Cars with good headroom for taller folks?
08-01-13, 09:41 AM
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Cars with good headroom for taller folks?
Hello all,
It's that time for me to get a new car and I decided I wanted a Lexus. Went to the dealer and tried an IS, and older ES (2003), a newer ES (2009), a 2010 Avalon, and older LS400 and had absolutely no headroom in any car. Getting the seat where I want it made my hair touch the roof and if I tilted my head down, as if I were looking at the gauges on the cluster, my head completely hit the roof.
Do you have any recommendations for cars that have good headroom? I tried a few SUVs like an RX 330 and 350, Highlander, and Rav4 at different times and those have been fine but I'd prefer a car. I have tried the LS430 before and that was fine but not sure I want an LS with those repair bills.
It seems that since cars have been looking more "sporty" or sleek, they really cut out on the headroom. Is this a common issue in the automotive world? I want a comfortable, quiet, and refined ride.
Thanks for your thoughts!
It's that time for me to get a new car and I decided I wanted a Lexus. Went to the dealer and tried an IS, and older ES (2003), a newer ES (2009), a 2010 Avalon, and older LS400 and had absolutely no headroom in any car. Getting the seat where I want it made my hair touch the roof and if I tilted my head down, as if I were looking at the gauges on the cluster, my head completely hit the roof.
Do you have any recommendations for cars that have good headroom? I tried a few SUVs like an RX 330 and 350, Highlander, and Rav4 at different times and those have been fine but I'd prefer a car. I have tried the LS430 before and that was fine but not sure I want an LS with those repair bills.
It seems that since cars have been looking more "sporty" or sleek, they really cut out on the headroom. Is this a common issue in the automotive world? I want a comfortable, quiet, and refined ride.
Thanks for your thoughts!
08-01-13, 09:58 AM
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Depends on how much headroom you need. I am 6'4" and have a is250 and it is decent enough headroom IMO. Did you adjust the seat appropriately because it has back and fourth/up and down seat functions for more room head room. I Know a guy who is 6'7 and he drives a lotus elise comfortably and those cars are much smaller compared to the lexus IS
Other than that i would use this list as a starting place
http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/t...-for-2013.html
Ive driven the XTS and the ATS (rentals) before and they provide alot more headroom than I thought it would. Also the BMW 7 series is great for tall people but since you said you cant deal with the LS400 repair bill, I doubt you would want to pick up one on the BMW
Other than that i would use this list as a starting place
http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/t...-for-2013.html
Ive driven the XTS and the ATS (rentals) before and they provide alot more headroom than I thought it would. Also the BMW 7 series is great for tall people but since you said you cant deal with the LS400 repair bill, I doubt you would want to pick up one on the BMW
08-01-13, 09:58 AM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Most vehicles today have height/tilt-adjustable seat cushions and rake-adjusting seat-backs. Are you sure that, when you sample these vehicles, that you are adjusting the seat-cushions all the way down? You can also lower the seatback angle some, but you don't want to do that too much because it may leave you slouching at an awkward angle and lessen the effect of the belt/harness system in a crash.
Another tip......if possible, look for a car without a factory-installed sunroof. The ceiling in many sunroof/moonroof cars is sometimes lowered as much as an inch to an inch-and-a-half to make room inside for the roof-panel to slide back and be covered, which could make a difference in headroom, especially for tall people. Not only the benefit of added headroom, but not having a sunroof also lessens the potential for rattles/squeaks, leaks, roof-flexing under stress, and, of course, getting drenched in a rainstorm if the power-motor or mechanism fails. In my CAR CHAT auto reviews, I usually describe each vehicle's front and rear headroom.
Another thing to stay away from, in general (tough there are a few exceptions), are sedans with the now-almost-ubiquitous humpback-whale droop-rear rooflines, especially for rear-seat headroom. This is being done more and more nowadays as a styling-cue that tries to make sedans liike like coupes, but it can be a real pain in the a** for tall people in the rear seat.
Another tip......if possible, look for a car without a factory-installed sunroof. The ceiling in many sunroof/moonroof cars is sometimes lowered as much as an inch to an inch-and-a-half to make room inside for the roof-panel to slide back and be covered, which could make a difference in headroom, especially for tall people. Not only the benefit of added headroom, but not having a sunroof also lessens the potential for rattles/squeaks, leaks, roof-flexing under stress, and, of course, getting drenched in a rainstorm if the power-motor or mechanism fails. In my CAR CHAT auto reviews, I usually describe each vehicle's front and rear headroom.
