Question:
dose anybody know a car that has a lot of space for obese drivers.
I am interested in a car like a Toyota Corrola, or a Honda Cive, and I'm looking for a car that has enough room while I am driving so the wheel will not be pushing agaisnt my stomache. If anyone has any suggestions, or advice on what type to get new or used. Thank you — mary H. (posted on July 11, 2003)
July 11, 2003
I had a friend whos mechanic altered the seat by moving the seat tracks
back to make more room. Look at the brite side this trouble will go away
once you have WLS:)
— bob-haller
July 11, 2003
I have a Toyota Camry. It has plenty of room. I weight 318 pounds and
have never had a problem getting in and out or fastening my seatbelt. Good
luck!
— Stacie B.
July 11, 2003
I would recommend a Ford Expedition. The seat can go back very far to give
you room for your stomach. If you are short like me, there is a button to
press that will automatically move the foot pedals forward so you dont have
to strain your legs or be forced to drive with your stomach touching the
steering wheel.
— S A.
July 11, 2003
I'm currently 338 and I drive a 2001 Honda Civic with no problems what so
ever. I remember before I bought my car that I tried a Corolla and didn't
have a very good fit for the seat or the seatbelt. I'm glad I bought my
Civic...I love my car!!! Hope this helps.
— Morna B.
July 11, 2003
I laugh at myself because I outgrew my Car. Saab's are not friendly to
everweight people. I traded in prior to my surgery. I now drive a ford
Super cab. Ford I believe
is better for weight issues. Seatbelts are longer etc. My Aunt is very
Large and she drives a Crown Victoria with no problem but I am not sure if
they still make them. Try a Taurus out and see what that is like. My mom
drives a PT cruiser (Chrysler product) and prior to surgery 340lbs I could
not buckle the seatbelt. Good luck on your search.
— Kelly P.
July 11, 2003
A friend of mine and her husband buy the Ford Taurus, with seatbelt
extenders. They've been very happy with the comfort level.
— Mendi M.
July 11, 2003
Toyota Camry or Honda CRV if you like the small SUVs. Both of which do
excellent with Consumer Reports.
— Starrlina
July 11, 2003
Hi there! What a good question! Due to car troubles last December, I was
forced to buy a new car (not new new, but new to me) and all I could
find/afford was a 2000 Chevy Malibu -- well let me tell you I LOVE THAT
CAR!!! We only paid $10,000 plus a $2,000 trade in. It's very pretty,
kind of has the same lines as like an accord or a camry. It is very roomy,
which is important to me because along with being fat I am 5'10" and
need leg room. The front seat is very roomy and the steering wheel has
tilt. It has a console box in the middle between the seats that you can
put back so you have more room to the right of you. And it has a v6 so it
has some power to it also. I bought it because I was driving it as a
rental car from the dealership while my car was being fixed and ended up
buying it when my repair bills got to high on the broken car, but I'm
really happy with it and I like it alot. Go test drive one and see what I
mean. By the way, I weigh more than 300, so I do find it roomy for my
size. Good luck!
— beeda
July 11, 2003
When I was obese, I was very confortable in my Seabring. I was NOT
confortable in my husband's BMW.
— Amber L.
July 11, 2003
Mary, Thanks for the interesting question. I struggled for years with small
cars (all I could afford at the time if I wanted new/not used) and finally
bought a Chevy Impala. What a terrific car! It has all the good things the
previous writer said about the Malibu plus a steering wheel you can adjust
up or down to fit you. You can get it in v6 or if you can spend a bit more,
even a v8. And it looks so cool driving away with its big round lights.
— Carole V.
July 11, 2003
I recommend the Honda Element. Not only does it accommodate my grande
behind and tummy, its a way cool car. Got me an orange one! There are
pics on my website if you would like to check it out! Under misc. pics!
It's also very affordable. Loaded with 4WD for 22K including tax, tags and
title.
— SMG I.
July 11, 2003
I forgot to metion that the seatbelt fits with a little extra room to
spare, no belt extender needed.
