We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

Bulk Transport/ Customer Service for tall guy

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

Member5909

Key Points: I'm 6'-6 1/2" (half my height in the upper body), and I need a car that I can sit upright in. Owing to developing arthritis in both knees - I don't want to have to climb down into the car, and I don't want to be looking out the top inch of the windshield like with most cars available now. I need a flat floor for cargo and equipment I take to building sites (computers, etc.) and for my hobbies. I would like it if the floor was flat right out the back of the car. An old-school station wagon would be ideal, if a bit big - I travel to a lot of building sites within the city, and I need easy parking. I need to be able to carry a minimum of two varying size passengers with me. The best vehicle I've come across so far is the Ford Transit Connect, but it's $10K over my limit, and prices for used haven't dropped a lot from new prices. The Transit Connect has fantastic headroom, a nice steeply sloped windshield (the more the windshield is raked, the less headroom is available above the driver's seat), four seats, and a massive amount of cargo space - with the flat floor right out the back doors? The gas mileage is decent, and the vehicle is fine around town, if a little underpowered on the highway. Does anyone know of something similar for a little less?

Preferred Bodystyle(s): Hatch / Wagon / Minivan

Car Needs: Errands about town / Family transporter / Long trips / Client-facing / Towing or hauling

Primary Driver(s): Senior driver / Tall driver

Need minimum of 4 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 150000
Maximum age: 5 years

Maximum price: C $ 25000

« Return to results

Sign in or join TrueDelta to post your own thoughts.

Sort responses by likes

Response from ronhawk62

12:22 pm May 20, 2014

You can get a new Caravan in low twenties that should fit your needs, or you can get a used one pretty cheap. I see lots and lots of old ones on the road, so they must hold up pretty well. I've driven them and they drive well on the hiway.

1

Link to this reponse

Dodge Grand Caravan
Chrysler Town & Country

Response from mkaresh

7:39 am May 25, 2014

The main thing against the minivans is they're large, so they won't be easy to park.

Might the Mazda5 work?

Or even the Kia Soul?

I'd check these to see if they have enough headroom and cargo space?

1

Link to this reponse

Mazda Mazda5
Kia Soul

Response from Member5909

7:33 pm May 25, 2014

Dodge, I've driven a bunch of them. A newer Caravan is problematic - it seems like every new model change they lower the roof height a couple of centimetres and rake the windshield a little more to improve the weight and gas mileage. The latest caravans I can drive if I'm willing to duck down to see the traffic lights every time I come to a stop. And on heavily winter-salted roads in Canada, they really don't last more than about 5 years.

I have a friend with a Mazda 5. I can't even sit upright in it, my neck has to bend about 90 degrees to even sit in the driver's seat. Kia is a good idea. I wanted a Rondo - they still sell them in Canada - it has decent but not lavish headroom and pretty good cargo space. Unlike minvans (or maybe like them nowadays) the seats don't come out bery easily for more storage space - they're pretty bulky folded up - but yeah, a Kia is a good suggestion - I'll have a look ata few.

1

Link to this reponse

Response from Automotim

3:17 am May 26, 2014

Sounds like you need a Honda Element- my brother used to have one. He is coincidentally 6'6 tall and the element has a tall windshield with headroom to spare for him, he only disliked the fact that his knee would rub on the shifter console. It was totaled in an accident when a pickup truck pulled out in front of him, but he walked away without injury. The element was a steller stuff mover, with a flat load floor made of plastic that could be hosed out, very roomy for its size, its a 4 seater. The suicide doors are annoying at times but fine if only for ocassional use. About the length of a Civic, it was a breeze to park and although not speedy, generally comfortable and easy to get in and out of- good ground clearance. He never had a single problem with over the 90000 miles until the crash. You should be able to pick one up used, I suggest an earlier model with low miles (maybe ~2005) that has the plastic floor, not a newer one with carpet. The tailgate is a clamshell design with a liftglass and a folding truck style tailgate, a very low load floor always made loading easy. The rear seats are removable but somewhat heavy. They can be laid flat to make a bed and folded up against the side wall which latches using a caribeaner on the grab handle.

I would advise against a Caravan, the newer models with the stow and go seats have front seats that are mounted way too far forward, making them very cramped even moved all the way back.

Nissan has a new NV200 which is similar to a transit connect, probably worth a look. My mom leases a Sentra which she is extremely pleased with.


If something smaller would work, a honda fit has an unbelievable amount of space for its size and the seats fold flat and its pretty roomy as well and its not as low as a regular car to get in and out.


The Element gets a lot of flack for its goofy box shape, but its undeniably practical and in my opinion, shares a faint resemblance with a Range Rover. My brother's 2005 fully loaded EX with 4WD cost him 22000 USD new, you could probably find a low mileage used one for a good price.

Best of luck!

1

Link to this reponse

Honda Element
Nissan NV200
Honda Fit

Response from mkaresh

10:07 am May 26, 2014

The Honda Element is a spectacular suggestion. I suggested one to another member just the other day, don't know why I didn't think of it this time. The main con, as noted by automotim, could be the rear doors.

The passenger version of the NV200, marketed as a taxi, is likely too expensive. The MSRP starts around $30k in the U.S. And you might first have to found a taxi company.

The Fit could also work very well. In the 2015 the front seats are mounted a little lower than in earlier ones, for a better driving position. The floor is a little lower than the rear opening.

I'll also toss the Fiat 500L out as a possibility. Not sure if it offers enough front seat headroom. For decent rear seat headroom, skip the sunroof. The cargo floor can be made flat and even with the rear opening. A few aspects of this vehicle are an acquired taste. Quite Italian.

0

Link to this reponse

Honda Element
Honda Fit
Fiat 500L
Sign in or join TrueDelta to post your own thoughts.

Return to top