- #9927 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [james27]
by james27
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Jun 07, 2009 (12:48 pm)
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Replying to: james27 (Jun 05, 2009 2:46 pm)
Just for info, the new Mercedes E-class as sold in the USA always comes with a sunroof and has 39.1" of headroom. In Europe, you can buy it without the sunroof, and it has 41.25" of headroom in front. Quite a big difference, and more than enough for a whole new group of people to feel comfortable in. For a few years, Audi sold the A6 without a sunroof - it was part of all packages, so if you wanted it with any of the nice extras, you always had to lose the headroom. While we'll probably never see the days of a long list of individual options again, losing this really hurts. It might be easier for the dealers, but for people willing to wait to special order, I don't see the big deal, and a big benefit...you'd end up with a truly individual car that actually met your needs.
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- #9928 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [james27]
by carlupi
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Jun 19, 2009 (1:13 pm)
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Replying to: james27 (Jun 04, 2009 5:54 pm)
As a tall person I have been complaining about the sunroof issue for years only to see this situation become worse as most manufacturers now force the sunroof into the most desired options packages. For a tall person the alternatives are very limited: Buy a well equipped car with a sunroof you don't want and hunch down into the seat; or, buy a plain vanilla car without the sunroof and any of the other options you really wanted.
My proposal to help tall and short people alike: Make sunroofs a separate stand alone option always; and make more cars with optional telescopic steering wheel and adjustable pedals. With these three options people of practically all heights should be able to find a car that fits comfortably.
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- #9929 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [carlupi]
by tonycd
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Jun 19, 2009 (9:11 pm)
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Replying to: carlupi (Jun 19, 2009 1:13 pm)
Carlupi, I couldn't agree more with your sunroof comment. As a guy who wants his next sedan to have the luxuries, I'm very frustrated by this -- and although I'm long-waisted, I'm only 6' 2". This shouldn't happen.
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- #9930 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [carlupi]
by marsha7
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Jun 20, 2009 (11:48 am)
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Replying to: carlupi (Jun 19, 2009 1:13 pm)
Don't forget us not-so-tall people, too...while headroom is rarely an issue for me at 5'3", sitting on top of the steering wheel is...adjustable pedals (in both of my vehicles, 2004 Crown Vic and 2004 Dodge Ram 1500) make each vehicle easy to drive and I don't have to move the seat up so that my chest is on the dashboard...
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- #9931 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [tonycd]
by james27
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Jun 24, 2009 (3:18 pm)
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Replying to: tonycd (Jun 19, 2009 9:11 pm)
Well, Mercedes posted the US configuration for the new E-class, and no joy. It appears that it comes only with a sunroof. But, you get your choice of a 'normal' one or a humungous one. AND, there's bottom of the industry headroom for this class (if their spec is right) at 37.2". Most in this class have around 38" or more. The only one (other than a stripped Genesis, which some would not consider in this group) that I fit in is the M-series. There's no competition. This is sad. The M's steering is fussy and it is noisey. It's an okay car, but not great. After a long drive, the sound level puts you on edge. The A6 is much quieter and tracks like a tank.
Come on, manufacturers...people are getting taller, not shorter.
The problem I think is that Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc. are marketed here as luxury cars, and they have all agreed that that must contain certain things - a sunroof is one of them. As opposed to their home market where you can buy the car without all of the fancy bits, they don't think it is viable here and would dilute their status in the high end. Nobody wants a basic, stripped car sold here for many thousands less that looks the same from the outside. Those that spent $50-80K would lose 'status' if somebody drove up in the same model that cost $35-40K.
Same herd mentality that makes everyone slow down to gawk at an accident.
Here's hoping that the next round of new models may offer some other choices.
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- #9932 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [james27]
by lexusguy
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Jun 24, 2009 (4:10 pm)
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Replying to: james27 (Jun 24, 2009 3:18 pm)
Here's hoping that the next round of new models may offer some other choices.
I wonder if one of those new "tallboy" sedan/wagon things would work for you - the new 5 GT or the Acura ZDX.
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- #9933 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [lexusguy]
by james27
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Jun 24, 2009 (5:15 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 24, 2009 4:10 pm)
Those tall hulks have the same problem...raise the road clearance, raise the seat height, throw in a sunroof, and many have even less. Tried the A5. Went in because the Audi add said there was like 40" of headroom in the new A4...well, maybe if you could buy it without the sunroof, but you can't.
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- #9934 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [james27]
by james27
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Jul 09, 2009 (4:01 pm)
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Replying to: james27 (Jun 24, 2009 3:18 pm)
The full MBUSA brochure for the 2010 E-class is now on their website: front headroom listed is 37.9". If you go to the UK website (easiest to read since it's in English), the list the front headroom as 41.2" (which, must be without a sunroof - they don't list a separate number for those that do have one - at least that I found).
Very dissapointing. I may still go and sit in one, but I'm not expecting good things.
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- #9935 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [james27]
by bellhead
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Aug 12, 2009 (6:22 pm)
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Replying to: james27 (Jun 05, 2009 2:46 pm)
Tall people are ignored more and more in modern cars. It seems the seats are getting lower and HARDER. I'm 6-feet tall (w/long legs) and the seats don't go back far enough in the BMW 5, Lexus LS or GS, Infinity G (an extremely tight fit), Audi A6, or Acura TL. And the Lexus LS seats are too hard.
The new Benz E-class seats are so low I feel like I am right on the floor with my knees unbent (although the seat goes back far). The E-class seats themselves feel fine, and would be great higher up.
The Infinity M35 and Acura RL have just enough room but the seats are HARD,
especially under the thighs.
And in the top cars like the BMW 7 or Audi A8, the seats have weird, hard, thigh supports. (The BMW 7 has thigh support that extends & leaves an empty gap right under my knees; it's awful if you use it at all for long legs.)
The Benz S-class seats also are too low for me; not as low as the E-class,
but still won't tilt up enough in front, making it very annoying. The S-class seats themselves are nicely padded.
The best feeling and positioned seats are in the Cadillac DTS (honest) and the Volvo S80 IMHO (but both of those have small footwells for tall people, especially for the left foot).
So, no place for me yet. (I didn't have these problems in cars 10 years ago. I think the new cars are designed for smaller drivers. I think this started with Saturn,
which I thought was the world's most uncomfortable car.)
Thanks for reading.
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- #9936 of 10007
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Re: Headroom issues [bellhead]
by carnaught
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Aug 13, 2009 (6:36 am)
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Replying to: bellhead (Aug 12, 2009 6:22 pm)
Out of curiosity have you tried sitting in the new generation Taurus? It might fit you the best even though it may not be your dream car.
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