Good used cars for tall guys, need advice.

[Savage]

And I mean tall. I'm 6'10", 21 years olds and am in first year medicine. I need a car to get to school everyday. Due to my height the first criteria is that I have to fit in the damn thing.

Otherwise, I need a used car that is:

-reliable
-good on gas
-will get me from A to B
-won't always break down on me.
-looks relatively decent.

-Is in the 10000$ range (canadian) before taxes.

The three cars I'm currently looking at are:

-Honda Civics (preferably the CX hatchbacks)
-Ford Focus (I've heard that the 2000 and 2001 are cars to avoid, while the 2002 and more recent are quite good)
-Hyundai Elantra (again more recent, '01? '02"?)

You'd think with my height I wouldn't be able to drive in these small cars. I've driven a Cavalier since the age of 16, and it's size is fine.. I've found that the leg room for these three cars are fine.

I don't have the money for SUVs and I hate trucks.

Any advice on these three cars? Any advice on any other cars?

I will being paying cash (Actually student line of credit) so am hoping to get a bit better deal. How much does the cash deal actually drop the bargaining price?
For example, I car priced at 11-12000 Canadian, how much would I be able to bring them down to?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Marc

[bluehare]

new beetle.
more headroom than anything else.

[Stare At The Sun]

The Toyota Echo has a suprising amount of headroom, gets great gas MPG, has a pretty big backseat, lots of cupholders, and is very reliable.

They are kinda bloopy, but still a nice car.

[THGL]

A Volvo 940. I own a '94 940 Turbo and the front leg room amazed me. I'm 6' and the driver's seat can go so far back I can't reach the pedals!

Lots of room, it's a 4-cylinder so if you're easy on the turbo (if you choose a turbo model) it'll be good on gas, and it was Volvo's flagship car at the time so you know it's comfy and well built.

Don't worry about the mileage too much, I bought my '94 with 150,000 miles on it last summer for $5000 US and it should last another 100k-150k. The engine/transmission/rear-end is the same in the 240, the 740, and the 940 and Volvo got it right that time... 300k+ mile Volvo's are common.

[pixelbend]

Not that it matters much at 6' 10", but are you taller in the body or the legs? I am 6' 4", but I have longer legs than body, so I'm not much taller than the average person sitting down. So headroom isn't that big of a deal for me. Legroom is a huge deal.

I know you can get replacement racks for some vehicles that will give you up to an extra three inches back. You might look for something like that if you have a car in mind that you arre a little cramped in.

[Savage]

Thanks..

I'm the same as you pixelbend. My legs are longer than my torso, so leg room is a bigger factor than headroom, but headroom is still an issue. I sat in an Echo and the head room is nice, but the legroom was really tight.

Both the echo and Beetle are bloopy cars in my eyes.. not sure if I'd be able to ever live it down. I would get the Simpsons joke "This is the biggest car I could afford" constantly!

Didn't consider volvos because I thought they were on the more expensive side.

[THGL]

Oh, and the Volvo 850 (or S70 for newer models) is also a great running and long lasting car... just stay away from the '93 models (1st year I think), the transaxles in that year are questionable. I haven't sat in an 850 so I don't know what the legroom is like, it's a front-drive model so I don't know if that would decrease legroom or not (940's are rear-drive).

[sushiboy]

Another vote for the VW Beetle. You will be suprised at the head room.

[dmt767s]

I'd be very wary of any Hyundai. I'm 6'3 and it is a tight squeeze for me to drive any Hyundai.

Do they sell Saturn in Canada? If so I've had plenty of experience in early L-series cars. Good mileage, good room, other than a minor electrical thing it was extremely reliable, and best of all they're dirt cheap.

[Scorps]

I think you need to go older then 90's for a good big car!

I'm 6 foot 3 and I drive a 82 chevy I fit really good with room to spare!

[ca_xtreme]

wow that tall i might look into gettin a truck or something... that would be my advice... but if you do want a starter car like that you might also look into you can have the seat professionally lowered some give ya few more inches of headroom thats what i did in my fiero im 6-4 fit in it with some headroom left

[RallyEX]

I would vote for your choice on the Honda Civic CX hatchback.

I am 6' 6" and own TWO honda civics... a 2001 Coupe (Great headroom with or without sunroof) and a 1992 Civic SI Hatchback.

I found that the 92-95 civic hatchback had less than desirable headroom in the SI due to the sunroof, however I have found the ultimate combination!

If you buy the car and suddenly find yourself uncomfortable, go to a junkyard and purchase Honda Del Sol seats. They are probably the most comfortable and supportive seats that honda ever put in their cars. They will run you about $75USD in good condition. They have a much thinner profile and provide MUCH MUCH MORE head and legroom in a hatchback! I have them in my 92SI hatch, and I absolutely love driving that car. Very comfortable, fuel efficient, and fun to drive.

