Ferrari Mailing List: Stretch Armstrong drives which sized Ferrari?

[Jason Rogers (jarogers]

I'm new to the list from the Metrowest Boston area and starting to
research which car to set my sights on.  I'm 6'4" as well and currently
driving a Z4 because it accommodates my frame.  I sat in a 365GTC4 quite
a few years ago and could only see the bottoms of the instruments
because the top of the instrument pod obscured them from view.  My first
"real" sports car was a fuel injected Fiat 124, called by then the
Spider 2000 because of the increase in displacement.  I had no problem
viewing the Veglia gauges but I had to incline the seat to keep my head
below the windshield header.  

 

I'm most interested in the 308 GTSi or 328 GTS because I've always liked
that Pinnafarina Ferrari style, although the 355 Spider is starting to
grow on me.  I'm all knees and elbows so I can't really cramp myself
into too small a space (I test drove the Fiat X/19 way back when and if
I wiggled my big toe it would change lanes).  Dennis seems to be
indicating that headroom is at a premium in the 3x8 model line but the
prices are more in keeping with what I can afford (excluding undue or
catastrophic maintenance).

 

I'm open to suggestions, personal observations, warnings, etc.

 

BTW the new Miata, sorry the MX-5, is now roomier inside with better
handling and horsepower than the previous iterations, technology strikes
again...

 

Enjoying the forum,

 

Jrrog

 

 

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:00:42 -0700

From: Jonathan Haines <oblioh [at] adelphia.net>

Subject: Re: [Ferrari] OUCH !

To: <BigHeadDennis [at] earthlink.net>

Cc: 'The FerrariList' <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>

Message-ID: <6016F26E-939A-41E0-B6D9-A749C501C0A6 [at] adelphia.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

 

As you know Dennis, I , like you, am 6'4" tall.  However, in the Elise,
My head is three inches below the windshield header and 4 inches below
the rear roll bar (I just measured).  I can easily pass the broomstick
test, even with a helmet.

 

I am afraid in this instance, the rock was on such a trajectory that it
tumbled into cockpit all by itself.

 

 

Jonathan.

 

 

On Sep 28, 2006, at 11:25 AM, Dennis Liu wrote:

 

> First time I drove a Miata, it was a rental out of SFO a decade ago.  

> Had to turn around and return it for a Mustang convertible, because my


> forehead was out in the airstream.  :-)

> 

> Jonathan, a question for you re the Elise.  What about rollovers?   

> Many

> tracks enforce the "broom stick" rule - on a convertible or targa, the


> driver's head has to be below (sometimes 2" below) a broomstick placed


> between the windshield header and the roll bar/hoop, or if a Targa, 

> the B-pillar roof area.  Intent is to prevent, in the case of a 

> rollover, the head from being scraped along the ground, or worse, 

> caught on the ground then slammed against the header or bar.  Doh.

> 

> (this is the reason why I don't instruct in stock 308s and 328s....)

> 

> Does your head jut out that much?

> 

> Vty,

> 

> --Dennis