The curse of being tall: xB helps
04-29-2005 | 04:24 PM
#1
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From: ABQ, NM
The curse of being tall: xB helps
The curse of being tall
By Gavin McMeeking
April 29, 2005 - The Rocky Mountain Collegian.com
http://www.collegian.com/vnews/displ.../4271d42f26924
RPM
By Gavin McMeeking
April 29, 2005 - The Rocky Mountain Collegian.com
Originally Posted by The Rocky Mountain Collegian.com
I hit my head a lot. I've hit it on doorframes, beams, tree branches, overhead sprinklers (those really hurt), ceiling lamps and even stop signs. I've noticed one thing about my problem in the last few years - it never stops being funny to my "friends."
I suppose being a tall person is an excuse, but I have been freakishly tall my entire life ...
... Unfortunately, it was quickly established, thanks to combined efforts of American and Japanese carmakers, that I was pretty much screwed. Of course, if I had infinite amounts of money or I didn't have my deeply branded dislike of sport utility vehicles, there wouldn't be a problem. (Don't tell anyone, but I like sport utility vehicles and the people who drive them aren't that awful. So far they've been the only cars I've ever been comfortable sitting in. But don't tell my family or I'll be disowned.)
It comes down to this: I just can't afford a sport utility vehicle. So that leaves me with either trying to drive a Honda Civic with my head sticking out of the sunroof or two of the most beautifully designed vehicles in the history of mankind: the Honda Element and the Scion xB.
Both are giant boxes on wheels; shopping carts with engines and transmissions. In fact, the Scion bares a striking resemblance to a washing machine. And while I would love to be cruising around town in a sporty speed-machine, I'm afraid that I, just like others with crushing disabilities, must learn to live with what I've been given...
I suppose being a tall person is an excuse, but I have been freakishly tall my entire life ...
... Unfortunately, it was quickly established, thanks to combined efforts of American and Japanese carmakers, that I was pretty much screwed. Of course, if I had infinite amounts of money or I didn't have my deeply branded dislike of sport utility vehicles, there wouldn't be a problem. (Don't tell anyone, but I like sport utility vehicles and the people who drive them aren't that awful. So far they've been the only cars I've ever been comfortable sitting in. But don't tell my family or I'll be disowned.)
It comes down to this: I just can't afford a sport utility vehicle. So that leaves me with either trying to drive a Honda Civic with my head sticking out of the sunroof or two of the most beautifully designed vehicles in the history of mankind: the Honda Element and the Scion xB.
Both are giant boxes on wheels; shopping carts with engines and transmissions. In fact, the Scion bares a striking resemblance to a washing machine. And while I would love to be cruising around town in a sporty speed-machine, I'm afraid that I, just like others with crushing disabilities, must learn to live with what I've been given...
RPM
04-29-2005 | 07:07 PM
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I'm 6'6" and my wife is 6'7", and the xB ROCKS! I like the fact that the xB has more driver head and leg room than a Hummer. I've sat in several SUVs and they don't have a roomy feel like the xB either. Plus the fact that the xB costs less than half most other cars, and it wins out regardless of the looks it gets.
04-29-2005 | 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by breunor
I'm 6'6" and my wife is 6'7", and the xB ROCKS! I like the fact that the xB has more driver head and leg room than a Hummer. I've sat in several SUVs and they don't have a roomy feel like the xB either. Plus the fact that the xB costs less than half most other cars, and it wins out regardless of the looks it gets.
thats amazing that both of you are sooo tall
04-29-2005 | 08:54 PM
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From: Sturgis, Michigan
6 feet 3 inches here. I love the head room. Need more leg room though. Wish I could get someone to make some new tracks for the seats to go back on or find a specialty shop in Columbus Ohio that would do some modification for me. Head room great. Leg room..adequate.
04-30-2005 | 12:34 AM
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From: www.scikotics.com
Originally Posted by breunor
I'm 6'6" and my wife is 6'7", and the xB ROCKS! I like the fact that the xB has more driver head and leg room than a Hummer. I've sat in several SUVs and they don't have a roomy feel like the xB either. Plus the fact that the xB costs less than half most other cars, and it wins out regardless of the looks it gets.
04-30-2005 | 12:44 AM
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I'm 6', with short legs and a long body... so I sit as if I were about 6'3" or so. I HATED my wife's old Honda Accord and I can't stand anything that I have to lower my head to get out of... which is just about everything except a convertible or a pickup.
The box is tall and I love the headroom, but... it's TOO MUCH headroom! The box begs to be chopped. I'm toying with the idea. I think cutting the top about 3" would be perfect and very, very cool.
The box is tall and I love the headroom, but... it's TOO MUCH headroom! The box begs to be chopped. I'm toying with the idea. I think cutting the top about 3" would be perfect and very, very cool.
04-30-2005 | 12:54 AM
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From: Dublin, CA
Originally Posted by breunor
I'm 6'6" and my wife is 6'7", and the xB ROCKS! I like the fact that the xB has more driver head and leg room than a Hummer. I've sat in several SUVs and they don't have a roomy feel like the xB either. Plus the fact that the xB costs less than half most other cars, and it wins out regardless of the looks it gets.
04-30-2005 | 03:00 AM
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Originally Posted by FrankenScion
Originally Posted by breunor
I'm 6'6" and my wife is 6'7", and the xB ROCKS! I like the fact that the xB has more driver head and leg room than a Hummer. I've sat in several SUVs and they don't have a roomy feel like the xB either. Plus the fact that the xB costs less than half most other cars, and it wins out regardless of the looks it gets.
04-30-2005 | 03:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Notacop
I am 6'3" but it is all torso so most cars have no headroom for me, I am lovin the XB as well.
300C I have test drove and it just BARELY has enough headroom for me.
300C I have test drove and it just BARELY has enough headroom for me.
04-30-2005 | 04:21 AM
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From: Wilson Scion (IA)
6'3" 250, hell, that's why I bought the damn xB. Its coolness was just a bonus for me!
The best comment though was a couple months ago when this 6'5" cowboy dude with a Cadillac came in to buy some floor mats. He noticed the xB on our showroom floor and asked about it. I gave him my "I freakin' love the xB" speech and told him to have a seat in it. The best part is that he was wearing one of those bigass Texas 10 gallon hats (just like the ones in the cartoons). I told him to leave the hat on and he FIT! I swear people, I was so proud of my car.
Biggest little car on the road.
-Alex
The best comment though was a couple months ago when this 6'5" cowboy dude with a Cadillac came in to buy some floor mats. He noticed the xB on our showroom floor and asked about it. I gave him my "I freakin' love the xB" speech and told him to have a seat in it. The best part is that he was wearing one of those bigass Texas 10 gallon hats (just like the ones in the cartoons). I told him to leave the hat on and he FIT! I swear people, I was so proud of my car.
Biggest little car on the road.
-Alex
04-30-2005 | 04:31 AM
#19
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From: West TN - Land of twisty roads
6' 3" and lovin the head room. Can even wear a coyboy hat if I wanted to and still have roof to spare. The tC was a joke as far as headroom goes. I had to lean the seat back so far that you felt like you were laying down. I hate having the roof/top of the windshield right in my face type interior. A Corvette forget about it. Cant even get in it without twisting into a pretzel
04-30-2005 | 06:29 AM
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I'm 6'2", and pretty big, the wife is 5' the xB is one of the few cars that we can actually both drive comfortably. I can't tell you how much I hate squeezing my butt into her little Geo Prizm. As soon as that dies (hopefully not for a while) we're getting a second xB for her.