Interior question for the Boxster - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Herr Oberst · 09-10-2013, 03:17 AM

Ok I am considering getting a Boxster. However, I have never actually sat in one. Main reason is I hate car salesmen. Makes me feel...grimy all over. SO the question to those who own one: Will a person who is 6'1" be able to fit in one much less drive one? I own a Civic right now (Yeah it would be a NICE upgrade) and I fit with no problem. Guess I am looking for the legroom and height issue, if there is any. So whatcha think?

southernstar · 09-10-2013, 04:02 AM

You don't mention your weight (important, as the seats are fairly narrow). Assuming you are an average build the answer is yes, but if you like to drive with the seat back excessively reclined, you may find that the bulkhead for the engine keeps your seatback more upright than you are used to.

Grim1ock77 · 09-10-2013, 05:03 AM

I am 6'1" and about 230 lbs and fit nicely in the car. I do have the seat toward the back and at an incline that puts it right into the roll bar and against the back carpet. I don't have any problems getting in and out and feel quite comfortable when driving.

Hope this info helps, good luck shopping!

Beriaan · 09-10-2013, 09:06 AM

I am 6 foots and 190 pounds and I feel very confortable driving my box 1999 base.
So I think you will fit in it but you have to expect being a bit sqeeze...

kk2002s · 09-10-2013, 09:37 AM

I'm 6' 2" 195 lbs and very comfy. I like a fairly up right seat so I don't hit engine bulkhead but as said before, if you like a laid back seat then could be an issue. I think passenger space is good also. Sometime 5-6th gear shift competes with their knee

Trey T · 09-10-2013, 11:14 AM

I'm about as tall, 160lbs, and my DD is an SUV. I find it uncomfortable getting in and out in beginning but after awhile, I got used to it. Leg room on 986 could improved a lot.

steved0x · 09-10-2013, 01:04 PM

My hot tip would be to go to one of those small type auto dealers that typically have a handful of cars and are not affiliated with a brand of car. I test drove 2 boxsters from places like that, and both times they tossed me the keys and said go drive. I probably put 50 miles on those two boxsters. I did gas one of them up. No pressure from the first one, and the 2nd one did try to put the hard sell on me but I made my escape (which was the hardest part). I would have bought the first one but several things didn't work and the 2nd one had bad wheel hop on takeoff (and neither was an S, the first was a 98 and the second a 2000), but it was a great way to see how I fit in the car and how it drove.

I ended up buying on from out of state, flew in and drove it back after a thorough PPI that came back very clean and installation of the LN Ceramic IMS bearing.

Steve

Your profile says Louisville KY; here is one close by from a place like I described:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=121548438&listingRecNum=0&criteria=sf1Dir%3DASC%26alMdId%3D20705%26mkId%3D20 081%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20705%26rd%3D30%26crSrtF lds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoYear%26zc%3D40202%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dpric e%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26yrM x%3D2004%26alMkId%3D20081%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3 D28705&aff=national&listType=1

Herr Oberst · 09-11-2013, 04:53 AM

I weigh about 250. I mean my civic is small on the inside but I have no problem getting in or out. I went to a dealership yesterday that had the top down and got out and looked at the inside. I do not think I will have any problems because it looks like the same size as my civic. Yeah I should have sat in it but I guess I wanted to do a "stop and look drive by" (HAHAHA!!) before I was noticed. Probably getting one in the next 3-4 months. Thanks for the input gang. It has been very helpful!

Herr Oberst · 09-11-2013, 04:55 AM

Oh yeah BTW, Tom Gray Auto Sales is a joke. My mom bought a car from them and it was way overpriced. I did see it though on a previous search and thank you for the link. I am eyeballing one here in J'Town (Jeffersontown) which is on the outskirts of Louisville. We all use "Louisville" on our location because basically the county is louisville metro or so they say! :-)

BYprodriver · 09-11-2013, 09:32 AM

I recently drove 250 miles non-stop in a new Civic rental car. I could not find a comfortable seat position & my shoulder blades ached. I eventually realized the bottom seat cushion was to short to give adequate thigh support & I'm 5'10".
I once drove my 986 from Dallas to west coast in 1 day with zero comfort issues.

ccstud17 · 09-12-2013, 03:34 PM

6'3" 175lbs luckily narrow is not my issue lol! I am all legs, seat max back and down, and i have driven CO to OR 3x in it non stop. yes it is a lil crammed, my biggest issue is getting my legs in/out of the rather narrow door frame haha. get the Box, you will have so much fun driving you wont notice how your sitting!

your biggest problem isnt height, its that ugly Avatar you have

ekam · 09-12-2013, 05:00 PM

No worry, I'm 6'2" and I tried fitting a 6 foot blonde in the passenger seat and she fits too.

mistermac99 · 09-13-2013, 09:10 AM

I'm 6' 3" and do not have any problems in my 1999.
I'm not sure if all of them have the seat that drops down, as well as slides back, but when I went to test drive mine, the biggest concern I had was head room. In most small cars, my head scrubs the roof. I did not have that issue with the Boxster, because of the lowering seat adjustment.
When I get out, I seem to be rolling out of it, but the fun makes it all worth while.
Find a good one, do some research, buy one, and enjoy!!

boxslrr · 09-15-2013, 07:04 AM

Theres always the GT3 Console Delete mod if you need more legroom.

Pelican Technical Article: Boxster GT3 Center Console Uprade - 986 Boxster (1997-04) -

ccstud17 · 09-16-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermac99

When I get out, I seem to be rolling out of it, but the fun makes it all worth while.
Find a good one, do some research, buy one, and enjoy!!

This made me laugh out loud, I feel the same way! Also i have noticed with the top down on the highway I will slouch a little as to hit the sweet spot of less high powered wind in the hair. this car might lead to early baldness for it haha and if so, ill be able to drive .00000003 faster due to less resistance!

fullthrottle52 · 09-19-2013, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr Oberst

Oh yeah BTW, Tom Gray Auto Sales is a joke. My mom bought a car from them and it was way overpriced. I did see it though on a previous search and thank you for the link. I am eyeballing one here in J'Town (Jeffersontown) which is on the outskirts of Louisville. We all use "Louisville" on our location because basically the county is louisville metro or so they say! :-)

Herr,
If you want to sit in a boxster just send me a private message and we can meet up. I would be happy to let you see if you fit. Might even do a short drive if you like. My office is near the malls in louisville.

The French Dude · 09-21-2013, 03:47 AM

6'4" here and I will do the console delete soon... My right knee is annoying when it comes to sporty drive.

jb92563 · 09-21-2013, 09:18 PM

One trick is knowing how to adjust the seat up/down.

You can lower the seat and the wheel pulls out as well at an upward angle to get the desired knee clearance.

The French Dude · 09-22-2013, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb92563

One trick is knowing how to adjust the seat up/down.

You can lower the seat and the wheel pulls out as well at an upward angle to get the desired knee clearance.

Oh and how can I do that ?

urban · 09-22-2013, 08:00 AM

Pull the lever and rock your bumb up or down. The seat will be up or down in an angular way (when you lower it it goes back a bit, and when you increase its height it will go forwards a bit. You have to use a bit of force (I thought mine was broken when I bought until I figure it out).