TheSamba.com :: View topic - Tall Driver

Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:18 pm

Hi guys. I have a quick question. I am 6'6" inches tall. Do you think that I could fit in a Bug/Beetle. If anyone who reads this is at or around my height, please let me know how you fare with your car.

Thanks,
RASCH :)

Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:24 pm

There is a guy in my shop that is your height and has a nice '59. He had to modify the seat bracket to fit, but it works. His driver seat touches the back seat now. I hope you don't have a large family? :lol:

Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:35 pm

I'm 6'5" and did what Irish's bud did...released the stop on the seat rails and shoved it back 'til just touching rear seat. If you go with seats from a different car (import) they sit lower to begin with. You just have to figure out how to mount them. I have real nice cloth seats with side bolsters and have the lumbar option in them that I'm putting in my '67. Got 'em out of a junk yard for $50.00 8)

Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:37 pm

The official word from VW was 6'7" fits.
Click the image to see full size

Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:54 pm

If you go to John Henry's site he has a great tech article on modifying the seat rails to fit taller drivers.

http://www.thebugshop.org/gotech.htm

I'm 6'4" and have had two bugs and drove both cross country very comfortably. My current '67 has seats from a late model Accura and give me almost too much room.

Tue Mar 23, 2004 12:00 am

Im 6,4 and i put Pro Car seats by Scat in my car i havent done any thing with the seat rails and its comfertable. I think they sit a little lower than the stock ones do also.Poeple always ask me how do you fit in a VW and i say good 8)

Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:15 am

j.pickens wrote: The official word from VW was 6'7" fits.
Click the image to see full size

Where did you ever find that article? That gives me hope :)

RASCH

Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:16 am

MEANIRISHMOFO wrote: There is a guy in my shop that is your height and has a nice '59. He had to modify the seat bracket to fit, but it works. His driver seat touches the back seat now. I hope you don't have a large family? :lol:

Nah, this will be just for fun, and the fact that I have always wanted one and can't really afford the new ones at the moment.

RASCH

Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:18 am

bk63rag wrote: Im 6,4 and i put Pro Car seats by Scat in my car i havent done any thing with the seat rails and its comfertable. I think they sit a little lower than the stock ones do also.Poeple always ask me how do you fit in a VW and i say good 8)

Good info, did the Pro Car seats just fit on the existing rails? How did you get them in?

RASCH :)

Tue Mar 23, 2004 1:46 pm

before you burn some cash and a weekend changing your seat rails around get the car and try it.

I'm 6'5" (that's almost 6'6") and I have a '66 with a stock (BIG) steering wheel. I have plenty of room. I've logged 800-mile days in this car with no problem. Granted the wheel is right there in my lap but that's where I like it as you have more control over the wheel as opposed to driving pimped out with the arm stretched to full extension. I have stock seats too and they are comfortable for me. Plenty of headroom...you'll love it.

Good luck with your car. Don't let the height hold you back...Germans are big people too.

Tue Mar 23, 2004 2:27 pm

resto66vw wrote: before you burn some cash and a weekend changing your seat rails around get the car and try it.

I'm 6'5" (that's almost 6'6") and I have a '66 with a stock (BIG) steering wheel. I have plenty of room. I've logged 800-mile days in this car with no problem. Granted the wheel is right there in my lap but that's where I like it as you have more control over the wheel as opposed to driving pimped out with the arm stretched to full extension. I have stock seats too and they are comfortable for me. Plenty of headroom...you'll love it.

Good luck with your car. Don't let the height hold you back...Germans are big people too.

Yeah, I was figuring that if I can fit in a MINI (new and old), I would be surprised if I couldn't fit into a Bug. Thanks for taking the time to answer :)

RASCH

Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:00 pm

I wonder how many of Wilt Chamberlin's Ho's could fit in a bug!

Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:26 pm

Rasch wrote: j.pickens wrote: The official word from VW was 6'7" fits.
Click the image to see full size

Where did you ever find that article? That gives me hope :)

RASCH

I have the same VW add. I won it on Ebay for like $2 -think it's from like a late 60's rag. Search on Ebay for 'Vw ads' or similar, I recall there being a pretty good selection.
It's probably been said, but you could always remove the front seat, and drive from the back.

Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:22 pm

I am 6'1" and have plenty of head room in my 64 ....

Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:24 pm

I am 6'1" and have plenty of head room in my 64

Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:02 pm

Im 6'4, drove my 69' beetle 'home' 340 miles (and I started out at 10pm!), arrived home at 6.30am nxt mornin'...I didnt want to push the motor past 55mph!!.... a very rusty and tired beetle it was when I purchased it (serves me right I know for buying in the dark!)... was the first time I really drove a beetle and At first I had to stop a couple of times and stretch ... by the end of the journey my body had adjusted to it...
all that said, hopefully I am goin to include recaro or bucket seats, and a smaller steering wheel in the rebuild, for more comfort and control...

Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:26 pm

Rasch,
As to how I found the ad, I just remembered the ad and searched Google for "Wilt Chamberlain VW Beetle" Lo and behold, there it was.

By the way, I'm 6'2" and 225 pounds on a good day.
I fit in both my standard beetle and my cabriolet with ease.
The cabrio has significantly less legroom due to the double walled front firewall, and I am completly comfortable driving it with stock seats, and even seatbelts.

I suggest you try driving one before you do anything rash.

Where do you live?
A Samba beetle owner would probably be willing to let you give a vintage beetle a spin to see if it "fits".

If you're in New Jersey, I'd be happy to hook you up.
Oops, I see you're in Georgia.
There are plenty of Sambanistas in GA.
J

Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:49 pm

GustoBusto wrote: Im 6'4, drove my 69' beetle 'home' 340 miles (and I started out at 10pm!), arrived home at 6.30am nxt mornin'...I didnt want to push the motor past 55mph!!.... a very rusty and tired beetle it was when I purchased it (serves me right I know for buying in the dark!)... was the first time I really drove a beetle and At first I had to stop a couple of times and stretch ... by the end of the journey my body had adjusted to it...
all that said, hopefully I am goin to include recaro or bucket seats, and a smaller steering wheel in the rebuild, for more comfort and control...

I have a line on a 79 Super with Recaro seats and he actually lives near me. I am going to go check it out on Thursday. I will let you know how it goes.

RASCH :)

Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:30 pm

Pro car has seat mounts kits for all kinds of cars. I just ordered the seats and told what year and kind of car i have. The mounting kit bolts to the seat and it has rails just like the stock seat .No fabing or hole drilling :D

Wed Mar 24, 2004 8:16 am

bk63rag wrote: Pro car has seat mounts kits for all kinds of cars. I just ordered the seats and told what year and kind of car i have. The mounting kit bolts to the seat and it has rails just like the stock seat .No fabing or hole drilling :D

Sweet, do you have a website where I can find them.

RASCH :)