R8 Spyder and tall drivers

[azr8]

I am a tad over 6'5". When I ordered the spyder I had never sat in one to see if there would be enough headroom so I was a bit worried. I had sat in a v10 coupe with R tronic and had a comfortable amount of legroom with the seat nearly as far back as possible, and about 1" to 1.5" head clearance. I figured the a soft top would have a slightly different roof line along with a folding frame, and thus possibly less headroom. I couldn't find any feedback about headroom and tall drivers online so I thought I would post my experience for other tall people contemplating the softtop version of the R8.

In summary, I do fit in the R8 spyder, although just barely. After playing around with different seat positions, I have found if I adjust the seat for optimum legroom (which is just enough to keep my knees off the bottom of the steering wheel with a bit of breathing room), my hair rubs the cloth on the roof at all times--unless I consciously slouch. My head isn't touching, but my hair rubs lightly. I have a fairly short haircut that sticks up roughly 1" above my scalp. If my hair was buzzed, i would have just enough room to be clear without slouching.

Alternately, I can move the seat forward a bit allowing it to recline further. This provides slightly more headroom which stops my hair from rubbing but puts my knees just about in contact with the bottom of the steering wheel at all times so that I am visibly stradling it at the bottom. This seat position makes it particularly difficult to exit the car as, in order to push up from my feet to stand up, I have to wiggle my knees behind the steering wheel without getting them trapped back there--possible but definitely less than elegant.

That said, neither position is terribly uncomfortable nor do they stop me from enjoying the ride on the occasional times I must have the top up. This is saying a lot as there are many cars that simply won't accomodate a driver of my height at all. Aside from the slightly tight accommodation, the seating position is very comfortable. My wife, who is quite a bit shorter than me, finds the interior very comfortable, even more so than in my Bentley GTC (I agree except that I have ample leg and head room simultaneously in the Bentley). The car is still very new to me so perhaps I will find a different way to adjust the seat that works better. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

[SebringSilver]

Nice write-up. Just pretend you're Tom Selleck and always drive with the top down.

[Monkey boy UK]

What seats did you opt for? the sports seats or the bucket seats which take up less room? or am i right in thinking you cant get bucket seats in the USA due to the air bag rules?

[SebringSilver]

What seats did you opt for? the sports seats or the bucket seats which take up less room? or am i right in thinking you cant get bucket seats in the USA due to the air bag rules?

You're right; airbag laws means we don't get the bucket seats in North America.

[Monkey boy UK]

You're right; airbag laws means we don't get the bucket seats in North America.

Thats a shame as the bucket seats do give more room!

[M3R8]

You're in Arizona, you don't need to be top up with a spyder...

That said, and the fact that you probably can't legally get buckets installed (maybe you can somehow), you might want to consider, and it sound a bit crazy, get a replacement bottom part for your seat.

You take the old piece out and store it, get a professional house to design and build thinner bottom padding and replace the original.

Sounds like a PITA, literally.

[Garyhun]

Bucket seats are not available for the Spyder in the UK either. Unless that's recently changed....

Good news if it has as that's the option I would go for.

[drifting]

My father had the same trouble with a gallardo spyder. He's 6.4 but he is a big guy.

He tired different seats and setups but ended up giving the car back to the dealership and getting the the standard coupe. He soon went back to his beloved AMGs currently the SLS.

If I lived in Arizona doubt the roof would ever be up. but Can you not get the seats out of a TTRS fitted there very low profile

[azr8]

Nice write-up. Just pretend you're Tom Selleck and always drive with the top down.

Good idea. I will start shopping for a pair of short shorts and grow my mustache as well

Thats a shame as the bucket seats do give more room!

Bucket seats would seem like the best and cleanest solution, if they were available. Thanks for that tip--I will keep an eye out just in case they become available possibly even in the aftermarket.

You're in Arizona, you don't need to be top up with a spyder...
...
You take the old piece out and store it, get a professional house to design and build thinner bottom padding and replace the original.

Sounds like a PITA, literally.

Yes a real PITA, good one. If it bothered me more, I might consider it, but its not to the level of annoyance or discomfort to go through all that. If it were my daily driver, I might be bothered more. As a secondary ride, based on my experience with my GTC, I'll probably put on about 3k miles per year and have the top down about 75% of the time.

With the top down, I fit just fine. However, I have not had it long enough to try the wind screen to see how well it blocks the wind for my head position. Its been unusually cold in AZ the past couple weeks so the top has been up since the car arrived.

My father had the same trouble with a gallardo spyder. He's 6.4 but he is a big guy.

He tired different seats and setups but ended up giving the car back to the dealership and getting the the standard coupe. He soon went back to his beloved AMGs currently the SLS.

If I lived in Arizona doubt the roof would ever be up. but Can you not get the seats out of a TTRS fitted there very low profile

I sat in a couple gallardos a few years ago. Both the coupe and spyder were considerably cramped for my height. I remember immediately thinking I could not drive one of those. If I recall correctly, I was cramped all around including legs, head, and my left side. I wouldn't really say I feel "cramped" in the R8 spyder (i.e. I don't feel the car closed in all around me constraining me from all sides), but the hair rubs. The coupe offers no problem at all, at least the R tronic does not, as I have not sat in a standard manual.

Have not considered the seats from the TTRS. If it bothers me enough in the weeks ahead, I may look into whether I can find a shop that would be familiar enough with both cars to have an idea if that is possible. In a worst case scenario, I will switch the spyder for a coupe, but I don't anticipate it getting to that point.

[moldowan]

i think eventually someone will come up with a seat lowering kit.
i have a viper and lower mine 2" with a kit. I am 6'4 and it made a huge difference in the comfort of that car for me