i was considering ordering an s coupe for my wife. her problem is she is 4" 10" and has problems reaching the rear hatch on most cars. she can reach the hatch on my r56. so the question is how much higher is the coupe hatch and is the pull to close any different (wt) ?

 

I don't have my Coupe yet to make the measurement. If the 2 of you like the Coupe I'd hate to think that one issue would stop you from getting it. Maybe a cord attached to the inside of the hatch that when the hatch is up would hang down and she can reach?

 

a handle like that might work, but even I noticed that it takes a good bit more effort to pull the hatch down than it does on a regular Cooper. But without going and trying out for yourselves you'll never know. Is there a dealer close enough to you that it's easy to stop by and see?

 

The lucky people that already have a Coupe are probably out driving now, one of them will have the measurement later. Maybe measure both how high to touch the hatch and how high to get a good grip.

 

There are grips on the inside of the trunk lid that you can use to help pull down the trunk. Noticed these on my Coupe a day or so after I got it. One note is that it is fairly heavy.

I recommend you just go to a dealer and try it out there.

 

unfortunately the dealer is about a 2 1/2 hr drive away. besides being short she weighs in at 85 lbs so the weight of the pull is a factor since she is 68 yrs old. i have to go to the dealer in jan for the " yrly check up" so i guess i can see for my self. after owning 85 cars ( we have a "car problem" ) i pretty much can predict if it will be a problem. she presently drives a jeep grand cherokee srt8 and never opens the hatch for both height and wt reasons but since it has rear doors, the fun factor out weighs the inconvience.

 

given those factors I think you are right that it would be a very big struggle for her. I am 5'6 or so and I felt like I had to reach pretty high.

That is quite a "car problem" alright! The dealers must LOVE you. My dad has a similar problem. I think the Chevy dealer where he is constantly buying and trading cars must have a shrine to him somewhere.