What Cars Do You Wish You Fit In? Autopian Asks

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Given the little community we’ve built here, it’s safe to say that we all want to experience more cars. Fast cars, slow cars, big cars, small cars, cars powered by electricity or gasoline or steam. Unfortunately, not all cars are built for all humans, and sometimes our dreams are dashed by ergonomic concerns. Today, let’s talk about times our dreams were dashed by physical limitations.

Oh, and not fitting in a car isn’t just for people who are tall and/or built sturdy. Sometimes, cars aren’t built for shorter people, or people with longer legs than torso, or people who are longer in their torso than their legs. To an extent, there are cars we all don’t fit in, it just is what it is.

Take the Dodge Stealth, for example. Its a fascinatingly quick bit of ’90s cool, but I just don’t fit in the damn car. I’m not especially tall, but in a state of recline that gives me a safe reach of the steering wheel, my head hits the headliner. I adore the car, but I’m genuinely unsure if I could own one an actually fit in it safely. Shame, that.

Dodge Stealth 1991 Photos 2

Likewise, I quite like the Lexus UX. It’s a brilliant little posh hatchback for the city, but my right knee is always hard up against the plastic center console, which makes longer stints behind the wheel unworkable. Another shame, because the UX is just like a CT200h but better. Who wouldn’t want to daily that?

2025 Lexus Uxh Fsport 012

So, what are some vehicles you don’t fit into? Be it ergonomic concerns or a simple lack of space, let’s hear about those cars that just aren’t compatible with you.

(Photo credits: Dodge, Lexus)

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137 thoughts on “What Cars Do You Wish You Fit In? Autopian Asks”

  1. Well, finally a question that fits me.

    I am a man who takes up more than his fair share of space at 6′ 3.5″ and (gulp) 350 pounds. Add in the fat..uh FACT that I am slightly short legged and top heavy as hell, and I don’t fit in much, especially if it has a sunroof.

    A Miata would be the obvious answer, but even when I was much lighter than I am now, I couldn’t get into one without leaving my arm outside the door.

    So, my choice is a C4 or C5 Corvette. They are cheap enough that I could afford one that needs a small amount of love, and then enjoy it. But I won’t get that chance unless I lose roughly the weight of a Buick.

    Honourable mention to the Elantra N. This could be my next daily if I fit. But I don’t. C’est la vie.

  2. I am 5′ 7″ so I wouldn’t say there is much that I couldn’t fit in. Though I haven’t sat in a Kei car yet but would really like an Auztozam or cappuccino some day and I am sure I would fit fine.

  3. I am 5′ 7″ so I wouldn’t say there is much that I couldn’t fit in. Though I haven’t sat in a Kei car yet but would really like an Auztozam or cappuccino some day and I am sure I would fit fine.

  4. I’m 6’4 and sturdily built at around 250 pounds. Currently shopping for a convertible and finding out a lot. I can fit in a Miata reasonably enough but probably not for a long trip. I drove my mom’s 2005 T-Bird, the top of the windshield hits me right at eye level. I had a 2000 Mustang but had to sell it, it was pretty comfortable. I got to ride in and drive a friend’s gen 1 Viper last weekend, it was a blast but sitting at an angle to get around the engine and transmission was not comfortable for a long drive. I’m going to test drive a Jag F-Type this weekend, we shall see.

  5. I’m 6’4 and sturdily built at around 250 pounds. Currently shopping for a convertible and finding out a lot. I can fit in a Miata reasonably enough but probably not for a long trip. I drove my mom’s 2005 T-Bird, the top of the windshield hits me right at eye level. I had a 2000 Mustang but had to sell it, it was pretty comfortable. I got to ride in and drive a friend’s gen 1 Viper last weekend, it was a blast but sitting at an angle to get around the engine and transmission was not comfortable for a long drive. I’m going to test drive a Jag F-Type this weekend, we shall see.

  8. Not that I wish I fit in it but I wrote an article for the local paper about a guy who owns a Maxton Rollerskate. After the interview he insisted on taking me for a ride. Getting in was challenging enough as the car just has a cut down section of the body you have to climb over and then drop down onto the seat. The seating position is pretty tight so you’re out of luck if you tend to fidget. It’s also narrow so driver and passenger are riding shoulder to shoulder. The big challenge is climbing out. You have to try to push your body up the seat back far enough to pull a leg out from the footwell and then find a way to get it over the cutdown along the side. There’s no graceful way to do. It was worth the ride but I can’t see owing one.

