I found out a month ago that I would not fit into my co-worker's Miata, much to my disappointment. I'm 6'4", with longer legs than most 6'4" people. In her Miata, my legs were wedged between the door, steering wheel, and parking brake, and I couldn't move my left leg at all to push in the clutch. This is a 1990 Miata, and the newer ones look way smaller, so I guess I'm out of luck with those.

I want to get some sort of two-door, manual sporty car in the next year to replace my gigantic Buick. Are there any other cars I'm likely to not fit in? I'm thinking right now of a Celica or a similarly-sized Honda or Accord. Does Mazda make a plus-size Miata?

7/21/2010 11:50:37 PM

Yes, they do.

7/22/2010 12:11:12 AM

What year is that thing? And can I get it for ~$5,000?

7/22/2010 12:17:23 AM

mmsj

7/22/2010 12:19:46 AM

^

7/22/2010 12:22:19 AM

Like everything Mazda makes they're put together pretty badly...but they were light and quick for the 90's. Wankel powered, they require an engine rebuild every 80,000miles at best. Oh, and they're also riceboy cult cars, so they sell for way more than a honda with a body kit. The body is kinda nice, but the roof is too bubbly for my tastes...probably has that short rear window for weight savings.

The new RX7's are shit too. Just ask God.

I've always kinda wanted one with a real motor, like an LSx or something.

I think they still sell for more than 10 grand. For that you could buy a serious muscle car from this decade.

And don't be sad about miatas. They're dangerously underpowered...but handle decent. They were good for the dark automotive times that were the late 80's.

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 12:29 AM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 12:24:32 AM

3rd gen rx-7s were available from 93-95. you won't be able to find one for $5k and even if you could it would be a horrible idea.

for around 6-8k i feel like you could find a wrx or e36 m3. (might be hard at the bottom end of that budget though).

i really have no idea what's out there for ~5k

7/22/2010 12:42:25 AM

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 2:31 AM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 2:29:49 AM

stay away from the s2000's as well. have the same problem in my wifes car, its driveable but unpleasant.

7/22/2010 6:42:40 AM

^I'd agree. I'm 6'2" and barely fit in my S2000. If your legs are disproportionately long it'd be even worse for you.

Quote :

"This is a 1990 Miata, and the newer ones look way smaller, so I guess I'm out of luck with those."

While I don't think you'd fit in a newer Miata, how can you even think this? The new ones are considerably bigger...like 500lbs bigger.

7/22/2010 8:30:48 AM

I am interested in this. My brother has the same problem. He sat on my 250 and the handlebars bumped his knees. He will also need a car within the next year, although his friend seems to have talked him into an integra.

7/22/2010 8:41:49 AM

del sol?

mr2?

7/22/2010 9:49:21 AM

Pontiac Solistice maybe - American cars tend to be roomier than their import competitors.

7/22/2010 9:58:32 AM

^^^If he's tall forget an Integra. Even less leg room than an S2000 (I know b/c I own both).

7/22/2010 10:04:09 AM

I'm 6'3 with about a 33in inseam, and I can barely fit behind the wheel of my friend's 2006-2007 miata. My knee is right between the steering wheel and door handle. If I slip it under the wheel I can use the clutch, but it's not comfortable at all.

I'm not exactly sure what your price range is (max $5k?), but I highly recommend BMW for taller people. The seat in my 330i sedan goes so far back I can't touch the pedals

7/22/2010 11:38:33 AM

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 2:43 PM. Reason : ]

7/22/2010 2:41:46 PM

Quote :

" This is a 1990 Miata, and the newer ones look way smaller, so I guess I'm out of luck with those."

The newer ('99+) models are a little bigger. The latest generation is bigger still.

Quote :

"What year is that thing? And can I get it for ~$5,000?"

'93-'95 in the U.S. You won't get one for anywhere NEAR $5k, and if you don't know what it is, I assure you that you don't want one.

Quote :

"They're dangerously underpowered."

They're slow. i wouldn't say dangerously underpowered, though.

Quote :

"stay away from the s2000's as well"

Yeah, I've owned a 1st-gen Miata and two S2000s. While the S2k is a bigger car, I don't think it has any more legroom...tall dudes are gonna be hurting in an S2000.


Obviously you don't need a backseat or much of a trunk. I assume that $5k is your budget?

