Too tall for a Toyota
12/06/09 10:27 Filed in: Personal
Last night I sent an email to James Ruppert of Autocar fame, asking advice on what car I should get - it’s not as simply an answer as you might imagine.
For example, you’ll have to take into account the following factors:
*1 To all greener members of society who believe that nobody needs a car. Let me point out that some of the places I work don’t even have a bus service, let alone a train. What’s the suggestion? A horse?
*2 I’ve always been of the opinion that driving a fast car at the speed limit is safer than driving a car where it’s near the limit of its performance. 70 mph is nothing to a car that’s capable of double and comes with brakes, suspension etc to match its capability. A car capable of 90mph is designed for town, and comes with brakes and suspension to match.
Case in point, during particularly bad weather on the M6 both I and a Smart car had to carry out an emergency braking manoeuvre because an articulated lorry took a side swipe out of the Golf in front of us. Although I’ve only got a slightly sport Saab, I managed to outbrake him by about two car lengths. Leaving him dangerously close to the incident and me some way back (hazards on).
VW driver and passenger were both fine, by the way.
*3 Here is the story I relayed to James Ruppert.
... at a Toyota dealer.
I was about 18 and my Mum was looking at Corolla or a Carina or something like that. Anyway, a very ambitious salesman tried to flog me a Mk1 Toyota MR2, one with a panel roof. I have to say, it was more funny because he was just SO into the idea of demonstrating to all around us the levels of comfort in the compact mid-engined sports car as the dealership was actually very busy (remember those days?
).
So, I guess seeing a young single guy, he must have figured he'd got an odds on sale. But when I politely declined, pointing out my height issue, I think he took it as a challenge to his salesmanship skills.
To be fair, we we're practically the same height. But he was long legs, short back.
"No mate, it's really roomy inside", he insisted.
"No, really. I know I'll be too tall.".
"No, YOU TRY IT." he rebuked, and with that opened the door, pushed me towards the seat and looked at the other (now bemused) customers in pre-emptive glory of a lesson told.
So in I got. Plenty of leg room (short legs), controls in easy reach. Comfy seats even. It was a pretty cool car at the time.
Only one tiny issue. My chin was at least two or three inches above the top of the windscreen. Imagine "Noddy goes Tokyo drifting", if you will. At which point my Mum wanders over and asks in a loud voice "Does it come with a brolly?".
I'd all but forgotten about the incident until last year when a Daihatsu salesman did EXACTLY the same thing, only with a Daihatsu Copen. Where upon my ten year old daughter laughed "NODDY!" at me. I'm assuming she meant because of my height issue..... I hope.
For example, you’ll have to take into account the following factors:
- I do approximately 15-20,000 miles a year due to work *1
- I’d like something safe on the motorways (that is to say, capable of doing 70 mph easily, with brakes, handling to match) *2
- I’m 6’ 2” ... but have proportionally short legs and a very long torso.*3
*1 To all greener members of society who believe that nobody needs a car. Let me point out that some of the places I work don’t even have a bus service, let alone a train. What’s the suggestion? A horse?
*2 I’ve always been of the opinion that driving a fast car at the speed limit is safer than driving a car where it’s near the limit of its performance. 70 mph is nothing to a car that’s capable of double and comes with brakes, suspension etc to match its capability. A car capable of 90mph is designed for town, and comes with brakes and suspension to match.
Case in point, during particularly bad weather on the M6 both I and a Smart car had to carry out an emergency braking manoeuvre because an articulated lorry took a side swipe out of the Golf in front of us. Although I’ve only got a slightly sport Saab, I managed to outbrake him by about two car lengths. Leaving him dangerously close to the incident and me some way back (hazards on).
VW driver and passenger were both fine, by the way.
*3 Here is the story I relayed to James Ruppert.
... at a Toyota dealer.
I was about 18 and my Mum was looking at Corolla or a Carina or something like that. Anyway, a very ambitious salesman tried to flog me a Mk1 Toyota MR2, one with a panel roof. I have to say, it was more funny because he was just SO into the idea of demonstrating to all around us the levels of comfort in the compact mid-engined sports car as the dealership was actually very busy (remember those days?
).So, I guess seeing a young single guy, he must have figured he'd got an odds on sale. But when I politely declined, pointing out my height issue, I think he took it as a challenge to his salesmanship skills.
To be fair, we we're practically the same height. But he was long legs, short back.
"No mate, it's really roomy inside", he insisted.
"No, really. I know I'll be too tall.".
"No, YOU TRY IT." he rebuked, and with that opened the door, pushed me towards the seat and looked at the other (now bemused) customers in pre-emptive glory of a lesson told.
So in I got. Plenty of leg room (short legs), controls in easy reach. Comfy seats even. It was a pretty cool car at the time.
I'd all but forgotten about the incident until last year when a Daihatsu salesman did EXACTLY the same thing, only with a Daihatsu Copen. Where upon my ten year old daughter laughed "NODDY!" at me. I'm assuming she meant because of my height issue..... I hope.
