Greg is a tall man at six foot six and 250 kilos, he at the moment drives a Kia Rio that’s surprisingly snug for his body. Nevertheless, he desires one thing that sits somewhat increased off the bottom for simpler entry/exit, however doesn’t desire a large truck. With a $20,000 funds, what automobile 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 automobiles. I at the moment have somewhat Kia Rio I acquired for a superb value. Does its job. I just like the financial system and maneuverability of smaller automobiles in city and suburban conditions, and I discover driver house doesn’t have something to do with automobile dimension.
Nevertheless, I’m reluctantly contemplating a bigger automobile, and by bigger I imply increased off the bottom. My problem with automobiles 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 automobile.
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 lots, 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 once you’re working on the edges.
I think this places me in CRV or RAV4 vary, however I’m involved about driver house. And I can’t resolve if compact SUVs are a best-of-both-worlds state of affairs or are an excessive amount of compromise to do something effectively. So facet query: am I higher off with a giant automobile and a small automobile, or with one automobile that tries to mix them?
For me, the 2 most necessary includes a automobile can have are 1) runs and a pair of) paid for. So luxurious, efficiency, and so forth., are usually not excessive priorities. A automobile that may hit 200-300k miles is far more spectacular to me than a low 0-60 time.
* Larger-off-the-ground using place (simpler for a giant tall man to get out and in of)
* Sufficient house 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 extensive. 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 gas financial system as I can squeeze out of a giant sufficient automobile.
* Room for me plus 3 passengers. It’s largely simply me, however the potential to take the household someplace can be helpful. The children qualify as tall, however gained’t be almost my dimension.
Fast Details:
Finances: $20,000
Location: Austin, TX
Day by day Driver: Sure
Needs: Larger 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 dimension discovering the suitable automobile can actually be a problem particularly in case you don’t need to drive a large 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 automobile utilization and gasoline mileage however have one thing with a bit extra journey top, the Kia Niro is likely to be the reply.
With a headroom of 40.5 inches and legroom of 41.5 inches, it’s fairly near your present automobile, however the Niro being a bizarre combo of crossover/hatchback/wagon sits up a number of inches increased. It additionally has a hybrid powerplant as the usual choice that returns as much as 50 MPG. Discovering a Niro hybrid, beneath twenty grand with out increased miles isn’t simple, 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
Properly, effectively, effectively, Greg. Seems to be like these of us of common top lastly have one factor on you Talls. Chances are you’ll be busy dunking all of the basketballs and courting 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 tough strategy of deciding which automobile to purchase.
Usually, I’d suggest 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 stay on the West Coast and work later hours? If you happen to’re already uninterested in getting out and in of your Kia Ria, although, I don’t know if a Mini is the reply. So how will we maintain your automobile small whereas additionally guaranteeing the seating is tall? The Toyota Crown may match the invoice, nevertheless it’s too costly and likewise most likely too large.
The Crown isn’t the one lifted automobile that you may purchase, although. As a result of that is Jalopnik, I say you must 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 recent options. It additionally has room for 4 with out being too large. And with a crossover-like journey top, it must be a lot simpler so that you can get out and in of.
The excellent news is, you shouldn’t have any hassle discovering a Volvo S60 Cross Nation for lower than $20,000. The dangerous information is, for some purpose, the thought of a lifted luxurious sedan didn’t precisely resonate with prospects, so there aren’t a whole lot of them on the market, and there aren’t actually any in your space. If you happen to’re prepared to look somewhat additional, possibly take a look at 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 really 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 suggestion for you that can supply a superb bang to your buck, although I’ve to confess I’m not sure it’s going to have sufficient room up entrance for you. Happily, I’ve a backup that can positively fit your needs.
As unusual as this suggestion is, I feel you must look right into a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross. Your value cap will get you into a more recent mannequin 12 months Mitsubishi than most different automobiles, which can afford you and your loved ones better security in addition to comfort options. The Outlander Sport isn’t a sporty automobile, it’s principally gonna equate to a Rio hatchback that’s been lifted a number of inches, however that sounds about excellent for what you’re on the lookout for. 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 automobile’s house, however as a tall particular person I do know measurements don’t all the time instantly equate to real-world room. At all times sit in a automobile 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 automobile restricted guarantee, so getting a more recent automobile with decrease miles means you get extra time coated beneath these warranties. That stated, from tall particular person to tall particular person, the one automobiles in your value vary that I can say for sure has sufficient house for giant folks 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 go well with you and your wants fairly properly whereas retaining the peace of thoughts of hundreds of miles of guarantee protection left. It’s a 2022 mannequin which implies you get heated seats and a backup digicam, and automated emergency braking as an additional security internet. This one is AWD which is likely to be overkill to your wants, however I favored the colour. I don’t imply to toot my very own horn, however I feel I solved your automobile 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 greatest guess 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 automobile 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 automobile. They name this “h-point” and that’s the xB’s largest promoting level.
This instance isn’t essentially the one you need, nevertheless it’s vivid blue and caught my eye. This one is approach beneath your funds at $6,791 with 159,000 miles on the odometer. I’m virtually optimistic you’ll find a nicer instance with fewer miles, and probably even a guide transmission. The entire U.S. examples have been bought with a 2.4-liter Toyota 2AZ-FE engine, additionally discovered within the ubiquitous Camry. The automobile will last more than you’ll in case you maintain it. And it will get over 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. It’s excellent!
