When dreams don't come true - Miura

[WCZ]

always dreamed of driving a ferrari, when I did (355) I was extremely underwhelmed - until my 430 which was everything I expected from the brand

[Royd72]

I longed for a Lamborghini Aventador, same story went to see one and it was so uncomfortable I knew it wasn't going to work for me.

Having the itch for a fast car I looked at other options and ended up buying a Viper Green 991 GT3 RS. Having had the car for 8 months I am glad the Lambo was to small for my 6ft 6" frame as the RS is truly incredible and I wouldn't part with her for the world.

I am also lucky to own a mint Datsun 240Z, yes again I would ideally love a few more inches of legroom but for odd little weekend cruises it works and TBH she is so pretty I would be happy just looking at her.

I have recently taken delivery of a Golf Clubsport S, what amazes me is for such a small car v Lambo etc I couldn't wish for anymore room, in fact I don't have the seat fully back.

The only problem I have now, albeit a nice one is which one to take out as they are all so different yet all so epic to drive.

Edited by Royd72 on Friday 3rd February 12:40

[tiggyzak]

I am 6'3" . First thing I do when I'm buying a car ,new or used. Have a sit in it. If you don't fit...walk away and forget it. Tried a Ferrari 308GTB years ago. Coopers at Leicester had a showroom full of NEW cars waiting to be bought (Boxers ,the lot!) with big discounts -those were the days ! Had a demo. Hopeless .Could get in it and drive it (just) but not good at all. How Clarkson manages with some of the cars he drives God only knows !

I have a very low mileage Golf GTI Edition 30. On a 2 hour journey I have to stop and have a walk round.So uncomfortable.Short journeys OK. On the other hand my wife has a VW Tiguan (very underrated car) with leather electric seats. SO comfortable. It's like driving while you're sat in your favourite armchair. !

The best car (interesting car that is) for leg room that I had was ....wait for it.....
A 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint. Sit back and relax.

Of course there is nothing wrong with the cars or their seating ......it's the drivers height that's the sticking point !

[david hockney]

Speed addicted said:

I've wanted a Porsche 911 since I was 5. The 930, then later the 964 were exactly what I was after.
So after around 25 years I have the cash to buy and run one as a second car.

Of course I don't fit, head against roof, knees against the dash and my back is too wide for the seat. I took it out anyway to confirm that 8 minutes was long enough for things to start to cramp and there was no point in continuing.

It may be possible to make me fit by changing the drivers seat for something much lower and further back but that's a bit of a gamble and I don't want to ruin the car.

Arse.

I'm 6ft2in and fat -and can drive a 964 or 993 no problem

[98elise]

LankyLegoHead said:

I had exactly this with a Lotus Elise. Okay, not QUITE as exotic, but I sat in an S1 as a kid. I remember having a picture of me in it in my bedroom, I just thought it was so cool!

I happened to be at a Lotus dealer a few months ago with a friend, tried to sit in the drivers seat of the latest Exige. "Oh its got a bit more room than the S1 Elise ever did" Still cant fit for toffee, dreams = shattered.

By "extra room" they meant the door sill is slightly lower

[Shnozz]

EXACTLY the same for me at 6'3" with a Countach.

It was a 1:24 scale which probably didn't help.

[tiggyzak]

Shnozz.....you ought to be ashamed...behave yourself !!

[lankyarcher]

I am 6ft6 and it is possible just for me to fit in an S2 Elise... I cannot however take my foot off the clutch in 5th gear!
My knee is unable to get between the gear lever and steering wheel.
Devastating.
Mazda Rx7 twin turbo, I'd managed to secure a test drive, sat in it and couldn't remove my chin from my chest, couldn't get my knees under the steering wheel... another one off the list!

[Jex]

To OP
Good write up - but Nooooooo

I have a Ferrari 328 GTS. Sat in a GTB before I started looking to make sure I would fit (only 6ft tall - but with a long back for my height) - just fitted, so dream still alive. I did have a problem with my shoes getting tangled up on my first test drive, so I have thin shoes that I leave in the one that I bought.

I have taken it on track days - so far so good - no rain. If it rains hard enough for me to put the roof on, I will have a problem fitting in wearing a helmet. I also have to take the roof off to be able to get out of it when I put it in the garage.

[lankyarcher]

Jex said:

To OP
Good write up - but Nooooooo

I have a Ferrari 328 GTS. Sat in a GTB before I started looking to make sure I would fit (only 6ft tall - but with a long back for my height) - just fitted, so dream still alive. I did have a problem with my shoes getting tangled up on my first test drive, so I have thin shoes that I leave in the one that I bought.

I have taken it on track days - so far so good - no rain. If it rains hard enough for me to put the roof on, I will have a problem fitting in wearing a helmet. I also have to take the roof off to be able to get out of it when I put it in the garage.

I have to drive shoeless, I've never been able to find shoes which don't ruin my heel/toe

[Bizzarini]

I owned a Miura 1974-76 and a GT40 1972-75
I was 6ft ( less now I am older) and had no trouble sitting comfortably !

Read all about them and more >

http://letthemstare.co.uk/

[tiggyzak]

Lankyarcher. I'm just raising your 6' with my 6'3" and size 14 shoes. That thins down your options somewhat !! Driving my brothers Prius (has to be the most uncomfortable car ever for a tall driver)is a big footed drivers worst nightmare !