7/22/2010 2:42:43 PM

Quote :

"I want to get some sort of two-door, manual sporty car in the next year"

OK

Quote :

"to replace my gigantic Buick"

Tell me more about the Buick

Quote :

"I'm 6'4", with longer legs than most 6'4" people"

yeah miata and midgets are out then

Quote :

"thinking right now of a Celica or a similarly-sized Honda or Accord"

I wonder if an early Z3 might work out... and there's always a 3 series BMW in everyone's price range. Asian- well a late 90s Civic holds excellent eco-nerd AND rice-boy value but one with low miles, unmodified would be nice, or a late 90s Subaru Impreza 2.5RS.

7/22/2010 3:16:40 PM

yeah, a Z3 might fit the bill. I don't even know if you can get a 4cyl one for $5000 in decent shape, though. Maybe.

7/22/2010 3:51:49 PM

nissan's?

240, 300, 350/370, they might fit.

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 4:00 PM. Reason : not for $5000]

7/22/2010 3:59:05 PM

NMSJ

7/22/2010 4:02:45 PM

A Z3 has more interior legroom than a Miata and S2000? Interesting.

7/22/2010 4:10:28 PM

7/22/2010 6:14:44 PM

Quote :

"yeah, a Z3 might fit the bill. I don't even know if you can get a 4cyl one for $5000 in decent shape, though. Maybe."

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1844031367.html

Quote :

"1998 BMW Convertible 6 Cyl. - $4500 (Cary, NC) Date: 2010-07-15, 9:03AM EDT Reply to: sale-wn37k-1844031367@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] She drives just like I drove her off the showroom floor! Rag top was replaced in 2005 and is like new.The car has been garaged. Blue with beige rag top. It has the following features: Beige leather heated seats (small tear in driver's seat) Air-conditioning Power windows (Left one sticks sometimes) Cruise control 5-Speed Small grill on front is missing Recently painted Cassette player and clock do not work Few minor dings 232k mostly highway miles (owner in sales)"

Its over 200k but these days thats not a deal breaker for me... plus its not the 4cyl version. I wonder if someone makes a SC kit for a Z3, that might be kinda cool.

Quote :

"A Z3 has more interior legroom than a Miata and S2000? Interesting."

according to historically inaccurate results when I googles that:

Z3: 41.8 inches (M3 is actually less at 41.2?)
Miata: 42.7
S2000: 44.3

7/22/2010 7:51:11 PM

i don't have enough leg room to let the clutch out in a miata or rx-7 and the s2000 has my knees rubbing the steering wheel. a z3 has more than enough room for me though, check one out.

(6'3" and long legs)

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 7:57 PM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 7:57:12 PM

^^ yeah, I'm not down with that kind of mileage, personally, unless it's something like certain domestics, a Miata, etc, that's dirt cheap to repair/rebuild if stuff breaks.

it's not just a legroom thing in the S2000, though...it's knee-to-dashboard clearance.

7/22/2010 8:06:37 PM

the worst car, though only sporty to a girl, is the crossfire. that piece of shit has so little room i can't even fit in the passenger seat, forget about having to deal with a wheel and pedals.

7/22/2010 8:55:54 PM

triple your budget and get into a C5

7/22/2010 10:17:37 PM

Quote :

"mr2?"

I'm 5'7 with short legs and barely fit in the MR2 Spyder.

7/22/2010 10:35:54 PM

^^Grant me $10,000 and it's a deal.

Quote :

"While I don't think you'd fit in a newer Miata, how can you even think this? The new ones are considerably bigger...like 500lbs bigger."

There's a newish 6-speed Miata in my apartment's parking lot, and it's noticeably smaller than my co-worker's Miata.

Quote :

"Tell me more about the Buick"

1994 Regal gran sport, 3.8L V6. 168k miles. No A/C, no heat, front windows don't work, leaks coolant like a sieve. Has some funky electrical problems (I think) with the dashboard. Generally looks like shit. I'm hoping that it will last long enough for me to save enough for a decent car with the characteristics I listed above. $5,000 was a just an estimation. I make about $20k/yr, so I'll have to save for a while anyway.

7/24/2010 2:06:48 AM

Quote :

"There's a newish 6-speed Miata in my apartment's parking lot, and it's noticeably smaller than my co-worker's Miata."

Incorrect...new Miata is several inches longer overall, and slightly more legroom and headroom according to all the comparisons I've seen. Definitely several hundred pounds heavier. But, if you're tall, it's still probably not enough to make a difference

Of course, the problem I have with new cars is that although the overall size has gone up, the interior space doesn't seem like it has increased proportionally...for example my '97 Civic vs a 2010 Civic. Just subjective, but it seems like the dashboards, pillars, etc are so much bulkier.

