Advice please

[natdawson]

I'm looking to get an affordable classic in a couple of years time to use as a daily car (30mile round trip commute) when the wife ends up with the family car.
Being a fairly big chap of 6'7" and not exactly petite in frame is there anything out there which would be suitable? Having 2 boys, the eldest of which is already 4'6" at 7 years old, being able to get the whole family in would obviously be beneficial as well.

So far a Rover P5 and a Morris Isis have got the approval of the domestic authorities looks wise. Any advice of what I can fit in and what would be suitable would be gratefully received.

Nathanael

[Mitsuru]

Volvo are big enough inside and the seats adjust to accommodate even my brothers wide frame.
The 700 and 900 series are now in the retro scene and more or less classed as classics
(they are in the age range of being classics even though some don't classify them as such)
After that I can see the 850 being a long term investment as they are still too new to be classed
as a classic but cheap enough to pickup and run.

Anything bigger than a volvo then Chrysler Voyager or a range rover.
Chrysler Neons wouldn't have leg room in the back before you ask but do have it up front.

[Penguin45]

ADO17 - all the space you'll ever need.

P45.

[Grumpy Northener]

Decent P6 Rover would suit the bill and they are hellish comfortable and can still be bought for the same money as a 100,000 mile + six year old Mondeo

[rich.]

sd1 rover diesel.... if you can find one

[Richard Moss]

Large Daily Driver classic is a tall order (if you'll pardon the pun)

Discovery TDI if you like welding
Range Rover P38 will be reliable if properly looked after (not cheap on fuel unless it's the TD)
Big Volvos need less welding and should be reliable enough
Granadas are nice and big - mk3s can be found with aircon

Older stuff may be more of a challenge for the daily driver part of the equation

[JPB]

Dolomites have a seat that moves back and up/down far enough to accommodate even the tallest drivers. This I know because I am cursed with an inseam of over 35 Inches! I always found that mine were roomy enough simply by raising the seat to its full height at the front, putting it fully back and having the column set to its maximum height too. Best bit was that this still allows plenty of space for rear seat passengers since their legs fit nicely with the front seat raised.
Avoid the pushrod engines, go for original OHC slant fours in either 1854 or 1998cc versions. They're lively wee things even with a 17 stone driver and are remarkably economical, especially in high geared automatic form.
Downsides: Few, but the steering is heavy on 155/82% tyres so realistically, for regular use, 175/70% tyres on the ubiquitous Sprint alloys are probably a necessary evil. Also watch for rust on post-1974/'75 model year shells, they can all rot if neglected but the earlier ones had thicker, higher quality British steel shells, the later ones used the same Russian steel that Alfasuds were made from.
They're cheap to maintain though and James Paddock can supply most parts at very reasonable cost.
Is economy not that big a deal? Then consider the Triumph 2000 or 2500 as alternatives to the BMC 1800 and Rovers suggested earlier. Slightly roomier than the smaller Dolomite, these are one of very few cars that I could fit inside with the driver's seat not fully rearwards.
Another that fits that particular requirement is the Mercedes W114/W115 type. My 220A (1972) was a thirstier car than a T2000 but it was lively, handled beautifully and even my Dad, who used to be well over 6ft (still with us, but he's shrunk since he got into his eighties) didn't need to push the seat right the way back.

Leftfield suggestions these, but not as eccentric as you may think: The Reliant kitten and Fox have an almost infinite amount of leg room because the driving position puts the driver low with their legs straight out in front of them and the rear seats (kittens came with these, Fox can be found with a hard top and rear seats) are higher than the fronts, so it's even possible to fit tall people in the back though feet wider than size E will be a little cramped in the narrower rear foot wells. Although the kitten is only the size of a mini Clubman, it's another car in which I need the seat slightly forward in order to reach the pedals, this leg room being the product of a tiny engine that sits between the occupants' legs - though not to the same extent as it does in the same maker's three wheeled conveyances. Very cheap to run, brakes are all mini, front suspension is unique to these cars but parts are all available through a proactive register with a very efficient parts remanufacturing policy, steering racks are available again now and the turning circle is a useful 22ft, 9" so there's nowhere you would find parking difficult with one of these.

But I'd try at least every suggestion you find appearing in this thread because comfort for us long legged types isn't just about available space, it's about living with the thing long term and only you can decide which is best that way.

[harvey]

Decent P6 Rover would suit the bill and they are hellish comfortable and can still be bought for the same money as a 100,000 mile + six year old Mondeo

Not if you want to take the kids in the back it won't. The only 4 door two seater on the market, especially with a 6'7" driver.

[Mitsuru]

A suggestion pop to a couple of car shows and meets and ask the owners if you can
have a sit in the drivers seat.

[Fatbloke]

I agree with Mitsuru. Get yourself down to a show or local car club meet. Most of us will be happy for you to try our car on for size and then spend hours boring you to death with everything we think you should know about our car.

If you ask that sort of question on a forum like this, we will all try to convince you of the merits of our own car or favoutite car. We all like spending other peoples money like that.

But until you can get up close and try one out you just won't know for sure.

However, a Herald /Vitesse convertible would definately be the best car for you. Plenty of room inside for 4 and all the headroom you could possibly need.... with the roof down!!