[cuda]

Had same problem in 997 GT3 - 6'2" tall and my knees were up against the steering wheel so replaced OEM wheel with dished non airbag suede wheel (which looks fab too). Only problem is having to take my hands off the wheel to indicate or flash some moron out of the middle lane...

Edited by cuda on Friday 3rd February 16:54

[SteveO220]

I feel for you. Back in 2005, I went through exactly the same experience when going to look at a Miura. The lust, the anticipation...then the horror as I just couldn't fit. Beautiful car and they weren't that expensive back then....sigh...

[Gary C]

Strange how proportion seems to make the difference.

At 6"3' I fitted in a mk3 mr2 and a s1 Elise with no problems, while a gallardo was awkward.

Mind you a f430 was perfect.

[samoht]

lankyarcher said:

I am 6ft6 and it is possible just for me to fit in an S2 Elise... I cannot however take my foot off the clutch in 5th gear!
My knee is unable to get between the gear lever and steering wheel.
Devastating.
Mazda Rx7 twin turbo, I'd managed to secure a test drive, sat in it and couldn't remove my chin from my chest, couldn't get my knees under the steering wheel... another one off the list!

cuda said:

Had same problem in 997 GT3 - 6'2" tall and my knees were up against the steering wheel so replaced OEM wheel with dished non airbag suede wheel (which looks fab too). Only problem is having to take my hands off the wheel to indicate or flash some moron out of the middle lane...

I'd have thought a GT3 would be intimidating enough in the mirror to shift slower traffic... obviously not quickly enough!


After much umming and ahhing, finally plucked up the courage to buy an RX-7. Found a small-time dealer who'd brought a nice one in from Japan, fresh import, unmodified, in that nice blue colour. He took me out for a passenger ride first, went well, all good. I went to sit behind the wheel, and couldn't get my knees under it. I mean, I could squeeze them under, but not really drive. Also, the seat bolsters were too narrow for my hips. So I decided to put the idea on hold.

However, I'm a stubborn guy, and couldn't think of anything I'd rather buy, so a couple of weeks later I went to look at, and bought, another RX-7. I changed the steering wheel for a dished smaller suede one (both the dish and the smaller diameter each help leave more kneeroom), put a cushion on the seat to avoid having the bolsters wedge my hips, and called it good. I still get black marks on my left thigh from hitting the suede wheel when I declutch, but such trivial problems can be solved by wearing dark coloured trousers And I am comfortable, even going from S London as far as the Giant's Causeway I never had any aches or pains. Still, I'm only 6'1 so can imagine others have it worse.

[DiscoColin]

lankyarcher said:

I have to drive shoeless, I've never been able to find shoes which don't ruin my heel/toe

Have you tried racing boots? As the unfortunate owner of comedy sized clown feet I find that either racing boots (in my case, Adidas Ferozas) or barefoot style shoes (I have some barefoot Merrells that they seem to have since stopped making which are great) are the thing to drive in.

I have a bit of a list of cars that I don't fit in too though (only 6' tall, but long legs and oversized feet). Caterhams are not viable at all, things like the Elise are decidedly uncomfortable and only even an option in foot hugging shoes, sitting in an NSX had my knees jammed against the steering wheel, air cooled 911s are left hook only (the geometry of the shorter {100mm IIRC} and more offset footwell in RHD cars makes my knee hurt and cramps my leg in about 15 minutes), childhood dreams like the GT40, Countach and of course Lotus Esprit I cannot even really get into... Then there was the time that I tried to drive my mate's 1934 Bentley roadster - had to take off my shoes to even get behind the wheel, but driving it was a futile gesture (thankfully it wasn't on a public road).

[Pothole]

phil1979 said:

Ach. I had the same problem with a Suzuki Cappuccino I went to see in Slough (I travelled from Maidenhead, too). Still hurts me now, so I can empathise.

THIS, gentlemen, is why I will always love Pistonheads.

[MitchT]

I'm 5'7" so I have no issue with space in an old school Italian supercar - the dream for me is a Testarossa. Having sat in a couple (LHD and RHD) I was interested to note just how snug it felt, even for a short-ass like me. What could, potentially, scupper my dream is the apparent absence of anywhere to put your left foot in the RHD one. The "clutch foot" rest is set deeper into the foot well than the clutch pedal and the gap between said pedal and the central tunnel is too narrow to fit your foot through - you have to cross your left leg under your right leg which is uncomfortable and I'm occasionally prone to leg cramp and this position would encourage it. Placing my foot flat on the floor would be impossible as that would bring my leg up to a point where it was fouling the steering wheel. I've no idea how Harry Metcalfe manages with his RHD Testarossa! It's not that big of a deal for me as the chances of me ever getting one are remote and if I did it would be LHD as I'd prefer to do most of my miles on the Continent. When I sat in a LHD one it was perfectly comfortable with the foot rest easily accessible on the wheel arch. In the case of a RHD one I guess I'd have to have the "clutch foot" rest extended to be level with the clutch pedal so I had something top put my foot on.

[Vanin]

I think it is a question of how much do you really want it.
It is a bit like being given the one opportunity of having sex with a beautiful woman in a car when there are no other options. It is amazing how you can contort your body to accommodate!