It's pretty tight, hard time getting my head to fit ...

[Dman]

First, lol.

It has been a while since I drove one at VOI12 and so I went by a dealer for a fitting into a gen5.

It was really tight for my noggin. Its a 2014 so I think that means the seat is already a bit lower than a '13, yes?

I think I'd survive "ok" to drive around, kinda, but I can't imagine I'm going to fit with a helmet on. The dealer invited me to come back with my helmet and try it out.

I'm 6'3"+ and 200lbs, the rest of the car fit totally fine, the pedals, the seat felt fine, the shifter reach, everything was fine, I didn't think visibility was too bad, etc., but I'm concerned that with a helmet I'd have to drive with my head tilted to the right, lol, and be banging it like a mosh-pit addict on the track.

Anyone my size have thoughts on this with a gen5, anyone manage to eek out a bit more head room somehow?

Thnx.

[Voice of Reason]

Witch doctor, ask for the shrunken head treatment?

I'm 6'2" and fit with a helmet and can see that with an extra inch it could have been an issue.

[ViperSmith]

If you want to wiggle around in mine a bit you are more than welcome (Tyson's) to see if you can get a fit.

[SmoknTires]

I'm 6'4". My head is already touching the headliner. No chance for a helmet. The other problem is the headliner does come down quite a bit in the front and the sides. The headliner ends right below my eyes. It doesn't seem possible from the outside of the car, but the headliner has a more concave shape than can be perceived from the outside. So you're head goes up in there and then you can barely see the horizon.

The new car is amazing in so many ways, I don't think I could go back to the old car given the conveniences, electronics, and performance (being slightly better). But this height issue became a bigger deal now that it's in the garage. Even non-helmet stuff is tough due to always having to hunch over just to see further down the road. And as for things like traffic lights... no hope at all.

I've spoken with several in SRT, Venzano, Northwind, Autoform, etc... Hoping someone decides to step into the ring and make a seat lowing kit and/or headliner.

[ViperSmith]

I defiantly think there is more space that can be taken out of the seat.

Being 6'2'' myself I appreciate how challenging it is to see stoplights - but figured out you can see the reflection of the stoplight off the hood of the car :)

[EdwardETraylorIII]

I'm 6'3 and 240 Lbs. I could never wear a helmet in this car. As Smokin Tires noted, traffic lights? What traffic lights. I have such a hard time driving this car!!!!

[City]

Are the seat anchors in the V that different than the IV? Northwind makes (or made) a lowering kit for the Gen IV.

[Dman]

Yea, it's pretty deceiving. Looking at the car I didn't expect any issues, looked like there should be plenty of room, and considering very other aspect is pretty much fine, I was wondering if I was doing something wrong with adjusting the height, but we went over it for like 10 mins, dealer was very cool about it and told me to bring in the helmet, so I will but I can already tell it ain't fitting. The seat seemed pretty snug to the bottom of the floor though, I'm not sure there's room to go down, the headliner must be quite thick.

I think at VOI I was so giddy over getting to drive it & that Eric was my ride along, I missed a bunch of stuff, I don't remember being concerned about my head room, but it was right in my face in the showroom, this is a real stumbling block for me on the gen5, bummed. Hoping the aftermarket finds an inch or two in there somewhere ....

Thanks for the offer to try your car on, I'll keep it in mind, but props to this dealer, they welcomed me jockeying around in it & coming back, etc. They have a green coming, at least I can see the new color in person .. how bout that vert Ralph?? For us manly men with fat heads.

[SmoknTires]

I have the northwind kit on my other cars going back tot he GenI. They don't work on the GenV and aren't at all adaptable.

The GenV seats are actually better than all the previous gens as the gut of the mechanics do tuck under the seat better and the seat is lower than in Gen 3 and 4. We pulled the seat out and attempted to fab something up or reuse the other lower kits on the market, unfortunately it needs someone who can really create an entirely new kit. The seat does sit lower, and measuring the bottom of the seat there is less opportunity to pull more height out of it as it seems no more than 1 1/2 inches is left (the seat is pitched so looking at the back, there is far less space under the seat.

I don't think it's a "flaw" in the car, as us shrek sized people have gotten used to inconvenience. There's are many exotics that leave no hope at all. In a Lamborghini Murcielago there's no way I can have the top on, with the top off the head is ok but the leg clearance make it near impossible to drive as it's not made for anyone taller than 5'4"! I nearly have to criss-cross my legs to deal with the short distance to the pedals.

But hoping something can be done. It's the only personal problem the new car has created for me, but still better than all the prior cars on height. As for tracking it, ugh. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, no chance with a helmet at all.

[mnc2886]

I personally feel like I have better visibility and head room in a Gen IV than I do a Gen V.

[Dman]

I personally feel like I have better visibility and head room in a Gen IV than I do a Gen V.

With my gen4 being a vert, so do I ;-)

At VOI they made us run with the soft top up, which was funny considering the protection the cloth adds, and I was OK, but the vert top is "hollow" so you get max head room (80's joke in there somewhere) from it.

[Viper Girl]

All you tall guys have no fear, us 5'5" women will drive your Gen V's for you... That's the real reason for the Oh shit handle on the passenger side... Didn't Ralph tell you that? LMAO


Seriously though, wasn't there a bolt that could be removed under the drivers seat that gave more room for the seat to drop down?

[Dman]

Yea on the bolt / spacer, but i'm pretty sure it's only on the 13s, the 14s don't come with it so they're already 'lowered'. That's why I hunted out a 14 to try.

If I'm wrong, someone correct me.

And fitting well into a viper is a great argument for being a woman, more proof that you are the superior genetic design to us.

[ViperSmith]

Is buy a lowering kit if someone made one

[Policy Limits]

There are bolts that can be removed for more height clearance; or just wait for the roadster which should debut soon

[EdwardETraylorIII]

I pulled my seats out and there was no remotely easy way to lower the seats (and I know my way around a car with a wrench). We need to get a shallower seat or cut a hole in the floor pan and weld in a new floor (totally impractical).

[gutterworks129]

I am glad I'm 5'8, I fit in all cars!

[Dman]

Yep, it's a no go with the helmet, not a prayer.

What a bummer.

I guess I'm back to focusing on prayer for a vert announcement in April. Otherwise, I'll need an aftermarket solution for replacing the roof liner and/or dropping the seat .. like I did in my 3 and my 4.

[cashcorn]

Try this.. Pretend you are on the couch and slouch. You can make it work!

[Viper Girl]

Back to that bolt removal... can the bolt be taken out without removing the seat?