  9. Not that I wish I fit in it but I wrote an article for the local paper about a guy who owns a Maxton Rollerskate. After the interview he insisted on taking me for a ride. Getting in was challenging enough as the car just has a cut down section of the body you have to climb over and then drop down onto the seat. The seating position is pretty tight so you’re out of luck if you tend to fidget. It’s also narrow so driver and passenger are riding shoulder to shoulder. The big challenge is climbing out. You have to try to push your body up the seat back far enough to pull a leg out from the footwell and then find a way to get it over the cutdown along the side. There’s no graceful way to do. It was worth the ride but I can’t see owing one.

  12. I’m about 6 foot 3, and approximately 230 lbs. My legs are suuuuper long though, so even if a vehicle supports my height, my legs feel a little squished. Some cars are better than others about this. My 95 K2500 has a single cab, and I feel pretty cramped. Seats are comfy enough to make up for this. My Grand Marquis is perfect, but it should be, its massive. Weirdly, my little suzukis do really well too, likely because they are so upright.

    I’d love to fit comfortably in most sports cars. Corvette seems to fit me pretty well (AS IT SHOULD MURICA), but especially old British stuff and Miatas not so much.

  13. I’m about 6 foot 3, and approximately 230 lbs. My legs are suuuuper long though, so even if a vehicle supports my height, my legs feel a little squished. Some cars are better than others about this. My 95 K2500 has a single cab, and I feel pretty cramped. Seats are comfy enough to make up for this. My Grand Marquis is perfect, but it should be, its massive. Weirdly, my little suzukis do really well too, likely because they are so upright.

    I’d love to fit comfortably in most sports cars. Corvette seems to fit me pretty well (AS IT SHOULD MURICA), but especially old British stuff and Miatas not so much.

  14. I’m too tall and have too large a foot size for a Lotus Elise to work, which makes me sad. I did track one once, but kept missing shifts because of the petal spacing and spent as much time looking over the windshield as through it. Still… I love that car; it’s god’s own go-cart.

  15. I’m too tall and have too large a foot size for a Lotus Elise to work, which makes me sad. I did track one once, but kept missing shifts because of the petal spacing and spent as much time looking over the windshield as through it. Still… I love that car; it’s god’s own go-cart.

  18. 6′ 255lbs….I fit in my NA Miata well enough, just had to remove the sunvisors. Kinda want a Cappucino, though, and no way I’m fitting in that.

  19. 6′ 255lbs….I fit in my NA Miata well enough, just had to remove the sunvisors. Kinda want a Cappucino, though, and no way I’m fitting in that.

  20. The red VW Beetle pedal car that I got for my 4th Birthday.
    I absolutely loved that little car.

    Also the 5th gen Honda Prelude.
    My feet did not fit inside the pedal box.

  21. The red VW Beetle pedal car that I got for my 4th Birthday.
    I absolutely loved that little car.

    Also the 5th gen Honda Prelude.
    My feet did not fit inside the pedal box.

  22. I am the generic 5’9” man that everything is designed for, so nothing feels too small for me. I did feel kind of like an elf when driving a GMC Topkick just because there was so much more space around me than I am used to. It didn’t help that the big beast rode like a bounce house and had a brake pedal that you hand to press waaaay the hell down before the brakes would do anything. Flooring that pedal for an urgent stop would have required some scooting to get the extra reach.

  23. I am the generic 5’9” man that everything is designed for, so nothing feels too small for me. I did feel kind of like an elf when driving a GMC Topkick just because there was so much more space around me than I am used to. It didn’t help that the big beast rode like a bounce house and had a brake pedal that you hand to press waaaay the hell down before the brakes would do anything. Flooring that pedal for an urgent stop would have required some scooting to get the extra reach.

      1. My answer was a ‘Z’ model BMW. I tried the Z3 and not enough head room. I tried the Z4 and not enough leg room. Bought an e46 convertible.

      1. My answer was a ‘Z’ model BMW. I tried the Z3 and not enough head room. I tried the Z4 and not enough leg room. Bought an e46 convertible.

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