Ease of entry?

[lloyd3]

Is it just me or are these cars not as big as they used to be?  Before you go-off on my weight (which is up a bit from Christmas, it's been a long, cold winter here!) let me further explain. I don't know this for-certain, but it seems that most new cars are made with "bigger" Americans in mind.   Getting in and out of most (Ok, not all) modern automobiles hasn't really ever been a problem for me. Part of why I always loved these B-bodies was the size of the interiors and the resulting safety it provided if you had a bad day (and I had a few).   The back seats were pretty handy as well (if I remember correctly).

I'm not huge by today's standards (6'3 and 250), but I am forever bumping my head or hanging up my feet (size 14s) on the clutch/brake pedals getting in and out of my car, even with the seat completely back as far as it can go.  Part of my problem is that when I had the interior re-done, the original seat-mounting hardware was used.  One of the prior owners had used spacers in the front of the seat to make the fit better (he was, evidently, a big guy too). This was fine, but the back of the front seat didn't line up well with the passenger side and it intruded well-into the space of the back seat. Wanting the original look, I went with what I thought it should be.

Now, after driving my everyday vehicles (including a pretty dinky Honda Civic), this car just seems a bit cramped. I'll freely admit that I'm not as nimble as I once was, and losing a few pounds is a constant refrain from the wife (and the docs I consult with from time to time). But, other than going back to the stack of washers that had been used before, do I really have any other options?

[Homerr]

Better upgrade to a C-body!

[Indygenerallee]

Try being 6'8 with 16 shoes....its a PITA to drive anything

[Charger4404spd]

Try being 6'8 with 16 shoes....its a PITA to drive anything

[myk]

I'm 5'4" and I feel the car is "just right" for me; I don't know how you big strapping mountain-men make do with these cars lol...

[68RT440]

The last time that I drove the Charger was in 2009 before I started the resto. I was 26, 6'3" and about 230lbs. The car seemed fine as far as size goes. Im curious to see how I will fit in the car after the resto, seeing that Im up to 285lbs now...

[Mike DC]

  
With all due respect, some of you guys are huge.

6'3" is taller than almost everyone on earth.  And most of the 6'3" people worldwide are much closer to 200 lbs than 250.

America is already one of the physically biggest nations.  It's no question that we are getting both taller and heavier as decades go by.

-------------------

As for the Charger seat - get a set of used seat tracks and cut & weld them to fit however you want. It would also give you a chance to play around with height and reclining angle while you are at it.  

 

[myk]

I have to add that the type of seat you have affects ease of entry, also.  The aftermarket seats I installed have so much bolstering that it's honestly difficult for even me to get in and out...

[hemihead]

I'm 6ft. - 150 ( I know I've heard all the skinny jokes out there ) and I've had numerous Mopars of every body . They all seem to fit me perfect .
I do think Americans are getting bigger in both height and weight . And with age especially weight . Not wanting to offend but some of us could use some Light Beer and maybe less of them . I really hate when I go to a Show or someplace and see guys drink beer and get behind the wheel . But I digress .

[Daytona R/T SE]

The seat back angle is not adjustable on the old cars as it is in the modern cars.

That's the problem.

I've adapted six way power seat tracks to my Daytona so that my petite little self will have some adjustability.

( 6'4" 280 )

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Try being 6'8 with 16 shoes....its a PITA to drive anything

Are these yours?

[Ghoste]

And the cars today are smaller.

[LaOtto70Charger]

I am 6' and 300 lbs and never had an issue getting into or out of my charger.  I always felt the doors on these cars are quite long and the angle of the roof line made it easy to sit down and rotate in easily.  Most newer cars I feel like I have to over rotate my neck to not hit the door frame getting in.  Peddle wise I never had an issue since it is an auto.

[73rallye440magnum]

I'll take the car off your hands! Problem solved. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

I'll take the car off your hands! Problem solved. 

Bring money.

[lloyd3]

It sounds like folks far-bigger than me have made this work (nice to know that I'm not the only one facing these mild challenges). This obviously isn't a big deal, I was just hoping for a neater solution and you folks usually have one.  Daytona R/T SE seems to have hit upon the problem for us "larger" individuals. Lifting the front of the seat, even a little bit, moves your feet away from the pedals and also tips back the back of seat to the point of fairly good comfort for me (at least, that was the way it was before I had things "improved").  I guess I'll have to review my giant washer collection. 

Homerr: I really like the C-body Hearst 300s, and for exactly the reasons you inferred.

[twodko]

Christ man, whaddya squawking about? Any man your size who can get into AND out of a Honda Civic is a freakin' stud athlete! I'm 60yo 6' 247lbs. If I even was able to get into a Civic it'd be my tomb. Granted I have a fused lower spine but still.........

[RallyeMike]

Not surprisingly, there have actually been some advances in the past 45 years as to ergonomic engineering. The size of the car is secondary to the engineering that goes into how the passengers or driver fit in it. 

[cudaken]

When I got my 68 Road Runner when I was 17, I was 6'1" and 190. I am now 6,3" and well fat at 280. I can still get in the car with no problem. Yes, I grew two inches between 18 and 19 when I joined the Army.

Cuda Ken

[Mike DC]

Not surprisingly, there have actually been some advances in the past 45 years as to ergonomic engineering. The size of the car is secondary to the engineering that goes into how the passengers or driver fit in it.

And we complain about those compromises whenever a retro muscle car comes out and fails to look as sleek as the original. 

These vintage muscle cars aren't really big cars, they are more like small cars with big front & rear overhangs.
 

[Cooter]

No harder to get in and out of today, than back in 69. Only thing is, today's muscle cars spoil people, as they are trucks with mag wheels.

[Ghoste]

Even the Mustang?

[Dino]

I'm 5'11" and around 190.  The leg room in the back is stupid small but the front is just fine.  The steering wheel is a bit close which gives the cramped impression.  I had one of those small wheels in my 68 and it felt way roomier.  But this was also a buddy seat car without the buddy seat.   

The ONLY thing I need to watch for is getting into the car when I don't have the room to open the door fully.  My ear and the vent window frame made contact on two occasions and one the last I really learnt to get in carefully.  I also hit the side of my head on the roof once getting in...I really need to slow down from time to time.   

My wife is 5'5" and she just lays back, crosses her legs and enjoys the ride.  Sometimes being shorter is not so bad. 

[moparsr2fast]

6 ft, 270 here.... with a long torso. I have the same problem as Dino hitting my head sometimes, but other then that, nice and roomy insde. I don't even need the seatbelt extender option... yet 

[6pkrtse]

My 6 way seat makes it so I can recline it to wear I like it & gives my plenty of room. I actually like sitting more upright anyway.