Sad decision...Likely selling my 300SDL

[Mike J]

As much as I love the car, and it IS a great ride, I need to face reality and sell it.
Fact is, at 6"5" tall, I can't sit up in it, unless I crack the sunroof and poke my head out. Even then, I can't find a comfortable driving position. I can fix lots of small stuff, but this one has me stumped...
I've been hoping my big old butt would break in the new driver's seat springs and pad, but no sag yet.

Drove to Norfolk, VA and back today, 400+ miles RT and took the F-150. Marveled at the headroom, and I think I feel much less weary then I would had I taken the SDL.
Dang! I'll probably end up with a minivan....

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Mike J

Fact is, at 6"5" tall, I can't sit up in it, unless I crack the sunroof and poke my head out. Even then, I can't find a comfortable driving position. I can fix lots of small stuff, but this one has me stumped...

Mike, you only have 1" on me and I'm absolutely comfortable in the SDL. In fact, I've rebuilt the seat with some additional memory foam padding and it's comfortable as hell on long trips. I definitely have at least 1" over my head.

You must have the seat up too high or the adjustment mechanisms are not functional.

I want to rebuild the seat on the SD because I'm about 2" lower in that one and I feel like I'm on the pavement.

This vehicle has plently of headroom.

[Hatterasguy]

Something must be wrong, I'm a big guy too and find tons of room inside my W126's. My head isn't anywhere near the headlinner. Your seats must be out of adjustment and not working.

[Skippy]

I figure the Mercedes was primarily designed for German people, and I was always told Germans tend to be big. (Of course, my family never got the message. Surname: Shaffer. I'm 5'2". Dad is the same. My grandfather "shorty" was 5'6".) An SDL of all things has to be able to accomodate a large driver.

OTOH, if you find you still can't get comfortable, I frequent a Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis/Lincoln Town Car-oriented message board, and a lot of the guys there are pretty big, and very satisfied with their cars.

[Mike J]

Jeeze, or maybe I'm having a growth spurt??

The seat adjusters move all right.
I compare to the passenger side, and it is the same. The rear bar of the seat frame is within about 3/4" of the carpet(not scientific, just less than 2 fingers.)
And my head is hard into the headliner on the passenger side, too.

Maybe a combination of things, like wearing trifocals makes me want an upright riding/driving position so I'm looking through the top lens, that I sit a little forward because I don't like to fully extend my arms straight to drive, and the fact that (and I'm serious here LOL) I tend to have a long torso and short legs for my height.
But the seat seems to be all the way down.

I'll do some more looking in the morning light, when I'm not in my jammies....

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by Mike J

I tend to have a long torso and short legs for my height.

I was going to guess this. A long torso makes you taller from the seat pad up, and also makes you have the seat alittle closer to pedals than other long legged folks your size.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Mike J

J I tend to have a long torso and short legs for my height.
But the seat seems to be all the way down.

I'll do some more looking in the morning light, when I'm not in my jammies....

This is possible.

Tell you what.........get a tape measure and measure from the driver's seat bottom.......right next to the seatback........up to the headliner. Post your result.

I'll do the same on the '86 and we'll know............

[Mike J]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

This is possible.

Tell you what.........get a tape measure and measure from the driver's seat bottom.......right next to the seatback........up to the headliner. Post your result.

I'll do the same on the '86 and we'll know............

There's an idea!
With seats all the way back, and all the way down:
Driver's side...............37 3/8"
Passenger side...........37 3/4"

And the passenger seat has not been rebuilt. Probably has a little sag in it.
I had a heck of a time getting the leather seat cover over the new driver's seat pad and frame, FWIW, but it seems right to sit on. And I did finally get the seat cover to lay and the stays into the spring frame. It just doesn't give much at all when I sit on it. No mushy bounce in the ride either.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Mike J

There's an idea!
With seats all the way back, and all the way down:
Driver's side...............37 3/8"
Passenger side...........37 3/4"

Yep........you are the problem.

I measured the '87 since it was outside. 36.5". I had to take the measurement slightly right of center because the headliner starts to curve on downward at that point. I don't have the seat all the way down or all the way back.

[Mike J]

"Yep........you are the problem. "

Brian,
Did I ever mention how much you sound just like my wife?


RATS!

I probably will sell it.
Going to sleep on it.

Thanks for the input, guys.