Barely Tall Enough to Drive BW

[Deneed4spd]

So I’m a short dude. 5’6”. Pretty even torso/leg ratio. With the seat way pushed forward to the max, my leg just reaches the full extension of clutch with slight knee bend. I’m not sure if a person under my height would be able to drive this manual car, I’m sure shorter ladies probably can’t. I wonder if the CT4 blackwing since it’s smaller has a smaller seat dimension so a shorter person can drive it. Short buyer beware since there is not many BWs lying around to sit in and try.

queue short jokes…

 

[668LT4]

5'-7" here and no trouble on my 6MT. My seat is 6" from all the way forward.

 

[Tall Steve]

I would love to trade heights with you as I'm 6'7" 270 lbs and fill the seat in both 4 & 5 BW...

 

[M2Cto4BW]

OP based on your post you are a 5BW owner? I'm 6' 1" and have loads of room to push up the seat in the 4BW.
I cannot imagine the 5BW would be that less forward moving and if you have a typical 26" inseam for someone 5'6" you should still have a lot of room. Maybe the seat isn't going as far forward as it should?

Seems there is always room (no pun intended) for a new BW issue :-S

 

[Tall Steve]

OP based on your post you are a 5BW owner? I'm 6' 1" and have loads of room to push up the seat in the 4BW.
I cannot imagine the 5BW would be that less forward moving and if you have a typical 26" inseam for someone 5'6" you should still have a lot of room. Maybe the seat isn't going as far forward as it should?

Seems there is always room (no pun intended) for a new BW issue :-S

You may be right because my awesome wife is 5'3" and she has no issues driving 4BW...She can't drive the M6 5 BW...

 

[Deneed4spd]

OP based on your post you are a 5BW owner? I'm 6' 1" and have loads of room to push up the seat in the 4BW.
I cannot imagine the 5BW would be that less forward moving and if you have a typical 26" inseam for someone 5'6" you should still have a lot of room. Maybe the seat isn't going as far forward as it should?

Seems there is always room (no pun intended) for a new BW issue :-S

Yep a CT5 BW. I have the seat 2/3 down and all the way forward. If I have my left heel on the floor, leg is almost straight. If I keep heel off floor and use my front sole, then knee is more bent. Maybe I need ride higher since the seat seems to go more forward if higher. U should see the amt of room behind my seat. U could fit a goat in the rear footwell.

 

[Kanetch]

Are pedal extenders a thing? I know I’ve seen decorative pedal covers, maybe there are some thicker versions. Worst case I’ll swap my 4 for your 5 if it helps

 

[Deneed4spd]

Are pedal extenders a thing? I know I’ve seen decorative pedal covers, maybe there are some thicker versions. Worst case I’ll swap my 4 for your 5 if it helps

Ha! I said it’s still drivable! Just saying any shorter, you are in trouble.

 

[GoldGSF]

So I’m a short dude. 5’6”. Pretty even torso/leg ratio. With the seat way pushed forward to the max, my leg just reaches the full extension of clutch with slight knee bend. I’m not sure if a person under my height would be able to drive this manual car, I’m sure shorter ladies probably can’t. I wonder if the CT4 blackwing since it’s smaller has a smaller seat dimension so a shorter person can drive it. Short buyer beware since there is not many BWs lying around to sit in and try.

queue short jokes…

Hello as a fellow short king. My driving comfort changes from shoe to shoe. I'm just glad I'm not the only one with this type of concern.

 

[Throat Yogurt]

You may be right because my awesome wife is 5'3" and she has no issues driving 4BW...She can't drive the M6 5 BW...

6'-7" and 5'-3"?

 

[Tall Steve]

6'-7" and 5'-3"?

Don't we look cute together!

 

[shbox]

Are pedal extenders a thing? I know I’ve seen decorative pedal covers, maybe there are some thicker versions. Worst case I’ll swap my 4 for your 5 if it helps

I hear people are having their legs surgically lengthened.

 

[Deneed4spd]

I hear people are having their legs surgically lengthened.

I have spent all my $$ on the BW and probably can only afford one leg.

 

[ClassaxV]

I'm 6'4 265lbs and I find the CT4 is one of the few vehicles on the market where in the correct seating position I don't have to duck down to see street lights when stopped at the correct spot at intersections.

I do wish the steering wheel was a flat bottom for when I exit. What's crazy is I still have quite a bit of room to move the seat back if desired, but I do tend to set my seat up for a performance driving position just about all the time, even for long trips.

 

[shbox]

I have spent all my $$ on the BW and probably can only afford one leg.

For anyone with an A10, that would be perfect!

 

[PrimeTime]

Im 6'1" at 235 and I could never fit comfortably in a 4BW, how you taller guys do it? The main reason I wanted a 5BW. The A10, for my bum wheel.

The other caveat was, needed a back seat. When you push back in a 4BW its all but gone back there.

 

[bloominguez]

Im 6'1" at 235 and I could never fit comfortably in a 4BW, how you taller guys do it? The main reason I wanted a 5BW. The A10, for my bum wheel.

The other caveat was, needed a back seat. When you push back in a 4BW its all but gone back there.

6' 3" here, and I'm with you in the "4BW is too small" camp. Not so much once you're inside, but getting in and out was not as easy as it could or should be, something that would drive me crazy over time. If they made a 2-door 4BW then that would be perfect. I hate having a pillar to my left, rather than a window. The 5BW isn't great is this regard, either, but at least it's better. Ergonomics have never been GM's strong suit, but maybe I've been spoiled by other brands.

 

[Berserker]

So I’m a short dude. 5’6”. Pretty even torso/leg ratio. ... I wonder if the CT4 blackwing since it’s smaller has a smaller seat dimension so a shorter person can drive it.

I'm also 5'6". Have a 4BW 6MT.

I just checked with a tape measure, and my seat could move forward a little more than 5 inches from where I keep it.

 

[ClassaxV]

I'm 6'4 and I have a full 2.75" of rearward travel left from where I normally sit.

If you guys think the CT4 is too small you surely won't like any of A3, RS3, CLA, Mustang, Porche, M2, M3 or Civics. It's got more room for the driver than all of them. The boys at Dodge might have a suit in your sizes. Camaro is literally the same platform with less interior accessibility.

As for getting in and out gracefully over the bolsters. There is a trick I learned from a McLaren salesman. It's easy to demonstrate but hard to explain.

Getting in, you put you inboard foot on the floor and support yourself as you lower your posterior into the seat as you pivot towards the front.

Getting out, set you exit settings so that you can swing your outboard leg so that your thigh is in the low point of the bolster at the base of the seat so you can then place that foot on the ground. Now take the inboard foot and put it on the floor close the seat and use that leg to push up and out of the car in one motion.

Works on most low cars or vehicles with aggressive bolsters. It's easy on the back and doesn't wear your bolsters unnecessarily.

 

[ShiftToSixth]

After reading this, I was worried I would not be able to drive my CT5 BW (6-speed), as I am about 5.5 feet tall.

But it wasn't a problem at all. I don't even have the seat as close as it can go. So other short folks, around my height, should be fine.