For what it's worth, I'm 6'2" and 185lbs, and my S2000 is quite comfortable...ONCE I'm actually in it. Getting in and out is a different story

7/24/2010 12:21:51 PM

I sat down in a Z4 today after work; the dealership didn't have any Z3s on the lot. I didn't fit comfortably, so I'm guessing the Z3 is out as well.

7/26/2010 6:57:28 PM

really? my 6'5" 36" inseam uncle fits. do you drive with the seat reclined or something? i'm your height with a longer inseam and don't even need the seat back all the way. what part doesn't fit?

i bet the coupe has more room, save some money and buy a m roadster. those things are so ugly they are awesome.

[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 7:10 PM. Reason : .]

7/26/2010 7:08:57 PM

vipers. good luck with big feet

7/26/2010 7:10:07 PM

tried sitting in my dads super 7 once, yea couldnt even get the steering wheel back on let alone even think about driving it.

7/26/2010 8:13:47 PM

^Then build your own. I've seen several 7's custom made for fatasses.

7/26/2010 9:20:55 PM

RX-7 or a Toyota MR2 are about the only things in your price range that you'll have any chance of fitting into.

You can get into a late 70's or 80's vette for 6-9k, which will still be a lot of fun, but definitely isn't a newer model sports car.

7/26/2010 10:06:24 PM

7/26/2010 10:17:52 PM

i always see big niggers getting out of cars like that.

7/26/2010 10:26:48 PM

Quote :

"really? my 6'5" 36" inseam uncle fits. do you drive with the seat reclined or something? i'm your height with a longer inseam and don't even need the seat back all the way. what part doesn't fit?"

I put the seat all the way back; I don't think fine-tuning the seat would have made much of a difference. My head was flush against the ceiling, which made for really bad visibility. My left leg could move around to shift just fine, but my right knee was jammed into the console. I fit in the car, but it was really uncomfortable. I've got a 36" inseam too, btw.

7/26/2010 10:34:28 PM

get an old ass s500 coupe

7/26/2010 10:35:32 PM

7/26/2010 11:20:52 PM

Quote :

"There's a newish 6-speed Miata in my apartment's parking lot, and it's noticeably smaller than my co-worker's Miata. "

No.

7/30/2010 11:17:18 AM

I'm going to break out the measuring tape today to prove somebody wrong (probably me).

7/30/2010 12:02:18 PM

NA

Wheelbase 89.2 in (2,270 mm)
Length 155.4 in (3,950 mm)
Width 65.9 in (1,670 mm)
Height 48.2 in (1,220 mm


NB

Wheelbase 89.2 in (2,270 mm)
Length 155.3 in (3,940 mm)
2001-02 & MazdaspeeD: 155.7 in (3,950 mm)
Width 1999-2002: 66.0 in (1,680 mm)
2003-05: 66.1 in (1,680 mm)
Height 1999-2002: 48.4 in (1,230 mm)
2003-05: 48.3 in (1,230 mm)
Mazdaspeed: 48.0 in (1,220 mm


NC

Wheelbase 91.7 in (2,330 mm)
Length 2006-08: 157.3 in (4,000 mm)
2009-: 4,020 mm (158.3 in)
Width 67.7 in (1,720 mm)
Height 2006-08: 49.0 in (1,240 mm)
2006-08 PRHT: 49.4 in (1,250 mm)
2009-: 1,245 mm (49.0 in)
2009- RHT: 1,255 mm (49.4 in)

7/30/2010 4:50:54 PM

I'm 6'4" and I drive a S2000.
When car shopping I did not fit in a '98 Z3M.
I've driven my buddies '90 and '94 Miatas, less room that my S2000 but drivable.
I have a friend who is also 6'4" but much larger than I am (NCCU grad who played defensive end) and he does not fit in the passenger seat of my car.

Sidenote: Last week I drove a 2010 Camaro and that car has no headroom! I was rubbing the ceiling. I have had the same problem in boxsters.

8/2/2010 5:31:24 PM

^lol, I'm not surprised about your friend. I've got a 6'4" 260lb friend who barely fits in my passenger seat. Not to mention between me and him we exceed the vehicle's GVWR

8/3/2010 8:32:51 AM

Do any of you taller guys have knee issues when driving a car every day? I switched to driving a civic daily and my knee has never hurt worse.

8/3/2010 6:09:37 PM

^I don't have an issue driving the S2000 or my Integra (which has even less leg room). I've had an ACL reconstruction on my left knee and it's never hurt from driving.

8/3/2010 11:54:01 PM

why do big people like small shit.

just go buy an H1 or at least a maybach

8/3/2010 11:59:09 PM