Friday, January 5, 2018

Best Sports Car for a Tall Driver

Everyone loves the thrill of driving and riding in a sports car, from the lean physique and form-fitting interior to the roar of the engine and slick upholstery.
That is, if you’re not one of the 14.5 percent (around 30 million) Americans who suffer from the incurable condition of being tall.
In addition to having to be asked, “What the weather up there is like,” taller people often have the troublesome misfortune of needing higher ceilings wherever they go, including in vehicles. Fortunately for them, here are some sports cars with roominess for those of us with longer limbs and torsos.
Convertible Comfort
If hitting your head is the biggest issue you have with cars, the most obvious solution is a convertible sports car. Some of these straddle the line between luxury and sports car. 
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL is one of these types. It has a sleek exterior, simple two-seats, strong handling, and a twin-turbo V6 engine for 329 horsepower. For an extra boost (and extra costs), buyers can choose to upgrade to a twin-turbo V12, which will get them to 621 horsepower. The only downside to the SL is its less than stellar 20/27-mpg (at best) fuel mileage.
BMW’s 4 Series Convertible might be a perfect fit for some, with 42.2 inches of legroom and 40.4 inches of headroom. Rear seat passengers, if you happen to have them, will have to settle for just 33.1 inches of legroom. The downside? It has a comparatively weak 248 horsepower.
Rounding out the convertible-sports cars is the dynamic and exotic Jaguar F-Type. No matter which year you choose, it’s a surefire thrill for you and your passenger. The F-Type’s base models starts with a 340 horsepower V6 engine, with options for upgrade. It also beats out the 4 Series on legroom at 43 inches, though falling short on headroom by topping out at 37 inches (a less important feature for a convertible).  
Enclosed Excellence
Convertibles aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and they’re not always feasible. Thankfully, there are plenty of hardtop options that can still provide tall drivers with the space they need to operate in comfort, safety, and style.
To start, Nissan’s GTR can comfortably fit a basketball player in its roomy cabin, with 38.1 inches of headroom and 44.6 inches of legroom. It can also make a quick jump from 0 to 60 mph because of its 600 horsepower V6 engine.
Audi’s S5 also fills out the tall order of “sleek sports car for tall driver.” Hitting 60 mph in just under five seconds with its 354 horsepower engine, the S5’s front seat’s combined 80.3 inches of leg and head room makes it easy for anyone under 6.6 feet to drive in comfort. 
If the Audi’s roominess impressed you, the all-Americans Chevrolet Corvette will have you spinning. Fast, lean and mean, the two-seater rear-wheel drive Corvette’s got plenty of leg and hip room to go with the 37.9 inches of headroom
Among the roomiest of sports cars you’ll find is the beloved American classic, the Dodge Challenger. Not only will you find that there’s plenty of room up front, but sitting in the backseat isn’t the expected cramped experience you’d come to expect from a coupe.
Other factors to consider

To sunroof or not to sunroof? 
Contrary to what you might believe, sunroofs aren’t a perfect solution for three reasons: First, sunroofs won’t help create more room for your knees and legs. If you’re cramped at the bottom and near the steering wheel, opening up a sunroof for your head isn’t going to help. Secondly, as a matter of safety and positioning mirrors, relying on a sunroof to help you fit in a vehicle is a bad idea. In the event of a crash, you’ll want to make sure your head is positioned in the safest place possible and has a good clearance away from the ceiling. Thirdly, sunroofs tend to actually lower the ceiling of a vehicle because of all the additional mechanisms needed to help with operation. 
Taking the Backseat 
Another factor to consider is how roomy the backseat is. Even if you’re the owner of the car and will spend most of your time driving it, you still have to consider how your tall friends will fare, as well as whether you’ll be comfortable in the back if someone else, like a spouse or family member, is driving for you. 
Sports cars usually aren’t built to comfortable seat four, especially due to the 2-door set-up, but there are a few that do, including the BMW 4-Series Coupe, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, MINI John Cooper Works, and Chevy Camaro.  
Wrap Up

You can only truly enjoy the thrill of driving a sports car if you can fit in and sit comfortably inside, so road tests are all the more important when you’re a tall driver. It can be easy to try and settle for what looks coolest, but it’s more important that you put in the time and research marrying the coolest looks with the most comfortable seating.

No comments:

Post a Comment