Greg is a tall man at six foot six and 250 kilos, he presently drives a Kia Rio that’s surprisingly snug for his body. Nevertheless, he desires one thing that sits somewhat greater off the bottom for simpler entry/exit, however doesn’t need a big truck. With a $20,000 finances, what automotive ought to he purchase?
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Right here is the situation.
I’m 6’6″/250, and have all the time (fortunately) pushed small vehicles. I presently have somewhat Kia Rio I acquired for an excellent worth. Does its job. I just like the economic system and maneuverability of smaller vehicles in city and suburban conditions, and I discover driver area doesn’t have something to do with automotive measurement.
Nevertheless, I’m reluctantly contemplating a bigger car, and by bigger I imply greater off the bottom. My subject with vehicles isn’t that they’re too small, however that they’re too low. With dangerous knees and occasional again points, it may be exhausting to fold myself out and in of such a low automotive.
My driving wants are “Civic” and my consolation wants are “Silverado”. The one factor that retains me from going straight to a full-size pickup or SUV is that it’s exhausting for me to justify 15-20 mpg — particularly since I don’t want the towing/hauling capabilities.
It’s exhausting to seek out recommendation for very tall drivers. I’ve searched so much, and most “tall” drivers are like 6’2. That’s legitimately tall — and I do know a bunch of individuals teller than me — however inches matter whenever you’re working on the edges.
I believe this places me in CRV or RAV4 vary, however I’m involved about driver area. And I can’t determine if compact SUVs are a best-of-both-worlds scenario or are an excessive amount of compromise to do something nicely. So facet query: am I higher off with a giant car and a small car, or with one car that tries to mix them?
For me, the 2 most essential incorporates a automotive can have are 1) runs and a pair of) paid for. So luxurious, efficiency, and so forth., should not excessive priorities. A automotive that may hit 200-300k miles is far more spectacular to me than a low 0-60 time.
* Increased-off-the-ground using place (simpler for a giant tall man to get out and in of)
* Sufficient area for my body. The Rio has 40″ of driver headroom, and that’s sufficient. I’m all legs. Even at 250 lbs I’m not significantly large. I’ve the construct of an previous basketball participant.
* Excessive reliability. I need to moderately anticipate a pair 100k miles out of this factor.
* As a lot gasoline economic system as I can squeeze out of a big sufficient car.
* Room for me plus 3 passengers. It’s largely simply me, however the means to take the household someplace can be helpful. The children qualify as tall, however gained’t be almost my measurement.
Fast Info:
Funds: $20,000
Location: Austin, TX
Day by day Driver: Sure
Desires: Increased journey, snug for a taller particular person, respectable MPG
Doesn’t need: One thing large
Professional 1: Tom McParland – Simply A Little Greater
Greg, at your measurement discovering the proper automotive can definitely be a problem particularly for those who don’t need to drive an enormous truck round. Primarily based on some fast analysis a Rio has entrance legroom of 42 inches and headroom of about 40 inches. If you wish to preserve that small automotive utilization and fuel mileage however have one thing with a bit extra journey top, the Kia Niro could be the reply.
With a headroom of 40.5 inches and legroom of 41.5 inches, it’s fairly near your present automotive, however the Niro being a bizarre combo of crossover/hatchback/wagon sits up a couple of inches greater. It additionally has a hybrid powerplant as the usual possibility that returns as much as 50 MPG. Discovering a Niro hybrid, beneath twenty grand with out greater miles isn’t straightforward, however here’s a Kia Licensed instance with beneath 50,000 miles for beneath $19,000.
Professional 2: Collin Woodard – Small-ish Automotive, Excessive-ish Seat Peak
Effectively, nicely, nicely, Greg. Seems like these of us of common top lastly have one factor on you Talls. You could be busy dunking all of the basketballs and relationship doctor-models, however I can slot in a Miata, and you may’t, so booyah! I imply, thanks for selecting Jalopnik to advise you as you start the troublesome strategy of deciding which automotive to purchase.
Usually, I’d advocate a Mini Cooper. Logan Carter can also be 6’8” and loves his, so how might I not steal the reply he would have already given if he didn’t dwell on the West Coast and work later hours? For those who’re already bored with getting out and in of your Kia Ria, although, I don’t know if a Mini is the reply. So how can we maintain your automotive small whereas additionally making certain the seating is tall? The Toyota Crown may match the invoice, but it surely’s too costly and in addition most likely too large.
