 'baby killer' down the side of it just the other day.

          Sorry, not trying to be a smartarse here and start a flame war, but I'm just putting things into perspective. I'm a big fan of diesels so I was very concerned when I first read the articles, but the findings aren't really anything we didn't know.

          We've known for decades that exhaust fumes are deadly, but it hasn't really stopped us using cars. Emission laws keep getting stricter and each new model of car, whether it is petrol or diesel, gets cleaner and cleaner.

          Remember when we switched from leaded to unleaded in 1986? Was there a huge drop in resale value for pre-1986 cars? Not really..

          Catalytic converters were introduced at the same time because the use of unleaded fuel without a catalytic converter significantly increased harmful emissions. Did anyone make a fuss of this at the time or at any time since? Not really… people kept driving their older cars, using unleaded without a cat, until it came time to sell.

          We've known that particulate emissions from diesel are harmful and so the euro standards keep getting stricter and diesels get cleaner. The more recent models introduced particulate filters, similar to the catalytic converter, which reduce particulate levels dramatically.

          The biggest concern for diesel, and you will have read this in the article, is in industrial applications - mining, trucking, shipping etc where emission levels are not regulated anywhere near as tightly as passenger vehicles.

          So back to your point about resale values - the impact will be zero. Diesels are getting more and more popular in australia - they are much nicer to drive in typical use because of the large amount of torque produced at low revs, plus they are far more economical. They are generally more reliable than petrol motors and they hold their value much better than a petrol motor. The emission levels will continue to improve and the general population will not be concerned about the risk of cancer. Just ask anyone who still smokes - they know it causes a whole bunch of different diseases - doesn't stop them smoking!

  • WalterPPK on 08/11/2012 - 12:56
    +1

    Some of the Volvos are very good for the taller driver, and are very comfortable too.

    Falcon and Commodore aren't too bad, but stay clear of the Toyota Aurion or Camry; they're great cars but not good for a taller person.

    I've also heard someone else recommend Renault for taller drivers, though I've never driven one myself. Might be worth a look.

    I drive a Magna now, and I'm only 6'. I wouldn't want to be much taller.

    • Noblejoker on 08/11/2012 - 15:39

      Was keen on Toyota as I have a dealer in town - but as you say no good

      • zelda707 on 08/11/2012 - 16:06
        +1

        how about a landcruiser?

        • Noblejoker on 08/11/2012 - 16:23

          Haven't sat in one - are they much different in driver position to a Kluger?
          I don't need the 4wd and OMG the prices!

        • kryptoz on 09/11/2012 - 23:20

          Aussie trucks don't come much bigger than the Landbarger, the Kluger is just the little brother, but both of them drive like genuine farm vehicles.

        • Noblejoker on 12/11/2012 - 11:49

          Ok but is the seating position in a LC or Prado any different than the Kluger - cause the Kluger ain't good
          Remember it isn't overall leg room so much as it is position closer to the windscreen to avoid the blindspot. Seats that travel a long way back mean I fit - but I can't see

    • kryptoz on 09/11/2012 - 23:14
      +1

      I guess you're referring to the Volvo XC90, most other Volvo models aren't exceptionally spacious.
      the Aurion / Camry has the same interior space as a Magna, a Falcon/Conformodore will come very close to SUVs for leg-room but headroom is the same as the Japanese models. that said any SUV is going to be better than a Japanese (-designed) sedan.

      • _Bruce_ on 10/11/2012 - 09:37

        My XC70 is good for leg room, as are S60s. The catch is that although the front seats go back a fair way, it is at the cost of leg room in the second row.

        • Noblejoker on 12/11/2012 - 11:47

          Yep - and the backwards travel is also what causes the problem with vision - pillar blindspot

  • mrhorseham on 08/11/2012 - 14:09
    +1

    any car will do.

  • strangeloops66 on 09/11/2012 - 02:20
    +4

    Popemobile?

  • chrisburnett on 09/11/2012 - 07:51
    +3

    This might sound like a strange suggestion, but the Skoda Yeti may be just what you're after.

    A couple I know that are both giants and 6 and a half feet tall with a dog the size of a Great Dane just bought one.

    It is like a Tardis. I haven't seen anything with this much headroom ever. Or indeed room in general.

    Jeremy Clarkson raved about them and the build quality. He's a massive bugger too. I remember him driving the Chrysler 300c and adjusting the seat so he could see out the sunroof of the Chrysler.

    Ridiculous amount of leg room in the back too. I seriously don't know how it is done, even after looking at from all angles.

    I drive a Range Rover and the Yeti has more room than my car and 7 airbags standard. Great safety. Check it out.

    • zelda707 on 09/11/2012 - 08:51
      +1

      i have to agree, the yeti would be a great choice.

      Have a look at Wheels Magazine, they're running a long term test on the Yeti

  • zambuck on 09/11/2012 - 11:59

    I'm 6'3" and was surprised to find that a Toyota Prius provides me with adequate legroom as driver, plus with the drivers seat in position, there's enough legroom for me to sit behind it. Definitely NOT the Prius C, which I practically had to lube up to get into. I didn't try the Prius V, which is the larger people-mover model.

    Worth trying on for size, and I get 5L/100km or better fuel economy. :)

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