Optimizing seat position for 6'2"

[Faster Horses]

Thanks so much RickyC, I've watched several of the videos, he's a great guy and it's wonderful story, good to see guys find the world of road course. The new car is a little different wheel and is a fix down the road, once done it is worth it for the feel alone, I have a Sparco I put in my last car and it made the clunky air bag wheel feel like a real turd.
P4ker, I think it's a matter of how you drive, I heel/toe every down shift and if your leg is angled at all the attack angle of the foot makes doing it correctly very awkward. I have straight legs and the seat lower so the feet reach the pedals in a neutral position to get proper foot work.

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[Bay1Stang]

I'm 6'2 without any problems. Supremely comfortable as a matter of fact.

 

[Horde5.0]

I'm 6'2" and I once found the perfect position. Then I moved the seat to install a rear seat delete and now I cannot get back to that sweet spot.

Someday...I have to believe that, someday, I'll find it again.

 

[Rickycardo]

I think you are doing something wrong. Several 6' plus owners (my 6'4" self included) are able to get very comfortable seat positions.

I don't think it's a mater of doing something wrong. It's more about driving position and body proportions. You can be 6'2 with shorter arms and longer legs and not get into a comfortable driving position but a person the same height with shorter legs and longer arm can find a sweet spot. I am 6'4 and have long legs (36" inseam) and a long torso but shorter arms and I need to sit just a hair lower and want the wheel telescope out more.

 

[GTP]

^This. x2. It's what this thread is all about.

Start by flipping the mirror upside down.

 

[Rickycardo]

^This. x2. It's what this thread is all about.

Start by flipping the mirror upside down.

Did it after reading it here. Mod of the year. :first:

 

[Stangnut]

I think you are doing something wrong. Several 6' plus owners (my 6'4" self included) are able to get very comfortable seat positions.

For one thing I don't lay the seat back as far as you guys probably do. Every time I've sat in someone's car who's over 6'2", their seat is leaned back way too far for my liking.

Obviously Ford is doing something wrong if so many people have my same problem.

 

[fionic]

Did it after reading it here. Mod of the year. :first:

interesting... I've been off for a while.

Do you have a picture of the result? The mirror blocks a good amount of my forward view.

Did it affect the light sensor (the one that dims the mirror when lights behind you)?

 

[GTP]

For one thing I don't lay the seat back as far as you guys probably do. Every time I've sat in someone's car who's over 6'2", their seat is leaned back way too far for my liking.

Obviously Ford is doing something wrong if so many people have my same problem.

We lean the seat back so as to see out under the mirror. Then our arms are too straight, or our shoulders are pulled off the seat in a turn. So we move the seat forward, which is too cramped for our legs.

Moving the mirror up is a good start. I was able to angle my seat back more upright by one notch after this mod, which also put a bit more bend in my elbows. Next season this may be the new challenge if a helmet does not clear the roof.

interesting... I've been off for a while.
Do you have a picture of the result? The mirror blocks a good amount of my forward view.
Did it affect the light sensor (the one that dims the mirror when lights behind you)?

Sorry, I can't answer bc I just stored my car last weekend. I do notice the small sensor dot near the upper edge of my flipped mirror. I have a feeling that it will be unaffected bc my mirror shows the full rear window height.

The three biggest improvements that Ford could make is

1. Flip the mirror at the factory (easy)
2. More telescope in the wheel (hard, design change)
3. Lower minimum seat cushion height (hard, design change)

 

[Clarkson]

I am 6'4 250lb and the mustang is the most comfortable among challenger/camaro/mustang. I have long legs and stang has the most headroom/legroom. However the seat is just damn too high, I really miss the seat height in my dad's 4 series and the golf gti I used to own... I am taking my car to a shop today to see what it takes to make the seat go lower. Stay tuned everyone

 

[Faster Horses]

I'm 6'4", I ended up getting the Wedge seat bracket, and slider. I put in my old Suzaka cobra, 3/4" ext on clutch pedal, small extension to throttle pedal, and it fit perfectly. I had enough added height to run a nice amount of padding for daily driving. The steering wheel wasn't perfect and having the cruise c in the wheel is a major bummer. A bit more reach on the wheel would be perfect. I may have had a slightly off center feel to the final set up, something that often happens when moving the seat radically, but overall this is can be a good fit for big or tall guy. I loved the car, great daily driver. I've gone to the dark side so if want the Wedge bracket I'll sell it to for 50$, you pay shipping.
I switched to a '12 corvette GS. I love sports cars, I can't help it. The Ford is a great all purpose fun as hell car, it's just a little big and heavy, which is one of the reasons why it's such a good daily driver. With the PP, it's very nice indeed. Brakes and drive train are really really good.

 

[Clarkson]

I'm 6'4", I ended up getting the Wedge seat bracket, and slider. I put in my old Suzaka cobra, 3/4" ext on clutch pedal, small extension to throttle pedal, and it fit perfectly. I had enough added height to run a nice amount of padding for daily driving. The steering wheel wasn't perfect and having the cruise c in the wheel is a major bummer. A bit more reach on the wheel would be perfect. I may have had a slightly off center feel to the final set up, something that often happens when moving the seat radically, but overall this is can be a good fit for big or tall guy. I loved the car, great daily driver. I've gone to the dark side so if want the Wedge bracket I'll sell it to for 50$, you pay shipping.
I switched to a '12 corvette GS. I love sports cars, I can't help it. The Ford is a great all purpose fun as hell car, it's just a little big and heavy, which is one of the reasons why it's such a good daily driver. With the PP, it's very nice indeed. Brakes and drive train are really really good.

If you don't mind can you explain a little about how that wedge work? Does it allow you to make the seat lower or ?

 

[brandonsmash]

I'm staying posted here. I'd love to drop the seat by an inch or so!

 

[WindveilNJ]

I think you are doing something wrong. Several 6' plus owners (my 6'4" self included) are able to get very comfortable seat positions.

It is not just your height - it is the length of your torso from the top of your head to the tip of your spin. I have short legs and a long torso and I am almost at eye level with the top of the windshield with the seat as low as it goes. I am not sure, without replacing the seat, how I can change this. And as my legs are shorter, my seat needs to be closer to the dash to properly interact with the peddels. For most people, I guess this is not a problem but it is for some of us.:frusty:

 

[Faster Horses]

The wedge bracket (see Wedge Industries) is just a bracket that bolts to the floor with stock bolts in the stock mount holes, standard race prep. Going to any race seat or even some of the more comfortable Recaro seats will lower you considerably from the stock position. Ford always seats high for some reason, if you sit in new camaro or corvette you will notice it's much lower. I absolutely need a lower position, I get heal pain from being higher and just hate the feeling. There is a limit in the Ford before things like the gear shift get out of whack as you go low. I'm a freak for ergonomics, I think it's essential to getting the most out of the car. Being able to heal/toe is super critical, that's why I work with the pedals. If you're tall and move the seat back from stock I will bet that if you experiment with pieces of wood and duct tape you will find huge improvements. Then when you have what you want you can do a quality set up with aftermarket pedal plates and spacers. In the beginning of this thread is a very good explanation of proper seat position, it's absolutely worth the time and effort. I can tell everyone from experience that if you change the seat you will lose the seat airbag but unlike what Ford will tell you the other airbags are still working fine. No, don't ask how I know, at least they worked in my car. The angle of the seat back is also a critical set up, it makes a huge difference in reach to wheel, if you like more vertical position you should be able to get away with moving back without changing the steering wheel, which brings on a host of problems.

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