6'8" Member Test Drive & Review 4/20/09

b4z
04-20-2009, 01:38 PM
We've had several 6'8" members tell us that the car fits fine. I just got in it and it does. I've got long legs in proportion too my height.

Drove a silver V6 w/ 19s that was built first day of production.
This car had a sunroof and my head touched the headliner. But could live with it if i had to.
Tons of legroom.
Visibility out front is fine. No problem seeing overhead stoplights.
Blind spot for me was the rearview mirror. I had to duck to the left when making right turns. Drove the car for 4 miles and never got completely comfortable with right turns.
I had the feeling i was going to hit something with those wide rear shoulders.
The car drives big initially, but after a mile or so I got used to it.
It's been years since i've seen a front fender stretch out that far to the front.
Over the shoulder vision is poor, but not as bad as some have made it out to be.
The sideview mirrors have a great view of the rear shoulders/hips and the mirrors can cover the blind spots if adjusted properly.
Backing vision was good for me also.
The high rear deck didn't bother me at all. It was actually maybe better than the GTO. Don't know why it felt like that.

Upon start up the cold engine held higher rpms and the exhaust was very noticeable. After the rpms dropped the engine was very quiet and the exhuast was only audible on moderatley hard and above acceleration.
The car was quiet but not Cadillac quiet.
front end and engine noise were nonexistent, but there was a coarse road and tire sound that was audible from the rear at all times and got louder as speeds increased. Reminded me of the pre '01 Wbodies before they put the double rear fender liners in.
I would like to see the road noise from the back quieted down some more.

This car only had 144 miles on it and I never floored it but kicked it down moderatley hard several times and it felt pretty much identical to the CTS DIs i have driven.
Drivetrain and shifting were nice and refined.

Steering was very quick and responsive. Significantly more connected than my GTO. Cornering was pretty flat. Flatter than the GTO, but I never went fast around any corners due to my placement issues with the car in right turns.

i think they could have made some improvements with softer plastics, but the look of the plastic was fine. Maybe a soft touch area above the armrest like the GTO has?

Overall, i'd say i still want one and will get one, but it does have a little old school feel that people have talked about. It is not light years ahead of say, a GTO. I'm looking forward to driving a SS.

Also, I have to say that some of drivers coming the other way practically lost control of their cars when they saw it. I'll never forget the look of the old guy in his clapped out pickup when I made a right turn in front of him . He just sat at the stoplight as I drove down the road. And we were the only 2 cars around. Priceless.

JakeRobb
04-20-2009, 01:46 PM
Great feedback.

I'm confused about what trouble you had with the rear-view mirror. Can you clarify? Specifically, which mirror, and what couldn't you see? I'm assuming you tried adjusting the mirror...

b4z
04-20-2009, 01:47 PM
The rearview mirror blocked my forward vision when looking to the right. I adjusted it up, but the whole thing needs to go up. If it has that capability, then my bad.

JakeRobb
04-20-2009, 02:01 PM
The rearview mirror blocked my forward vision when looking to the right. I adjusted it up, but it the whole thing needs to go up. If it has that capability, then my bad.

Oh, gotcha. :)

2010_5thgen
04-20-2009, 02:20 PM
you had to duck making right hand turns?

JakeRobb
04-20-2009, 02:43 PM
you had to duck making right hand turns?

Yes, he's so tall that the rear-view mirror mounted on the windshield blocks his view forward and to the right. He has to duck to look where he's about to go. :eek:

2010_5thgen
04-20-2009, 03:26 PM
probably not the right car for him then. that would be like me trying to get into a lotus elise. i like them, but some things arent meant to be.

HuJass
04-20-2009, 03:33 PM
The rearview mirror blocked my forward vision when looking to the right. I adjusted it up, but the whole thing needs to go up. If it has that capability, then my bad.

It's a tall guy thing. I have the same issue with some cars.

Sometimes I duck to see what's behind the rearview.

2010_5thgen
04-20-2009, 04:21 PM
im 6'3". im not 6'8" but i dont know that i have ever ducked when turning a corner.

HuJass
04-20-2009, 10:37 PM
im 6'3". im not 6'8" but i dont know that i have ever ducked when turning a corner.

I'm not 6'8" either, but for me it's just certain cars in certain situations.

I remember driving my '73 Grand Prix. The rearview was very long, and because the winshield was kinda short top to bottom, the rearview would obstruct part of my vision.
Especially at an intersection. It would block probably the 12:30 - 1:00 position of the perpendicular roadway.
And if they had the right away, I had to be real careful to look around the rearview to make sure no cars were hiding behind it before pulling out.

b4z
04-21-2009, 07:56 AM
Yeah, I was fine in my 3rd gen which had a 64 degree windshield rake, but when i sat in the 4th gen which had a even more laid back 68 degree rake several times, the rearview blocked my forward vision. Because it was down so low on the windshield and also the windshield header was in my forehead.
The 2010 has a 67 degree rake and the windshield header is moved up so my upward vision is good but the rearview mirror is down so low that it still blocks some forward vision.
Next time I get an opportunity to sit in the car i will see if I can adjust the whole body of the mirror up more. But it looks fixed.

Capn Pete
04-21-2009, 08:19 AM
The 2010 has a 67 degree rake and the windshield header is moved up so my upward vision is good but the rearview mirror is down so low that it still blocks some forward vision.
Next time I get an opportunity to sit in the car i will see if I can adjust the whole body of the mirror up more. But it looks fixed.
If you ever got one for yourself, you could always pop the mirror off and completely reposition it. I realize that the mirror won't just "pop off" (the glue that holds them on is pretty damn strong!) but it's a possibility.

CLEAN
04-21-2009, 08:46 AM
The rearview mirror blocked my forward vision when looking to the right.

Im 6ft, and have the same problem w/ the vette. Took a while to get used to, but I don't even think about it now.

Adam
04-21-2009, 11:14 AM
I have the same problem with my rearview mirror in my 4thgen and in my C5. I'm pretty used to it. My hair brushes the ceiling in both cars.

Dope