When you’re buying a car, the big things you’re likely taking into consideration are the price, reliability, gas mileage, and whether it has enough cargo space for your needs. Sure, there are other things like the trim level and what features it has, but those aren’t always dealbreakers.
However, for this woman, there’s an unusual car criterion that may make or break her decision about what to buy.
What Is She Looking For In A Car?
In a TikTok with more than 463,000 views, content creator Joshua (@joshuad6769) explained that his girlfriend brought him car shopping so they could make sure he’d comfortably fit in whatever car she chose.
“My girlfriend’s like, ‘Hey, I need you to come with me, see if you fit in the car,’” Joshua says.
It seems she’s primarily looking for an SUV (possibly in part to accommodate him). The first vehicle they test is a Toyota RAV4.
Joshua is sitting in the passenger seat, with the seat pushed as far back as it can go. Even then, his legs extend awkwardly in front of him, his knees appear to have little room, and the top of his head grazes the ceiling.
“This is the seat all the way back,” he says. “This ain’t gonna work. [Expletive] no.”
Next he tries the Honda CR-V, which seems a bit better for him. Joshua appears to have more room for his legs, and his feet are no longer pushed into the same awkward position. But when he turns the camera toward himself, his head is pressed against the ceiling.
“You’ll just lean back. You’ll be fine,” his girlfriend tells him about the ceiling clearance.
“Good thing we got a sunroof so I can just peek my head out the window,” Joshua jokes.
In the caption, he added a question not everyone gets to ask: “Why do I gotta be so tall?”
In the comments, Joshua says he’s 6’5”.
What Should Tall Drivers Look for in a Car?
Tall drivers shouldn’t assume a bigger vehicle will automatically be more comfortable. Consumer Reports notes that a Volkswagen Jetta can be a better fit for a tall driver than the taller Chevrolet Trax because of its interior layout. They note interior layout matters more than the vehicle’s exterior size.
“When judging cars, I pay particular attention to the balance of legroom, headroom, and comfortable reach to the steering wheel,” said Ryan Pszczolkowski, Consumer Reports’ tire program manager, who’s 6’2”. “Having a steering wheel that can tilt and telescope makes a big difference.”
During a test drive, Cars.com suggests paying close attention to a few key areas:
- Legroom: The driver should be able to reach the pedals without having to sit in an awkward position. Cars.com notes that seating position can affect braking reaction time and injury risk in a crash.
- Steering wheel reach: A telescoping wheel can help a tall driver avoid sitting too close or stretching too far forward. There should be at least 10 inches between the driver’s chest and the steering wheel so the airbag has room to deploy.
- Seat height and headroom: A height-adjustable seat may make it easier to find enough head clearance without sacrificing visibility. This is especially important for drivers with longer torsos. Cars.com also reports that a moonroof can reduce headroom by an inch or more.
- Visibility and seatbelt fit: The driver should be able to see traffic lights without having to crouch. The shoulder belt should also lie flat between the neck and shoulder, with the lap belt sitting snugly across the hips.
“Get A F-450”
While people thought it was considerate of his girlfriend to try and accommodate him, they think there are better workarounds than adjusting her car choice for him.
"I think she’s gonna just have to get whatever car she wants and then get you a trailer to sit in and drag you along everywhere,” one wrote.
“Just tell her to get a F-450 boss,” a person suggested. Another thought the GMC Yukon would fit Joshua comfortably.
“Well damn why u gonna be so tall making her choose her car based on you,” another wrote.
“It's nice that she's considerate of you. But she should get whatever car she wants. She can go in your car wherever you both go, she will fit in any car anyways,” a commenter added.
Motor1 reached out to Joshua via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.
