A local dealer has an '03 Cooper S 6 Speed. They are asking $16,000, so I don't plan on buying it anyhow since it is overpriced and it doesn't sound like they want to budge.

Anyhow, I figured I would take it for a drive to see how it felt. I am 5'10", and this thing is way too small. There was essentially no room for me to hit the clutch. And even with the wheel adjusted at its highest, I couldn't get comfortable. Putting the sit back further would possibly give me more room, but I am not comfortable driving that way.

So, for the tall manual trans Mini owners? How do you drive to make it more comfortable?

Also, I have heard the '07+ models have a bit more room. Is it enough to make a difference?

 

I have to point my left foot to use the clutch. My left leg has to be off to the side to fit, my right is straight with the pedal, bent knee, shin against the center downtube. My right knee interferes with my hand as I turn right unless I move my hand. The car has never seemed cramped to me.

 

Seriously?

I'm 5'10" and I have an '03 Cooper S 6 speed and I can easily get the seat comfortable. Maybe you're unaware of all the adjustments available?

The handle on the left raises and lowers the seat squab, the handle under your right knee is fore aft, and the handle on the inside, next to the armrest (or where the armrest would be if it doesn't have on) is the backrest adjustment for rake.

Maybe the last driver had it up too high or something, but I'm confident you can get it set up to where you can shift easily and drive comfortably.

Prices vary from region to region, but just for comparison's sake, here is my current ad on Craigslist for my Cooper S JCW........

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...8caf19b6cc693b

 

Yes, seriously.

I tried all the adjustments. As I said, maybe I can adjust it to a point where I am comfortable in terms of seating, but not comfortable in terms of driving it.

 

I'm 6'5" and own a 07 MCS with a 6 speed manual trans. The car is roomy for me. If you have not already done so, move the drivers seat all the way back, recline the seat back, and lower the seat as far as it will go (pumping the adjustment lever). I'm sure you will then have plenty of room.

 

i am 5'10" as well and this is the roomiest small car i've ever driven for the driver and front passenger. you shouldn't have any problem getting comfortable, but if you do, this may not be the car for you.

 

Another six footer chiming in here. Plenty of room for me, provided the seat is adjusted properly. I keep my right foot at an angle with my toe pointing toward the center console for heel-toe shifting. Very comfortable except for my left knee hitting the plastic part of the door panel that looks like a phallus. I keep a piece of foam in the door pocket for that once I get cruising on the highway.

 

just to add

I'm also six feet and find the car great with room! even though i have a convert, when the top is up i still find it very spacious compared to any other car I've driven

Perhaps the adjustments arent where you like or maybe you have to get used to sitting a little farther from the clutch. However, I feel that i have the option of sitting close or far, both still giving me full access to the clutch and gas without my legs hitting anything or interfering

 

I am 6'1" and have plenty of room. I just have to make sure my shoe is centered on the clutch pedal to keep from hitting the left footrest.

 

5'11 and no problems (2006 JCW). In fact, I couldn't believe how much room there was the first time I drove it--more from front to back (although not from side to side) than in much larger cars.

Proper driving position should allow you to have the seat far enough back so that you can lay your wrists on top of the steering wheel without difficulty. In this position you should have more than enough room for your legs, unless you're an NFL lineman (Or University of Iowa cheerleader). If not, the height adjustment must be off. I can slide the seat so far back that I would have to reach for the clutch...

The only space issue I have is with a helmet on--I have to drop the seat one click lower than I'd prefer, but it's not that big of deal. Shouldn't have gotten the sunroof....

 

I am 6"1'' and have no problem fitting into both of our MINIs. Just lower the seat riser and you will have plenty of room. The MINI has way more room the most full sized cars.

 

Thanks for all the comments. But I must say, some of the comments about the size of this car are a little ridiculous. "More room than most full sized cars." "Roomiest small car I've been in." Come on, are we talking about the same car here?

 

It doesnt feel much worse than my dads 08 accord... Certainly better than a c5 'vette or an rx8, or or saturn sl2...

I'm 6'2 and I have the seat a third of the way forward....

