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-   1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) (https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/)
-   -   Tall people an FBs...how bad is it? (https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/tall-people-fbs-how-bad-602916/)

xthephilx 12-05-06 07:36 PM

Tall people an FBs...how bad is it?
 
I'm 6'6". I fit into an FD "snugly".

Is there any sliver of a chance that I would fit into an FB?

Thanks.

nick812 12-05-06 07:45 PM

yes there was a tread awhile back ask how big everyone was.

gypsyvk 12-05-06 07:52 PM

I"m 6'4 and the only cars I have are FB's, 4 that me and my wife drive and 1 that has recently become a parts car. However, I have never sat in a FD so I have no comparison of the interior size. I can tell you that some of the cars sit better than others, my 83 GSL seems to be the most comfortable, but none of them pose a problem. My head isn't on the roof or anything like that. They fit the closest between your knees and the steering wheel but I doubt you would have a problem, and if it's too close you can always get a smaller aftermarket wheel.

xthephilx 12-05-06 07:56 PM

Looks like I might be joining you guys then. I'm thinking of picking up an FB sometime soon, as my Prelude was very rudely ran into an SUV by my friend's sister.

peejay 12-05-06 08:07 PM

SAs fit better than FBs since they have much thinner interior materials (like, sheet of vinyl as opposed to a thick headliner, for example)

I am 6'5. There is no way that I could fit in an FC or FD and wear a helmet. I wear a helmet just fine in a 1st-gen.

xthephilx 12-05-06 08:17 PM

^ That's odd. I fit in my FD with a helmet on. Stock seats and everything.

I really like the idea of owning an FB though. They seem like fun cars to own.

road_runner 12-05-06 08:46 PM

i own an FB, and it is a blast to drive, and i have plenty of room. But then i am only 5'3. So i am not sure my opinion counts in this thread! lol

Aviator 902S 12-05-06 08:47 PM

The leather seats in the '84 and '85 models provide the least headroom. My hair touches the headliner of my '84 GSL at the edge of the sunroof cut-out. Meanwhile, my wife's '85 GSL has the SA seats installed and there's gobs of headroom.

Alternatively you could also install 2nd gen seats. They provide almost as much headroom as the SA seats and way more support. All you need to do to make them bolt in is swap the inside seat rail on the drivers' side from the FB seat onto the FC seat.

peejay 12-05-06 08:59 PM

Yeah, I should point out that my only FB experience is with my own '85 GSL (cloth). It had less interior room than my old '80 GS (cloth) did, and GOBS less than my friend's '79 S (cloth, NO SUNROOF) does. I can sit almost as upright in his car as I can in my MkII Golf.

I have non-helmet experience in various FCs (all sunroof) and one FD (sunroof) and nevarmore's two '85 models. Oddly, his '85s both sat higher up in the saddle than my car does. Maybe it's because I cinch the seatbelt down supertight and it's permanently squeezed the seatcushion over the past 60k miles.

bliffle 12-05-06 09:33 PM

Avoid the leather seats, get the cloth ones. My 83 is the roomiest car, and the 83 handles best and is lightest. I'm 'only' 6'2" and fit satisfactorily in all 3 cars (the REPU is surprisingly tight to get into).

I've got a spare drivers side leather seat that I'm experimenting with to try to get more room. It has to be thinned as well as lowered.

Rx-7Doctor 12-05-06 10:19 PM

If you want to do it right get a set of Recaro's. The driverside one that I had in my se sat atleast 3 inches lower then stock. Also the Sa seats sit lower but the padding sucks and they are not that comfortable. The GSl seats are pretty good also.

DAVID GRIMES 12-05-06 10:27 PM

There is more headroom and overall room in a seven for a big/tall guy (after getting in) than alot of "sports cars". I've recently been in a Crossfire and that is tight side-to-side and my head touches the roof even with the seats all the way back. Pitiful.

struhall 12-06-06 09:14 PM

i dont see how all you guys that are 6' and bigger fit. im a short 6' maybe even 5'11, and my head touches the headliner every now and again.

clbsinvaders 12-06-06 10:54 PM

I do just fine, 6ft1, no problems, just I hit my head getting out, thinking it's my accord.

drunkclever 12-06-06 11:44 PM

i am kind of happy this thread came out..

I am 5'10" .. and i fit "ok" in mostly every rx7.. the one i really can not get in is the 3rd gen.. ouch.. bumps.. i hit my head in the roof. Theres no room for me to reach down and scratch my nuts, big let down

I guess the designed the car with the average high of the non-american people in mind? :redface:

85rotarypower 12-07-06 12:01 AM

I'm 6'2" and I feel the FB was made for me. Perfect fit for me. 6'6" is tall, head room might be tight.

jpre 12-07-06 01:54 AM

For all you 6+ footers responding, you should say whether you're talking about a sunroof or non-sunroof car.

peejay 12-07-06 07:27 AM

Non-sunroof cars are extremely rare.

In my experience, the sunroof structure iself is not the pinch point, it is the doorframe. Hit that all of the time with helmet. These aren't FCs with their 4-inch-thick sliding power moonroof thingies.

clbsinvaders 12-07-06 07:45 AM

I don't have a sunroof. You are talking about FB's, correct?

wankel8694 12-07-06 09:05 AM

I'm 6'1'' and fit nicely in all gens of 7's, sunroof or not. I'm kind've slender as well. I have less room in my Prelude it seems.

2wankel 12-07-06 09:07 AM

6'1" fit nice with no problems, but I lay the seat back a little. When I wear a helmet thats a different story. I touch the roof now and again, but I take the sunroof off. :icon_tup: The wost part is like peejay said, with a helmet that door frame (hang over) is a real pain in the ass. I always bang my head with a helmet. I think its how you position your seat. If you have it at a 90 degree angle you will hit or touch the roof more. Just lay it back a little and it should be fine. :)

stilettoman 12-07-06 09:08 AM

I have two 1984 GSLs, and they both have the glass sunroof panel. With the stock sunroof, I am hitting my head all the time. I have also a 1985 GS parts car with no sunroof, and I fit it with no problem.

Here in the US, the seats are thicker/higher starting in about 1983, when Mazda found that the majority of buyers were women at that time. From what I have read on this forum in the past, I think the seats are different in the Australian cars, but I don't know the details.

My son had one we restored, a 1980, and we used seats from a 1983. We removed the upholstery from the driver's seat and cut about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the foam. That is easier than modifying the seat tracks.

Itsdaveonline 12-07-06 09:27 AM


Originally Posted by clbsinvaders
I do just fine, 6ft1, no problems, just I hit my head getting out, thinking it's my accord.

Hah, that happens to me alot. 6'1 also.


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