TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:24 pm

Can a tall person be comfortable driving in a ghia?

Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:34 pm

I don't think so. I sat in my friends Ghia once and my head was at a 90% angle when I looked out the windshield. I am 6'4". Guess that is more of an excuse for you to pick up a Convertible.

Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:39 pm

Grrr... what's a 6'2" ghia lover to do?

Wed Feb 04, 2004 5:59 pm

i'm almost 5 feet 12 inches and i fit good in my ghia with plenty of headroom to spare. or you could remove the headliner.

Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:29 pm

bajaherbie wrote: i'm almost 5 feet 12 inches and i fit good in my ghia with plenty of headroom to spare. or you could remove the headliner.

I'm 5 foot 14 inches. ;)

Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:01 pm

I'm over 6 ft and I've never had a problem. Then again, I've driven VW's all my life and everyone always tells me "that seat goes back, you don't have to sit like that" whenever I ride in a car. Maybe it's something you just get used to.

Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:51 pm

I'm over 6 feet, and I have no problem in any aircooled VW. I have had a problem in a Mazda B-series (don't ask me why I drove it, but I did) and a 99 Golf. The low-back seats seem to sit a little lower than the highback seats, but it may be due to my tendancy to slouch.

Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:58 am

I've driven only Ghia cabriolets, so comments only apply.

If you put the seat all the way back and have a stock steering wheel you have to enter feet first. I.e. you can't put your butt down then slid your legs under the steering wheel.

I often put a smaller steering wheel which makes the entry/exit perfect. Headroom is fine, I guess, the top never goes up! ;-) Good view out the windshield and good view of the gauges. Can't say that about any other two seater!

Compared to an older Miata, Focus, Neon, etc the classic Ghia has more room.

Ed S
36" inseam

Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:25 pm

I'm 6'1 with a 36 inseam. I have no problems getting in.

Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:14 pm

I'm 6' 2" and fit in well. The knees do come up a bit, but I have no problem getting in and out.

I think that there's a way to extend the rails on the floor so you can move the seat even further. I'm not sure how that works, but I guess that there's some welding involved.

Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:42 am

Well, you could always make a ragtop for it.
I'm 6 2' and I fit in my ghia ok. but I haven't installed the headliner yet. just customize the seats.

Fri Feb 06, 2004 2:20 pm

I am 6'3" and had no problem with my 67 Ghia. Like a previous poster indicated, it could be that I am just used to Air Cooled VW's.

By the way, Nosox, did you ever play AC? I had a patron by the name of Nosox in AC a few years back. If you don't know what AC is, then you can disregard the question. lol. Q

Fri Feb 06, 2004 6:30 pm

I am 6' 1" and fit fine in my ghia. Funny thing is the Ghia is lowered and my wife always makes fun of me. She says I look like a California Redwood sitting in a VW

Fri Feb 06, 2004 6:43 pm

im around 6 3 or 6 4, and the first time i ever sat in a aircooled vw was in my friends ghia. it was a little 73 model, completely stock. i fit great in there.