Another thing to stay away from, in general (tough there are a few exceptions), are sedans with the now-almost-ubiquitous humpback-whale droop-rear rooflines, especially for rear-seat headroom. This is being done more and more nowadays as a styling-cue that tries to make sedans liike like coupes, but it can be a real pain in the a** for tall people in the rear seat.
08-01-13, 09:59 AM
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08-01-13, 10:11 AM
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Thanks for the thoughts guys!
I have absolutely played with the seats to try and get the most comfortable position. I am aware of all the different ways they move. My BMW does it right now and the only way I can have a decent amount of headroom is to tilt the seat backwards which does not make for a comfortable driving position. It's too bad because I REALLY loved the ES 350. A lot. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't make it work.
As for the sunfroof, it's something I actually want. It makes the car feel bigger inside when the shade is back and I like to keep it open. I live in Southern California so there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
@NYKnick101 I have actually sat in an ATS before and loved it a lot. The ride was too firm for what I'm looking for and I'd prefer Japanese for reliability. I do appreciate the suggestion though.
I know there are lots of SUVs available that would fit the profile for what I'm looking for but a car would be nice. The LS430 is nice, but once again, I don't want to have to pay those large repair bills if something does go wrong.
I have absolutely played with the seats to try and get the most comfortable position. I am aware of all the different ways they move. My BMW does it right now and the only way I can have a decent amount of headroom is to tilt the seat backwards which does not make for a comfortable driving position. It's too bad because I REALLY loved the ES 350. A lot. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't make it work.
As for the sunfroof, it's something I actually want. It makes the car feel bigger inside when the shade is back and I like to keep it open. I live in Southern California so there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
@NYKnick101 I have actually sat in an ATS before and loved it a lot. The ride was too firm for what I'm looking for and I'd prefer Japanese for reliability. I do appreciate the suggestion though.
I know there are lots of SUVs available that would fit the profile for what I'm looking for but a car would be nice. The LS430 is nice, but once again, I don't want to have to pay those large repair bills if something does go wrong.
08-01-13, 10:33 AM
#6
Lexus Test Driver
Serious as all can be. I do PCA events. I race but I also take photos when they have track days. The new guys like seeing their action shots around corners and stuff. He is at least 3-4 inches taller than me and I am 6'4". This is his car that he races. I will try to see if I have any pics of him next to his car. The Porsche's are tight fits for head room and comfort but that lotus is actually a lot more comfortable than you think.
08-01-13, 10:38 AM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Another tip......if possible, look for a car without a factory-installed sunroof. The ceiling in many sunroof/moonroof cars is sometimes lowered as much as an inch to an inch-and-a-half to make room inside for the roof-panel to slide back and be covered, which could make a difference in headroom, especially for tall people. Not only the benefit of added headroom, but not having a sunroof also lessens the potential for rattles/squeaks, leaks, roof-flexing under stress, and, of course, getting drenched in a rainstorm if the power-motor or mechanism fails.
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08-01-13, 10:43 AM
#8
I was going to suggest a 2000-2004 Avalon. I had one of these, TONS of room in it. If you look at it from the side, you can see why. Tall roof, big windows, its before the Chrysler 300 and Benz CLS came out and everybody started lowering the roof lines and making the windows tiny. The LS430 has the same sort of look going on as well.
Go read on the LS430 boards, there isn't much that goes wrong with these cars. Just avoid the top of the line model that has air suspension and the fancy self closing door option and I think you would be good to go. Really you don't need to take it to the dealer for service, most shops that work on Toyota would be glad to service it for you. Also check and see when the timing belt was last replaced, as that is about a $1000 bill for that job. Honestly I don't think your repair bills would be any different than if you owned an ES or GS from that era.
Go read on the LS430 boards, there isn't much that goes wrong with these cars. Just avoid the top of the line model that has air suspension and the fancy self closing door option and I think you would be good to go. Really you don't need to take it to the dealer for service, most shops that work on Toyota would be glad to service it for you. Also check and see when the timing belt was last replaced, as that is about a $1000 bill for that job. Honestly I don't think your repair bills would be any different than if you owned an ES or GS from that era.
08-01-13, 11:02 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
I would say the LS is the best. I am 6'5" and I have driven all of the Lexus vehicles except for the LFA. The LS is the best if you don't want an SUV. I had a GS and it was a joke. My head would hit the ceiling if I hit a dip. The IS wasn't horrible but it wasn't like the LS. How tall are you?
08-01-13, 11:13 AM
#13
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08-01-13, 11:15 AM
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Funny pic!!
