For the past 5 or 6 years I've driven a car that is way too small for me. The lesson learned: don't go car shopping alone as a girl. At the time, the fact that the car was cute was enough for me, I wasn't too concerned about whether I actually fit in the car.
The garage where I park for work has parking attendants everywhere and they are always shocked when they see me walk over to the tiniest car in the garage and climb in. They have told me on multiple occassions that my car is too small for me and I need a bigger car. Thanks guys. Also, it's a running joke in my firm that I have such a small car because whenever we go to events I valet and then everyone is standing there when my little car shows up and I squeeze on in.
In August, I'll finally be getting rid of my silver bullet when I move to London for 4 months. Once I return though, I'm going to need to buy a new car and I'm thinking I should aim for something that fits me better. The three cars that I have fit the absolute best in are (1) the Honda Pilot; (2) the Scion Xb; and (3) interestingly, the Jeep Compass?
I've also noticed I generally fit ok in full-size cars (as opposed to my little 2-door sporty car), so it's not like I *have* to get an SUV. And in California, waaaaaay too many people drive SUVs who don't need them. And of course there are the gas prices and carbon footprint issues. I really like the feeling of sliding in to a car instead of scrunching down into one. I'm stuck in this constant tug of war between "get the car that is better on gas and better on the environment" and "get the car that is reasonable on gas and that you fit in really well."
I know a girl who is 6'4" and drives a Prius. So apparently, it can be done. But I've smacked the side of my head on the top of the door frame of my car so many times I'm convinced I might have brain damage.
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Michelle (so far it's just me)- 6'4" female currently residing in the Los Angeles Area. Second year Law Student, and dating a guy who is 6'7". Only gripe about being tall: the difficulty finding shoes, but it's getting better!
5 comments:
I vote for the xb! Not only am I biased...obviously, but it's great on gas AND great for tall people. Oh, and it has the fugly factor...so effing ugly it's cute. That's all I'm saying.
:) Love you Shelly!
I love love LOVE my Scion xB!
The headroom, the legroom, the wingspan room!
I love Scions too! My boyfriend is convinced that they are "not safe enough" for me. I think the only car that would be safe enough, in his eyes, is perhaps an actual military-issued tank :)
Okay, I know very little about cars as I don't drive, but from a passenger perspective they can be really deceiving.
My 6'2" friend just got a SmartCar, which looks like it would be just ridiculous, but I got to sit in it and was completely comfortable. Plus it's high off the ground, so getting in and out with long legs is easy.
I contrast this with my boyfriend's Civic, which although compact isn't exactly teeny, but I feel like I need to be lifted out of it because it's so low.
The 2006 xb got the highest safety rating of any passenger car that year. Safety was something I was concerned about going from a full size truck to a passenger car. It also got the best ratings for gas mileage and lifetime cost of the car. (Lifetime costs mean that with all the tune ups, tires, and such for the life of the car, it's the very least expensive in it's class, the safetest, and the most gas efficient with the exception of hybrids.)
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