Greg is a tall man at six foot six and 250 kilos, he at the moment drives a Kia Rio that’s surprisingly comfy for his body. Nonetheless, he needs 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 state of affairs.
I’m 6’6″/250, and have at all times (fortunately) pushed small vehicles. I at the moment have somewhat Kia Rio I obtained for a great worth. Does its job. I just like the economic system and maneuverability of smaller vehicles in city and suburban conditions, and I discover driver house doesn’t have something to do with automobile dimension.
Nonetheless, I’m reluctantly contemplating a bigger car, and by bigger I imply increased off the bottom. My challenge with vehicles 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 loads, 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 while you’re working on the edges.
I believe this places me in CRV or RAV4 vary, however I’m involved about driver house. And I can’t determine if compact SUVs are a best-of-both-worlds scenario or are an excessive amount of compromise to do something nicely. So aspect query: am I higher off with an enormous car and a small car, or with one car that tries to mix them?
For me, the 2 most vital includes a automobile can have are 1) runs and a couple of) paid for. So luxurious, efficiency, and many others., will not be excessive priorities. A automobile that may hit 200-300k miles is far more spectacular to me than a low 0-60 time.
* Greater-off-the-ground using place (simpler for an enormous 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 notably extensive. I’ve the construct of an previous basketball participant.
* Excessive reliability. I wish to moderately anticipate a pair 100k miles out of this factor.
* As a lot gas economic system as I can squeeze out of a giant sufficient car.
* Room for me plus 3 passengers. It’s largely simply me, however the skill to take the household someplace could be helpful. The children qualify as tall, however received’t be almost my dimension.
Fast Details:
Finances: $20,000
Location: Austin, TX
Every day Driver: Sure
Desires: Greater trip, comfy for a taller individual, respectable MPG
Doesn’t need: One thing large
Professional 1: Tom McParland – Simply A Little Larger
Greg, at your dimension discovering the best automobile can actually be a problem particularly for those who don’t wish to drive an enormous truck round. Based mostly 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 fuel mileage however have one thing with a bit extra trip top, the Kia Niro may 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 couple of inches increased. It additionally has a hybrid powerplant as the usual choice that returns as much as 50 MPG. Discovering a Niro hybrid, below twenty grand with out increased miles isn’t simple, however here’s a Kia Licensed instance with below 50,000 miles for below $19,000.
Professional 2: Collin Woodard – Small-ish Automotive, Excessive-ish Seat Top
Properly, nicely, nicely, 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’ll’t, so booyah! I imply, thanks for selecting Jalopnik to advise you as you start the troublesome means of deciding which automobile to purchase.
Usually, I’d advocate a Mini Cooper. Logan Carter can be 6’8” and loves his, so how may I not steal the reply he would have already given if he didn’t reside on the West Coast and work later hours? Should you’re already bored with 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 would possibly match the invoice, nevertheless it’s too costly and likewise in all probability too massive.
The Crown isn’t the one lifted automobile that you could 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 comfy and include all types of recent options. It additionally has room for 4 with out being too massive. And with a crossover-like trip top, it needs to be a lot simpler so that you can get out and in of.
The excellent news is, you shouldn’t have any bother 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 plenty of them on the market, and there aren’t actually any in your space. Should you’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 actually tall. Nothing grinds my gears like when somebody who’s 6’1 begins complaining about needing more room; I’m six-foot-eight, 230 kilos, and I’m all legs too. I’ve a advice for you that may supply a great bang in your buck, although I’ve to confess I’m not sure it’s going to have sufficient room up entrance for you. Fortuitously, I’ve a backup that may undoubtedly suit you.
As unusual as this suggestion is, I feel you must look right into a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross. Your worth cap will get you into a more recent mannequin yr Mitsubishi than most different vehicles, 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 couple of inches, however that sounds about excellent for what you’re searching 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 similar to your present automobile’s house, however as a tall individual I do know measurements don’t at all times straight 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 car restricted guarantee, so getting a more recent automobile with decrease miles means you get extra time lined below these warranties. That stated, from tall individual to tall individual, the one vehicles in your worth vary that I can say for sure has sufficient house for large folks like us are Subarus. I really useful the Mitsubishi first as a result of Subaru resale values are robust and also you received’t be capable of discover a low-mileage Crosstrek or Outback for below $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 swimsuit 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 suggests you get heated seats and a backup digicam, and computerized emergency braking as an additional security web. This one is AWD which may be overkill in your wants, however I appreciated 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 massive man! Better of luck to you and your loved ones.
Professional 4: Bradley Brownell – The Unorthodox Alternative
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 finest wager for a pleasant every day commuter is to seek out the most effective second-gen Scion xB on the planet and drive it till the inevitable warmth demise of the universe. This car was explicitly constructed for precisely what you want, the seat top is comparatively excessive, which was an enormous promoting level amongst senior drivers, who didn’t wish to decrease themselves down right into a automobile. They name this “h-point” and that’s the xB’s greatest promoting level.
This instance isn’t essentially the one you need, nevertheless it’s brilliant blue and caught my eye. This one is method below your funds at $6,791 with 159,000 miles on the odometer. I’m virtually optimistic you will discover a nicer instance with fewer miles, and presumably even a guide transmission. The entire U.S. examples had 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 for those who care for it. And it will get over 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. It’s excellent!
