Your height?

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BUG4LIFE
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:26 am

I asked this deep within another thread but I thought I'd bring it to the top.

How tall are you?

I'm 6'6" and hopefully will be getting a Motorsport cab soon. I've had a drive of a 325i sport and a M'sport cab and they did seem a little tight! Although the tintop did seem to gimme a little more leg room [or was it I just didn't adjust the seat right on the cab?]

I want a manual, but the clutch does seem quite far over to the right, meaning my leg hits the steering wheel - so do you reckon an auto would be a better choice - to keep my left leg out of the way?

Anyone else have a height problem?
Davenotouring
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:30 am

I'm just over 6'5" and there is lots of room in my touring!

With the sports seat, you can adjust the height of the seat.

There does seem to be variation for no particular reason between cars though! :?
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:47 am

I'm about 6'4" and my 2 door 316i has just enough room...its fine though, when i test drove the car when i was buying it i thought it was a bit tight, but i got used to it :)
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:47 am

I'm only 5'10". :sad: I must be all out of proportion though.... :cry: Have to have the seat right back and as low as it will go and my knees are still touching the 'wheel and my arms are stretched.
If I have the seat set right for my arms, my thighs are against the back of the 'wheel (or I have to have the back of the seat dead up-right)! :evil:
I've never yet found a car that I'm comfortable in and in 30odd years, I've driven everything from Minis to Rollers. :mad: I think the nearest I got to perfect was probably my Mk2 Astra SRi. :roll:
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

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astondg
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:49 am

I'm only about 6', maybe up to 6' 2" depending on how you calculate it. I am about 186cm tall or 188 with shoes on. Using 2.54cm per inch with 186cm gives 6' 1". Not quite your height so this probably won't be helpful but anyway.

Headroom: With the standard seats (I have Recaros) I fit ok and I have a sunroof, but there isn't much room to spare, maybe an inch. I have a Sparco race seat in the drivers side now because I needed a bit of headroom when I have a helmet on on the race track and it is thinner and mounted lower. With my helmet on and in the race seat I have about 1mm between my head and the roof 8O . I have a friend who is about 6' 5" and he fits in ok though, even in the standard seat, because he has the seat reclined more than I do. I sit fairly close to the steering wheel and with the seatback upright (fixed in the Sparco seat). I did notice that if I move the whole seat back I get more headroom.

Legroom: It is a little bit cramped. I usually don't have any problems with the pedals although my clutch engage point seems to have moved out lately (towards me) so now my knee does hit the bottom of the steering wheel sometimes. Not a big problem for me but for someone a bit taller it might be. If the clutch engaged at the bottom of the travel it would fine, at the top is good for quick changes though.

Sometimes on long trips I have to stretch my legs out under the pedals to make sure I don't get a cramp, I never have got one but just to be sure when I drive for a couple of hours.

Like I said I have the seat a fair way forward compared to where I see a lot of other people, although I just set it up the way that is recommended. The involves adjusting the seat until I can place one of my palms (the "heel" bit just in front of the wrist) on the top of steering wheel while keeping a very slight bend in that arm and also keeping my shoulder against the seat back. I am supposed to sacrifice leg room slightly, if I have to, to get my upper body correct. Makes sure I am stable in the seat and I steer with my arms and not my shoulders, helps to keep me relaxed and use smooth gentle inputs. My seat is a fraction back from this at the moment because that is slightly more comfortable for road use and also if I go any further forward I won't have enough headroom.

EDIT: I do like the driving position in my E30 though, a lot of other cars feel like I am sitting up high after driving mine and I don't like that. Getting back into mine just feels right, like home :) .

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Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:10 pm

i`m 6` 2" i find the e30 fine to drive although the e34 is much more comfortable drving position
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:24 pm

im 6' 4" n find that headroom is the issue - leg etc is fine
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elliot
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:25 pm

5`10" here, 8)
my mates old man was so tall he had to drive everywhere with the sunroof open :D
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:00 pm

I'm 6-4 and don't have a problem at all. I occasionally hit my head on the sunroof frame if the cars moving about a LOT. Leg room is fine and really comfortable and means I can steer with my knees leaving me free to roll fags, read the map etc! 8O :lol:
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:32 pm

I'm 6'2" tall and have no clearance issues in an '85 2 door (doubt it's different to the others though)

I have the seat on the lowest position which gives a good couple of inches head room. Don't even have it all the way back :)

Only thing I did think when I bought it was that the wheel was a bit high. Got used to it though :)
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Rearwheel_nick
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:52 pm

jesus christ your all friggin giants haha, i'm 5' 8, and with my seat mounted solid to the floor, only select people can drive my car haha. needless to say space for me isn't really an issue
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:58 pm

i'm 5'9 and I struggle to drive mine :(

I either have my legs right and my arms dont reach the wheel or I get my arms right and my legs are against the wheel or the door and tunnel! really winds me up lol
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:02 pm

im 6ft 1 and fit just perfect in mine :cool:
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BUG4LIFE
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:47 pm

