bailador

Newbie here (to the forum, I don't own a 928... yet) with a couple of questions/observations that have come as a result of shopping off and on for a few months:

~ I'm 6'3" and I have a long back - there isn't enough headroom in a 928 for me, or in most sports cars for that matter. (So why don't I just buy trucks? Because I don't like trucks - I like sports cars or sports sedans) In a couple of previous cars (Audi 5000 Turbo and MGB) I've taken the seat bottom apart and cut out an inch to an inch and a half from the frame then rewelded the seat back together and recovered the seat. Anyone have similar height problems? Is there enough height in the seat frame or can the floor pedestals be cut, lowered, and rewelded?

~ I'd rather have a 5 speed than the auto. An '87 S4 5 speed would be ideal but it seems that the 5 speed is more common in the early model years. Is there a thread title that discusses this or some website w/ the stats of # of manual vs auto trans?

Thanks.

P.S. I did search first.

Weissach

If you like sports cars, the 911 will give you a foot of head room. As far as 928s, the non sunroof cars have way better headroom. But they only came in early cars and some euros.

Peter Thompson

Hi Bailador,

I also have a long back, but only 6'0". I deal with the problem by leaning the seat back a bit. I seem to fit fine into the 928 without mods to the seat.

The 928 is a fine car, and I hope you find one that suits you (auto vs manual).

Cheers,
Peter

SharkSkin

Bailador,

I just had my seats out, and it doesn't look like there is room to cut anything, but you might be able to find a replacement seat that gives more room. As an owner of a non-sunroof car, I can say that there is definitely lots more room than the sunroof cars. Also, I was under the impression that there was a sunroof delete option available through the whole of 928 production... but I could be wrong.

nicobel

COME ON GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason my wife loves the shark is THE SEATS, not only they are nice, but ANYONE will fit nicely in them.
I have traveled 8+ hours driving the shark, no back pain, no freaks, nothing, the 928 seats are incredible ( i am 5 8", and i weight ~250 lbs (i'm a "little" wide) )

just don't sit in the back, please!!

heinrich

Sunroofless would be good. And you can have padding removed from the seat to buy height. I do believe 944 manual seats have an edge in the height regard. You can also adjust pedals (helps with the height thing as a whole and may provide more rearward room).

bailador

Wow. This IS an active forum - 5 replies in less than 1 hour. Thanks. I don't know why I didn't think of it but all of the 928s I've looked at so far have had sunroofs - I guess I just figured that a sunroof was standard. I'll look for one w/ out a whole in the top.

Old & New

I have seriously considered having it removed, but it seems like quite an extensive job.

ViribusUnits

Do you try to sit straight up in the car?

Don't even try. You'll never fit into just about any sports car.

You've gotta lean the seet back. My brother always says like your pimpin' it. You'll never use the back seats of the 928 anyways, so you can lean the seat way back. Much more so than on the rear or mid engined cars. I've run my seat all the way to the back of the track, leaned the back down nearly flat to the ground, and rolled on my side and took a nap. There is that much room to lean the seat back.

Try it leaned way back. It's kind strange feeling at first, but you get over it after a minute or two of driveing.

maddox

Bailadoor - I am 6ft and can adjust the seats (12 way adjustment) to lower the driving position. This gives me about 2" clearance from the roof.

I've also seen a 92 GTS with no sunroof -so there are some out there. Of course this could have been a special request.

Jim_H

If you are ever planning on taking it to the track, beware. I am 5'10" and with a helmet on have to lean my seat back more than I'd like. I must say I like my seat more upright than some. At 6'3" I would think a non sunroof Shark would be very important.

Jim Nowak

My Euro 928 didn't come with a sunroof from the factory. A PO put some POS pop-up one in and I replaced it with a very nice automatic one that tilts the glass up and out over the top of the car. It's really sweet! Anyway, I'm 6'6" and I fit perfectly in my 928. I also have manual seats. The manual seats alone are good for another two inches of headroom.

pewter82

I'm 6'3" 245lbs and fit fine in both my 928's.

jason

82S 56k
91GT 56k

Garth S

Bailador,
I have a certain empathy with your headroom issue: While I've driven 928s with sunroof/sports seats/5-sp/auto in most all combos in reasonable comfort - it is hard to beat a non sunroof car with standard seats for the long torso type: With enough legs to make 5'18", the sunroof delete is better and I am more comfortable in my cars without that option than in any other. Long distance is the test, and 1000Km/day is just fine.
In NA, the sunroof was effectively standard in the S4. As mentioned, many of the Euros can be located without. Regards a sunroof car, if you haven't had an opportunity to live with one for a bit, try to do so. It may be surprising how the body can adapt to what at first was uncomfortable: it could really open up the selection of available cars.

SteveG

Bailador: For general info on different models, engines, etc. try 928s4vr.com

2 of the big 3, also have specs on their sites IIRC. 928gt.com and 928intl.com