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Can tall guys fit in a Prius comfortably

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by verine2116, Feb 8, 2007.

  1. verine2116

    verine2116 New Member

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    I test drove a Prius this week, and while I had plenty of headroom, my legs were a bit snug. I'm about 6'4". Anyone out there about my height have any problems fitting in comfortably?
     
  2. pewd

    pewd Clarinet Dude

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    I'm 6'5"
    a bit of a pain to get in - tight fit getting my legs in under the steering wheel
    once i'm in its not too bad - i do wish the shift lever was 2" higher - my right knee hits it if i'm not careful.

    a bit cramped , but it works for me. cant complain about filling up with a $20 bill and getting change back ;)
     
  3. ohgreys

    ohgreys New Member

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    My husband is on the low end of tall (6'2") and fits into the Prius but does like to take our other vehicle for longer trips. I think that he is similar to you in that he has enough headroom but his legs get cramped.
     
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    6'-5" and yea I have been known to knock it into 'N' a few times but if I really was really bugged I have the knowledge to move the seat back another inch.
     
  5. viking31

    viking31 Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(verine2116 @ Feb 8 2007, 01:00 AM) [snapback]386841[/snapback]</div>
    I'm 6'3" and also do find my legs a little cramped compared to my former F-150 and Honda Accord (which BTW, I thought had exceptional room for tall drivers). I have longer legs than most for my height (I was almost disqualified from Naval flight training because I needed a waiver to fly the A-4 Skyhawk; if your femur is too long your kneecaps will not clear the instrument panel on ejection). To compensate I tilt the seat somewhat further back than normal. I now sport a "ghetto" look with seat so far back but it helps alleviate somewhat the lack of legroom.

    Two to three inches more in my case would be ideal. But if I was to move the seat back through some sort of modification of the seat rails I am afraid I might encounter safety issues with the airbag and I might introduce too much slack in the shoulder harness.

    By being taller than most you have to accept certain comprises such as a limited supply of shoes that fit, finding suits and shirts that fit without extensive alteration, and assuming all cars will have plenty of legroom.

    But the trade off of less legroom is worth the savings in fuel cost per year.

    Rick
    #4 2006
     
  6. Earthling

    Earthling New Member

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    I'm 6'4" and my inseam is 36, so I do have long legs.

    I'm used to having issues with my long legs. The Prius seems okay so far. My old car, which we kept, is a '99 Civic.

    I can't see buying a larger vehicle with poor fuel economy just to get more leg room. I feel I have enough in either car to be comfortable.

    Harry
     
  7. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    I'm 6' 4" too, and the comfort is adequate for my driving. I wish the seat bottom had a height adjustment (my fiancee's 2006 Corolla has it; why not the Prius?) and that it provided more thigh support.

    On long trips (I've gone as long as 8 hour) it gets a little uncomfortable. Regular breaks every hour or two work, which I do anyway to stay fresh and alert.
     
  8. MegansPrius

    MegansPrius GoogleMeister, AKA bongokitty

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  9. skruse

    skruse Senior Member

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    I'm 191 cm (1.91 meters) tall. I owned a 2005 for 30k mi and now have a 2007 Touring. Very comfortable.
     
  10. scoot

    scoot Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Feb 8 2007, 07:15 AM) [snapback]386918[/snapback]</div>
    Interesting perspective. I can't see buying a vehicle that I don't fit WELL regardless of the fuel economy.

    Our Prius is mainly my partener's car. I drive it sometimes and usually when we are together. I'm just over 6' 4". My only complaint about space vs. being tall is that damn cruise control lever that turns with the steering wheel. It frequently hits my leg/knee. I don't come near the R-N-D thingy and I don't need to tilt the seat back.

    Buying cars has always been a pain in the <fill in blank> for me. 90% of cars with sunroofs are out. (Exception - my MB C230 hatchback which has a sunroof that goes up and over rather than inside the roof). After a rather exhaustive search for finding a next car for me, I have determined that if I want OEM NAVIGATION as an option, the only cars that I can get without a sunroof are a Prius, Civic Hybrid (but not a regular Civic--no NAV offered unless you get a sunroof), or a Mini. I fit well in all of these, but don't really want to buy any of them. Oh well, tall guys have it a little more difficult when it comes to 1) buying cars 2) buying clothes 3) flying in coach. Otherwise, being tall is OK with me.
     
  11. BVISAILMAN

    BVISAILMAN Junior Member

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    I live in the Boston area and took my Prius to company that provides seat extensions.. They do a lot of work for the Boston Celtics. The replaced the rails on my drivers seat giving it an additional 4" in rear movement. I am 6' tall and the car was farily comfortable but on longer drives I like having the ability to stretch out and just change positions. The cost for this was $200.
     