[Scorps]

Originally Posted by RallyEX

I would vote for your choice on the Honda Civic CX hatchback.

I am 6' 6" and own TWO honda civics... a 2001 Coupe (Great headroom with or without sunroof) and a 1992 Civic SI Hatchback.

I found that the 92-95 civic hatchback had less than desirable headroom in the SI due to the sunroof, however I have found the ultimate combination!

If you buy the car and suddenly find yourself uncomfortable, go to a junkyard and purchase Honda Del Sol seats. They are probably the most comfortable and supportive seats that honda ever put in their cars. They will run you about $75USD in good condition. They have a much thinner profile and provide MUCH MUCH MORE head and legroom in a hatchback! I have them in my 92SI hatch, and I absolutely love driving that car. Very comfortable, fuel efficient, and fun to drive.

A buddy of mine has a 95 Civic hatchback CX and I hardly fit in the thing and I'm 6'3"

[Savage]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the responses. I test drove a 2000 Mazda Protege today. I was surprised with the amount of room it had.

This car was an AT, with 89K and air, automatic lock and door and CD. It was listed at 10700 CDN$ Which seems to be pretty good.

My biggest concern was that the outside bumpers were pretty scratched up and the body had some pretty substantial scratches as well.

He said they could buff it off and paint the bumpers..

What are your thoughts?

[Redjake]

1987 Caprice Classic!


wait.......15 miles per gallon

[Scorps]

Originally Posted by Savage

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the responses. I test drove a 2000 Mazda Protege today. I was surprised with the amount of room it had.

This car was an AT, with 89K and air, automatic lock and door and CD. It was listed at 10700 CDN$ Which seems to be pretty good.

My biggest concern was that the outside bumpers were pretty scratched up and the body had some pretty substantial scratches as well.

He said they could buff it off and paint the bumpers..

What are your thoughts?

If the painting and bufing is free then go for it

[wrongfullyaccuzd]

Depends on your opinion of the looks, but Scions (xAs and xBs) fit the rest of your criteria. I sat in an xA (the hatchback) and I was surprised at the room it had. Of course, I'm only 6'1", too. But still. The price is right to at least check out.

EDIT: Don't know if you guys have Scion in Canada.

[Scorps]

Originally Posted by wrongfullyaccuzd

Depends on your opinion of the looks, but Scions (xAs and xBs) fit the rest of your criteria. I sat in an xA (the hatchback) and I was surprised at the room it had. Of course, I'm only 6'1", too. But still. The price is right to at least check out.

EDIT: Don't know if you guys have Scion in Canada.

Ya we got Scion, but you have to go threw Toyota!

[Jimellow]

I'd recommend going for an Accord if your considering a Honda. I'm a rather tall fellow and don't have any head room issues in my Accord (it's a 1996). Also, Honda has the whole reliability, good MPG, and I've had no major problems with it mechanically, as of yet.

I highly recommend Honda. My previous car was a Grand-Am and it was in the shop all the time. The Honda was very refreshing in that things have not gone wrong with it, and I like it a lot.

Good luck.

[fw90pgl]

im a little more than 6'1 and i fit in my miata perfectly. i wear the car really

[radioguy]

my ex had an elantra. i'm 6'6" and had no problem fitting in it. it was a bitch to get out of though because it was real close to the ground a smaller car. good luck, hope this helps. damn good gas mileage as well

[hirosada]

I'm only 6'3", my dad 6'6" and both have driven 2nd gen Camry's ('88-'91) and 1st gen Avalons ('95-'99). Both of those cars have ample head room and no problems with leg room, as long as you don't have someone sitting behind you. You should be able to get your hands on a 2nd gen Camry for dirt cheap, just get a 4 cyl model, since the 6's have more issues. But go with the Avalon if you want something prettier.

[jason87]

Im Tall and i am very comfortable in my chevy blazer

[mbaha]

Wow no one said the subaru forester, has more headroom than most suvs
Plus if snows in your part of the 51st state this thing will be a god send
mbaha

[drivenman]

i think you need to look into a honda they get realy good gas milage and have plenty of head and feet room im 6.8 and a 10 year a.s.e. master mechanic i have driven every type of car there is and i like the honda they are verry reliabule to but i drive a mustang G.T. there not what i would suggest you get i had to customize mine to fit me but i love it sincerley Jesse

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Stare At The Sun

The Toyota Echo has a suprising amount of headroom, gets great gas MPG, has a pretty big backseat, lots of cupholders, and is very reliable.

They are kinda bloopy, but still a nice car.

I more than agree with this! And resale is a benefit also.