Track Car for Extra Tall Guys

I've read thru some of the threads on this, but none of these guys were my height. I'm pushing 6'8" and I'm tall in the torso. I really want to find a RWD, lightweight (Ideally less than 3,000lbs), HPDE/Track Day car but I keep striking out. The car would be used for driving too and from the track, the occasional weekend cruise, and I was shooting for under $10K if it's a dedicated track car or $30K if I can daily drive it. Car's I've tried:

Miata NA\NB\NC(Not even without a seat)

C5 Corvette (Head sticks out t-top)

BRZ/FRS (Maybe with no headliner and race seats)

BMW E30/E36/E46 (E36/E46 are close, may work fully prepped)

Mustang Fox Body too small, 5th gen I fit but the dynamics are horrid

Boxster, Cayman, S2000, Lotus Elise, MR2, etc I couldn't actually get inside

Really the only cars I've been able to drive are FWD hatches. I'm running my DD MKVI GTI right now but I really don't enjoy the dynamics of the car on the track. Any other cars I should be trying out?

Something German

911

Sounds like you'll need a race seat to fit in anything. A race seat will allow you to sit lower than a standard passenger seat and be positioned back far enough.

I'm surprised you couldn't fit in the Vette. Would have thought you might with a race seat.

I'd say the e36 would be a good bet with a race seat. Or maybe some sort of Mustang with a race seat.

A 350z, WRX, or Evo might work might work with the right seat. I haven't actually sat in a 350z, but they look pretty roomy for a two-seater.

You're going to have to walk around the paddock and ask people to sit in their cars. They'll most likely happily oblige you. Bring your helmet, and be ready to remove the lower seat cushion.

I doubt you'll be able to make an E36 work. My helmet touches the roof with a race seat, and I'm 5'9". I remove the seat cushion from my track seat to get a bit lower, and I actually like it more than with the cushion.

An XKE Jag.

Triumph TR8. Lots of tall and fat guy owners. Adding a roll bar cuts down on seat travel. There is a white TR8 coupe on ebay now that already has a built 4.6 liter. Should be pushing well over 250HP in a sub 2500lb car. Bet it sells for less than 10K.

Pacer.

The guys who are suggesting a race seat are probably right, however: Are your arms proportional to your legs? As you move the race seat down to gain headroom, your legs straighten out, which tends to push the seat farther back, which then makes for a long reach to the steering wheel. I have a steering wheel quick release with 3 inches of extensions between the wheel and the hub on my Neon. I could use more, but I'm nervous about the amount of leverage I could generate.

I'm 6'2"

Build (or modify a used one) a locost to fit you? 10k is more than enough to pull this of.

I haven't tried the 350Z in a long time, that may work. The WRX is ok, I had one for a daily a long time ago. Everything in the WRX seemed to be made for very small people. I couldn't heel toe to save my life.

Is the BMW Z3/Z4 any bigger? What about the Hyundai Genesis Coupes?

The Z3 is a little bigger than a NB Miata so there is no way you could fit in that car with the top up. I haven't driven a Z4 or a Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Try a C4 Corvette. C5 didn't come with t-tops. They have targa tops.

My friend is 6'4" and is comfortable in his 944 turbo with his helmet on in stock seats.

I'm 6'2" and havent had problems with EVOs, wrxs or 350z.

Jeez, and I thought I had it bad (Long torso 6'3'')

S2k won't work, even more cramped than an NA Miata.
944 might work, I just can't wrap my head around the idea of buying an FR Porsche...
sorta defeats the purpose, no?

BMW is where I'd start my search
(I've looked a number of times when the Miata has been letting me down)

What about an M 635CSi, Knew a 7 fter once that had one and was happy with it

My best friend is 6'5 and fits with a helmet on in his mini

I recommend a 70s Nissan 240z.I had a teacher that was 6ft7 he drove a yellow 240 for years, said it was the only car he could be comfortable driving.

Myc Social Study teacher Mr Richard daily drove an MGB through my four years of high school and before that says my brother. He's 6'-6" and about 280lbs.

4th gen Camaro. I am 6'3 with a 34" inseam and have probably several inches of fore-aft travel left in the seat. Leg room is very good. I think head room would be ok too, since the car tends to want to put you in a slightly reclined driving position. My 6'8 friend will be in town visiting in about 3 weeks, so i could let you know how he fits. And if it comes down to it, you can always pop the t tops off. Instant infinite headroom!

speedblind wrote: I doubt you'll be able to make an E36 work. My helmet touches the roof with a race seat, and I'm 5'9". I remove the seat cushion from my track seat to get a bit lower, and I actually like it more than with the cushion.

I will agree with this. I had about an inch or less between my head and the headliner in my normal driving position in the e36. With a helmet on, forget about it. Even a no sunroof car would probably only give you another 1.5-2 inches max.

TL;DR so this may have already been suggested ...

I'm only 6'2" so don't have as much trouble as you … that said the Honda's I've driven for 30+ yrs are a bit on the headroom restricted side … the car I've owned that gave me the most head room was a Subaru Impreza … some of those have been made into decent track cars ….

I think you can be pretty sure that a Z4 Coupe will not fit you. I've got a relatively long torso-- 5' 11" with a 32" inseam, and with a helmet on, I've got maybe a 1/4" to the headliner with the seat all the way down. Having to move the seat farther back for longer legs is just going to decrease the headroom even more.

In reply to OneJay:

Def not in a WRX I am 6'4" and I struggle in and out of the passenger seat. the saabaru is worse.

I'm 6'2" and my helmet just brushes the roof in the stock seat of my 350z. The seat could still slide back a couple more inches. Mount a racing seat and I think you'd be OK but it might be close. Find one, pull the seat (4 bolts) and sit on the floor. If there isn't more than enough room, you can forget that one too.

What about a used NASCAR chassis? Those have lots of room and are wicked fast. They are a bit porky and you'd have to tow it...

SnowMongoose wrote: 944 might work, I just can't wrap my head around the idea of buying an FR Porsche... sorta defeats the purpose, no?

This is the sort of BS thinking that makes us 924 and 944 owners just angry as all get out.

They are great cars and have better handling dynamics than the 911's and there a ton of them raced every single weekend.

Without the 924 and 944 the Porsche brand might have gone the way of Lotus or Jaguar and been bought out by another company.

Go drive one in anger before you judge them unfairly. You can always rebadge it as an rx7 if you can't stand the thought of driving that you consider "not a proper Porsche"

That said, my buddy is about 6'4" and has several 924's and a 951 and fits without issue with a helmet on. The sunroof can take a little room, but a race seat can be installed easily (same mounting pattern as the 911) or there were a few 924's and 944's imported without a sunroof.