Best Sports Coupe or Sedan in the $20-50K range that can accommodate a tall driver?
January 7, 2006 9:05 AM Subscribe
Best Sports Coupe or Sedan in the $20-50K range that can accommodate a tall driver? I'm giving my SUV to my son and want something new and fun to drive. My favorite car ever was a 1988 Porsche 944 -- great handling, adequate power and surprisingly enough room for me at 6'3". Many current cars (Boxsters, 3 series BWM) just are not comfortable. I've read good reviews about the Mazda RX-8 and Acuras will probably test drive this weekend. Any other recommendations?
I wanted a G35 coupe, but it sucks for tall people. I'm 6'5" and couldn't sit down in the thing without hitting my head. (Salesman: you could open the sunroof!) I looked hard for a sports coupe that would fit me and gave up. Closest I could come is a Mini or a New Beetle, neither of which are particularly sporty. I ended up with an Audi A6 sedan, which is just about $55k.
posted by Nelson at 9:26 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by Nelson at 9:26 AM on January 7, 2006
MINI Cooper S! Not as small as they appear from the outside and has good headroom.
posted by sillygit at 9:44 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by sillygit at 9:44 AM on January 7, 2006
My Forester has surprisingly good head room, at least in the front. I'm 6'4" and have no troubles in the driver's or passenger's seat. (The back seat, on the other hand, is elevated a few inches and even "normal"-sized people brush the top. I never noticed till I took my turn in the back on a road trip -- who sits in the back seat when they test drive a car?)
Prolly counts more as a "Sports Wagon", but worth keeping in mind.
posted by gleuschk at 9:50 AM on January 7, 2006
Prolly counts more as a "Sports Wagon", but worth keeping in mind.
posted by gleuschk at 9:50 AM on January 7, 2006
One thing to look out for: an sunroof that retracts into the roof (instead of above it) takes 2-3" of headroom. You might fit in the no-sunroof model of a car you like but that you don't fit in with a sunroof.
posted by mendel at 10:18 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by mendel at 10:18 AM on January 7, 2006
My 6' Friend had no problem in my Mazda6 with sunroof. Maybe while at the Mazda dealer check out the Mazdaspeed6.
(Honestly, I haven't heard many good reviews of the RX-8. Plus it requires a lot of specialized maintenance)
posted by stew560 at 10:24 AM on January 7, 2006
(Honestly, I haven't heard many good reviews of the RX-8. Plus it requires a lot of specialized maintenance)
posted by stew560 at 10:24 AM on January 7, 2006
I can recommend the Subaru WRX STi... I'm 6'4", around 240 lbs, and there's plenty of legroom and headroom for me. Also, great handling, good power, and if you don't get the pimptastic gold wheels, pretty decent looking. ;-)
One small warning, you'll have to try sitting in one to check the width of the seats. The thigh bolsters could be a bit narrow, depending on your build.
posted by zeypher at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2006
Response by poster: Stew560 - the good review I read about the Mazda 8 was from Car and Driver (made the top ten list).
Hmmm... two mentions of the MINI so far... that's one I hadn't considered before but is now on the list.
posted by queue_strategy at 11:15 AM on January 7, 2006
Hmmm... two mentions of the MINI so far... that's one I hadn't considered before but is now on the list.
posted by queue_strategy at 11:15 AM on January 7, 2006
I recommend the G35 sedan. I'm 6'7", 250 and I find it very comfortable. It is also an amazingly fun car to drive (of course I previously owned a mazda 4 cyl. pickup so anything would be more fun to drive...)
The key is to try to find a car that you can get w/out a sunroof as they usually decrease headroom by a couple of inches.
When I was looking into this 3 years ago I also heard the VW Passat had great head/leg room.
posted by shakobe at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2006
The key is to try to find a car that you can get w/out a sunroof as they usually decrease headroom by a couple of inches.
When I was looking into this 3 years ago I also heard the VW Passat had great head/leg room.
posted by shakobe at 11:35 AM on January 7, 2006
They're not for everybody, but you'll fit in a Boxster if you buy GT3 seats, and use the Brey-Krause side mounts. Similar tricks can be used to get more legroom in the 911.
Another not for everybody option is the Corvette. They're shockingly roomy inside, and reasonably fun to drive (especially on a track). The only downside is that they're a Corvette.
You probably also fit into the BMW Z-series, stock or with minor modification (new seat mounts). I know a few very tall people who have Zs, but I don't know how much work they had done to make it work.
Or you could just buy a 944 (Personally, I'd try to find a 1988 Turbo S, but the 88 and 89 Turbos are both good), do any neccessary restoration work, and put a better than factory paint job on it.
posted by I Love Tacos at 11:44 AM on January 7, 2006
Another not for everybody option is the Corvette. They're shockingly roomy inside, and reasonably fun to drive (especially on a track). The only downside is that they're a Corvette.
