I'm trying to help someone learn to drive and get into their first vehicle.

While not extremely short, being 5-feet even turns out to be something of a challenge in vehicles designed for the American market. She can bring the seat forward enough on almost all vehicles to reach the pedals, but it is almost universally difficult for her to see the road over the dash and/or hood the same way most of us can.

Obviously a booster seat or pillow will help.

Is there anyone that has a suggestion for vehicle(s) that do better than average for short drivers?



Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Some Ford vehicles have adjustable pedals to accomodate drivers of different stature. One faux-pas I see shorter drivers doing is sitting with the steering wheel planted in their gut/chest. This makes it difficult to handle the wheel deftly in an emergency. Selecting a vehicle with tilt/tele. will help with this as well.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Power mutiway adjustable seats will do the job.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

As mentioned by Evan, adjustable pedals to maintain the relationship between the driver and steering wheel is a good idea, but not just for vehicle control issues. One does not want to snuggle the steering wheel airbag pad.

Remember the commercial for Ford's adjustable pedals?

"I can't see!"
"Raise the seat"
"I can't reach the pedals!"
"Lower the seat"
"I can't see!"
and so on..

Anyway, it seems as if Honda Civics are ok for shorter people, at least up to the body style before the current one. I've seen a number of these people with them, although I don't know how they feel about the car for themselves

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

I have a co-worker who is 5'-2" and she drives an Audi A2. She does wear high heels at work, but claims that she wears flat shoes when driving.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

CLK55!

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

Being vertically challenged sucks, as I fit into that category. However but, I am long on wisdom. Luckily Mercedes Benz makes a car with the vertically challenged in mind. If your friend doesn't want to go that route, I had a neighbor who was 4 ft. nothin and bought a Toyota Camry because it "fit the bill" so to speak.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Are you in the market for a new or used car?
New: My GF is only 5'1" and she can touch the pedals and drive fine my Suzuki Gran Vitara.
Used: Look for a Mercedes 190E late 80's, These are pretty good cars for people of that height.

Iggy

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)

Knock the wind right out of you.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Miata? I had to drive with my knees and tilt my head to see out the windshield. Sure is fun though.

Your friend was a duck? What do you mean, "it fit his bill?"

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I would think anything with a short hood. Small pickups and minivans might work too. My friends daughter did well in a small pickup. I don't remember the specific brand though.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Business partner's wife is 5' 1/2" (she's real certain that you know about the 1/2"). She drives a late 90's/early 00's Acura MDX.

Second the used 190E suggestion. I am almost 6 feet, and I am too tall for my sisters 190E. My friend who is 5'5" and fits perfect!

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.