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J.A. Ackley
J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
4/3/24 10:55 a.m.

Ever feel that the sports car world is built for the jockey types rather than the jock types? You’re not alone. However, there are still some solid choices for sporty vehicles that can accommodate the taller set, especially if you like to wear a helmet and do motorsport things.

Let’s start with a general rule of thumb: ditch the power …

Read the rest of the story

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/3/24 11:05 a.m.

Ironic that the Mini made your list.

And yeah, there aren't many graceful ways to get in and out of a Supra, regardless of height. Love your method, though.

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish)
SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) UltimaDork
4/3/24 11:22 a.m.

No 992?  It's got room for very tall people. 

ClearWaterMS
ClearWaterMS Reader
4/3/24 12:02 p.m.

this article should have been titled "the only time M.I.A.T.A; tall people"

J.A. Ackley
J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
4/3/24 12:27 p.m.
SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

No 992?  It's got room for very tall people. 

Believe it or not, I haven't been in a 992, but I bet I'd fit based on my experiences with our 997 and the Taycan. Both have ample room for taller drivers.

bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand UberDork
4/3/24 1:04 p.m.

In reply to J.A. Ackley :

I know the 997 was nirvana for me overall. Easily the most comfy I have been in a sports car. I wanted to love the Cayman but I needed like an inch in all directions. 

I'm pretty close to you size wise for legs and arms except I have no torso at 6'1. I am all arms and legs. 

Karacticus
Karacticus GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/3/24 1:14 p.m.

My experience with the Supra is that if the need isn't urgent, put the helmet on/take the helmet off once you're in the car.

But, you look like grace personified getting in and out relative to when I had the i8.

pimpm3 (Forum Supporter)
pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) UberDork
4/3/24 1:25 p.m.

I am 6'4" with a 34 inch inseam.  I actually fit well in my 23' BRZ even with my helmet on.

dps214
dps214 SuperDork
4/3/24 1:34 p.m.
SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

No 992?  It's got room for very tall people. 

Every porsche since the 986/996 generation. And possibly some of them with the right seats too. My 986 was disappointingly small but I have a friend that's like 6'4 or something that had a 996GT3 for a while.

kevbh
kevbh None
4/3/24 1:39 p.m.

Also at 6'4", I really appreciate this article, and your list jives well with my limited research.  My problem is long legs, which begs the question, how is the leg room figure calculated?  Other magazines I used to read would provide that figure, but the best I could tell it was just made up by each manufacturer and wasn't useful even as a comparison tool.  Now, if you could point me in the right direction to find driving shoes that fit an 11.5 EEEE foot...

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/3/24 1:41 p.m.

FWIW, I bonk my head getting in/out of the Supra, and I ain’t that tall. 

husky450cr
husky450cr GRM+ Memberand New Reader
4/3/24 1:47 p.m.

At 6'4" most of my adult life; 6'3" in my retirement years...long legs and short arms make finding a car that fits a challenge, and then there's the helmet test. 
If you bring your helmet with you to car shows, car dealers etc. and sit in as many cas as you can and play with seat adjustment with your helmet on...the results may surprise you.
Our Audi A3...with a helmet on it takes just the right seat adjustment and I fit fairly well.
Of all the cars I've sat in, the Subaru WRX fits me best...didn't see that coming at all.  
We come in all shapes and sizes, try on lots of cars.  :)

Msterbee
Msterbee Reader
4/3/24 1:51 p.m.

There are days I wish I was taller. (5'7") Today is not that day!

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/3/24 1:55 p.m.
pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) said:

I am 6'4" with a 34 inch inseam.  I actually fit well in my 23' BRZ even with my helmet on.

Came here to say that Toyobarus aren't bad for tall people, you just can't have a passenger behind the driver unless the driver is short...you can slide the driver's seat back until it's just about touching the seat behind it, so there's no shortage of legroom.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/3/24 1:59 p.m.
GameboyRMH said:
pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) said:

I am 6'4" with a 34 inch inseam.  I actually fit well in my 23' BRZ even with my helmet on.