— beeda
July 11, 2003
Does it have to be a car, I use to have a S10 pickup with an extended cab
for back seats, and it was nice, I weighted about 300 lbs when I had that
little truck and loved it. It was great if I went garage sale hunting, I
just put everything in the bed of the truck. We now have a RAM1500 Dodge
Pick up, that has the full back seat and I love it, my surgery is in 26
days, so I drive the pick up everywhere, we also have a Chystler, Sebring
Convertable, and it is hard for me to get behind the steering wheel now,
but after I lose some weight this grandma is going to be driving the
convertable everywhere, top down, music going, and not having to worry
about the steering wheel.
— cindy
July 11, 2003
I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty and I have plenty of room, I'm just two weeks
post-op LAP RNY.
— David F.
July 11, 2003
I've always had VWs... I don't know about the bug, but the Jetta has a
great deal of room and is a great car. My partner has a ford F150 super
crew.. with four doors.. its got an amazing amount of room. its
wonderful... I don't need it so much anymore.. but those are my picks!
good luck!
— Lisa C.
July 11, 2003
My '98 Ford Taurus had tons of room. My husband's a big guy (6'2" and
340 lbs) and fit in it quite comfortably. (That was more of an issue for
him than me, even.) We have a Windstar now - 'cause of kids - but I will
always miss my Taurus. Most comfy car I've ever had.
— Susan W.
July 11, 2003
Oddly enough the new VW Bug has a very ample amount of space in the front
seat and I heard the guys on Car Talk on NPR saying just that.
— Carol S.
July 11, 2003
I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty and I love it. I've loved watching the
"space change" between me and the steering wheel since I've lost
so much weight due to WLS. A good test of a car is if there are selt belt
extenders available. It wasn't available with the Liberty and they just
ordered me a longer seatbelt and installed it and it worked fine--I made it
a condition of my buying the Jeep. About the time I was shopping I ran
across information that Honda wouldn't provide seat belt extenders or
install longer seat belts. I hope they've changed their tune by now
because that got a lot of publicity a couple of years ago. For the dealer
it's a liability issue--if they sell a vehicle that you cannot have enough
room in and use the seatbelt, they could be held liable if something
happens to you.
— Cathy S.
July 11, 2003
I've driven a Dodge Neon for the past 7 years and weighed over 500 plus I'm
only 5'3. I know when it comes to cars, 2 doors have been easier for me to
get in and out of because the opening is bigger since there is space for
people to get in and out of the back seat. My sister has an early model
Saturn and it is very tight squeeze!!!
— Sarahlicious
July 11, 2003
TOYOTA ECHO!! It looks like a little roller skate, but it is the most
comfortable car I have ever driven!! I can't reccomend it enough
— anadrama
July 11, 2003
I HAVE to be comfortable when driving. A few years ago, in '99. we needed
a new car. In the interest of economy we bought a Nissan Altima. I was
around 235 then, at 5'6 1/2". My husband is 6'2" and 250. We
both disliked the car right from the beginning but knew we had to make it
work for us. Well, a year later, I totalled it. Thank goodness my son and
I were fine, but the car looked like a bad set of braces. When we got the
decision from the insurance company, boy did we do the happy dance. We
took a small pension loan and ran to the Chevy dealer. We now have a 2000
Impala in addition to our minivan. The Chryslers are by far the most roomy
of the minivans with the Ford Windstar coming in second. The Impala is the
best car we've had in years. My MO mother also has one, in addition to her
Lincoln Town Car. Now that's a comfy car for us!!
— Fixnmyself
July 11, 2003
I love my Toyota Rav4. It is a higher car and easier to get in and out of.
I felt like I was falling into a regular car.
— Terry Lynn W.
July 11, 2003
I drive a Mazda Protege and did so at 315#. I never had a problem with the
steering wheel hitting my stomach. The steering wheel and seat are
adjustable and at 5'4" I never "felt fat" driving my car:~)
— klinzey
July 11, 2003
I currently have a 95 Ford Taurus and feel comfortable in it. One of the
deciding factors to do the surgery soon was the fact that my belly hit the
steering wheel. I am 5 feet tall and weighed 312 before surgery. The
steering wheel doesn't hit me anymore- finally. I thought the newer
Tauruses had foot pedals that extended too, so that you would be able to
have the seat back further.
