Hello all! I just did my 2nd AutoX event and I'm really looking forward to getting a new car that would be fun for daily driving, canyon carving, and of course, AutoX. However, I've been running into some issues with headroom. I was driving a 2014 Mustang and with a helmet on, I kept hitting the roof and didn't feel as in control or as comfortable since I had to have the seat most of the way back to even have a chance of fitting.
I'm thinking about my next car and I believe I want something with AWD as I love the way they handle on the course. My top contenders right now are the HawkEye WRX, 1st gen Volvo S60R, or a used Golf R. Are there some other cars I should consider or does anyone have any recommendations for headroom starved people like myself?
In reply to GentlemanShark :
Try to find a car without a sunroof. That should get an extra inch or 2 of clearance.
Dave M
Reader
2/10/19 6:15 a.m.
I have tall person issues as well. Try German. They make cars for tall folks. That means the Golf R. Also, great car!
Buy a seat and mount to swap in when you are doing events that require helmets.
I'm 6'4" and have a thing for Miata. So an aluminum race seat is my reality.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
Yeah, that's true although the Mustang I drove didn't have one either and it was still hard to fit in.
In reply to Dave M :
Golf R looks like a solid choice, although I've heard that the WRX is better in terms of headroom.
In reply to NordicSaab :
Ah so you have a seat that slides into the original frame rails, but is lower than the original one?
I agree on seat being a great change. An aluminum seat is obviously able to pick up head room, plus being able to forget about holding yourself in place is a real benefit to precision and being able to relax and get better control.
Downside, as you lower the seat, you change the relationship between the pedals and wheel, and you kinda create an Italian "arms out knees bent" driving position. My Chump Integra needed a 5 inch extension in the steering wheel to get it comfortable for me. Depends on your body type. The closer your genetic stream gets to the gorilla, the better you are.
Pete Gossett said:
In reply to GentlemanShark :
Try to find a car without a sunroof. That should get an extra inch or 2 of clearance.
The only way I can drive an e36/8 is with my head touching the glass of the sunroof. Without the sunroof I'd be tilting my head against the headliner. Then again, probably not something you want to do while racing.
Tall-driver helmet clearance is a good reason to buy a C5 Corvette. With the stock seat a 6'7" driver could wear a full-face helmet; with Sparcos one up to 6'10" could fit.
In reply to GentlemanShark :
Not the stock frame rails. Remove your stock seat, sliders and all. Bolt in a race seat with a set of rails. PCI, for example, makes side mounts the bolt into the OEM holes for many platforms. When you want the race seat it is 4 bolts and an electrical clip. When you want the stock seat, you put it back in.
The Frisbee twins are pretty good. I'm 6'3 and barely brush the headliner with a helmet on and the seat in a suitably upright driving position.
2017 Focus ST base mode ST1 trim without the sunroof. I'm 5' 10" with a fairly tall torso and I fit with lots of room to spare above my helmet.
Pack your helmet and go sit in cars. It's going to be crucial to being comfortable. It's best if you have a range of positions you can sit comfortably because your seating position may change over time.
In reply to chaparral :
That’s not my experience. I’m 6’2” -6’3” and had to remove my seat springs and remove my sun visor to just get enough regular headroom. Still can’t fit in with a helmet.
Although I’ve never sat in a 97- 2001(?), which is when a bump was put in the headliner that made it worse for taller drivers.
Dave M said:
I have tall person issues as well. Try German. They make cars for tall folks. That means the Golf R. Also, great car!
German car ergonomics are weird, especially VWs. It's like they are designed for people who are 6'2, but all torso and hooves instead of feet. Very little knee/shin room especially on certain 80s VWs, and most 80s Mercedes, and the pedals are practically on the floor instead of up high where you can depress them without doing a toe-point.
VW has improved on the shin room front now that they are no longer using those asinine dash pads, but the pedal position is still questionable. Upper body ergonomics is and always has been superb.
(I cannot drive 80s Mercedes. Literally can not reach the pedals because of the damn knee bolster, it's too low to snake my legs under)
NordicSaab said:
Buy a seat and mount to swap in when you are doing events that require helmets.
I'm 6'4" and have a thing for Miata. So an aluminum race seat is my reality.
The stock NA Miata cloth seats actually sit really low. I fit in them just fine with a helmet, although probably would fail the broomstick test. NB with leather? No-go.
Haven't tried in a Miata, but I bought a Kirkey and a Sparco seat for my RX-7 (think long NA with a permanent roof) and found that it actually reduces headroom even with the seat directly on the floor with no mounts. Still cannot quite figure that one out.
russ_mill said:
In reply to chaparral :
That’s not my experience. I’m 6’2” -6’3” and had to remove my seat springs and remove my sun visor to just get enough regular headroom. Still can’t fit in with a helmet.
Although I’ve never sat in a 97- 2001(?), which is when a bump was put in the headliner that made it worse for taller drivers.
Most C5s I have driven were '97-02, and the headroom on them is abysmal for a helmet. I do not expect to sit "upright" at all, either. If I can get my knees up between the wheel and the dash, and I can reach the steering wheel and shifter, I'm good to go.
6'3-6'4 with a 35" inseam.
Dave M
Reader
2/12/19 8:31 a.m.
Knurled. said:
Dave M said:
I have tall person issues as well. Try German. They make cars for tall folks. That means the Golf R. Also, great car!
German car ergonomics are weird, especially VWs. It's like they are designed for people who are 6'2, but all torso and hooves instead of feet. Very little knee/shin room especially on certain 80s VWs, and most 80s Mercedes, and the pedals are practically on the floor instead of up high where you can depress them without doing a toe-point.
VW has improved on the shin room front now that they are no longer using those asinine dash pads, but the pedal position is still questionable. Upper body ergonomics is and always has been superb.
(I cannot drive 80s Mercedes. Literally can not reach the pedals because of the damn knee bolster, it's too low to snake my legs under)
That must be why they work for me - I'm 6'2'' with a Phelps-like torso (like, really short legs). M3s fit me great, 911s are good, C6s are good...forget anything Asian.
C5s seem really tight!
In reply to Knurled. :
Was this the coupe or the hatchback? Did it have the targa roof?
Mine was a hatch and 6'5" Travis Renegar had no trouble; perhaps his arms are long enough to really tilt the seat back.
Buy an old F500 or a shifter kart. Unlimited headroom and you can compete for FTD with a decent setup.
In reply to chaparral :
I have driven FRCs and regular non-convertibles.
Of course, the C6 fits like a glove. Maybe I will be able to afford one when they get to 2019 C5 money.
I am 6'6" with a tall torso (32" inseam). I have massive problems fitting in cars with a helmet. I don't fit in any BMWs, BRZ, C5 Corvettes, in addition to the smaller stuff.
If you want to keep stock seats, I recommend the Mini Cooper, VW Golf, Ford Focus, and the Subarus. Get one without a sunroof. In addition to the extra headroom, you will be hitting your head on the sunroof while wearing a helmet. You should be ok but the idea of a glass shower scares me.
If you are ok with swapping seats but you still want something comfortable, look into Corbeau. The A4 gives 0.5" to 1" of headroom and the Evolution gives 1" to 2" of headroom. You can still run regular seatbelts and I can attest that they are reasonably comfortable on long drives. I just fold up a towel for extra lumbar support.
The other option is to learn the turtle: https://i.imgur.com/ip5AZfd.jpg
In reply to ojannen :
Was the C5 you were driving a coupe? If so, I'll have to scratch that off my list. Corvettes seem like a great value, so that's a shame.
I'm looking into a Golf R/R32. Maybe a WRX if there's any around $10k.