You probably also fit into the BMW Z-series, stock or with minor modification (new seat mounts). I know a few very tall people who have Zs, but I don't know how much work they had done to make it work.
Or you could just buy a 944 (Personally, I'd try to find a 1988 Turbo S, but the 88 and 89 Turbos are both good), do any neccessary restoration work, and put a better than factory paint job on it.
posted by I Love Tacos at 11:44 AM on January 7, 2006
I'm 6'3" and drive a Mini Cooper S. It's shocking how much leg room is in that car--I don't even have to move the seat all the way back. It's a great car, wouldn't trade it for the world.
posted by slogger at 12:04 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by slogger at 12:04 PM on January 7, 2006
Check out the Audi S4 for a great sports sedan, I love mine. Plenty of space for tall people (a co-worker drives one too, he's 6'5").
posted by Joh at 1:01 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by Joh at 1:01 PM on January 7, 2006
I'd definitely go for a BMW Z-series. I remember them being very roomy.
If you like 944s (great taste, I'd love, love, love to get one), you could look at 928s as well. They made them a little bit longer IIRC, and have a similar body style/shape. Still out of my pricerange though :(
posted by devilsbrigade at 1:08 PM on January 7, 2006
If you like 944s (great taste, I'd love, love, love to get one), you could look at 928s as well. They made them a little bit longer IIRC, and have a similar body style/shape. Still out of my pricerange though :(
posted by devilsbrigade at 1:08 PM on January 7, 2006
Got to be the Mini. Have all the different variants got to the US yet?
posted by A189Nut at 1:20 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by A189Nut at 1:20 PM on January 7, 2006
You mean One/Cooper/Cooper S? I'm pretty sure they're all in North America.
Car Magazine, out in the UK, once put the Cooper S at 4th in its list of top 25 performance cars of the year. It beat out the likes of the Impreza WRX, the Lancer Evo, hugely expensive Benzes, etc., etc. because the writers at Car found the Mini so fun and responsive to drive, even if it didn't necessarily go as fast around a track as the others. I wouldn't have believed that someone who's 6'3" would fit in one, though; colour me pleasantly surprised.
posted by chrominance at 3:43 PM on January 7, 2006
Car Magazine, out in the UK, once put the Cooper S at 4th in its list of top 25 performance cars of the year. It beat out the likes of the Impreza WRX, the Lancer Evo, hugely expensive Benzes, etc., etc. because the writers at Car found the Mini so fun and responsive to drive, even if it didn't necessarily go as fast around a track as the others. I wouldn't have believed that someone who's 6'3" would fit in one, though; colour me pleasantly surprised.
posted by chrominance at 3:43 PM on January 7, 2006
I feel your pain. I bounced my head off of the ceiling of just about every fun driving car I test drove, and I am a bit shorter than you. Now I sit less than half an inch from the roof in the car I chose. Read this chart and weep, sports cars, like jet fighter cockpits, are made for shrimps.
posted by caddis at 3:43 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by caddis at 3:43 PM on January 7, 2006
Just buy a 968 Turbo S. Trust me. You won't regret it.
Somebody else mentioned a Corvette, and I'd like to second that (barring the 968, which I think you should seriously consider, both as an awesome car and as a serious investment). The new Z06's are going for around 60k (I think), and will beat a Viper off the line and around the turns. Even if you have no desire to buy one, test drive it. It's a freaking blast. Also, given your original concern, I should mention that I'm 6'5" and was very surprised at how much room I had, especially after having driven to the dealership in my '76 BMW 2002.
posted by saladin at 5:25 PM on January 7, 2006
Somebody else mentioned a Corvette, and I'd like to second that (barring the 968, which I think you should seriously consider, both as an awesome car and as a serious investment). The new Z06's are going for around 60k (I think), and will beat a Viper off the line and around the turns. Even if you have no desire to buy one, test drive it. It's a freaking blast. Also, given your original concern, I should mention that I'm 6'5" and was very surprised at how much room I had, especially after having driven to the dealership in my '76 BMW 2002.
posted by saladin at 5:25 PM on January 7, 2006
Hey - who you callin' a shrimp?
posted by forallmankind at 6:21 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by forallmankind at 6:21 PM on January 7, 2006
Best answer: If you can live with front wheel drive, check out the Acura TL. Compared to many of the cars mentioned above, it's a bargain. I average over 25 miles per gallon and the first maintenance (excluding fluid changes) is due @ 110k miles. In terms of a near-luxury car, it is quite economical.