— Heather M.
July 11, 2003
I love my Ford Escape! Perfect size for me, not to big, definitely not too
small!
— sunneegirl
July 11, 2003
Hi Mary- One suggestion might be to make sure the steering wheel is
moveable- you know that little stick behind the steering wheel that moves
it up or down? My DH works for a car dealership and brings home lots of
models, and that stick adjuster thingie is very helpful. BTW, I drive a
Chrysler van and am very happy with the roominess. The seat belt fits
without an extender :o) Good luck!
— Mea A.
July 11, 2003
You seem to have alot of answers to your question. I am 373 pounds at 6
foot. A little Geo Metro has more space than it looks like it should. I
don't even know if they make them anymore. We also have a Geo Prism. I
steering wheel hits my tummy. It is also a pain to get in and out of. I
prefer a mini van. It is alot easier to get in and out of. Trucks are ok
also. I have driven a truck that has a back seat in it. No one can behind
me because I have to have the seat all the way back to fit behind the
wheel. I would suggest if you are embarrased to go test some cars for
yourself.
— Cameron Van Winkle
July 11, 2003
My suggestion is a Dodge Durango! I am over 300# and 5'9"..and I am
very comfortable in it. Even when there is a passenger, or I ride and my
hubby drives...I don't feel crammed next to the other person! It is also
quite a bit cheaper than the bigger SUV's...and with a new body style
coming out next year, the used ones are dropping in price. :)
— Cher B.
July 11, 2003
At 5' 8", 385 I was amazed by the Toyota Echo. I even fit in the back
seat. How they made it bigger inside than it is outside, I don't know. Good
luck yo you!
— Kim A.
July 11, 2003
I'm 5'9" and weigh about 330. My mom is about 5'8" and also
weighs about 300. I just bought a 2000 Ford Focus and we both love it so
much. I drive and my mom rides in the passenger seat. It looks small, but
because of the design it has tons of leg room up front and a decent amount
of elbow room. It also get fairly good gas mileage. I've averaged anywhere
from 23-31 mpg. I was also interested in the other cars you mentioned.
After test driving for about a month I kept coming back to the Ford Focus.
And, it's a hot-looking little car. I've gotten the most comments from
strangers and the car's 3 years old. Hope this helps.
— onetyger
July 11, 2003
Hi Mary, I am about 5'6" tall and weigh about 285, and I find my honda
civic 2 door to be really comfortable. Don't buy a chevy lumina, my mom
has one and it is really really bad!!! Honda's have awesome resale value
too!!
— Lori M.
July 11, 2003
We used to have a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. I LOVED that car. My husband is
tall and then he was pretty big and he fit in it so well. That car had
great gas mielage and had tons up power! It was a NICE car!
— Tami H.
July 11, 2003
I am 6'3 and 410# and drive a chevy tahoe with no problems. Lotsa room,
even in the back seats!
— casek
July 11, 2003
A third vote here for the Toyota ECHO! The roomiest compact car I have
ever been in. We love it!
— Lori A.
July 11, 2003
I have a Ford Focus ZX3. I bought it because I liked the room in the
front. Back seats in a ZX3 are to hold purses mostly. Very little room in
the back. When I bought it I was 5'2" and 326 lbs. Seat and steering
adjust thank goodness. I have lost over 100 lbs and had to pull the seat
forward and raise the seat. The seat adjusts up down and forward and
backward. I bought a bright yellow with sun roof etc. I call it my mid
life crisis car. That was all I could afford for my crisis. It does get
noticed. I got 0% interest on it making it the prefect car to me. At
least test drive one. Where else can you get all the extras in a sporty
car for under 18,000.
— june22
July 17, 2003
Chrysler PT Cruiser... I am 6'4" and 420 and fit way good... About
6-8 inches clearance bt the steering wheel and my stomach...
— TJ M.
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