Came here to say that Toyobarus aren't bad for tall people, you just can't have a passenger behind the driver unless the driver is short...you can slide the driver's seat back until it's just about touching the seat behind it, so there's no shortage of legroom.

If you slide the seat that far back, you can't reach the steering wheel, usually.

I was 6'5 and a friend was somewhere south of 6'.  When he drove my car, he had to slide the seat BACK.  He was expecting to be able to have his knees under the steering column, and he could sit upright to reach the steering wheel.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/3/24 2:10 p.m.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

For me at close to 6'2" I set the seat far enough back that only a double leg amputee could sit behind me, but there are a few more clicks of travel before the seat is all the way back, and I don't have any trouble with arm distance, the steering wheel can tilt and telescope as well. When I drove pimpm3's I only had to slide the seat forward a few clicks, I don't know if the later model's dimensions are all identical though.

thashane
thashane GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/3/24 2:10 p.m.

36" inseam,  80" height. When I sat in a BRZ my knee was essentially touching the dash. Edit: and my thigh was constantly hitting the cruise control dongle.

Good fit with a helmet in the Elantra N M/T, didn't fit so well in the DCT with the sunroof.

R series MINI also surprisingly alot of room, but with sunroof(s) I'm leaning the seat further back than I'd prefer. 

livinon2wheels
livinon2wheels GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/3/24 2:13 p.m.

Agreed that Miata is not the answer here, at 6'4" I am qualified to comment- I drove a Miata coast to coast and back and I'm sure I have permanent brain damage from bumping my head into the hoops that support the top. I sold the car shortly afterwards- but suffering from sports car withdrawal purchased a 2017 brz which has plenty of room for my head bone same for the 2023 brz that replaced it. I have found sports car nirvana in the 2nd gen brz.

adam525i
adam525i GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/3/24 2:36 p.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
GameboyRMH said:
pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) said:

I am 6'4" with a 34 inch inseam.  I actually fit well in my 23' BRZ even with my helmet on.

Came here to say that Toyobarus aren't bad for tall people, you just can't have a passenger behind the driver unless the driver is short...you can slide the driver's seat back until it's just about touching the seat behind it, so there's no shortage of legroom.

If you slide the seat that far back, you can't reach the steering wheel, usually.

I was 6'5 and a friend was somewhere south of 6'.  When he drove my car, he had to slide the seat BACK.  He was expecting to be able to have his knees under the steering column, and he could sit upright to reach the steering wheel.

How tall are you now?

fidelity101
fidelity101 UberDork
4/3/24 2:53 p.m.

this is incredibly relevant to me, thank you. 

chaparral
chaparral GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/3/24 3:12 p.m.

If you are VERY tall, there's one choice with a clear advantage:

A Sparco or Rush racing seat will allow a 7'0" driver to fit in a C5 Corvette. 

ojannen
ojannen GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
4/3/24 3:57 p.m.

I am 6'5" with 32" inseam legs and the brz isn't even close.  My head is hard against the roof without a helmet.

Of the cars on the list, the Corolla and the Civic don't work if I am wearing a helmet.  The Mini only works for a non-sunroof version.  The BMW 1/2 series work for non-sunroof versions too (yay carbon roofs).

I want to hear more about the C5 Corvette seat.  I have never sat in one where I was comfortable.  Do you have any pictures?

triumph7
triumph7 Dork
4/3/24 4:02 p.m.

At 6' 1" I am quite comfortable in the C6 Corvette.  Only problem for me is with the seat rake that I like I could use the steering wheel a bit closer.

preach
preach GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
4/3/24 4:33 p.m.

I am 6'2" and fit in my 987 quite well. But...add a helmet and I am screwed.

livinon2wheels
livinon2wheels GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/3/24 5:16 p.m.

In reply to pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah me too same height and inseam and the 23 brz fits well

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