Guess a manual isn't out of the question for my 6'6" frame then? Might get me some F1 style driving shoes though, as my big size 12's always getting in the way!
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:23 pm

I'm the other end of the scale at 5'3 I have to slouch in my seat to get the clutch fully in and I look like a Chav just peeking over the steering wheel!
I've been told that Recaro's which I really want are even lower and it's been suggested I will have to have a cushion!
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:42 pm

The feet could be tricky but not the end of the world, im size 11 and find my reefs etc hit 2 pedals at once because of how close they are. any other trainer/shoe and its all good. I'm 6'1 and fit in snug as a rug.
6potWil6pot
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:45 pm

5 ft 8 and the driving position was spot on for me after a bit of adjustment. I tend to spend ages in any car i drive for long periods to find a suitable position, then i let someone else try it and its all ruined! :cry: :roll: :mad:
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M5pilot
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:48 pm

Bloody hell, most of you guys are giants.

Well, I like wil6pot are on the other end of the scale at a mere 5 foot 8.

I can get a variety of excellent driving positions depending on my mood.
Adam318i
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 7:55 pm

6ft 1 here and have Recaros in and i have loads of headroom to spare. Steering wheel can get in the way tho and thats why i have one with a flat bottom.

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Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:29 pm

Alas another quite tall man here! 6'1 i have the sports seats as low as they go and tilted up as far too, i find like this i can have the seat as far forward as it will go or back depending on my mood. My legs are bent but it's great on track i found when it's right forward

It's in the back of an E30 where theres trouble if u are tall, even one of my mates whos about 5 foot dead says it's a touch cramped in there!
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:52 pm

6ft 1" and as stocky as you like !! No bother in the auto touring, no gears to worry about so no problem there. The cabrio is a fekin nightmare, reckon the seats don't go far enough back for my long legs !!!!
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:54 pm

M5pilot wrote:Bloody hell, most of you guys are giants.

Well, I like wil6pot are on the other end of the scale at a mere 5 foot 8.

I can get a variety of excellent driving positions depending on my mood.
How do you think i feel, 5ft 7 so no head room probs even in a mini. :D
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Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:04 pm

Bob_S wrote:i'm 5'9 and I struggle to drive mine :(

I either have my legs right and my arms dont reach the wheel or I get my arms right and my legs are against the wheel or the door and tunnel! really winds me up lol
I'm glad I'm not the only one! Was begining to think maybe I'm not human after all....... :cry:
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

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astondg
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:24 am

BUG4LIFE wrote:Might get me some F1 style driving shoes though, as my big size 12's always getting in the way!
Get these:
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Adidas Tuscany I think. They are supposed to be replicas of the old F1 style shoes from the 60's and 70's. You get a booklet thing that tells you about them and they have a sole that looks a bit like a tyre tread and has Goodyear written on it.

I also have these which were good but I couldn't get them in the right size so they are a bit tight:
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I use those ^ for racing and they can be bought with that fireproof type stuff too if you buy them as Sparco instead of Puma.

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mattpina
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:24 pm

6'3, 17 stone & size 11 boats.

No probs in the 'pina, but I can press 2 pedals at once in the wifes clio.
Davenotouring
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:39 pm

I can't get those shoes cos I'm a 12. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:41 pm

davetouring wrote:I can't get those shoes cos I'm a 12. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Freak, get back to the circus. :lol: Just joshing. :D
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Davenotouring
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:45 pm

You know what they say.........big feet......
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Big shoes.

Big hands....big gloves.....

Big pants......lots of room.

:)
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:48 pm

im 5'11, no probs for me!!!
oneblueleg
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:56 pm

I'm 5' 6".... I have the seat all the way back... am I a freak?
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Stevin
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:59 pm

6potWil6pot wrote:5 ft 8 and the driving position was spot on for me after a bit of adjustment. I tend to spend ages in any car i drive for long periods to find a suitable position, then i let someone else try it and its all ruined! :cry: :roll: :mad:
I've got that same problem... with my father who is 6ft, and always complains that his head is almost touching the roof, even though the seat is at it's lowest. Then he moves everything, all my mirrors, and my seat... it takes me forever to get it right... but I gotta admit he love to drive it though, almost as much as me :D ... Actually maybe more than me :lol:

BTW I'm 5ft8
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:01 pm

5'6 and seat right back? how can u reach the pedals? I cant when i do it in my 2dr!
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:08 pm

Bob_S wrote:5'6 and seat right back? how can u reach the pedals? I cant when i do it in my 2dr!
It's an auto cab, don't know if that makes any difference?

Oh... and I use my left leg only... (it's the only one I've got:? )
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:46 pm

5, 8

seat 3 pegs back, fully raised cushion, arms length wheel to shoulder


bit of a finatic about seat position :oops: :lol: and the pass. sadly has to sit the same way ... or the seats wont match :roll:

i do wish i had longer arms so i could but the seat back a bit more :D
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Matt
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Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:35 pm

6 feet 3 inches no problems with my cloth sports seats head or leg room
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