Crushed dreams
 

Hey guys,

I had my dreams crushed a few days ago. I really wanted to buy an FD so I went to check out a local one. I don’t know if it was type r or not but anyway… when I saw it I fell in love. I’m a pretty big dude..6”2 and I take up a lot of room if you know what I mean.
I tried to get in the car. Well…that failed miserably!
Me thigh just got stuck to the steering wheel. I couldn’t get my leg under the steering wheel to reach the clutch or gas pedal. So it would be impossible to drive that thing. I asked the salesman if he could move the steering wheel up so I could sit like a normal person. Then he turned and looked at me and told me that it’s not possible!
Now please help me out guys! Was it just a low class version or does the steering wheel really not come up? It has to! Every car can!
A friend of mine that owned a usdm R1 told me that his steering wheel could go up. So does it depend on the model of FD or does it have to do with JDM or USDM.
Sorry if this is stupid but I just really need to know.

no, they do not move. they are a sports car. Just buy it and then buy an aftermarket steering wheel that is smaller.

No FD ever had tilt steering. You can get undersized steering wheels and spacer plates, though. There's a guy using a quick release hub on his, it acts as a spacer, plus he gets in and out of the car w/o the steering wheel in, so it's much easier.


On to more important things, have you studied up on this car at all?

WOW... this is news to me... FC's came with tilt steering.

FCs also came with larger comfy interiors, and an optional rear seat. The FC was a more accomodating sports car than the FD. Of course, that's not saying much, as the FC is still quite small inside, and the rear seat was useless, but still...

yeah the FD is pretty small inside

you can get a quick release steering wheel from several places- theres one that flips up.
I'm 6ft1 230lb. I removed the slider from my seat and mounted it to the solid frame[corbeau
seats and frames] I feel like a little kid in there now- headroom for a cowboy hat.

if u also get buget seats that feels like u sit on the floor might help aswell

ya, just make sure they don't have high thigh bolsters, otherwise getting in/out is still hard.

i'm 6' 2" and fit just fine with the stock seats/wheel, i weigh 190 tho so i guess its good its not more after reading this!

Yeah I studied my ass off about this car. Been reading forums for the last few months. But I guess i concentrated so much on the engine and reliability aspect of it that i forgot about small stuff like being able to fit. The smaller steering wheel is a good suggestion. Thx. Didn't think about that.
And Xcentric could you maybe post some pics of you interior so I can see how it's done? And maybe tell me more about what you did. Cause i really want that car so any way i can have more room in there would be great.
Thx guys

i am 6 feet tall 210lbs i fit in an fd with no problem,you must be extra big

i'm 6'2 230. I couldn't fit. It was a jdm FD though. Maybe the USDM ones are more roomy. Don't know.
Any advice or pics or links to any site that helpes me with the fitting inside issue are more than welcome. Cause this is my dream car and i wanna make it happen.

Same here 6' 3" 244 pounds and the car fits like it was made for me. Completely standard interior.


Bob ( UK )

Just get a smaller steering wheel.

STAY AWAY from a JDM FD. You're in NYC, and you won't be able to title the car, and it'll be illegal on the roads. Search out a USDM FD, and you'll be alot happier. As far as suggestions, you've gotten all of the useful suggestions for making you fit already in this thread. Get yourself an aftermarket seat and mount it very very low, a quick release hub and a smaller steering wheel. Just be ready to use a little bit more muscle to turn the wheel with the smaller diameter steering wheel.

Thanks for the help guys. Hope the smaller steering wheel helps.

6'3" and 230 i and can fit no problem. its all a matter of finding your niche. but yea if its jdm, dont go for it...unless you want to sell it to me for cheap after you cant get it legalized.:D

It depends on a lot of things.

Dave

I was also very surprised that the steering wheel wouldn't tilt in mine, guess it didn't bother me though because i'm shorter than you.

You'd better look up the type R thing before you really embarass yourself.

Haha, you should see Bheiman get into his car, he is 6'7" 280lbs. Somehow he manages to squeeze in there, mainly because his seats are bolted to the floor. He has a stock steering wheel and seats too.

The trick is to "Step in" not "Sit in" like every other car. before you put your ass into the seat, reach your right foot all the way into the foot-well... to the driving position. Then sit most of the way in, angling your left foot in (bending @ your knee) and point your toes towards the clutch pedal and extend leg. Bang! you are now firmly (possibly permanently) attached to your FD.

:withstupi It's 100% federally illegal. NOTHING can be done about that. You MAY be able SHADILY/ILLEGALLY title the car in NY itself, but a) you can EASILY get caught, b) Insurance may not just leave you high in dry in the event of an accident, but they (or the opposite party's insurance) may actually SUE you for driving an illegal vehicle, and c) if you ever decide to sell, without the Customs HS-7, DOT, and EPA forms, most ppl won't be able to retitle the car in their state, which will prob result in them taking you to court for selling them an illegal vehicle which you claimed was "legit" simply b/c you have a state title.

A FEDERALLY ILLEGAL (non-federalized) VEHICLE IS *NEVER* LEGAL, EVEN IF YOU OBTAIN A STATE TITLE.

Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I had a JDM RHD FD, and I also import and sell federalized Skylines. But something (experience) tells me you prob. won't listen, thinking you got the inside track on this... =-/

~Ramy
FDNewbie Imports

If its a true jdm then the seats don't move back as far as the usdm versions because the jdms accomodate for the rear seats and have shorter seat rails. I found this out the hard way when I bought a set of jdm r1 seats and found out that the seat rails were substantially shorter. It was an easy fix though, I just switched my usdm seat rails to the jdm seats and it allowed ALOT more leg room.