  12. kd5yig

    kd5yig New Member

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    Just to add to what others have already said, I'm 6'3" and was surprised at how well it fit. I've got an hour commute each way so, by being able to fit in this, I'm saving 3 to 4 gallons of gas every day over my old truck.
     
  13. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    As long as the tall person is not driving, it is possible to fold both passenger-side seats, put down a blanket and stretch out. That sounds pretty comfortable to me. :D
     
  14. livelychick

    livelychick Missin' My Prius

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    I have a thing for tall men.

    Thanks to all who posted here for giving me a lunchtime thrill. :)
     
  15. Ken Cooper

    Ken Cooper New Member

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    I too am 6'3" but my heighth emphasis is in the upper part of my body. When the car was newer it was necessary to tilt the seat back so as to not brush the ceiling. This meant that with the seat sufficiently far back to accomodate my legs, the reach to the steering wheel resulted in arms out straight. I wish Prius offered both tilt AND telescoping steering. I should mention though that over these past three years the seat has smooshed down to a degree to where I can just about sit up perfectly straight (allowing me the luxury of bending my arms while driving).

    People often talk about the better than average headroom in the prius. Actually, I think, if a sunroof was offered the headroom would be about average.
     
  16. automatic1stdown

    automatic1stdown New Member

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    I am 6'2" with most of my height in my torso. I would characterize the legroom as being surprisingly good for such a small car. I don't feel cramped, but the lack of a footrest for my left foot sure doesn't help. This reminds me of our previous 2002 Honda CR-V as it also lacked a footrest. The headroom is pretty good and have no problems with my head touching the headliner.

    My biggest gripe is that the visibility in our Prius is awful for me. We have the autodimming mirror and it literally creates a blindspot for the entire righthand side for the forward view. This makes me constantly duck down to look underneath it to check for cars at intersections. The 'A' pillars are also massive, which doesn't help either. When I'm driving, it feels like I have a narrow tunnel of vision looking foward with the lefthand A pillar and autodimming mirror on either side of the tunnel. Visibility to the left and right is fine. Visibility to the rear is poor as has been documented elsewhere on the forums due to the hatch design.

    My wife is about 5'7" or so and doesn't have a problem with the forward visibility. I think she sits low enough to easily see under the autodimming mirror and the A pillar doesn't intrude as much at her height.

    Just keep this in mind next time when you go for a test drive as comfort is more than just legroom and headroom. Hope this helps.
     
  17. fathale

    fathale Throbbing member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ Feb 8 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]386942[/snapback]</div>
    For those of you not in Fresno, where apparentley they use the metric system, skruse is 6' 3".

    I am 6' 6" and weigh a light-for-my-height 200lbs. Being that it seems most cars are made for folks 5' 6" to 6' tall, Im kind of used to riding less than ideal. If I sat completely erect like a lot of people do, there would not be enough headroom. However, I tilt the upright so that my left shoulder is back nearly to the start of the rear window.
     
  18. skruse

    skruse Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fathale @ Feb 8 2007, 11:03 AM) [snapback]387116[/snapback]</div>
    The US legal measuring system, effective by the Acts of 1866, 1975 (Ford) and 1988 (Bush Sr.) is the SI or modern "metric" system. I make an effort to teach to current standards and model what I teach. As Prius owners we drive metric cars, use 22 • 28 cm paper, use metric money ($1), use metric computers, skis, guns, beverages, purchase wine in 750 mL bottles, watch DVDs, use cameras, and receive medical care, etc. - all to SI standards. All federal agencies were to go full metric as of October 1992. The Commerce and Agriculture Departments continue to drag their feet into the 21st Century, still clinging to bushels. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 states the preferred system of measurement for all US trade and commerce is SI.

    All those who object to SI or "metric" money - send it my direction.
     
  19. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(verine2116 @ Feb 7 2007, 10:00 PM) [snapback]386841[/snapback]</div>
    Not me, I'm only 6' (well, probably under 5'11" now. I've been shrinking). I have a friend who is 6'6" who had no trouble fitting in my Prius. It's all in where your length is. You apparently have longer legs. Those tall people with a longer torso will probably find headroom lacking. But then, it may be lacking in cars that are supposedly roomier than the Prius as well.

    Dave M.
     
  20. verine2116

    verine2116 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ Feb 8 2007, 01:11 PM) [snapback]387145[/snapback]</div>

    Thanks to everyone who replied. You helped alot and addressed my concerns. Full speed ahead!