The Crown isn’t the one lifted automotive that you may purchase, although. As a result of that is Jalopnik, I say you need to deal with your self to a pleasant, used Volvo S60 Cross Nation. In comparison with your Rio, it’ll be extremely snug and include all types of latest options. It additionally has room for 4 with out being too large. And with a crossover-like journey top, it ought to be a lot simpler so that you can get out and in of.
The excellent news is, you shouldn’t have any bother discovering a Volvo S60 Cross Nation for lower than $20,000. The dangerous information is, for some motive, the concept of a lifted luxurious sedan didn’t precisely resonate with prospects, so there aren’t a variety of them on the market, and there aren’t actually any in your space. For those who’re prepared to look somewhat additional, perhaps try this itemizing in Albuquerque for a 2016 mannequin with 78,000 miles for $14,450.
Professional 3: Logan Carter – Recommendation From The Solely Author Taller Than You
Hey Greg, it’s good to listen to from another person who’s actually tall. Nothing grinds my gears like when somebody who’s 6’1 begins complaining about needing extra space; I’m six-foot-eight, 230 kilos, and I’m all legs too. I’ve a advice for you that may provide an excellent bang on your buck, although I’ve to confess I’m not sure it should have sufficient room up entrance for you. Fortuitously, I’ve a backup that may undoubtedly fit your needs.
As unusual as this suggestion is, I feel you need to look right into a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross. Your worth cap will get you into a more recent mannequin 12 months Mitsubishi than most different vehicles, which can afford you and your loved ones better security in addition to comfort options. The Outlander Sport is just not a sporty automotive, it’s mainly gonna equate to a Rio hatchback that’s been lifted a couple of inches, however that sounds about excellent for what you’re in search of. Edmunds says that the Outlander Sport has 39.4-inches of front-seat head room and 41.6-inches of leg room, so on paper it’s corresponding to your present automotive’s area, however as a tall particular person I do know measurements don’t all the time immediately equate to real-world room. All the time sit in a automotive before you purchase it.
One other profit to purchasing a used Mitsubishi is the transferrable 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain guarantee and a transferrable 5-year or 60,000-mile new car restricted guarantee, so getting a more recent automotive with decrease miles means you get extra time lined beneath these warranties. That stated, from tall particular person to tall particular person, the one vehicles in your worth vary that I can say for sure has sufficient area for giant people like us are Subarus. I really useful the Mitsubishi first as a result of Subaru resale values are robust and also you gained’t be capable of discover a low-mileage Crosstrek or Outback for beneath $20,000. If all else fails, go for a Subaru.
I feel a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport like this sub-40,000-mile 2022 instance on the market in Spherical Rock, Texas will swimsuit you and your wants fairly properly whereas retaining the peace of thoughts of 1000’s of miles of guarantee protection left. It’s a 2022 mannequin which suggests you get heated seats and a backup digital camera, and automated emergency braking as an additional security web. This one is AWD which could be overkill on your wants, however I appreciated the colour. I don’t imply to toot my very own horn, however I feel I solved your automotive shopping for dilemma; I actually hope this helps large man! Better of luck to you and your loved ones.
Professional 4: Bradley Brownell – The Unorthodox Selection
OK, I’m not as tall as Logan, however I’m 6’2″ and most of my top is in my torso, so headroom is sometimes an issue for me. I feel your finest wager for a pleasant every day commuter is to seek out the very best second-gen Scion xB on the planet and drive it till the inevitable warmth demise of the universe. This car was explicitly constructed for precisely what you want, the seat top is comparatively excessive, which was a giant promoting level amongst senior drivers, who didn’t need to decrease themselves down right into a automotive. They name this “h-point” and that’s the xB’s greatest promoting level.
This instance isn’t essentially the one you need, but it surely’s brilliant blue and caught my eye. This one is method beneath your finances at $6,791 with 159,000 miles on the odometer. I’m virtually constructive yow will discover a nicer instance with fewer miles, and probably even a guide transmission. The entire U.S. examples had been offered with a 2.4-liter Toyota 2AZ-FE engine, additionally discovered within the ubiquitous Camry. The automotive will last more than you’ll for those who maintain it. And it will get over 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. It’s excellent!