I've had mine for most of a year and am very satisfied.
posted by vaportrail at 8:13 PM on January 7, 2006
I've had mine for most of a year and am very satisfied.
posted by vaportrail at 8:13 PM on January 7, 2006
And please don't buy an RX-8. I have spent some road trip hours in one, nothing like trying to find 20 weight synthetic oil at a po-dunk gas station. Why a brand new car uses a quart of oil every 1000 miles I cannot explain. The engine light comes and goes as it sees fit, and it's been to the dealership several times.
//same friend now wants an Acura TL.
posted by vaportrail at 8:23 PM on January 7, 2006
//same friend now wants an Acura TL.
posted by vaportrail at 8:23 PM on January 7, 2006
Response by poster: Thanks for all the input. I've ruled out the RX-8, and will concentrate on only new cars (although the 968S does look fantastic). I am just not into the maintenance required for an older car. BMWs are also scratched out b/c I have heard the idrive system is a major pain.
Today I'm test driving the Acura TL and Infiniti G35. Will post my thoughts and decision later today.
posted by queue_strategy at 10:42 AM on January 8, 2006
Today I'm test driving the Acura TL and Infiniti G35. Will post my thoughts and decision later today.
posted by queue_strategy at 10:42 AM on January 8, 2006
oooh. i used to run a 944s - great car. i have a BMW 3 series wagon and absolutely love it. best car i have ever owned. i would recommend checking out them out - gives you the room of a small SUV and great sportscar handling/comfort. go for the 4 wheel drive version if you live in snowy cliemates.
posted by specialk420 at 8:04 AM on January 9, 2006
posted by specialk420 at 8:04 AM on January 9, 2006
now that i think about it... if you have the dough - an audi s4 wagon would be ticket. very stealth, very fast, very cool
posted by specialk420 at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2006
posted by specialk420 at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2006
Response by poster: Again, thanks for all the comments.
A final choice between great cars comes down to personal preferences.
The G35 was comfortable for me at 6'3" and a great ride. Very powerful and balanced -- the 6 speed has 298 hp -- nice!.
The Acura TL was clearly more skewed towards a luxury car rather than a true sports car. But, as a bonus, I got the navigation package included for about the same price as the G35.
Bottom line, the TL appealed more to the practical side versus the wild side, and the TL won out.
Lots of great recommendations on this post. Make your short list, take the test drives, and get ready to negotiate with your Edmunds TMV printouts in hand.
Cheers
posted by queue_strategy at 7:25 PM on January 9, 2006
A final choice between great cars comes down to personal preferences.
The G35 was comfortable for me at 6'3" and a great ride. Very powerful and balanced -- the 6 speed has 298 hp -- nice!.
The Acura TL was clearly more skewed towards a luxury car rather than a true sports car. But, as a bonus, I got the navigation package included for about the same price as the G35.
Bottom line, the TL appealed more to the practical side versus the wild side, and the TL won out.
Lots of great recommendations on this post. Make your short list, take the test drives, and get ready to negotiate with your Edmunds TMV printouts in hand.
Cheers
posted by queue_strategy at 7:25 PM on January 9, 2006
Response by poster: Postscript:
After several months of driving a 2006 manual TL, I am very dissatisfied with it. I just cannot get used to front wheel drive. Especially when accelerating from a stop and making a turn at the same time, the car feels out of control.
It also acts like it is underpowered in first and second gear, and wants to stall out unless the engine is revved quite high.
Finally, the gearbox is very notchy and resists the shift to third gear.
I purchased the manual version specifically to enjoy a more sporty ride. But this car doesn't deliver and I will look to replace it as soon as possible. I should have bought the G35.
Automatic transmission may be OK, but avoid the manual.
posted by queue_strategy at 1:10 PM on May 16, 2006
After several months of driving a 2006 manual TL, I am very dissatisfied with it. I just cannot get used to front wheel drive. Especially when accelerating from a stop and making a turn at the same time, the car feels out of control.
It also acts like it is underpowered in first and second gear, and wants to stall out unless the engine is revved quite high.
Finally, the gearbox is very notchy and resists the shift to third gear.
I purchased the manual version specifically to enjoy a more sporty ride. But this car doesn't deliver and I will look to replace it as soon as possible. I should have bought the G35.
Automatic transmission may be OK, but avoid the manual.
posted by queue_strategy at 1:10 PM on May 16, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also, I found a good strategy for car shopping was to go to Carmax, as they have loads of different makes and models under one roof, so you can test drive a whole selection in one go without having to go dealer to dealer, and they don't do the hard "you just test drove our car so you're going to buy it now, right?" sell.
posted by forallmankind at 9:16 AM on January 7, 2006