{"id":10587,"date":"2018-05-29T15:37:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-29T22:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/?p=10587"},"modified":"2025-04-01T00:44:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T07:44:01","slug":"cars-that-tall-people-can-actually-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/gearheads\/cars-that-tall-people-can-actually-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Cars that tall people can actually drive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advice from a fellow giant<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, being a tall car geek feels like a curse. I\u2019m six feet, ten inches, and I know there are cars I\u2019ll never be able to drive because I simply won\u2019t fit behind the wheel. No matter what\u2019s available on Turo, many cars don\u2019t have the legroom or headroom \u2014 or either \u2014 for me to get comfortable. There are days I wish I were shorter so I could have more options to drive.<\/span><\/p>\n

But since I can\u2019t change my height, I have to find ways to pursue my automotive passion. Over the years I\u2019ve had opportunities to drive lots of cool cars, and sometimes I’m surprised at what works and what doesn\u2019t. With some, it\u2019s fairly unbelievable I can even get inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mini Cooper<\/h3>\n
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Kristian’s Mini Cooper (Seattle, WA)<\/p><\/div>\n

This little car might be the biggest surprise of all: the Mini Cooper is among the most spacious vehicles I’ve driven. It has tons of space in the driver’s seat, at the expense of anyone sitting in the back \u2014 but they’d be squeezed regardless. I’ve road tripped a 2010 model from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and I was comfortable the whole way up. My legs were stretched out almost fully and I had plenty of headroom. While the car’s nimbleness made it darty on long freeway stretches, it did the trip in just over one tank of gas, and I would’ve been happy to head back south the next day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mazda Miata<\/h3>\n
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David’s Mazda MX-5 Miata (Phoenix, AZ)<\/p><\/div>\n

The ultimate tiny roadster is a definite no-go for tall people. I went to try the current-generation ND Miata when it hit showrooms but I couldn’t get my legs under the steering wheel. Shame, because I hear this version is the best one yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, a friend with an original NA model let me drive his for a laugh. Somehow I was able to jam myself in the driver’s seat \u2014 top down, of course \u2014 but I wouldn’t call it a success. My left knee got stuck between the door and steering wheel, which held the turn angle and prevented the wheel from returning to center, leading to a few sketchy situations. The laughs didn’t last and we decided not to try again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scion FR-S<\/h3>\n
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Jeff’s Scion FR-S (Portland, OR)<\/p><\/div>\n

Conversely, the Miata\u2019s main rival, the Scion FR-S, works a lot better. While I wouldn’t want to spend hours in it, I fit surprisingly well, enough to verify the car’s fun-to-drive hype. I had to hunch a little to not hit my head on the ceiling, but the small-diameter steering wheel let me get my legs underneath. The FR-S is quite wide, so my passenger and I weren\u2019t brushing shoulders. With an aftermarket bucket seat positioning me lower in the chassis, I\u2019d consider making the FR-S my daily driver. <\/span><\/p>\n

Porsche 911<\/h3>\n
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Steven’s Porsche 911 Carrera S (San Diego, CA)<\/p><\/div>\n

This legendary sports car is also my favorite, in no small part because it’s so spacious for tall folks like me. I\u2019ve sampled the 997 and 991 generations and both were excellent fits, with plenty of adjustment at the seat and steering wheel. The car\u2019s rear-engine layout means it drives unlike anything else, with massive traction at the back and a light yet solid front end. It\u2019s no surprise the 911 has been in production for 50 years, and I hope they keep it tall person-friendly for future generations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Porsche Cayenne Turbo<\/h3>\n
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Pavel’s Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (Emeryville, CA)<\/p><\/div>\n

It may seem strange that Porsche\u2019s giant truck fit me worse than their classic coupe, but the Cayenne had a similar problem to other SUVs I\u2019ve sampled. The high driving position puts my knees at an angle, like I\u2019m sitting in a chair, whereas in a coupe I sit lower and can usually stretch out further. Headroom was abundant, but after a while the inability to stretch my legs led to cramping. Regardless, the Cayenne\u2019s turbocharged acceleration was impressive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tesla Model X<\/h3>\n
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Quan’s Tesla Model X (Milpitas, CA)<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of impressive acceleration, the Model X was both a stunner and very spacious. The entire drivetrain is packaged in the floor of the car, meaning there\u2019s no hump for a driveshaft or other mechanical bits encroaching on the interior. This led to an open feeling inside, and the seat provided lots of adjustment for me to get comfy. The massive windshield also aided how roomy it felt. Oh, did I mention the acceleration? Once you\u2019ve experienced an electric motor\u2019s instant torque, nothing feels the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lamborghini Hurac\u00e1n<\/h3>\n
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Premier Auto Miami’s Lamborghini Hurac\u00e1n (Miami Beach, FL)<\/p><\/div>\n

Sadly, this sleek Lambo was impossible for me to try. I saw the Hurac\u00e1n at a car show when it was still brand new. As I stood among the throngs of onlookers, a company rep noticed me and waved me over. He was curious to see how I fit in the car \u2014 market research, he said. I took a moment to strategize my entry, but realized it wasn\u2019t going to work. My torso alone was about eight inches longer than the bottom of the seat to the top of the ceiling. While I\u2019ll never be able to drive the Hurac\u00e1n, I\u2019ll always admire it from afar.<\/span><\/p>\n

McLaren MP4-12C<\/h3>\n
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Sean’s McLaren MP4-12C (Hermosa Beach, CA)<\/p><\/div>\n

For some cars I\u2019m willing to origami myself just so I can say I drove it. Such was the case with the MP4-12C. The gullwing doors opened wide but inside was a horrible fit. My drive was uncomfortable, but I couldn\u2019t pass up the opportunity simply because I was cramped. This was a supercar in every sense: acceleration, braking, handling, and looks. Clearly, however, McLaren\u2019s engineers skimped in the \u201cfit ridiculously tall people\u201d department.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mercedes-Benz S550<\/h3>\n
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Erika’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class (Chicago, IL)<\/p><\/div>\n

The quintessential luxury sedan<\/a> is the only car I\u2019ve driven where I didn\u2019t have to put the seat all the way back. That I could actually move it forward a few inches means that someone even taller than me might be comfortable. What\u2019s more, I fit in back even with the driver\u2019s seat adjusted for me. With huge space and a pillowy ride, it’s no wonder the S-Class is popular with NBA players everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Advice from a fellow giant Sometimes, being a tall car geek feels like a curse. I\u2019m six feet, ten inches, and I know there are cars I\u2019ll never be able…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":10600,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gearheads"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t