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.
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?
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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Yes, the Dodge Stealth, I’m 6’2”, with long legs, sat in one at an auto show during the debut year, and was stunned at the lack of legroom, just wouldn’t work.
Another disappointment was looking at used cars in the early 80’s and finding a late 70’s Dodge Challenger coupe and finding I wouldn’t fit comfortably legroom wise, it had the awesome red everything interior, sigh.
An unexpected surprise came in sitting in the Dodge Hornet suv at the Detroit Auto Show in 2023, even with the power seat all the way back, not enough legroom whether the seat cushion was lowered or raised or tilted.
Considering I’ve fit ok in the following sub compact coupes, 96 Toyota Tercel, 67 Opel Kadett, I’m scratching my head about those above.
Yes, the Dodge Stealth, I’m 6’2”, with long legs, sat in one at an auto show during the debut year, and was stunned at the lack of legroom, just wouldn’t work.
Another disappointment was looking at used cars in the early 80’s and finding a late 70’s Dodge Challenger coupe and finding I wouldn’t fit comfortably legroom wise, it had the awesome red everything interior, sigh.
An unexpected surprise came in sitting in the Dodge Hornet suv at the Detroit Auto Show in 2023, even with the power seat all the way back, not enough legroom whether the seat cushion was lowered or raised or tilted.
Considering I’ve fit ok in the following sub compact coupes, 96 Toyota Tercel, 67 Opel Kadett, I’m scratching my head about those above.
How about entry/exit? As I’ve aged, my mobility has lessened. Cars that are comfortable once you get inside? Typically for me, low roof lines, like the GTI I owned. Great fit, once you got in! BTW, I’m around 5’9″. Have owned 3 Miata’s and really like small cars, but alas… Strangely, we actually own the Lexus UX mentioned in the article. No issues, but certainly harder to entry/exit because of the low seats. The other side of garage is a Ford Maverick. Not a huge interior, but getting in and out is absolutely a breeze.
How about entry/exit? As I’ve aged, my mobility has lessened. Cars that are comfortable once you get inside? Typically for me, low roof lines, like the GTI I owned. Great fit, once you got in! BTW, I’m around 5’9″. Have owned 3 Miata’s and really like small cars, but alas… Strangely, we actually own the Lexus UX mentioned in the article. No issues, but certainly harder to entry/exit because of the low seats. The other side of garage is a Ford Maverick. Not a huge interior, but getting in and out is absolutely a breeze.
I want a kei truck. I am tall. I am also sad about the likelihood of driving a tiny truck in comfort.
I want a kei truck. I am tall. I am also sad about the likelihood of driving a tiny truck in comfort.
In 1998, when I was looking for a new car, I could not fit into a Tacoma without worrying about smacking my skull on the headliner without leaning the seat way back. That was the solution the salesman suggested. Of course, I could fit in the older Toyota Pickup just fine. Ended up getting a Forester, and other than the inevitable head gasket failure, I adored that car.
In 1998, when I was looking for a new car, I could not fit into a Tacoma without worrying about smacking my skull on the headliner without leaning the seat way back. That was the solution the salesman suggested. Of course, I could fit in the older Toyota Pickup just fine. Ended up getting a Forester, and other than the inevitable head gasket failure, I adored that car.
I’m in the miata club. It’s just such a tight fit and I’m very broad shouldered and long legged
I ended up going with a 2001 Jaguar XK8 instead which is incredibly comfortable to drive so I made out in the end
I’m in the miata club. It’s just such a tight fit and I’m very broad shouldered and long legged
I ended up going with a 2001 Jaguar XK8 instead which is incredibly comfortable to drive so I made out in the end
As a 6’6″ guy the answer is always Miata.
But really any other Asian car not designed specifically for Americans is out of my reach. The seat doesn’t go far back enough even when the vehicle is itself large enough.
As a 6’6″ guy the answer is always Miata.
But really any other Asian car not designed specifically for Americans is out of my reach. The seat doesn’t go far back enough even when the vehicle is itself large enough.
5’10” here, so I fit into most everything. I’ve owned a number of pretty small cars. Usually it’s only cars with baffling ergonomic flaws that bother me, like the dash of the second gen Jeep Liberty protruding into my knee space. But I’d imagine everyone struggles with that. As for the standard for these things, yes I fit into a Miata.
5’10” here, so I fit into most everything. I’ve owned a number of pretty small cars. Usually it’s only cars with baffling ergonomic flaws that bother me, like the dash of the second gen Jeep Liberty protruding into my knee space. But I’d imagine everyone struggles with that. As for the standard for these things, yes I fit into a Miata.
