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Best Vehicles for Shorter Drivers

160 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2009 at 10:34 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Mazda MAZDA3, MINI Cooper, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon

Read the Top 10 Vehicles for Shorter Drivers article and tell us what you think!

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#1 of 160 Vehicles for petite women by krysia May 04, 2000 (12:08 am)
My friend is 5'0" and is looking for an affordable vehicle, priced around $25,000. Although she prefers a family sedan, she's open to an SUV if it's recommended. Her main priority is that she be able to see out the window and reach all the pedals and gearshift comfortably, without getting too close to that darn airbag. Any ideas? Replies to this message: afweji (Jul 05, 2006 8:41 pm)
#2 of 160 carlady by mzn May 07, 2000 (8:22 pm)
Being 5'0" myself, my first suggestion is that your friend put her running shoes on! The only way to really answer this question is to see for herself. I sat in and drove several cars before I settled on a second VW Golf. It was the car in which I fit most comfortably. Unfortunately, there is no replacement for been there, done that in this case. So, I suggest that she draw up a list of everything else she wants in a car (good mileage, room for the baby's car seat, space for the Great Dane...) and then start with those cars and "size them up." Worked for me! carlady/roving host
#3 of 160 disconnect airbag? by beanboy May 08, 2000 (6:42 pm)
I finally convinced my great-aunt (towering 4' 11") to have a switch installed in her car. Owners have a legal right to this modification per order of the NHSA, finding a dealership/autoshop to do it is another matter (legal concerns). http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/rule/section01.html -Beanboy
#4 of 160 carlady by mzn May 08, 2000 (8:53 pm)
Good link, Beanboy! Thanks! carlady/roving host
#5 of 160 by btroy May 10, 2000 (7:51 pm)
"An affordable vehicle, priced around $25,000" "she prefers a family sedan" and wants to be able to "see out the window and reach all the pedals and gearshift comfortably, without getting too close to that darn airbag" No problem. Check out the 2000 Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable with the adjustable pedal option and power driver's seat. It was designed for her.
#6 of 160 Petite as can be! by fjw2 May 11, 2000 (2:46 am)
I'm picky when it comes to being comfortable driving in my car. The best comfortable I've ever own, was my Suzuki Samurai, which is now gone but drove it for 8 wild years! Everything inside was at my fingertips, good visibility, pedals, shifting EVERYTHING was easy to reach. I'm 5'2" and less than 115lbs. It seems like it was designed just for me! I didn't want to get rid of it, but because of all the bigger/heavier cars/trucks/SUVs out there, it's time to move on to something more heavier.   The Oldsmobible Alero was another fit for a petite woman like me and I love it. You can find all kinds of good reviews (I have nothing to complain about mine) found under "Sports Cars/Coupes" topic. My Alero is a GL with S added to it for under $23K. You can also find a used '99 for $11K + if you want to buy used. I've seated myself first in the showroom, just to see how well I can look out before I took the cars out for a test drive. We bought our son a Dodge Neon, and it's also a good choice for petite women. We used to have a Nissan Pathfinder, and I drove that on and off. It's a VERY VERY HEAVY CAR for any petite person out there. Let me explain why it's not a SAFE CAR for any small person to drive. My PF was stalled in a red light and I was looking sideways. I got whiplashed. I didn't know it until days later my neck was hurting, it hurts so bad for days! That thing was so big and so heavy that it's just TOO MUCH FOR me to handle. The Suzuki have stalled MANY TIMES FOR ME, and not ONCE HAVE I been hurt from driving it.
#7 of 160 carlady by mzn May 26, 2000 (3:24 pm)
krysia, any update for us? I'd like to know how the story ends... carlady/roving host
#8 of 160 Petite Truck Driver by kurzejeski May 27, 2000 (5:55 pm)
I'm 5'1", with a depth perception problem. I drove a Nissan pickup (4x4) for 12 yrs and had no problem seeing over all corners of the truck. I now have an F150 and because of the rounded body style I can't see over the right hand side of the vehicle. I've also got the steering wheel pretty much in my lap. I'm looking for something w/ good visibility for the driver which also allows me to move away from the steering wheel & airbag. Any ideas? I want another 4x4, but none come w/ pedal extenders. Do any of the 2000 or 2001 model trucks include extenders? I'm currently focused on the small truck market. Thanks.. Lisa
#9 of 160 car for a petite lady by silvercoupe May 31, 2000 (1:55 am)
My wife is 5'0" and has been driving Honda Accords for years. This might be one for your friend to consider.
#10 of 160 4"11" by qsubaru Jul 13, 2000 (3:07 pm)
Since I'm a Shorty, I consider the SUBARU one of the best cars for us little people.

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