What's the reason?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest CA
What's the reason?
What is the reason GM decided to make it impossible for some one that is over 6'2" to be able to own a C-7. I have owned 20 Corvettes in my life & was forced to abandon any hope of ever buying another because my 6'6" frame will not fit in it. Thanks alot GM ! 
Last edited by turbolou; Jun 22, 2016 at 01:49 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,058
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
You need to pursue this further. There are guys taller than 6'2" in my Corvette club driving C7s. I think they may have made a minor change to the seat to lower it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
CF vendor subchev posted this a few months ago. The guy I bought my '14 Z51 from sold it to me because he had trouble fitting in the car with a helmet - he's ~6'3". He ordered a new Z after I forwarded this to him.
"Track day Seat: $1,500. Custom-fitted Recaro racing seat and mounting bracket made by 425 Motorsports in Seattle for drivers too tall to fit in a C7 Z06 with a helmet on. Uses factory seat mounting bolts. 20 minutes is all it takes to remove factory seat and install track seat using the factory bolts. Adds 2.75" of headroom for the driver (enough for me, a 6'6" driver to wear a DOT approved helmet) and racing seat performance. Includes factory female seatbelt harness. Works with factory seatbelt or aftermarket harness systems."
"Track day Seat: $1,500. Custom-fitted Recaro racing seat and mounting bracket made by 425 Motorsports in Seattle for drivers too tall to fit in a C7 Z06 with a helmet on. Uses factory seat mounting bolts. 20 minutes is all it takes to remove factory seat and install track seat using the factory bolts. Adds 2.75" of headroom for the driver (enough for me, a 6'6" driver to wear a DOT approved helmet) and racing seat performance. Includes factory female seatbelt harness. Works with factory seatbelt or aftermarket harness systems."
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
Most cars get bigger and roomer after each yr of production but C7 got smaller. I had a C5 and it had lots more room than my c7, go figure. I am not but 5-11 but the extra room would be nice to have.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 173
Likes: 23
I agree. The cabin space in my C5 much roomier than C7. Given the average age of Corvette buyer you'd think GM would be a little more aware.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest CA
My problem isn't head room its leg room. My last car was a ZR-1 & it too was a problem but I managed.The last Vette that I was comfortable in was the C-5 . So I have had to settle for a turbo Porsche instead.
Last edited by turbolou; Jun 22, 2016 at 11:07 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 18
From: Destin FL
You're not trying hard enough. Man up and find a solution. The Forum will steer you, but it's your road to travel.
I'm a 6' 5" and fit perfectly at the outer limit of my Z51 LT1 interior. There have been threads/post on mods by men your size.
I'm a 6' 5" and fit perfectly at the outer limit of my Z51 LT1 interior. There have been threads/post on mods by men your size.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 1,868
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Try the tricks in this link. It gave me enough room to be fairly comfortable, but still not as much room as my previous C6. I'm "only" 6'2" and 250.
Good luck!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1584490917
Good luck!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1584490917
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
This brings me back to the 70's... Bigger on the outside... smaller on the inside! C5 and C6 were progressively getting smaller, now the C7 is bigger and heavier. But Dam! it does drive much nicer!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
I'm 6'3 225 and headroom is my issue, no way to wear a helmet. Maybe for a dragstrip pass..
But I have an auto in the C7, manual trans may be a bit short on legroom for me. Unplugging the sensor will get you about another inch of rearward movement. But I agree, the C5/C6 was much better for larger drivers.
But I have an auto in the C7, manual trans may be a bit short on legroom for me. Unplugging the sensor will get you about another inch of rearward movement. But I agree, the C5/C6 was much better for larger drivers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Luckily I'm not a track day guy, but if I was the race seat solution posted above is probably what I would do.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 32
From: Baytown, Texas
6'3 260. You have to work with the seat. When the stingray came out in '14 I went and sat in one and thought the same thing. When we started looking to replace my wife's '12 GS vert I tried again and was able to get the seat where it needed to be for comfort. I drive my wife's '15 Z coupe a few times a month and its snug. But I am able to stretch my legs out under the pedals. Our longest trip in it was to the Corvette Museum last year and I had no problem driving for several hours. Now sitting in the passenger seat caused cramps because there is not enough leg room. We have the regular seats. I never tried the comp. seats.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 297
Likes: 33
From: Peoria Illinois
Move the seat way forward then drop the seat as far as it will go to get the maximum drop. If the seat is way rearward you will not get the maximum drop in the seat. Also if the seat is hitting the rear back panel the memory seating buttons will not work. However this should not be an issue for the tall person who want the maximum comfort position that they can get.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest CA
Along with the leg room seating complaint has always been getting in & out of the vehicle also. All the suggestions offered here are helpful & appreciated but it still doesn't exonerate GM for designing the corvette for midgets.The only other American sports car worst in that regard is the Viper. I would of tried one of those years ago if only the cockpit was designed ecstatically better. I just trying to understand the philosophy here of these car builders.No wonders so many of these cars go up for sale quickly or become garage queens. If Porsche can build a car that address's these issues why can GM do the same.I of course am not saying that Corvette is a bad car just disappointed that I cant own another because of this stupid reason.