I’m 6’4″, and there are a lot of smaller “sporty” cars that I just don’t fit in. There are also a number of small/mid size vehicles that aren’t well that well designed that I also don’t fit in. But it’s honestly kind of weird. The best example of this was the Mazda3. I bought a first gen Mazda3 because it was one of the few small/cheap cars I could find. There was LOTS of room. When an idiot in a BMW wrote it off, I went looking at the 2nd gen for a replacement. Didn’t fit. Not even close. Knee room was gone, and head room was non-existent. The latest ones are pretty good again.
It’s the same thing in Miata land. I don’t fit in an NA or NB very well. I own an NC and it’s one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever owned. The ND was back to being too small again.
My answer is Miata. I love the look of the ND RF, but I can’t sit in it and close the roof at the same time.
I just fit in my NC at 6’0” but I wouldn’t want to be upside down in it. Don’t like driving it with the top up much either.
I’m 6’4″, and there are a lot of smaller “sporty” cars that I just don’t fit in. There are also a number of small/mid size vehicles that aren’t well that well designed that I also don’t fit in. But it’s honestly kind of weird. The best example of this was the Mazda3. I bought a first gen Mazda3 because it was one of the few small/cheap cars I could find. There was LOTS of room. When an idiot in a BMW wrote it off, I went looking at the 2nd gen for a replacement. Didn’t fit. Not even close. Knee room was gone, and head room was non-existent. The latest ones are pretty good again.
It’s the same thing in Miata land. I don’t fit in an NA or NB very well. I own an NC and it’s one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever owned. The ND was back to being too small again.
My answer is Miata. I love the look of the ND RF, but I can’t sit in it and close the roof at the same time.
I just fit in my NC at 6’0” but I wouldn’t want to be upside down in it. Don’t like driving it with the top up much either.
The short answer is, it’s hard to determine. It is so weird that it almost doesn’t matter the exterior size of the car if I can fit in it. I’m
6’4” tall and built like a lineman. My Tacoma fits me fine, but some full sized trucks don’t. And my wife’s Hyundai Elantra has a ton of space inside and I have more room in it than a lot of much bigger cars. My mom’s Kia Soul is the same way, with a lot of headroom and I fit in and can drive it easily.
However I can say I don’t fit in a Miata. My ex wife had one and really loved to make me miserable by cajoling me into driving it. And I hated it, my legs were always being rubbed by the steering wheel and I had to have the top up to fit and looked like a 1980s Happy Meal toy. I fucking hated that car, and eventually her.
The short answer is, it’s hard to determine. It is so weird that it almost doesn’t matter the exterior size of the car if I can fit in it. I’m
6’4” tall and built like a lineman. My Tacoma fits me fine, but some full sized trucks don’t. And my wife’s Hyundai Elantra has a ton of space inside and I have more room in it than a lot of much bigger cars. My mom’s Kia Soul is the same way, with a lot of headroom and I fit in and can drive it easily.
However I can say I don’t fit in a Miata. My ex wife had one and really loved to make me miserable by cajoling me into driving it. And I hated it, my legs were always being rubbed by the steering wheel and I had to have the top up to fit and looked like a 1980s Happy Meal toy. I fucking hated that car, and eventually her.
To all the people that think that they don’t fit into any normal cars, The Volkswagen New Beetle is actually humongous on the inside. It’s one of the few cars that has a high roof and lots of width for styling reasons. I know of a guy that’s at least 6’6” and probably in the region of 400 pounds and fits quite comfortably into a new beetle.
To all the people that think that they don’t fit into any normal cars, The Volkswagen New Beetle is actually humongous on the inside. It’s one of the few cars that has a high roof and lots of width for styling reasons. I know of a guy that’s at least 6’6” and probably in the region of 400 pounds and fits quite comfortably into a new beetle.
I had backwards fitment issues with the Focus ST – the seat bottom was fixed at such an aggressive angle that my shins were almost vertical with my heels on the floor, it was clearly designed for someone with much longer legs.
I had backwards fitment issues with the Focus ST – the seat bottom was fixed at such an aggressive angle that my shins were almost vertical with my heels on the floor, it was clearly designed for someone with much longer legs.
If I had fit in the Fiesta ST when they were still selling them here in Canada, I so would have bought one. The seats were literally too narrow for me.
If I had fit in the Fiesta ST when they were still selling them here in Canada, I so would have bought one. The seats were literally too narrow for me.
Just as a general observation sports cars with actual bucket seats, i.e. one piece, fiberglass or aluminum shells where the seat part tips up if the back part tips down are great for the taller driver. You just tip them back a little bit and you fit Specifically, the seats in the Porsche 914 and the SAAB Sonnet come to mind.
I understand that replacing the seats in a Miata with racing seats can fit a larger driver
Fitting into the car was amongst the top reasons my dad got a 914 in 1974. Actually, surprisingly wide. The worst part of the 914 was the center console dug into your leg…
The “deposit” to call it by the official name is easily removable. It has to be if you want to try putting a third person in the center seat. You probably did not know that the 914 had a center seat, but it is officially rated as a three passenger car.