 

I am also 5 11 when I first picked up my 04 MCS I had trouble finding a comfortable position, but lack of room was never a problem. Once I figured out all the controls for the seat it was easy to get a good driving position.

 

There is absolutly a disconnect as I am 6'10" and can drive a manual in the Mini quite comfortably. Makes me wonder if the seat was not working properly as the Mini does have a ton of driver space (more than in our '07 Odyseey in fact.)

 

Wow! 6'10"?

I bet you get tired of the "how's the weather up there" and "what basketball team did you play on" comments............

The OP may have an unusually long torso/leg relationship, but I still can't imagine he can't find a comfortable driving position in a MINI, it's one of the best cars for adjustability I've found.

And my 6'4" 300lb best friend was amazed that he could even sit in my car, let alone drive it comfortably. He's driven large American cars and trucks all his life because he just could not fit into the imports........

 

I am 6'1" and have plenty of room.

 

6'5" and no complaints

 

I'm guessing the OP wants to sit very close to the steering wheel like a NASCAR driver (wow I can't figure out how they drive that way). I'm 6-1 with no issues. I do wish the steering wheel column was telescoping. I see people driving all the time with their hands on the top of the wheel and their elbows touching the bottom of the wheel.

YD

 

No, I want to sit in a way that is comfortable for me. Which is a moderate distance from the steering wheel, while having enough movement to clutch (like every other stick I have driven.) I adjusted this thing in every way imaginable (despite suggestions that I try X or Y function) and while I may have room, I did not have a comfortable driving position.

 

I'm 6'1" with a 32" inseam, weigh 225 and have size 11 shoes.

I put the seat as low as it will go, about 2 notches short of the furthest back (I prefer being low) and the back slightly back.

It is very comfortable to me and my bare left foot just sits on the rest pedal to the left of the clutch, (If I put the seat all the way back and extend my left leg my foot is about an inch short of that pedal). I have center-cut sheepskin covers and so they actually move me forward about 3/4"

I have never come close to hitting two pedals at the same time.

That said, my wife is 5"2" and she does not thnk it is comfortable for a trip over 3 hours because she thinks it is not wide enough in the footwell or between the seat-console and seat-door.

Also to say the comments are ridiculous is a bit insulting. I own this car and driive it and you spent all of an hour or so in one. I could drive almost any car I want and have owned 35 or so cars and so I know when a car is more roomy that similar cars. It is more comfortable than my '89 corvette 'vert (although that car has power seats and so you can change position a little easier). The only thing I would like is a telescoping steering column, but otherwise it is fine.

I think the seat adjustments on the MCS are about as generous as they could be for a car that size. BTW, I also had a MC for a time and the seat was comfortable but not as adjustable as my MCS.

I agree with the comment is that you likely have not experimented with different combinations or there is something wrong with the car you tested.

Sounds like a MINI is not for you :-)

 

This may be the issue, the way YOU drive the MINI does not fit. I have had this issue with other cars I have driven, but not the MINI.
I like am tall like the others on this thread, 6'3", and have a very comfortable fit. It may simply be a taste issue.
Have you tried lowering the seat? That may help. If lowering does not help try raising the seat.
If you don't like the fit the MINI may not be the car for you.

 

Well my 2 cents, I am 6'01" and took a little adjustment to find the proper seat location. My knees are bent to where my heel is at the base of the throttle pedal, I get good heel-toe action, the seat is slammed on the lowest setting. My arms are bent at a 45 degree angle more or less with my hands at the 10 and 2 position. Yes my right knee is resting on the downtube, and my left knee is on the door trim. But I drove the car from Cleveland Ohio to San Antonio and back and WAS VERY COMFORTABLE! I must say that proper driving shoes are more comfortable than regular sneakers or other shoes, as they prevent heel soreness. Heck I even drive the car with cowboy boots on!

 

Im 6 foot and drive in the same position as nabeshin, but i can put the seat back far enough to where i cant touch the pedals at all. It just takes some time to play with all the adjustments and get comfortable

 

I said the comments that started off describing what it was like to drive the car, which was anything but comfortable (come on, a piece of foam!), and then followed by saying the car was roomy or comfortable. In other words, I was saying that the comments that included blatant contradictions were ridiculous.

retracted.