Thinking about becoming a Porsche guy, but am I too tall?

[Project]

I'm 19 years old, I have had 2 vettes (77 and 75) and a 71 ss chevelle. I shop around for good bargins daily drive them for 10k or so and sell them and make a few dollars. I am pondering a 944 for a daily driver or a 914 if I can afford Only thing is I am 230lb 6'5" and I have honestly never sat inside a Porsche, can I fit and if I can fit will I look goofy? Another thing is I wear size 15/16 shoes, so will I even be able to drive stick?

Stupid question but I gotta know

[EdT82SC]

Dennis Rodman drives a 911 cab. He looks goofy, but I don't think it's the car. Why don't you try one out? Find a dealer or private party trying to sell one, and take it for a test drive.

[Project]

I fit fine in the vettes and perfect in the chevelle, but the main thing I'm worried about is my knees hitting the dash or my head touching the roof. Dennis rodman is huge....wow I might beable to pull it off

[jluetjen]

Project, keep in mind that you posted on the 911 board, not the 914 or the 944 board. I've had a 944 and I'm 6 ft, and the headroom was OK. But pretty much all of the 944's came with sliding roofs that took up some of the headroom. On the other hand I've found 911's to have just about the most room of any "sports car" that I've ever sat in. They're not big cars, but the packaging is very good and they are quite roomy in the front two seats.

(Note that I tend to sit up fairly upright compared to a lot of other drivers.)

[Craig 930 RS]

A local guy named Jason is MUCH taller than you and he fits - albeit with the seat lowered and the roof liner out -

[Drago]

Project,

I go 300+ lbs. and 6'7" and have owned both a 944 and currently a 911 Targa. You should be fine in the 944 with the seat angled appropirately. I fit fine in the 911 as well. The footwell is kind of tight but you'll adjust (I wear size 16). I *do not* fit in 911 Coupes with a sunroof and can barely make it into a non-sunroof coupe. Also, I have a smaller than stock diameter steering wheel in the Targa. Pretty sure your out of luck in a 914 but then again I've never sat in one.

[TMH]

I'm 6'4" and about 250, and I fit into my '85.5 944 quite nicely and comfortably. I had actually looked at some '80's - '90's Corvettes before buying the 944 as my first Porsche. I actually did not fit in the Corvettes. I couldn't recline the seat back far enough not to hit my head on the ceiling.

Had to go with a Porsche, and it has been a slippery slope ever since. I don't have the 944 any more, but check my signature for what I do have!

Tom

[Grady Clay]

Welcome to the Forum. When you get a 911, we expect pictures.

Not to worry.

Guys 6’5” to 6’11” fit 911 just fine. It sometimes takes a little custom work with the seat but not a big deal. I think even a lanky 7’3” can also fit. That is one of the great features of the 911.

A 914 would be a tight fit but could be done with your size but not a lot more.

A 944 should be as easy as a 911, just not the same.

My son has size 16 shoes and can heal-toe a 911 just fine. With some custom work he drives a Formula Mazda just fine with his boats.

I recommend you decide on a specific car (like a 911) and make the custom accommodations that you can transfer from one 911 to another.

Best,
Grady

[kjb]

a local bodyshop claimed to have rebuilt a car for Larry Bird, which involved lowering the seat, moving it back half a foot, cutting out part of the rear seat to make room, changing the pedal box, and moving the steering wheel back. A lot of the big football players supposedly have a wider seat extending closer to the center of car.

I barely have enough headroom in my 911, and i'm hardly 6'1". My girlfriend laughs at my hair going out the sunroof when it's open.

/ J

[Pete000]

I am 6'3 no problems for me. I moved the seat mounting points to the rearward holes and it is fine.

[Project]

Ick, I just looked on ebay for 911 prices and they are all very expensive. Any year that is cheaper than the others?

[thabaer]

I gained headroom when I traded my '76 vette for my 911, damn T-tops are thick!

Now that I think of it, my SC does NOT have a sunroof.

[speeder]

Originally posted by Project
Ick, I just looked on ebay for 911 prices and they are all very expensive. Any year that is cheaper than the others?

Generally speaking, (there are exceptions to this), what are known as "mid-year" 911s are the cheapest with condition being equal. This would be 1974-1977 911s, but make sure to educate yourself well here and elsewhere before buying one. They can be ungodly money pits if they need rebuilding or other significant repairs, and you can forget about recovering your investment in a year, much less making "a few dollars". I've made $$ on many a car in my time, but never a Porsche, at least not one that I drove.

Good luck, they are fun cars.