TALL NB owners in Canberra - help

[TTT]

Odd topic sure...

A mate in Canberra is looking to buy an NB.
He has sat in a stock one but with the roof up, his head touches and is staring at the window frame.

I'm trying to convince him that foamectomy or a sparco seat will help, and even custom rail etc.

I'm hoping someone here is 6'2" or so who has an NB which has had some seat mods to sit much lower that he can just put his arse in to and see that he can fit his lanky arse in to one and enjoy it.

I guess it could be an NA too since it's more about seat height.

Anyone here in a position to help?

[Snowmotion]

I am in the wrong city for him to sit in my car but I am 6'3.5" and fit with a stock seat (not touching the roof although a tad higher than I like), a foamectomy gives a nice drop and my Sparco seat on factory rails is really great spot. If he get to Sydney, let me know. I swap between standard seat and Sparco as my wife does not like the Sparco. (it is a good way to keep her out of the car
The NB is noticeably more room for a driver when over 6'.

[david_syd_au]

Slightly OT, sorry.
I am 6'2" ish, and find in an NB that I can't move my right leg between accelerator and brake without getting my knee jammed between the steering wheel and door handle. Not an issue in an NA, due to the flatter door card design.
Do any of these seat mods or replacements help with this issue in an NB?

[greenMachine]

I keep saying that this is not about height it is all about the length of his body from the bum up. Shorties can have the problem too. So just because you find one person of a given height will fit, it doesn't mean another person that high will also fit.

There are ways around the problem but I don't know anyone who has gone to some of the more extreme lengths to lower the seat height around here.

[Snowmotion]

David, I sort of know what you mean but for my body proportion (pretty equal upper and lower torso, just damn long) I do not have a problem.
I have also fitted a lowered foot rest which helps flower my left knee but bracing with that foot is a little harder, not an issue with the Sparco in the car as it is snug.
You should have a sit in my car some time to see if it addressed any of your issues.

[kalt]

greenMachine is right, torso up... especially true if you have a giraffe neck you will hit the roof.

TTT does your mate have hair? Big hair?

My hair touches the softtop roof and I'm 'only 5'11+', part of the reason why I have the hard top on most times as it gives much better clearance (along with more secure parking).

Also a good thing with big boofy hair is it softens impacts when you hit large bumps on the road; with the softtop you can position yourself between the frames and mash the canvas, but with the hard top you have to compress your neck or tilt your head sideways. Both never work when the bump catches you unaware.

[kazama]

im 6'2" but i always slouch in my seat so its never been an issue lol

[speed]

I'm 6'3" and have done foamectomy. Still don't fit. Wish I had hair. Have boss kit extension which helps somewhat (seating position, not the no hair) but have to slouch heaps. I feel as though I need heaps more lumbar padding and heaps less from there up. My head is well above the head rest too. Eventually I'll be looking at other seats but specifically don't want a fixed bucket, so the sparco v will be off the table.
Looking directly at the windscreen frame is my biggest issue and I suspect this will be the same for your mate.
Apparently sparco v's can lower the seating position by up to 2 inches which would be plenty if I can find a similar seat.


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[speed]

I'm 6'3" and have done foamectomy. Still don't fit. Wish I had hair. Have boss kit extension which helps somewhat (seating position, not the no hair) but have to slouch heaps. I feel as though I need heaps more lumbar padding and heaps less from there up. My head is well above the head rest too. Eventually I'll be looking at other seats but specifically don't want a fixed bucket, so the sparco v will be off the table.
Looking directly at the windscreen frame is my biggest issue and I suspect this will be the same for your mate.
Apparently sparco v's can lower the seating position by up to 2 inches which would be plenty if I can find a similar seat.


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[speed freak]

greenMachine is right, torso up... especially true if you have a giraffe neck you will hit the roof.

TTT does your mate have hair? Big hair?

My hair touches the softtop roof and I'm 'only 5'11+', part of the reason why I have the hard top on most times as it gives much better clearance (along with more secure parking).

Also a good thing with big boofy hair is it softens impacts when you hit large bumps on the road; with the softtop you can position yourself between the frames and mash the canvas, but with the hard top you have to compress your neck or tilt your head sideways. Both never work when the bump catches you unaware.

Haha yea, getting bounced up and hitting the roof is no fun, tilting your head for the bump works as you said as long as you know the bump is coming. Good to know its a 'normal' thing lol wasnt sure if it was just my mx5.

To the OP, Iv got a sparco sprint v fitted to my nb8b now, Im around 6'3 or so sort of long legs and torso, with the sparco I now have no issues at all with height, I can sit up perfectly straight and still have about 1-2 inches headroom which is more then enough even for jolts when going over bumps. With the stock seat in place I had all the issues mentioned, head touched roof when trying to sit up straight, had to tilt head when going over bumps or prepare to go through the soft top lol. Foamectomy helped a bit but found the seat very uncomfortable after that, not padding wise just you sat in all the odd parts of the seat and just wasnt a comfortable shape to sit in. Getting a Sparco seat or equivalent fitted is the go. Although I do still have a slight issue with my right knee against the drivers door and under the steering wheel, but because you sit much lower in the sparco you can get around that a bit.

Its in QLD but my nb8b is currently for sale, with the sparco.

[PeterB]

I am in Canberra and have a NA and NB. I have a Sparco V on factory rails in the NA that I am swapping to the NB, so he is welcome to come and try.

I am 6' (more legs than body length) and have leg room problems in the NB, but is not as bad in the NA.

I find the Sparco uncomfortable for general driving - great for the track.

Call Peter on 0408 635 650 if he wants to try. I am in Belconnen.

[Mr Morlock]

its not a good idea trying to convince someone to accept a compromised driving position. An NB is really a car not built for bigger/ taller people. Just buy something that fits.

[Snowmotion]

its not a good idea trying to convince someone to accept a compromised driving position. An NB is really a car not built for bigger/ taller people. Just buy something that fits.

I must be imagining my 6'3.5" height and loving the MX5 NB.... I must be totally wrong because Mr Mortlock said it is true..

[lightyear]

I am 5,14" and have no problem once the seat has been swapped out. Oem seat is ok, I could still drive fine with it, but not as enjoyable as sitting nice and low.
Pretty extreme, but I sat on the floor of the carbon fibre car, and had foam pored around me. Can't get any lower or further back without chopping out the floor.

[Mr Morlock]

I will stand 100% behind my statement. Whether people put up with it is an altogether different thing. I would not live with a Clubman as a daily driver either but some people do. Mazda themselves "apologised" for the smaller package.