Hello everyone, I have never owned a Porsche but after my 2016 Mustang GT I miss having a sporty car and think I want a 997 rather than another muscle. But I am 6'6 and 280# and I have trouble fitting in some cars. I just went and sat in a 2008 911 Turbo Cabrio and a 2007 911 GT3 coupe today. With the seat all the way down and back and the steering wheel all the way out and up I had the most room but it was snug. I could operate all the pedals and felt like I could steer but I couldn't get over the snug feeling. I felt like the convertible had maybe a tiny bit more headroom than the coupe with the bulk of the sunroof. My main questions are is there such car as a non-sunroof coupe 997 Turbo, and does the removable hard top on a Cabrio have more or less headroom than the soft top or a coupe? Is there anything that can be done to lower the seat another inch or so?

 

Sunroof delete was only an option on the Turbos in Europe, I believe.

 

That is unfortunate, and would explain why every single car I can find for sale has one haha

 

Another option could be to buy a cab and then get a hardtop for it. The hardtop doesn't have a sunroof so assuming there's more headroom. Not the exact look of a coupe but not too far off so how much you're willing to compromise will be the issue. Here's a nice summary and some pictures of the hardtop by RL member Edgy01. Scroll down to post # 6: https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...cabriolet.html

 

I have thought about that, but there are a number of concerns so I don't think that will be an option at this time

 

Have you tried a 991? I'm 6'5" and have plenty of room in my 997, but I get in my buddy's 991 and the seat goes way further back from the controls than I need.

BTW, I went from a 14 Mustang. MIss the sidepipes and torque, but happy with my choice!

 

My buddy just picked up a 458 that was owned by a guy about your size, but a little heavier. The car was trashed, but he apparently fit. Might check one of those out.

I used to give rides to one of my fellow car and PCA track junkies, Time Reggenwhether, around tracks in the old 2006 Elise I used for instructing. He was about your height and his helmet used to stick up through the top and push the canvas like targa top up like a pup tent. Watching him struggle to get out was also entertaining. What a super sweet guy.

 

I'm 6'7' / 200 so no where close to your width however height is no issue for me in my 997.1. With a steering hub extension installed I'm exactly where I need to be for normal driving and Autocross. FWIIW I also have manual adjust sport seats so that does give some extra room and I do have a sunroof and yeah my helmet grazes the headliner when I hit bumps...not a big deal.

The snug feeling you get I bet has more to do with the seats than cockpit fore/aft/height.

 

I would look into a 991 also. I am 6'6" 200lbs or so and fit fine in my 997. If the GT3 that you sat in had buckets that could explain it also since those sit higher. Also if you were able to get into a 997.2 GT3 (2010 or newer) you would get no sunroof in one of those which would fix your problem too.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions so far, the other cars mostly pose concern due to budget. I'm looking for a car under 70k.

The 09 911 turbo had power seats and the 07 gt3 had manual sliding and up and down adjustable not fixed racing seats.

The snugness I was referring to is barely and room between the door and steering wheel and center console and steering wheel for my knees. Once I figured out the steering wheel extended out in the GT3 it got way better but I'm thinking an extender would help tremendously. I've also found seat brackets for race seats that mount them right to the floor so that might be able to get me more headroom. But I might just live with it, I think there might just be enough room for a helmet if I scrunch down.

 

I'm 6' 5" and 210 built
Was going to ask 'how' it was slug. Width or height. so that's good you explain that. built guys have issues with shoulder width on some of the seats, but butt-seat width is not usually an issue. With your problem a steering wheel extension will do wonders.
There are NO options to lower the sport seat, or adaptive sport seats, the GT2 buckets can be lowered with aftermarket side mounts. If you want lower otherwise, you'll need an aftermarket seat.
there is an aftermarket option to move any seats back and that solution is basically new floor mount rails with mounting holes for the seats that are moved back a bit. Available on suncoast i think i saw in an email from them last week.
realize you may have an issue with helmet clearance if you plan to track. i did in the sport seat and *** but he buckets have removable cushions which will lower you another 2 inches. just something to consider.
not an unmanageable problem and you came to the right place to ask! Good luck!

 

I'm sure you could have the seat lowered but won't be cheap - All sorts of athletes have seats lowered and also reconfigured so they will slide back farther for more leg room

 

I'm 6' 5" and 300 lbs Yea... I put on a few pounds in the last couple of years...

But I am just to big to be comfortable in a Aston Martin DB9, but I find room in my Porsche 911 (997), but I have added a steering wheel spacer that allowed me to pull the wheel 4 inches closer to me and it gives me room under the wheel for my legs and I safer with better wheel control. I still have my stock wheel, I have been thinking about removing the dead pedal to allow a little more room left of the clutch and it will stop me from getting my clown shoes caught on it while trying to depress the clutch.

I haven't lowered my seat because it really doesn't need to be lower, I just needed to the leg room under the wheel.

Hope that helps.

Vrooom!

 

Anyone have links to the steering wheel spacer? I've not heard of those before.

 

I am 6'4" and all legs. I installed this in a 2008 C2s and it made a huge difference. Added 4" of legroom. First time in a car I can extend my legs. http://extendmyseat.com/porsche-911-...seat-brackets/
They did not fit perfectly, just needed a bit of dremmel work.

I ended going automatic because my leg would get jammed against the door when I shifted. But I found the links below after I bought the car. No experience with them..
http://en.9xx-parts.com/product/5662...wheel-extender
http://www.carnewal.com/products/P86...Wheel-Extender
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...for-997-a.html


Good Luck